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Han Shantong

Type Figure Region China Time c. 1320–1351 Also known as Han Shantong、韩山童

An early leader of the Red Turban Army at the end of the Yuan dynasty and head of the Yingzhou branch of the White Lotus Society, he claimed descent …

Timeline

  1. c. 1341–1348Yingzhou · Huai River basinHe spread the White Lotus faith around Yingzhou and Guide (Shangqiu), calling on the slogan 'Maitreya Buddha descends, the Ming King appears,' and contacted Liu Futong, Du Zundao and other followers, laying the organizational groundwork for the later Red Turban uprising.
  2. 1349–1350Luyi · Huai River basinHe publicly claimed to be the eighth-generation grandson of Emperor Huizong of Song, rallying support with the call to restore the Song dynasty; with Liu Futong he secretly prepared an armed uprising in Yingzhou and Luyi, producing Song banners and prophetic talismans, attracting many starving people into the faith.

Sources