生平

韩世忠少时出身贫寒，嗜酒无赖。年十七投军，擅长骑射，勇冠三军。崇宁四年（1105年），西夏扰边，诸州调兵御卫。从统制官党万战银州，夏人以城自固，韩斩关杀将，掷首俾外，诸军攻之，大破夏军。又与夏军战于嵩平岭，斩敌监军，夏军大溃。鄜延路经略安抚使张深上其功，宣抚使童贯黜其功不录，仅补一资。宣和二年（1120年）十一月，方腊反于睦州青溪，从婺州观察使、侍卫亲军步军司都虞侯、统制王禀往讨。三年（1121年），随王禀军至杭州。时有诏，能得腊首者授两镇节度使。韩追至睦州清溪洞，贼探据严崖为三窟，诸将追至，莫知所从入。韩潜行溪谷，问野妇得洞口，既挺身仗戈而前，榛棘岭崎，越险数里，擣其巢穴，格杀数人，擒方腊以出，忠州防御使、统制官辛兴宗领兵截洞口，掠方腊为其功。统制官杨惟忠还阙表其事，超授承节郎（武阶第五十一阶，从九品）。四年（1122年），宋金合盟攻辽，宋军败绩，于滹沱河岸追斩辽人甚众。后从武功大夫、果州团练使王渊讨山东、河北盗贼，累立战功，转秉义郎（武阶，第四十六阶，从八品）。又以偏将随梁方平讨山东群盗，转武节郎（武阶第三十八阶，从七品）。靖康元年（1126年）正月，从威武军节度使梁方平屯驻浚州，金兵攻陷浚州，韩世忠力战突围至京城，宋钦宗召至偏殿询问战况，升为武节大夫（武阶第三十阶，正七品）。诏召诸路勤王兵入，韩率所部入卫，隶属京城四壁守御使李纲，为统领。金兵撤退后，河北总管王渊任命韩世忠为选锋军统制，胜捷军统制张师正以兵败被斩，所部为乱，世忠率部平乱，以千人大败数万乌合之众，又单骑劝降，以功升为武功大夫（武阶第二十七阶，正七品）、果州团练使。诏入朝，赐衣甲枪牌，落阶官，授单州团练使，屯滹沱河。十月，金人围庆源府，守将都统制王渊差韩㨂选步兵三百人，于西北门劫破敌寨，放火烧死金兵不知数目，敌寨尽皆闹乱昬黑相杀。除嘉州防御使（阶官，正任防御使,从五品）、迁宣总司前军统制。

建炎元年（1127年）四月，金兵犯应天府，世忠领所部击破之。五月，康王即皇帝位，授光州观察使（阶官，正五品）、带御器械。始建御营使司，为御营使司左军统制官。七月，受诏讨单州鱼台军贼杜用。十月，高宗幸淮阳，以所部扈驾从行。二年（1128年），以平贼功，转三官，升定国军承宣使（阶官，正四品）。三月，为京西等路捉杀盗贼，率部与閤门宣赞舍人张遇部赴西京。四月，会京西北路制置使翟进、大名府路马步军都总管司统领官孟世宁、京城都巡检使丁进各部，与金人战，夜袭金军左监军完颜希尹大营，金人先知，反为所败。又与丁进相约战金人于文家寺，进失约未至，统领官、閤门宣赞舍人陈思恭率部先退，大败，金人乘胜追击，至永安后涧，世忠被矢如棘，张遇率所部救之，力战得免。还东京，诘先退者皆斩，威令大震。五月，金人渡河，分头出没，攻围掳掠，诏世忠与保宁军承宣使、主管侍卫亲军步军司公事闾勍率部攻讨。九月，武节大夫、閤门宣赞舍人、京城外巡检使丁进叛，率众犯淮西，时世忠军中有进馀党百馀人，尽斩于扬州竹西亭。召还，授鄜延路马步军副都总管，加御营使司平寇左将军。十月，金人渡河，攻开德府不破，往濮州攻城，差世忠领所部由徐州至东平府迎敌。

三年（1129年）正月，屯淮阳，会山东义兵拒金人。金军左副元帅粘罕率军至滕县，闻世忠屯驻淮阳，分兵万馀人趋扬州，以大军迎战，世忠不敌，乘夜退兵，军无纪律，至宿迁，不意金人踵其后，天明察之，奔于沭阳，世忠与账下密谋，乘夜弃军走盐城。翌日，诸军方觉，遂溃去。部将閤门宣賛舍人张遇战死。至阳城，收合散亡，得数千人。闻高宗幸钱塘，经海路南下趋行在。三月，扈从统制、武功大夫、鼎州团练使苗傅，武功大夫、威州刺史刘正彦举兵叛乱，杀向德军节度使、御营使司都统制、签书枢密院事王渊，宣政使、金州观察使、入内侍省押班康履及内侍百馀人，逼高宗退位，是为苗刘兵变。苗刘矫诏加韩为捧日天武四厢都指挥使、御营使司专一提举一行事务、都巡检使。世忠由海道至平江府见礼部侍郎张浚，相约平叛。刘正彦矫诏加定国军节度使。韩世忠于是加入勤王队伍克复临安后，高宗握住韩世忠的手痛哭，先后诛杀苗刘同党御营使司中军统制、权主管侍卫亲军步军司公事吴湛，工部侍郎王世修。四月，诏除武胜军节度使、御营使司左军都统制。苗博、刘正彦率众窜扰各地，世忠请亲往讨之，诏除江浙制置使。五月，与苗刘战于浦城渔梁驿，败之，擒刘正彦。七月，赏平苗刘之功，高宗遣中使赐金合茶药，御书「忠勇」二字以赐，诏除检校少保、武胜昭庆军两镇节度使、御前左军都统制，御书「忠勇」二字以赐。闰八月，金兀术入寇，韩主守江淮，加两浙西路制置使，守镇江府。十一月，金兵渡江南下，悉装所储于海舟，焚城郭，引舟至江阴军。十二月，以前军驻通惠镇，中军驻江湾，后军驻海口，韩知金人不能久，大造战舰，俟其归而击之。四年（1130年）正月，诏赴行在，上言于高宗，愿将所部全军往建康府镇江府，断金人归路，尽死一战，诏从之。三月至四月，与金兀术相持于黄天荡四十八天，屡破之，以八千人困金兵十万，其妻梁红玉亲自擂鼓，传为千古佳话。后金兵掘河北上方得脱困，兀术仅以身免，俘获杀伤者不可胜计，所遗辎重山积，所掠男女获免者不知数，又获龙虎大王舟十馀艘。五月，诏户部赐白金三万两为犒军之用。六月，御前五军改神武军，御营五军改神武副军。八月，所部改神武左军，录守江之功，除检校少师、改武成感德军两镇节度使、神武左军都统制、淮南东路宣抚使、置司镇江府。

绍兴元年（1131年）十一月，以建州贼范汝为连破州郡，淮康军承宣使、神武副军都统制、福建路制置使辛企宗用兵累月未能戡平，以韩为福建江西湖南北路宣抚副使，前往剿讨之。二年（1132年）正月初四，围建州城，用火楼巨石、天梯云登攻打建州城（今福建建瓯）。五日后，克复建州城，范汝为自缢死。捷闻，有诏褒奖，赐黄金器皿。三月，移兵西向，征讨荆湖南路贼寇武功大夫，荣州团练使曹成、拱卫大夫，成州团练使马友、武功大夫，贵州团练使李宏、刘忠。闰四月，屯驻洪州江滨，连营数十里，遣神武左军提举事务官、拱卫大夫、贵州刺史董����招降曹成。六月，诏班师，以平群盗之功，迁太尉（武阶，第一阶，正二品）。九月，除江南东路宣抚使、置司建康府。

三年（1133年）三月，进开府仪同三司，充淮南东路宣抚使，置司泗州。四年（1134年）三月，受赐平江府朱缅南圜及陈满塘官地一千两百亩亩。十月，邀击金人于大仪镇，败之。五年（1135年）正月，除少保（加官，三少，正一品），赐银三千两，绢三千匹，入觐。六年（1136年）三月，除京东淮东宣抚处置使，改镇武、安化军两镇节度使，置司楚州。四月，加横海武宁安化军三镇节度使，赐号扬武翎云功臣。九年（1139年）正月，迁少师（加官，三少，正一品）。十年（1140年），又一次率军击败南下的金兵，进位太保（加官，三公，正一品）、英国公（爵，从一品），十一年（1141年）四月，拜枢密使（从一品）。十一月，罢枢密使，除太傅（加官，三公，正一品）、授横海武宁安化军三镇节度使、充醴泉观使、奉朝请、进封福国公。

韩世忠的朝中地位较岳飞高，在反对和议等事的态度和行为其实比岳飞还要激烈，八年（1138年）第一次和议的时候，韩数次上书要求北伐，还打算劫杀金使。十一年（1141年），秦桧开始清洗南宋抗金力量的时候，原来的首要目标是韩世忠，秦桧逮捕韩世忠的部下统领胡访，逼他诬告韩世忠谋反，但因为韩世忠有救驾之功，得到高宗的保全，使得秦桧将目标转移至岳飞，遂有岳飞的冤案。相传韩世忠接到岳飞的密信后就连忙入宫举著自己仅剩的四个手指头的手，找宋高宗大哭大闹，避掉杀身之祸。另一个说法是宋高宗念及其在苗刘之变时护驾有功，准其告老还乡。

岳云与张宪两人在岳飞被赐死前的一个月遭到斩首，韩世忠知悉，直闯秦桧府第，秦桧回答：「飞子云与张宪书，虽不明，其事体莫须有。」韩则驳斥莫须有这三字，何以服天下？十一年十一月二十八日壬戌，为太傅（加官，三公，正一品）、横海、武甯、安化军节度使、醴泉观使，自请解职。闭门谢客，绝口不言兵。

十二年（1142年）十月，改封潭国公。八月，韦太后在绍兴和议签订后，从金国抵达临安，韩世忠随高宗在临平镇朝谒韦太后。韦太后在金国时，早已听闻韩世忠的威名，特地将他招至帘前，问道：「这是韩相公吗？」慰问良久。次年（1143年）二月，进封咸安郡王。十七年（1147年）三月，改任镇南、武安、宁国军三镇节度使。高宗多次召韩世忠及其家人进宫饮宴，「眷礼深笃」，屡赐其名马、宝剑等。

二十一年（1151年）秋，病重，上表辞官，八月初五（9月15日），拜太师致仕。同日，薨于临安府赐第，年六十三。赠通义郡王，赐朝服、貂冠、水银、龙脑以敛，赙内帑银帛三千匹两，录其亲属九人为官，命睿思殿祗侯徐伸护葬事。十月，葬于平江府吴县胥台乡灵岩山之原。

乾道四年（1168年）五月，追封蕲王，因此后世也称其为「韩蕲王」。涥熙三年（1176年）二月，谥号忠武。十五年（1178年）三月，与吕颐浩、赵鼎、张俊配享高宗庙庭。

现今中华人民共和国江苏省苏州市的木渎镇灵岩山有韩世忠墓，1982年被评为江苏省文物保护单位。

诗词

韩世忠早年不识字，解职后开始自学文化，诗文不多，但是豪气十足，他的著名诗句是《临江仙》和《南乡子》。

• 《临江仙》：「冬日青山潇洒静，春来山暖花浓。少年衰老与花同。世间名利客，富贵与贫穷。荣华不是长生药，清闲不是死门风。劝君识取主人翁。单方只一味，尽在不言中。」

• 《南乡子》：「人有几多般。富贵荣华总是闲。自古英雄都是梦，为官。宝玉妻儿宿业缠。年事已衰残，须鬓苍苍骨髓乾。不道山林多好处，贪欢。只恐痴迷误了贤。」

家族

• 曾祖：韩则，赠太师、追封营国公、楚国公

• 曾祖母：郝氏，追封兖国夫人、吴国夫人

• 祖：韩广，赠太师、追封代国公、秦国公

• 祖母：高氏，累赠雍国夫人、冀国夫人

• 父：韩庆，赠太师、追封唐国公、陈国公

• 母：贺氏，追封扬国夫人、楚国夫人

• 兄：韩世旺

• 兄：韩世良，终官奉国军承宣使、提举台州崇道观、赠武当军节度使、少傅

　• 侄：韩彦纯，终官朝奉郎、知泰州事

　　• 侄孙：韩沂，秉义郎、监衢州江山县礼贤镇税兼烟火公事

　　　• 侄曾孙：韩镗

　　　• 侄曾孙：韩钺

　　　• 侄曾孙：韩铎

　　　• 侄曾孙女：韩氏，适进士丁昌期

　　　• 侄曾孙女：韩氏

　　• 侄孙：韩渝，早夭

　　• 侄孙：韩涛，迪功郎

　　• 侄孙：韩浩

　　• 侄孙：韩淮

　　• 侄孙女：韩氏，适宣义郎、通判平江府囗囗囗

　　• 侄孙女：韩氏，适从义郎李师旦

　　• 侄孙女：韩氏

　　• 侄孙女：韩氏

• 妻：白氏，秦国夫人、赠潭国夫人

• 妻：梁氏，杨国夫人、赠邠国夫人

• 妻：茆氏，秦国夫人

• 妻：周氏，蕲国夫人

• 子：韩彦直，太中大夫、延水县开国伯，食邑八百户

• 子：韩彦朴，奉议郎，直显谟阁，早卒

• 子：韩彦质，朝奉大夫、直徽猷阁

• 子：韩彦古，朝奉大夫、充敷文阁侍制

• 女：韩氏，适朝散郎、通判饶州事曹沾

• 女：韩氏，适宣教郎冯用休

• 女：韩氏，适宣教郎、知宁国县事王万修

• 女：韩氏，适从政郎刘莒

• 女：韩氏，适宣权郎、宗正寺主簿胡南逢

• 女：韩氏，适承议郎、充集英殿修撰、主管佑神观张子仁

• 女：韩氏，出家为道

• 女：韩氏，出家为道

• 孙：韩挺，奉议郎、太社局令

• 孙：韩扶，奉议郎、直秘阁

• 孙：韩格，宣教郎

• 孙：韩枢，承务郎

• 孙：韩松，通仕郎

• 孙：韩相，承事郎

• 孙：韩椿，承务郎

• 孙：韩林，将仕郎

• 孙：韩森

• 孙：韩休

• 孙：韩楫

• 孙：韩杰

• 孙：韩本

• 孙：韩梓

• 孙：韩樟

• 孙女：韩氏，适将仕郎王大昌

• 孙女：韩氏

• 孙女：韩氏

• 孙女：韩氏

• 孙女：韩氏

• 孙女：韩氏

• 孙女：韩氏

• 孙女：韩氏

影视作品

电视剧

注释

参考书目

• 《宋史》韩世忠传

• 《宋朝南渡十将传》卷5《韩世忠传》

• 邓广铭：《韩世忠年谱》

Early life

Han Shizhong was born to a poor farming family in a village of the Shanxi province in the year 1089. He was born in a time when China was under constant threats by stronger bordering nations: notably the Tanguts' Xi Xia,the Khitans' Liao Empire and the Jurchens' Jin Empire. In 1105, the Tanguts' kingdom of Xi Xia attacked China and Han Shizhong was conscripted into military service.

Early military career

In the war against Xi Xia, Han Shizhong distinguished himself by slaying an enemy officer in battle and was given a rank. These achievements were followed by greater successes, and he was hence promoted to lieutenant. Han led Song Jiang's army offensive against the Liao and these stories were written in the Water Margin. The war between Song China and Xi Xia emerged into a war of a larger scale when the powerful Jin and Liao entered and supported different sides (Jin and Song; Liao and Xi Xia). It ended when the Jin emerged victorious over the Liao armies. Despite a victory against their enemies, the Song government had little to celebrate as peasant rebellions began to plague their land. In AD 1120, Han was sent as a deputy of General Wang Yuan to suppress a local rebellion. It was reputed that he alone infiltrated a rebels' stronghold and captured the leader. Han was nicknamed, "Able to defeat ten thousands" (万人敌) and was rewarded handsomely for his efforts.

Meeting with Liang Hongyu

A banquet was soon held in Han's honor for this success. During this banquet, Han met his future wife, Liang Hongyu. Liang Hongyu was a military courtesan and was serving the officers in the banquet. It is said that Liang caught the eye of Han who was sighing instead of celebrating like the others. Liang approached Han and asked him why he wasn't showing any signs of joy in the banquet which was thrown in his honor. Han replied that this was a small victory and that he was worried about the Jurchens who showed signs of hostility to the Song regime. He stated that it hurt him to imagine the damage that war may bring upon the peasants. Liang was in awe of Han, and the two quickly become very close to each another. Liang decided to follow Han and the two soon were married.

Jurchen invasions

The First Invasion of the Jurchens

Soon, Han's greatest fear approached as the Jurchens treacheriously betrayed its alliance with Song and attacked the Song army by surprise. Han was enlisted with the many deputies under General Liang Fongping. He was given fifty cavalry to take back the fortress of Yishan from the Jurchens. Many regarded this as a suicidal assault since there were over 2000 experienced Jin troops guarding it. However, Liang enforced the idea, and Han didn't reject it. Miraculously, Han emerged victorious over the Jurchens. Yet, Han had no time to celebrate as all the other armies under Liang had been routed by Jurchens.

The Second Invasion of the Jurchens

In 1125, the Jin army destroyed the Liao Empire and swiftly destroyed the forces of Xi Xia and Goryeo (both allies of Liao), making them vassal states of the Jin Empire. That very same year, the Jurchens assembled a large coalition force consisting of Jurchens, Tanguts, Khitans and Koreans to launch a second invasion of China. Han was defending the city of Zhaozhou once again under General Wang Yuan (Chinese:王渊). After a few months of battle, the city's logistical supplies dwindled. Han asked for three hundred cavalrymen and, one night, made a surprise attack on the enemy encampment. This attack caught the Jurchens by surprise and they began to scramble and swing their swords on anyone they saw. By daybreak, many of them had trampled over one another; amongst those fatalities was the commander of the invading Jurchen force. The Jurchens had no choice but to retreat. Thus was the city of Zhaozhou relieved. Despite this victory, most other Song defending forces, again, were defeated, and the Jurchens even captured two Song emperors. In AD 1127, Han was given a thousand-man army to escort the crown prince Zhao Gou, Primce of Kang (赵构, 亦称康王) to safety in southern China. He was checked by an army ten times larger but, once again, emerged victorious and forced the enemy to retreat. The crown prince who would become Emperor Gaozong (宋高宗) successfully reached Henan (河南商丘), ascended the throne and established the Southern Song Dynasty. Shortly after in 1127 or 1128, the capital was moved to Yangzhou.

Han advised Emperor Gaozong to recover the lost lands in the North, but Gaozong, content with simply being emperor, neglected his advice. Meanwhile, under siege, the Chinese general guarding the northern capital, Kaifeng, was so angered that he felt ill knowing no reinforcements would be sent, and died shortly after. The city was surrendered shortly after, in 1128.

The Third Invasion of the Jurchens

The Fall of Kaifeng boosted the morale of the Jurchens, and they attempted a third invasion. Gaozong saw little intention to make a good defense against the Jurchens. He felt the strong generals around him would make him vulnerable and wanted them to lose to remove the threat. Han facing enormous odds, was beaten off for the first time. Many of the Song generals, disgusted by the cowardly emperor, began to retaliate, and Han had to gather up what was left of his force and protect the throne. He successfully captured the renegade generals and scattered their forces. It is stated that Han actually condemned the emperor and that the emperor apologized and finally showed signs of better supporting the generals defending China.

Despite early successes of the Jurchens, the Jurchens was beaten off by another general, Yue Fei, in a series of battles. The Jurchens under a crowned prince Jin Wuzhu (金兀术), with a large force of hundred thousand force, decided to avoid Yue and took a route to cross and invade the capital and abduct another emperor. A force consisting of local militias and a few well trained soldiers was assembled in a mountain near the Yangtse River, and Han along with his wife hurried to take command of it. In his journey, he stayed in a local temple where he came face to face with a few Jin Generals and over a hundred Jurchen warriors. Despite the fact that Han only had a few guards and his wife along with him, they managed to fend the enemy off and took the heads of some Jin Generals. The group arrived shortly at the mouth of the river.

The Battle of Huangtiandang

In the battle that soon took place, known as the Battle of Huangtiandang (黄天荡), the outnumbered Chinese forces stayed quiet for a while. Han gave the false impression that his soldiers had to retreat to a temple up a mountain, which the Jurchens thought of as a time when they could easily captured him. However, it was a trap that Han deployed for them. As the Jurchen commander Jin Wuzhu (金兀术) entered the temple, he was surrounded by a few well trained riders, and he and men in his group were completely cut off from the others by Chinese troops hiding in the road up the mountain. This led to a popular saying of the time, " a hundred thousand lured to a trap, and it takes only eight thousand riders to cut them off." 十万敌兵来假道，八千骁骑截中流.

The Jin navy on the river was checked by a new invention of the Chinese, the tiger ship, which could spill fire from its front using flamethrowing technology imported from the Middle East by way of Arab mariners. They attacked after hearing the signal of Liang Hongyu who beat the wardrums in a hill nearby. The tiger ships quickly pierced the Jin ships, and the Jin navy was close to being routed by their enemies. The Jurchens were trapped for forty days wherein almost half their force was routed; and, the Jin prince who commanded the Jurchen army even sent messengers to the Chinese commander and offered bribes to beg for mercy. Han ignored the request. Eventually the Jurchens escaped through a hole in Han's encirclement due to the lack of soldiers—the weakness was revealed by a Song traitor. Even so, the Jurchens was checked by General Yue Fei and almost entirely routed before they get back to Jin territory. The third invasion was again a military disaster for the Jurchens.

The Fourth Invasion of the Jurchens

The Jurchens again assembled another force in 1137, consisting of seventy thousand men and began the fourth invasion. Losing many experienced soldiers through the previous invasions, the Jurchens this time had poorer results and after a few battles were almost completely routed. The Chinese force under Yue Fei and Han Shizhong quickly took advantage of the situation and began a counterattack. The Song were victorious in a number of battles including the Battle of Yancheng in 1139. Less than a year afterwards, Song troops almost reached the Jin capital.

Later part of his life

The night before they entered the Jin Capital, the emperor of China was worried about saving the two previous emperors in the Jin Capital and ordered the generals to come back. The generals avoided the idea at first, but the emperor began to send more letters and even threatened killing the soldiers' families. Yue Fei in tears stated, "Thirty years of effort now is wasted." The generals were ordered back to the imperial court, and this time met with chancellor Qin Hui and many of the officials and generals who supported the peace policy of the court. They imprisoned General Yue Fei and were about to sentence him when Han Shizhong asked Qin Hui, "Upon what charges?". Qin Hui simply stated, "For Yue's guilt, No evidence needed? (其事体莫须有)" (it has become a famous proverb for 'trumped-up charge' in Chinese language). Han then replied, "How can you satisfy people's demand for justice with a logical fallacy such as 'No evidence needed?'" Later, Han was so outraged than he laughed and threw his helmet and sword, which were both symbols of the authority of a Chinese general, at him. He attacked the emperor and Qin Hui with these insulting words: "They brought their nations into ruins, and there will no longer be any more able generals that will fight for the Song." Originally Qin wanted to kill Han next, but Han saved the emperor in a past battle, so Han was allowed to live.

Great but sad friendship

Soon, he retired from military service and when General Yue was executed, he neglected an imperial edict to arrest Yue's family, and instead escorted the Yue family to safety. He and his family retreated into the rural areas and he died in 1151. His body is buried next to Liang Hongyu's grave.

People often saw Han riding a donkey along the West Lake, take a bottle of wine, sit, and sprinkle a bit of it upon Yue's grave. He would speak to Yue in a soft and emotional way, regardless of the weather; rain or snow.

Achievements

Han Shizhong was credited with many military inventions including various modified armor and bows, horse jumping obstacles that trained cavalry, and an archery range to train the accuracy of archers and mounted archers.

His military career enabled China to survive the Jurchen invasion and, along with Yue Fei, helped to crumple the powerful Jin military. It is because of these events which led to the decline of the militaristic Jin, and the rise of Genghis Khan and the Mongols.