Han Rong

Historical Record

There is extremely little historical record of Han Rong, and the official histories make no clear mention of his life or the offices he held. We are therefore unable to sketch from biographical materials any concrete image of Han Rong or his contributions in history.^[1]

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Rong appears in the office of Grand Coachman (taipu), his image revolving chiefly around the plight of Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, during the turmoil of Li Jue and Guo Si. He first appears after Emperor Xian fled Chang'an, crossed the Yellow River, and reached Dayang. At that time the emperor and empress were in dire straits, going hungry, sustained only by the coarse grain offered by an old villager.^[1]

At this difficult moment, Han Rong arrived together with the Grand Commandant Yang Biao, weeping and bowing before the emperor's carriage. Han Rong showed his loyalty to the House of Han and his deep concern for the emperor's safety. He volunteered, declaring his willingness to risk death by going to persuade the rebel ministers Li Jue and Guo Si to lay down their arms, in hope of winning the emperor a sliver of hope. Through this episode the novel fashions Han Rong as a figure of unwavering loyalty who shrinks from no danger; although the outcome of his persuasion is not detailed in the novel, his spirit of accepting a charge in time of peril and risking his life to protect his sovereign is vividly portrayed.^[1]

It is worth noting that Han Rong's part in the novel is extremely brief, with only a single line of dialogue, and his deeds have no corresponding record in the official histories. This indicates that in the novel he serves more as a peripheral figure to set off Emperor Xian's tragic circumstances and to present the collective image of the loyal ministers of the House of Han.^[1]

Key Relationships

* Liu Xie (Emperor Xian of Han): In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Rong is a subject of Emperor Xian and shows the utmost loyalty to him. When Emperor Xian was a homeless wanderer in desperate straits, Han Rong came together with Yang Biao to pay his respects and volunteered to risk death in persuading Li Jue and Guo Si, so as to safeguard the emperor. This relationship embodies the loyalty, righteousness, and sense of duty between sovereign and subject.^[1] (Novel only)

Signature Scene

Han Rong's most signature scene is the episode in which he, together with the Grand Commandant Yang Biao, wept and bowed before the carriage during Emperor Xian's flight and volunteered to go and persuade Li Jue and Guo Si to lay down their arms.^[1]

In Chapter 13 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after Emperor Xian had braved the perils of crossing the river, only a dozen or so attendants remained at his side, all going hungry and lodging at night in a tile-roofed hut. The next day, as he was preparing to continue onward, Han Rong arrived with Yang Biao. The novel describes: "Two great ministers came seeking him and wept and bowed before the carriage: they were the Grand Commandant Yang Biao and the Grand Coachman Han Rong. The emperor and empress both wept." Han Rong then submitted: "The two rascals Jue and Si put considerable trust in my words; I will risk my life to go and persuade the two rascals to lay down their arms. May Your Majesty take good care of the dragon body."^[1] This scene not only displays Han Rong's loyalty to the House of Han and his concern for Emperor Xian but also, through his words and deeds, sets off from the side the extreme plight in which Emperor Xian then found himself and the precarious situation facing the House of Han. Though the novel does not detail the outcome of his act, it suffices to make him a figure of the loyal minister who steps forward in time of peril, leaving a deep impression on the reader.^[1] (Novel only)