Chen Han (; 1360–1364), officially the Great Han (), was a short-lived Chinese dynasty in the middle Yangtze region during the chaotic late Yuan dynasty. It was founded by the Red Turban rebel general Chen Youliang.

History

Chen Youliang first dominated and later assassinated the Red Turban leader Xu Shouhui and usurped his regional regime.

Chen Han

At its height, Chen Han territory encompassed the modern provinces of Hubei, Jiangxi, and Hunan, but Jiangxi mostly fell to another warlord, Zhu Yuanzhang, in 1361.

Chen Han

In 1363, Chen and Zhu fought in the decisive Battle of Lake Poyang, where Chen was killed.

Chen Han

His teenage son, Chen Li, succeeded him but no longer had the resources to resist the powerful Zhu, who conquered Han the next year.

Chen Li surrendered to Zhu and then moved to Goryeo (Korea), where he had children and became the progenitor of the Korean Yangsan Jin clan.

Genealogy

Some Chinese and Vietnamese records indicate that Chen Youliang was the son of Chen Yiji (陳益稷 or Trần Ích Tắc), a Yuan dynasty noble who was originally a prince of the Trần dynasty. It is currently unclear what the relation between Chen Pucai and Chen Yiji is, or whether they are in fact the same person.

References

Former countries in Chinese history

Transition from Yuan to Ming