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Fan Kuai
Dog butcher from Pei who followed Liu Bang from the start, burst into the tent at the Feast at Hongmen to shield him, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wuyang
Mural of the event “Hongmen Banquet”, which this person took part in.
On the eve of Qin's collapse, Liu Bang entered Guanzhong first and accepted the surrender of King Ziying of Qin, infuriating Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu camped four hundred thousand troops at Hongmen, intending to annihilate Liu Bang's faction in one stroke.
- Roles
- CommandersWarriors
Fan Kuai of Pei made his living butchering dogs and married Lu Xu, younger sister of the future Empress Lu, which made him Liu Bang's brother-in-law. When Liu rose in revolt he followed as a retainer, often first over the walls. At the Feast at Hongmen, when Xiang Zhuang's sword dance threatened Liu Bang, Fan forced his way in with sword and shield, defended his master's record to Xiang Yu, downed the wine and raw pork shoulder offered him, and covered Liu's escape. Under the Han he fought Zang Tu, Han Xin of Hann and Chen Xi and was made Marquis of Wuyang. While he led troops against Lu Wan of Yan as chancellor of state, he was accused of siding with the Lu clan; Liu Bang ordered him beheaded, but Chen Ping brought him back to Chang'an instead, where the widowed Empress Lu freed him. He died in 189 BC with the posthumous name Marquis Wu. Sima Qian notes that he knew Fan Kuai's grandson Fan Taguang.
Life and times
Dates Birth unknown–189 BCE
- 206 BCEHongmen BanquetTook part
- 206 BCEFeast at Hongmen Confrontation