Ban Biao (3–54 CE) was a prominent historian of the Eastern Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Shupi, and he was a native of Anling, Fufeng Commandery (in present-day northeastern Xianyang, Shaanxi).
Early in his career, Ban Biao attached himself to the warlord Kui Xiao in Tianshui during the chaotic interregnum following the fall of Wang Mang’s Xin dynasty. Later, he moved to the Hexi Corridor (modern Gansu), where he served as an advisor to the regional governor Dou Rong. Ban Biao played a key role in persuading Dou Rong to pledge allegiance to Emperor Guangwu, the founder of the Eastern Han, thereby aiding the reunification of the empire.
In the early years of the Eastern Han, Ban Biao was appointed Magistrate of Xu County, but resigned due to illness. Thereafter, he devoted himself entirely to historical scholarship.
Noting that Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian – Shiji ended with the Taichu era (c. 104–101 BCE) of Emperor Wu of Han, Ban Biao undertook to continue the narrative. He gathered extensive historical materials and compiled a supplement titled Houzhuan (“Sequel” or “Later Traditions”) comprising 65 chapters, covering the period from Emperor Wu to the end of the Western Han.
This work became the foundation for the Book of Han – Hanshu, which was later expanded and completed by his son Ban Gu, his daughter Ban Zhao, and the scholar Ma Xu.
In addition to his historiography, Ban Biao was also a skilled literary writer. Among his surviving works are the political essay “Discourse on the Mandate of Heaven” (Wang Ming Lun), and rhapsodies such as “Rhapsody on Viewing the Sea” (Lan Hai Fu) and “Rhapsody on the Northern Expedition” (Bei Zheng Fu), which reflect both his philosophical outlook and personal experiences during turbulent times.
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