Han Yao

Historical Record

Based on the available historical biographical materials, the figure Han Yao is not clearly recorded in the official histories. His life, deeds, and interactions with other figures of the Three Kingdoms period are nowhere to be found in authoritative sources such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms. From the standpoint of the historical record, therefore, Han Yao is a figure with no clear documentation.

In the Novel

Han Yao appears in Chapter 92 of Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms as the second son of the Xiliang general Han De. Together with his father Han De and his three brothers Han Ying, Han Qiong, and Han Qi, he led eighty thousand Western Qiang troops to Fengming Mountain under Xiahou Mao's orders to confront the army of Shu Han ^c:4184.

In the battle at Fengming Mountain, Han Yao displayed his martial prowess. After his eldest brother Han Ying was killed by a single spear-thrust from Zhao Yun, Han Yao immediately spurred his horse forward and brandished his blade to engage Zhao Yun. Yet against Zhao Yun's onslaught—his "tiger-might of old" and his "rousing spirit"—Han Yao "could not hold him off" ^c:4184. His third brother Han Qiong and fourth brother Han Qi then joined the fray, forming a three-on-one assault against Zhao Yun. In the melee, Han Qi was struck by a spear and fell from his horse. Han Qiong, after failing with his bow, again pursued Zhao Yun, only to be shot through the face by one of Zhao Yun's arrows and killed ^c:4184.

Seeing his three brothers fall one after another, Han Yao once more spurred his horse and raised his precious sword to strike at Zhao Yun. At this moment Zhao Yun displayed astonishing adaptability: he "threw his spear to the ground, dodged the precious sword," and successfully captured Han Yao alive, carrying him back to his own lines. Zhao Yun then spurred his horse forward again to retrieve his spear and charged into the enemy ranks, so that Han De—having lost all four sons to Zhao Yun—was "stricken to the very liver and gall and fled first into his lines" ^c:4184. Han Yao's capture marked the utter defeat of Han De's family at the battle of Fengming Mountain and further set off Zhao Yun's invincible valor.

Key Relationships

* Han De (kin_of): Han Yao was the second son of the Xiliang general Han De. Han De was his father; in the novel he campaigned alongside Han Yao and witnessed all his sons, including Han Yao, defeated or captured by Zhao Yun ^c:4184. (Novel only)
* Han Ying (brother): Han Yao's eldest brother, who was the first to engage Zhao Yun at the battle of Fengming Mountain and was killed by a single spear-thrust from Zhao Yun ^c:4184. (Novel only)
* Han Qiong (brother): Han Yao's third brother, who along with Han Yao and Han Qi attacked Zhao Yun from both sides at the battle of Fengming Mountain and was later shot dead by Zhao Yun ^c:4184. (Novel only)
* Han Qi (brother): Han Yao's fourth brother, who along with Han Yao and Han Qiong attacked Zhao Yun from both sides at the battle of Fengming Mountain and was later struck by a spear and fell from his horse ^c:4184. (Novel only)
* Zhao Yun (opponent): Han Yao crossed blades with Zhao Yun several times at the battle of Fengming Mountain and was finally captured alive by him ^c:4184. (Novel only)

Signature Scene

Captured alive by Zhao Yun at the battle of Fengming Mountain: This is Han Yao's most central and signature scene in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. At Fengming Mountain, Han Yao went into battle alongside his father and brothers, facing the great Shu Han general Zhao Yun. After his eldest brother Han Ying was killed, Han Yao stepped forward and brandished his blade against Zhao Yun, but could not withstand him. He then joined his third brother Han Qiong and fourth brother Han Qi in surrounding Zhao Yun, only to watch helplessly as both brothers fell in succession. Finally, as he attempted to strike at Zhao Yun once more, Han Yao was captured alive after Zhao Yun "threw his spear to the ground and dodged the precious sword" ^c:4184. This scene not only showcases Zhao Yun's peerless martial skill and combination of courage and cunning, but also depicts the helplessness of Han Yao and his family before Zhao Yun, becoming yet another testament to Zhao Yun's heroic feats akin to his "seven in, seven out" in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. (Novel only)