Fan Kuai

A meritorious vassal of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of the Western Han Dynasty in China. Wife of Empress Lü's sister, he was the most trusted vassal for his bravery. A native of Pei (Jiangsu). Originally, he made his living by slaughtering dogs, but as one of Emperor Gaozu's favorite vassals, he played an active role as a warrior from the beginning of the anti-Qin uprising. The story of Fan Kuai in the Records of the Grand Historian passionately recounts the scene of the "Hongmen Banquet." Fearing for Liu Bang's future, Xiang Yu invited him to a banquet and tried to kill him there. Kuai, who had been waiting outside the banquet, sensed his master's danger and, armed with sword and shield, pushed aside the guards and burst in, confronting Xiang Yu himself and explaining that Liu Bang was without ulterior motives. Meanwhile, Liu Bang was able to escape, claiming to go to the toilet. At the end of the description, the author Sima Qian writes, "If Kai had not jumped in, Liu Bang would have died." Even after the Han unified the country, he was known for his contributions to suppressing rebellions by various kings as the Left Prime Minister and Prime Minister, and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuyang.

[Akira Kasugai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、前漢の高祖劉邦(りゅうほう)の功臣。呂后(りょこう)の妹を妻とし、武勇をもってもっとも信頼の厚かった臣下。沛(はい)（江蘇(こうそ)）の人。もともと犬のと畜を生業(なりわい)としていたが、高祖の子飼いの臣として反秦(しん)の挙兵の当初から武人として活躍した。『史記』樊噲伝が熱情を込めて語るのは「鴻門(こうもん)の会」事件の場面である。劉邦の将来を恐れた項羽(こうう)は酒宴に招いたその席で殺そうとした。宴の外で待機していた噲は、主君の危うきを察知するや剣と盾(たて)を帯びて衛兵を押しのけ闖入(ちんにゅう)、自ら項羽に直面して劉邦の二心なきを説く。その間に劉邦は厠(かわや)に行くと称して脱出できた。描写の最後に著者司馬遷(しばせん)は「噲が飛び込まなかったら劉邦は死んでいたろう」と記す。漢の天下統一後も、左丞相(さじょうしょう)・相国(しょうこく)として諸王の反乱鎮定に功があり、舞陽(ぶよう)侯に封ぜられた。

［春日井明］

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