Han Tong

Life

At about twenty, Han Tong entered military service and became known for his physical strength; under the Later Han he served as a military officer. When Guo Wei was stationed at Daming, he entrusted Han Tong as a close subordinate; after entering Bian and establishing the Later Zhou, Han Tong distinguished himself through many military achievements.

At the beginning of the Guangshun era of the Later Zhou, he became Right-Wing Chief Patrol Inspector. His titles also included yimu (議幕), junxiao (軍校), tidian youxiang zhujian si (提點右廂諸監司), jianjiao taizi binke (檢校太子賓客), shiyushi (侍御史), Yinqing Guanglu Dafu (銀青光祿大夫), and Feiqiwei (飛騎尉).

In 942, the seventh year of the Tianfu era, he held the titles jianjiao guozi jijiu (檢校國子祭酒), yushi zhongcheng (御史中丞), and xiaoqiwei (驍騎尉); in 943, the eighth year, he became jianjiao shangshu you puye (檢校尚書右僕射). Between 948 and 949, the first and second years of the Qianyou era, he successively held jianjiao shangshu you puye (檢校尚書右僕射), jianjiao shangshu zuo puye (檢校尚書左僕射), and yushi daifu (御史大夫), and served as prefect of Leizhou.

In 951, the first year of the Guangshun era, he held jianjiao taibao (檢校太保), served in military-administrative posts in Muzhou and Yongzhou, and received such honors as Jinzi Guanglu Dafu, Kaiguo Nan, and a food fief. In 953, the third year of Guangshun, he became jiedu guancha liuhou of the Baoyi Army and received the title jun Kaiguo Hou of Nanyang.

In 954, the first year of the Xiande era, he served as senior administrator of the Grand Commandery Prefecture of Shanzhou, commissioner of observation and disposition for Shanzhou and Guozhou, and military governor of the Baoyi Army; he also held jianjiao taifu (檢校太傅), the military-governor title of the Zhangxin Army at Caozhou, and Kaiguo Gong (開國公).

In 955, the second year of Xiande, Emperor Shizong ordered him to prepare against a Liao incursion, build fortifications, dredge canals, and fight the Liao army; after repeated successes he was promoted to jianjiao taiwei (檢校太尉) and tong pingzhangshi (同平章事). In 956, the third year of Xiande, he held military commissions over Xuzhou and Caizhou, served as military governor of the Zhongwu Army, and received the honorific Tejin (特進).

In 958, the fifth year of Xiande, he became military supervisor of the Palace Guard's cavalry and infantry. In 959, the sixth year, he became deputy commander of the Palace Guard's cavalry and infantry, while also serving as a military governor and tong zhongshu menxia pingzhangshi (節度使、同中書門下平章事), with military-administrative jurisdiction over Songzhou, Yunzhou, and Jizhou. In 960, the first year of Jianlong, his office was Zhongshuling (中書令).

The Chenqiao Coup and aftermath

At the time of Zhao Kuangyin's Chenqiao coup, Han Tong was in the palace hall. On hearing of the upheaval, he hurried home and was killed by the military officer Wang Yansheng. Zhao Kuangyin regretted his death and buried him with due rites.

Han Tong died at Kaifeng and was buried in Henan. His epitaph was composed by Chen Baoheng in 960.

Family

His great-grandfather was Han Ying; his grandfather is named only as Han Mou; his father was Han Zhang and his mother Li. His great-grandmother was Lady Diwu, and his grandmother was Zhang.

His first wife was Dong (913–955), and his second wife was Jiang.

He had six sons: Han Shousu, Han Shouliang, and his eldest son Han Shoujun are named, while three others are unidentified. He had four daughters, identified only by birth order; the second was born in 948, the third in 956, and the fourth in 957. He also had a collateral nephew, Han Shouhong.

Character

Han Tong was described as rigid and forthright but lacking in strategy, and as often abusing his authority; people nicknamed him “Han the Staring-Eyed” (韓瞠眼).