Ke Bineng
Encyclopedia
Kebineng was a territorial chief of the Xianbei
tribe during the late Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. He rose to power after the warlord Cao Cao
defeated the Wuhuan
tribe in northern China.
, Kebineng and several other Xianbei tribal leaders decided to send tribute to Cao Cao. Because of this deed, Kebineng and these other chiefs were given kingly status. According to Sima Guang
's Zizhi Tongjian
, Kebineng was a just, honest and charismatic man who managed to win the support of most of the Xianbei. Kebineng's greatest political rival was another Xianbei chief named Budugen. After Kebineng lured Budugen's brother into a trap and killed him, Budugen and Kebineng would war incessantly. Budugen's clan weakened in strength from this fighting, though Kebineng's faction grew greatly in power from military victory, numbers, and support from the state of Cao Wei.
After Budugen went to the Han Dynasty imperial court to offer tribute, Kebineng decided to assault the eastern branch of the Xianbei. The Han imperial court began to deem Kebineng as a threat and Tian Yu
, the Han imperial court-appointed protector of the Wuhuan people, decided to strike at Kebineng's rear while Kebineng was on campaign. After this incident, relations between the Xianbei tribe under Kebineng's leadership and the Han Dynasty (and later the state of Cao Wei) became strained. Although the Zizhi Tongjian states that on a number of occasions generals like Tian Yu and Liang Xi
defeated Kebineng, it is highly unlikely that Kebineng's clan was completely overwhelmed every time it engaged Han and Wei troops in battle.
On one occasion when Tian Yu went to besiege Kebineng's father-in-law for instance, Kebineng came to assist with tens of thousands of cavalry and would have defeated Tian Yu had he not been persuaded by his advisors and a diplomat named Yan Zhi to call for a cease-fire. The power of Kebineng's tribe did not significantly wane in any case until his death, but before Kebineng did die, he managed to initiate several devastating raids on Yu, Ping and Bing provinces. When Kebineng finally did meet his end, there was a period of relative peace between the Xianbei and China for several decades.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Kebineng was an ally of Cao Wei
against the rival state of Shu Han
. Kebineng was a Xianbei chieftain bribed by Wei to assault Shu, but ended up fleeing when he learned that the Shu general Ma Chao
was in command of the army dispatched to stop him. The reason it is believed he fled was because of Ma's reputation a great warrior among the Qiang people, who formed the bulk of Kebineng's unit.
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
tribe during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He rose to power after the warlord Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
defeated the Wuhuan
Wuhuan
The Wuhuan were a proto-Mongolic nomadic people who inhabited northern China, in what is now the provinces of Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi, the municipality of Beijing and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia....
tribe in northern China.
Biography
When Tadun of the Wuhuan was defeated by Cao Cao at the Battle of White Wolf MountainBattle of White Wolf Mountain
The Battle of White Wolf Mountain was a battle fought in 207 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle took place in northern China, beyond the frontiers of the ruling Later Han Dynasty. It was fought between the warlord Cao Cao and the nomadic Wuhuan tribes,...
, Kebineng and several other Xianbei tribal leaders decided to send tribute to Cao Cao. Because of this deed, Kebineng and these other chiefs were given kingly status. According to Sima Guang
Sima Guang
Sīmǎ Guāng was a Chinese historian, scholar, and high chancellor of the Song Dynasty, jinshi 1038.-Life, profession, and works:...
's Zizhi Tongjian
Zizhi Tongjian
The Zizhi Tongjian was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084, under the form of a chronicles. In 1065 CE, Emperor Yingzong of Song ordered the great historian Sima Guang to lead with other scholars such as his chief assistants Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, the...
, Kebineng was a just, honest and charismatic man who managed to win the support of most of the Xianbei. Kebineng's greatest political rival was another Xianbei chief named Budugen. After Kebineng lured Budugen's brother into a trap and killed him, Budugen and Kebineng would war incessantly. Budugen's clan weakened in strength from this fighting, though Kebineng's faction grew greatly in power from military victory, numbers, and support from the state of Cao Wei.
After Budugen went to the Han Dynasty imperial court to offer tribute, Kebineng decided to assault the eastern branch of the Xianbei. The Han imperial court began to deem Kebineng as a threat and Tian Yu
Tian Yu
Tian Yu , style name Guorang , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Tian Yu joined Xiang Yang on the orders of Cao Rui when the Eastern Wu army invaded the northern region in a combined effort with Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. Lu Xun then...
, the Han imperial court-appointed protector of the Wuhuan people, decided to strike at Kebineng's rear while Kebineng was on campaign. After this incident, relations between the Xianbei tribe under Kebineng's leadership and the Han Dynasty (and later the state of Cao Wei) became strained. Although the Zizhi Tongjian states that on a number of occasions generals like Tian Yu and Liang Xi
Liang Xi
Liang Xi , style name Ziyu , was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a native of Zhe , Chen Commandery . Liang Xi served as the Inspector of Bing Province...
defeated Kebineng, it is highly unlikely that Kebineng's clan was completely overwhelmed every time it engaged Han and Wei troops in battle.
On one occasion when Tian Yu went to besiege Kebineng's father-in-law for instance, Kebineng came to assist with tens of thousands of cavalry and would have defeated Tian Yu had he not been persuaded by his advisors and a diplomat named Yan Zhi to call for a cease-fire. The power of Kebineng's tribe did not significantly wane in any case until his death, but before Kebineng did die, he managed to initiate several devastating raids on Yu, Ping and Bing provinces. When Kebineng finally did meet his end, there was a period of relative peace between the Xianbei and China for several decades.
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Kebineng was an ally of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
against the rival state of Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
. Kebineng was a Xianbei chieftain bribed by Wei to assault Shu, but ended up fleeing when he learned that the Shu general Ma Chao
Ma Chao
Ma Chao was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill...
was in command of the army dispatched to stop him. The reason it is believed he fled was because of Ma's reputation a great warrior among the Qiang people, who formed the bulk of Kebineng's unit.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms