Ban Chao (Chinese: 班超; Wade-Giles: Pan Ch'ao, 32-102 CE), born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, was a Chinese general and cavalry commander in charge of the administration of the "Western Regions" (Central Asia) during the Eastern Han dynasty. Personal Names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Personal Names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin Year 32 was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. This article is related to a city for the airport located in the city see Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Xianyang ( Sienyang Hsienyang ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess The Western Regions or Xiyu ( was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to 8th century that referred to the regions west of Jade Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. He repelled the Xiongnu and secured Chinese control on the Tarim Basin region, and led a military expedition to the heart of Central Asia. The Xiongnu ( Turkish: Doğu Hun were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes The Tarim Basin ( is a large Endorheic basin occupying an area of more than 400000 km² Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south He fought for 31 years.

Control of the Tarim Basin

Ban Chao, like his predecessors Huo Qubing and Wei Qing from the earlier-half of the Han Dynasty before him, is said to have been extremely effective at expelling the Xiongnu from the Tarim Basin, and at bringing the various people of the Western Regions under Chinese rule during the time of the Han Mingdi Emperor (57-75). Huo Qubing ( b 140 BC - d 117 BC born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu. Wèi Qīng ( d 106 BC born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general during Han Dynasty of China, whose campaigns against Xiongnu The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The Xiongnu ( Turkish: Doğu Hun were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes The Tarim Basin ( is a large Endorheic basin occupying an area of more than 400000 km² Family background Then-Liu Yang was born in 28 to Emperor Guangwu and his first love Consort Yin Lihua. This helped secure and flourish the trade routes we have come to know nowadays as the Silk Road. The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, are an extensive interconnected network of Trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East South and Western Asia with the He was generally outnumbered, but skillfully played on their divisions. The kingdoms of Loulan, Khotan and Kashgar came under Chinese rule. Loulan or Kroran ( Uyghur Language Kroran } is an ancient Oasis town founded in the second century on the north-eastern edge of the Lop Desert Kashgar or Kashi (officially transliterated as Kaxgar in Uyghur; قەشقەر/K̡ǝxk̡ǝr, is an Oasis

Ban Chao was recalled to Luoyang, but then sent again to the Western Region area four years later, during the reign of the new emperor Han Zhangdi. Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. Family background Then-Prince Da was born to then-Crown Prince Liu Zhuang and one of his consorts Consort Jia, in 57 He obtained the military help of the Kushan Empire in 84 in repelling the Sogdians who were trying to support the rebellion of the king of Kashgar, and the next year in his attack on Turpan, in the eastern Tarim Basin. The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 Year 84 was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. History Hellenistic period The Sogdian Rock or Rock of Ariamazes a fortress in Sogdiana was captured in 327 BC by the forces of Alexander the Great Turfan Prefecture ( simplified Chinese: 吐鲁番地区 Pinyin: Tulufán Dìqū تۇرپان ۋىلايىتى|Turpan Wilayiti|Turpan Vilayiti is located in Ban Chao ultimately brought the whole of the Tarim Basin under Chinese control.

In recognition for their support to the Chinese, the Kushans (named Yuezhi in Chinese sources) requested, but were denied, a Han princess, even after they had sent presents to the Chinese court. The Yuezhi or Rouzhi ( Chinese: 月支 Pinyin: yuè zhī or ròu zhī; also 月氏 Pinyin: yuè shì Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. In retaliation, they marched on Ban Chao in 90 with a force of 70,000, but, exhausted by the expedition, were finally defeated by the smaller Chinese force. Year 90 was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. The Yuezhi retreated and paid tribute to the Chinese Empire from then on, until they managed to set their own king in Kashgar in 116. Kashgar or Kashi (officially transliterated as Kaxgar in Uyghur; قەشقەر/K̡ǝxk̡ǝr, is an Oasis

Expedition to the doorstep of Europe

Remains of an ancient Chinese crossbow, 2nd century BCE. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts The 2nd century BC started the first day of 200 BC and ended the last day of 101 BC.

Ban Chao became Protector General (都護; Duhu) in 91, and was based at Kucha. The Protectorate of the Western Regions was a Chinese Military government established by the Han Dynasty to manage and to control the Western Regions Year 91 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Kucha or Kuche (also Kuçar, Kuchar) Uyghur ( كۇچار) Chinese Simplified 库车; Traditional 庫車 In 97, Ban Chao crossed the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains with an army of 70,000 men comprised entirely of light cavalry and mounted infantry in a campaign against the Xiongnu/Huns, who were harassing the trade routes now known as the Silk Road. Year 97 was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. The Tian Shan (天山 Pinyin: Tiān Shān "celestial mountains" also commonly spelled Tien Shan, is a Mountain range located in Central The Pamir Mountains are located in Central Asia and are formed by the junction or Knot of the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Light cavalry refers to lightly-armed and armored troops mounted on Horses, as opposed to Heavy cavalry, where the riders (and sometimes the horses are heavily armored Mounted infantry were Soldiers who rode Horses instead of marching but actually fought on foot in the modern era with Muskets or Rifles but before The Xiongnu ( Turkish: Doğu Hun were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy The Silk Road, or Silk Routes, are an extensive interconnected network of Trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East South and Western Asia with the The Han general made an alliance with the Parthian king Pacorus II and established his base on shores of the Caspian Sea and at Antiochia Margiana (Merv), the eastern outpost of the Parthian Kingdom. Pacorus II of Parthia ruled the Parthian Empire from about 78 to 105 The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged Sea. Merv ( Russian: Мерв from Persian: مرو Marv, sometimes transliterated Marw or Mary; cf Merv ( Russian: Мерв from Persian: مرو Marv, sometimes transliterated Marw or Mary; cf Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran From here he reportedly sent an envoy named Gan Ying to Daqin (Rome). Gan Ying ( Hanyu Pinyin: Gān Yīng was a Chinese military Ambassador who was sent on a mission to Rome in AD 97 by the Chinese General Daqin ( is the ancient Chinese name for the Roman Empire and the Near East. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Gan Ying left the first recorded Chinese account of Europe, although he actually only reached the Black Sea, after being convinced to turn back by Parthian traders who had no interest in promoting direct Han and Roman contacts. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey

The Han Chinese army's forts established under the alliance with the Parthians was a distance of only a few days march to the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon, itself only about 32 miles from present-day Baghdad, and the Han forces held the region for several years. Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran For the Spanish saint see Ctesiphon of Vergium. Ctesiphon (قطسيفون تیسفون was one of the great cities of the Persian Empire In 116, the Roman Emperor Trajan advanced into Parthia to Ctesiphon and came within one day's march of the Chinese border garrisons, but direct contacts apparently never took place. Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan ( September 18 53 &ndash August 9 117) was a Roman Emperor who However, J. Innes Miller speculates that Trajan's Parthian campaigns "should be interpreted to some extent in the light" of these Chinese actions. ^[1] Some time after this, the first of several Roman embassies to China is recorded in Chinese sources, coming from the sea route in 166, and a second one in 284. Sino-Roman relations started first on an indirect basis during the 2nd century BC. Events By Place Roman Empire November 20 — Diocletian becomes Emperor.

Ban Chao was created the Marquess of Dingyuan (定遠侯, i. e. , "the Marquess who stabilized faraway places") for his services to the Empire and returned to the capital Luoyang at the age of 70 years old, and before long died there in 102. Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. Following his death, the power of the Xiongnu in the Western Territories increased again, and subsequent Chinese emperors were never to reach so far to the west.

According to a Chinese saying Ban Chao was one of the most prominent actors in the expansion of China to the west, on a level with Zhang Qian:

In the time of the Western Han there was Zhang Qian,

In the Eastern Han there was Ban Chao. Zhang Qian ( 張[[wikt 騫|騫]] Wade-Giles Chang Ch'ien was an imperial envoy to the outside world in the 2nd century BC during the time of the Han Dynasty

A family of historians

Ban Chao also belonged to a family of historians. His father was Ban Biao (3-54 CE) who started the History of the Western Han Dynasty (Hanshu; The Book of Han) in 36, which was completed by his son Ban Gu (32-92) and his daughter (Ban Chao's brother and sister) Ban Zhao. Ban Biao ( 3–54 Courtesy name Shupi (叔皮 was a Chinese Historian, and an official born in what is now born in Xianyang Shaanxi The Book of Han ( is a classic Chinese Historical writing completed in 111 CE covering the history of Western Han from 206 BCE to Ban Gu ( 32–92 Courtesy name Mengjian (孟堅 was a 1st century Chinese historian best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han Bān Zhāo {45-116 CE}( fl 1st century Courtesy name Huiban (惠班 was the first female Chinese Historian. Ban Chao was probably the key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions contained in the Hanshu.

Ban Chao's son Ban Yong (班勇 Bān Yŏng) participated in military campaigns with his father and continued to have a central military role in the Tarim Basin into the 120s.

Ban Chao's family:

• Ban Biao (班彪; 3-54; father)
  • Ban Gu (班固; 32-92; first son)
  • Ban Chao (班超; 32-102; second son)
  • Ban Zhao (班昭; 35-100; daughter)

Famous Quotes

• "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cub?" (不入虎穴，焉得虎子)
• "Clear water can not harbor big fish, clean politics (or strict enforcement of regulations) can not foster harmony among the general public" (水清無大魚，察政不得下和)

Ban Chao in idioms

See four-character idiom:

• "Throw away your writing brush and join the military!" (投筆從戎) based on his words "A brave man has no other plan but to follow Fu and Zhang Qian's footsteps and do something and become somebody in a foreign land. Ban Biao ( 3–54 Courtesy name Shupi (叔皮 was a Chinese Historian, and an official born in what is now born in Xianyang Shaanxi Year 3 ( III) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Year 54 was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Ban Gu ( 32–92 Courtesy name Mengjian (孟堅 was a 1st century Chinese historian best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han Year 32 was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Year 92 was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Year 32 was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Bān Zhāo {45-116 CE}( fl 1st century Courtesy name Huiban (惠班 was the first female Chinese Historian. Year 35 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Ink brushes ( in Japanese fude) are used in Chinese calligraphy. How can I waste my life on writing? (大丈夫無他志略，猶當效傅介子、張騫立功異域，以取封侯，安能久事筆硯間乎？) in Hou Hanshu.
• "Clear water harbors no fish. " (水清無魚)

Ban Chao of today

Pan Chao (1108) is a frigate built in Taiwan based on the Oliver Hazard Perry class-design. ROCS Pan Chao (班超 FFG-1108 is the sixth of eight Taiwanese-built frigates based on the USN Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7 design For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. Ships The ships were designed by Maine shipyard Bath Iron Works in partnership with New York-based naval architects Gibbs & Cox. It is currently in service for the Republic of China Navy. The Republic of China Navy (中華民國海軍 Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Hǎijūn is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China (Taiwan.

See also

• Battle of Yiwulu
• Guo Xun
• Zhang Qian

References