Huan Shiqian
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Huan Shiqian | |
|---|---|
| 桓石虔 | |
| Administrator of Hedong (河東太守) | |
| In office 381 – 384 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xiaowu of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 388 |
| Relations | Huan Wen (uncle) Huan Chong (uncle) |
| Children | Huan Hong Huan Zhen Huan Dan Lady Huan |
| Parent |
|
| Posthumous name | Marquis of Zuotang (作唐侯) |
| Childhood name | Zhen'e (鎮惡) |
Huan Shiqian (died 388), childhood name Zhen'e, was a Chinese military general of the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was the nephew of Huan Wen and Huan Chong. Shiqian rose to fame in 354, when he single-handedly saved Huan Chong from being surrounded by Former Qin forces. He later led and followed in campaigns against Qin during the 370s as Fu Jian invaded the south to conquer Jin. Shiqian was remembered by the people of his time for his ferocity and bravery.
Huan Shiqian was the son of Huan Huo, who in turn was the brother of Jin's top commander Huan Wen. From a young age, he was noted for possessing a physically strong body. He first distinguished himself in 354 during his uncle Huan Wen's first northern campaign. During the campaign, his other uncle, Huan Chong was surrounded by thousands of Former Qin troops led by Fu Jiàn and was about to be captured. Shiqian charged alone into the enemies to save him. Although they outnumbered him, the Qin soldiers did not dare attack him, so Shiqian safely rescued his uncle. Due to this event, Huan Shiqian became widely feared that it was supposedly common for people during his time to shout "Huan Shiqian has arrived! (桓石虔來!)" to patients with severe illnesses with the belief it would frighten them enough to relieve them of their diseases; many patients who received this "treatment" apparently recovered.[1]
Shiqian followed his father to Jingzhou in 361 after Huo was assigned there. During a hunting trip, Huan Huo's party shot a couple of arrows into a beast of prey and incapacitate it. Knowing Shiqian's bravery, Huan Huo's generals challenged him to pull out one of the arrows from the beast. Shiqian quickly went to the beast and pulled out an arrow, which caused the beast to leap. However, Shiqian was able to react and jump higher than the beast. After the beast landed and fell to the ground, Shiqian pulled another arrow out from it before leaving.[2]