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Huan Fan 桓範

Jul 17, 2013 © Ulrich Theobald

Huan Fan 桓範 (d. 249 CE), courtesy name Yuanze 元則, was a high minister and political writer in the empire of Wei 曹魏 (220-265) during the Three Kingdoms period 三國 (220-280).

He came from the princedom of Pei 沛 (near modern Suixi 濉溪, Anhui) and began his career as left supervisor of the Place Guard (yulin zuojian 羽林左監), was then promoted to Aide of the Capital Commandant (zhonglingjun shangshu 中領軍尚書), General conquering the barbarians (zhenglu jiangjun 征虜將軍), leader of the court gentlemen of the Eastern Capital (dong zhonglangjiang 東中郎將), Area Commander of Qingzhou and Xuzhou with Special Powers (chijie dudu Qing-Xu zhu junshi 持節都督青徐諸軍事) and then regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yanzhou 兖州.

During the Zhengshi reign-period 正始 (240-248), he was promoted to the post of Chamberlain for the National Treasury (dasinong 大司農).

Huan Fan was befriended with Cao Shuang 曹爽, who acted as regent for Emperor Cao Fang 曹芳 (r. 239-254), and was therefore equally treated like one of the venerable Nine Chamberlains (jiuqing 九卿). When general and co-regent Sima Yi 司馬懿 threatened to overthrow Cao Shuang, Huan Fan suggested evacuating the emperor to Xuchang 許昌, yet Cao Shuang and his brothers decided to fight to the death. Huan Fan was arrested along with them and executed on order of Sima Yi.

Huan Fan has written the books Huanglan 皇覽 and Shiyaolun 世要論 that are only preserved in fragments.

Source:
Zhang Shunhui 張舜徽, ed. (1992). Sanguozhi cidian 三國志辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 337.