Misplaced Pages

Zhao Chongguo: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 06:11, 13 June 2024 editGeneralissima (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers10,894 editsNo edit summaryTag: Visual edit← Previous edit Revision as of 06:24, 13 June 2024 edit undoGeneralissima (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers10,894 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 2: Line 2:


== Early life and career == == Early life and career ==
In 137 BCE, Zhou Chongguo was born in the Shanggui prefecture of the ], located along the periphery of the Western Han in present-day ]. He was born into a "well-respected family" ({{Zh|c=良家|p=liángjiā}}) originating in the northwestern commanderies, suggesting material qualifications for officialdom and a lack of involvement with crime, magic, or merchant trades.{{Sfn|Dreyer|2016|pp=670}} In 137 BCE, Zhou Chongguo was born in the Shanggui prefecture of the ], located along the periphery of the Western Han in present-day ]. He was born into a "well-respected family" ({{Zh|c=良家|p=liángjiā}}) originating in the northwestern commanderies, suggesting material qualifications for officialdom and a lack of involvement with crime, magic, or merchant trades.{{Sfn|Dreyer|2008|pp=670}}


Little is known about his early life or military experience prior to 104. Posthumous histories report that he was ambitious as a youth and sought to become a ]. At a young age, he studied ] and the ]. With the "Six Commanderies"{{Efn|Comprising Longxi, ], ],], ], and ] commanderies.|group=lower-greek}} having a regional tradition of ] service, Zhou likely began service as a cavalryman in a local defense unit.{{Sfn|Dreyer|2016|pp=671–672}} Little is known about his early life or military experience prior to 104. Posthumous histories report that he was ambitious as a youth and sought to become a ]. At a young age, he studied ] and the ]. With the "Six Commanderies"{{Efn|Comprising Longxi, ], ],], ], and ] commanderies.|group=lower-greek}} having a regional tradition of ] service, Zhou likely began service as a cavalryman in a local defense unit.{{Sfn|Dreyer|2008|pp=671–672}}


== Military service == == Military service ==
In 104, an elite cavalry unit titled the ] ({{Zh|c=羽林|p=yǔlín|labels=no}}) was created in the capital of ], one of five units placed under the administration of the ] and tasked with protecting the ]. The members of the unit, dubbed the "Gentlemen of the Feathered Forest" ({{Zh|c=羽林郎|p=yǔlínláng|labels=no}}), were mainly recruited from the northwest, with a particular emphasis on the descendants of men who died in military service. The soldiers of the Feathered Forest, like those in other Imperial Household units, were often appointed to higher military and civil positions following a period of service. Zhao joined the unit at some point between its formation and 99 BCE. In 104, an elite cavalry unit titled the ] ({{Zh|c=羽林|p=yǔlín|labels=no}}) was created in the capital of ], one of five units placed under the administration of the ] and tasked with protecting the ]. The members of the unit, dubbed the "Gentlemen of the Feathered Forest" ({{Zh|c=羽林郎|p=yǔlínláng|labels=no}}), were mainly recruited from the northwest, with a particular emphasis on the descendants of men who died in military service. The soldiers of the Feathered Forest, like those in other Imperial Household units, were often appointed to higher military and civil positions following a period of service. Zhao joined the unit at some point between its formation and 99 BCE.{{Sfn|Dreyer|2008|pp=671–672}}


In 99 BCE, Zhao joined a force of 30,000 cavalry in ]'s campaign against the ], receiving the rank of acting ]. The army was forced to retreat, and suffered heavy casualties. Trapped by the encroaching Xiongnu forces after several days of combat. In 99 BCE, Zhao joined a force of 30,000 cavalry in ]'s campaign against the ], receiving the rank of acting ]. The army was forced to retreat, and suffered heavy casualties. Trapped by the encroaching Xiongnu forces after several days of combat.{{Sfn|Dreyer|2008|pp=671–672}}


== Notes == == Notes ==

Revision as of 06:24, 13 June 2024

Zhou Chongguo (137 – 52 BCE) was a prominent Chinese military commander and official during the Western Han dynasty.

Early life and career

In 137 BCE, Zhou Chongguo was born in the Shanggui prefecture of the Longxi Commandery, located along the periphery of the Western Han in present-day Gansu. He was born into a "well-respected family" (Chinese: 良家; pinyin: liángjiā) originating in the northwestern commanderies, suggesting material qualifications for officialdom and a lack of involvement with crime, magic, or merchant trades.

Little is known about his early life or military experience prior to 104. Posthumous histories report that he was ambitious as a youth and sought to become a general. At a young age, he studied military science and the Four Barbarians. With the "Six Commanderies" having a regional tradition of cavalry service, Zhou likely began service as a cavalryman in a local defense unit.

Military service

In 104, an elite cavalry unit titled the Feathered Forest (羽林; yǔlín) was created in the capital of Chang'an, one of five units placed under the administration of the Minister of the Imperial Household and tasked with protecting the Emperor. The members of the unit, dubbed the "Gentlemen of the Feathered Forest" (羽林郎; yǔlínláng), were mainly recruited from the northwest, with a particular emphasis on the descendants of men who died in military service. The soldiers of the Feathered Forest, like those in other Imperial Household units, were often appointed to higher military and civil positions following a period of service. Zhao joined the unit at some point between its formation and 99 BCE.

In 99 BCE, Zhao joined a force of 30,000 cavalry in Li Guangli's campaign against the Xiongnu, receiving the rank of acting major. The army was forced to retreat, and suffered heavy casualties. Trapped by the encroaching Xiongnu forces after several days of combat.

Notes

  1. Comprising Longxi, Tianshui, Anding,Beidi, Shang, and Xihe commanderies.

References

  1. Dreyer 2008, pp. 670.
  2. ^ Dreyer 2008, pp. 671–672.

Bibliography