Han Zhen

Life

His ancestral origin was Lingshou in Zhending (present-day Lingshou, Hebei); the family later moved to Yongqiu in Kaifeng (present-day Qi County, Henan), also written 雍邱. He was a son of Han Yi and a younger brother of Han Jiang; another account calls him Han Yi’s sixth son.

Early in his career, he received appointment as a Supervisor in the Directorate of Palace Construction through his father’s privilege, and in 1042 passed the Presented Scholar examination under Emperor Renzong. He subsequently served as magistrate of Hefei and Qiantang, as Administrative Assistant to the Nanjing Military Prefecture, and as prefect of Yangzhou (洋州).

At the beginning of the Zhiping era, he became acting judge in the duzhi section of the Three Offices, was appointed Transport Commissioner of Liangzhe, and was transferred as prefect of Hezhong. After Emperor Shenzong’s accession, he served as prefect of Yangzhou (揚州), successively as Transport Commissioner of Huainan and Shaanxi, and as Director of the Court for Reviewing Officials.

During the Xining era, he served as Tianzhangge daizhi and prefect of Qinzhou, later as prefect of Yingzhou and Kaifeng; he also held the offices of Vice Commissioner for Salt and Iron in the Three Offices and Superintendent of the Metropolitan Offices.

In the seventh year of Xining (1074), he was ordered to negotiate the demarcation of the frontier with Liao envoys, appointed Chief Director of the Privy Council, and granted the additional title Longtuge zhixue shi. Another account says that he was sent as an envoy to Western Xia.

During the Yuanfeng era, he entered the Privy Council, first serving as Associate Commissioner of the Privy Council and later as its Director. The dates differ: some accounts assign the associate post to Yuanfeng 4 (1081) and the directorship to year 6 (1083), another places both appointments in year 5 (1082), while the office chronology gives 1081–1083.

When Zhezong came to the throne, Han Zhen was appointed Right Pushe and concurrently Vice Director of the Secretariat; another version reads 「尚書左僕身」. In the first year of Yuanyou (1086), he was criticized by remonstrance officials, removed from the chief-ministerial office, and made Grand Academician of the Guanwendedian; he then served as prefect of Yingchang and later of Yongxing Army, Henan, and Taiyuan, while another account gives his final appointment as Military Governor of Anwu and prefect of Taiyuan.

In the third year of Yuanyou (1088), he retired as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent; another account gives Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He died in the fourth year of Shaosheng (1097) at the age of seventy-nine and received the posthumous name Zhuangmin.

Family and associations

Han Zhen’s wife was Cheng shi (1020–1068), and his father-in-law was Cheng Lin (988–1056).

His elder brothers included Han Jiang (韓絳), Han Zong (韓綜), Han Wei (韓維), and Han Gang (韓綱); his younger brothers were Han Wei (韓緯) and Han Mian (韓緬).

His sons were Han Zongshu (1039–1122) and Han Zongwu; a nephew was Han Zongshi, and a great-grandson was Han Zhao.

His administration was marked by severity and, at times, brutality. While he was prefect of Qinzhou, he once ordered subordinates to be beaten to death with an iron-bound staff, prompting the Qin saying, “Better meet a nursing tiger than Yuru” (「寧逢乳虎，莫逢玉汝」). At the beginning of Zhezong’s reign, the remonstrators Lü Tao and Su Zhe submitted memorials concerning him that also implicated Cai Que and Zhang Dun; another account says that Han Zhen exposed the misconduct of Cai Que and Zhang Dun.

In 1080 he was a friend of Yu Kangzhi; Zhou Yongqing was his superior, and Li Qingchen, Su Shi, and Wei Xiang wrote to him. He valued Feng Ruhui, Bi Zhongyou, and Cheng Xiang, while Liu Ban composed his tomb inscription; four poems by Han Zhen are recorded.