Tao Kan

Tao Kan ( Chinese  陶侃 , Pinyin Táo Kǎn , born 259 ; died 334 ) was a Chinese general and provincial governor during the Jin Dynasty . He was also known by his major name Shixing ( 士 行 , Shìxíng ), as well as under his title Gong Huan of Changsha ( 長沙 桓公 , Chángshā Huán Gong ). He was also the great grandfather of the poet Tao Yuanming .

Life

Tao Kan was born during the outgoing Eastern Wu Dynasty (221–280). His mother Zhan was the concubine of Wu General Tao Dan . After the early death of his father, Tao grew up in insecure circumstances, but got into a low official position thanks to the self-sacrificing support of his mother, which was the starting point of his career.

The senior Jin official Zhang Hua did not use the Tao Kan recommended to him in his own staff, but subordinated him to General Sun Xiu ( 孫秀 , Sūn Xiù ). From this position Tao Kan was transferred to the governor Liu Hong ( 劉弘 ) of Jing Province ( 荊州 , Jīngzhōu - modern Hubei and Hunan ), under whom he put down the rebellion of Chen Min ( 陳敏 , Chén Mǐn ). Under the command of General Wang Dun , he put down other riots, including that of Du Tao ( 杜 弢 ). After all, he was the provincial governor of Jing himself.

Influential General Wang, however, began to distrust the capable Tao Kan. An execution of Tao was out of the question, since General Zhou Fang ( 周 訪 , Zhōu Fǎng ) was the father-in-law of Tao's son. Tao was only transferred to Guangzhou ( 廣州 , Guǎngzhōu ) as a punishment in 315 , which was under the control of the rebellious Wang Ji ( 王 機 , Wáng Jī ). Tao defeated Wang and pacified the province.

General Wang Dun rose up against Emperor Yuan himself in 322 , whereupon this Tao appointed as governor of Jiang ( Chinese  江州 , Pinyin Jiāngzhōu ). Contrary to Yuan's expectations, Tao's military support for the emperor was modest, and Wang managed to bring the emperor under his control. Yuan's successor Emperor Ming ( 晉明帝 , Jìn Míngdì ) resisted Wang's claims in 324 and won the dispute. Tao was brought back to court after being exiled to Guang and then took over the administration of Jing again, as well as the military suzerainty over the western part of the empire. Tao's development work made possible the later campaigns of Huan Wen ( 桓溫 , Huán Wēn ) against Cheng Han .

Emperor Ming died as early as 325. Tao Kan's name was not mentioned in his honorary list, which led to differences between the regent Yu Liang ( 庾亮 , Yǔ liàng , Yu's nephew, Emperor Cheng ( 晉成帝 , Jìn Chéngdì ) was only four years old when he was enthroned) and Tao Kan led. During the rebellion of Su Jun ( 蘇峻 , sū jùn ), Yu secured himself against a flank attack he feared Taos, which led to the fall of the capital Jiankang ( 建康 , Jiànkāng ) in 328. Yu fled to General Wen Jiao ( 溫 嶠 ) in Jiang Province and offered Tao Kan the post of commander in chief in the Imperial Army. After a further negative attitude towards Yu, Tao accepted the offer, united his forces with the Yus and Wens, and was able to kill 328 Su in battle. In 330 he also suppressed the Guo Mo ( 郭 默 , Guō Mò ) rebellion .

For his services, Tao was raised to the rank of gong (duke) of Changsha in 329 and was given the military command of eight provinces. This power surpassed even his former rival, Wang Dun. In 334, he planned to retire to Changsha due to illness, but died on the trip.

Traditional character

It is disputed today whether he belonged to the Xi minority who lived in what is now Jiangxi Province . His background from poor backgrounds and the empire of the Wu dynasty was a major obstacle for Tao Kan in obtaining posts. The historiographers who gave information about his life in addition to his great-grandson Tao Yuanming were close to the Jin and described him as an educated speaker as well as a brilliant and incorruptible strategist and organizer, but also as tough, vain, insidious and pragmatic. What is certain is that his aristocratic contemporaries unpleasantly attracted the attention of his unpolished appearance. Although he valued comfort, he was a staunch opponent of excessive consumption (especially alcohol) and worked hard on himself through low-level physical activity.

literature

• Jin Shu , volume 66
• Zizhi Tongjian , Volumes 85-95.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Lily Xiao Hong Lee; AD Stefanowska: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women , page 380 f. Digitized
2. ↑ ^{a b} Xiao Fei Tian: Tao Yuanming & Manuscript Culture . Page 70 f. Digitized

Note: This article places the family name before the person's first name. This is the usual order in Chinese. Tao is the family name here, Kan is the first name.