生平

韓世忠少時出身貧寒，嗜酒無賴。年十七投軍，擅長騎射，勇冠三軍。崇寧四年（1105年），西夏擾邊，諸州調兵禦衛。從統制官黨萬戰銀州，夏人以城自固，韓斬關殺將，擲首俾外，諸軍攻之，大破夏軍。又與夏軍戰于嵩平嶺，斬敵監軍，夏軍大潰。鄜延路經略安撫使張深上其功，宣撫使童貫黜其功不錄，僅補一資。宣和二年（1120年）十一月，方臘反于睦州青溪，從婺州觀察使、侍衛親軍步軍司都虞侯、統制王稟往討。三年（1121年），隨王稟軍至杭州。時有詔，能得臘首者授兩鎮節度使。韓追至睦州清溪洞，賊探據嚴崖為三窟，諸將追至，莫知所從入。韓潛行溪谷，問野婦得洞口，既挺身仗戈而前，榛棘嶺崎，越險數里，擣其巢穴，格殺數人，擒方臘以出，忠州防禦使、統制官辛興宗領兵截洞口，掠方臘為其功。統制官楊惟忠還闕表其事，超授承節郎（武階第五十一階，從九品）。四年（1122年），宋金合盟攻遼，宋軍敗績，于滹沱河岸追斬遼人甚眾。後從武功大夫、果州團練使王淵討山東、河北盜賊，累立戰功，轉秉義郎（武階，第四十六階，從八品）。又以偏將隨梁方平討山東群盜，轉武節郎（武階第三十八階，從七品）。靖康元年（1126年）正月，從威武軍節度使梁方平屯駐濬州，金兵攻陷濬州，韓世忠力戰突圍至京城，宋欽宗召至偏殿詢問戰況，升為武節大夫（武階第三十階，正七品）。詔召諸路勤王兵入，韓率所部入衛，隸屬京城四壁守御使李綱，為統領。金兵撤退後，河北總管王淵任命韓世忠為選鋒軍統制，勝捷軍統制張師正以兵敗被斬，所部為亂，世忠率部平亂，以千人大敗數萬烏合之眾，又單騎勸降，以功升為武功大夫（武階第二十七階，正七品）、果州團練使。詔入朝，賜衣甲槍牌，落階官，授單州團練使，屯滹沱河。十月，金人圍慶源府，守將都統制王淵差韓㨂選步兵三百人，于西北門劫破敵寨，放火燒死金兵不知數目，敵寨盡皆鬧亂昬黑相殺。除嘉州防禦使（階官，正任防禦使,從五品）、遷宣總司前軍統制。

建炎元年（1127年）四月，金兵犯應天府，世忠領所部擊破之。五月，康王即皇帝位，授光州觀察使（階官，正五品）、帶御器械。始建御營使司，為御營使司左軍統制官。七月，受詔討單州魚台軍賊杜用。十月，高宗幸淮陽，以所部扈駕從行。二年（1128年），以平賊功，轉三官，陞定國軍承宣使（階官，正四品）。三月，為京西等路捉殺盜賊，率部與閤門宣贊舍人張遇部赴西京。四月，會京西北路制置使翟進、大名府路馬步軍都總管司統領官孟世寧、京城都巡檢使丁進各部，與金人戰，夜襲金軍左監軍完顏希尹大營，金人先知，反為所敗。又與丁進相約戰金人于文家寺，進失約未至，統領官、閤門宣贊舍人陳思恭率部先退，大敗，金人乘勝追擊，至永安後澗，世忠被矢如棘，張遇率所部救之，力戰得免。還東京，詰先退者皆斬，威令大震。五月，金人渡河，分頭出沒，攻圍擄掠，詔世忠與保寧軍承宣使、主管侍衛親軍步軍司公事閭勍率部攻討。九月，武節大夫、閤門宣贊舍人、京城外巡檢使丁進叛，率眾犯淮西，時世忠軍中有進餘黨百餘人，盡斬于揚州竹西亭。召還，授鄜延路馬步軍副都總管，加御營使司平寇左將軍。十月，金人渡河，攻開德府不破，往濮州攻城，差世忠領所部由徐州至東平府迎敵。

三年（1129年）正月，屯淮陽，會山東義兵拒金人。金軍左副元帥粘罕率軍至滕縣，聞世忠屯駐淮陽，分兵萬餘人趨揚州，以大軍迎戰，世忠不敵，乘夜退兵，軍無紀律，至宿遷，不意金人踵其後，天明察之，奔于沭陽，世忠與賬下密謀，乘夜棄軍走鹽城。翌日，諸軍方覺，遂潰去。部將閤門宣賛舍人張遇戰死。至陽城，收合散亡，得數千人。聞高宗幸錢塘，經海路南下趨行在。三月，扈從統制、武功大夫、鼎州團練使苗傅，武功大夫、威州刺史劉正彥舉兵叛亂，殺向德軍節度使、御營使司都統制、簽書樞密院事王淵，宣政使、金州觀察使、入內侍省押班康履及內侍百餘人，逼高宗退位，是為苗劉兵變。苗劉矯詔加韓為捧日天武四廂都指揮使、御營使司專一提舉一行事務、都巡檢使。世忠由海道至平江府見禮部侍郎張浚，相約平叛。劉正彥矯詔加定國軍節度使。韓世忠於是加入勤王隊伍克復臨安後，高宗握住韓世忠的手痛哭，先後誅殺苗劉同黨御營使司中軍統制、權主管侍衛親軍步軍司公事吳湛，工部侍郎王世修。四月，詔除武勝軍節度使、御營使司左軍都統制。苗博、劉正彥率眾竄擾各地，世忠請親往討之，詔除江浙制置使。五月，與苗劉戰于浦城漁梁驛，敗之，擒劉正彥。七月，賞平苗劉之功，高宗遣中使賜金合茶藥，御書「忠勇」二字以賜，詔除檢校少保、武勝昭慶軍兩鎮節度使、御前左軍都統制，御書「忠勇」二字以賜。閏八月，金兀朮入寇，韓主守江淮，加兩浙西路制置使，守鎮江府。十一月，金兵渡江南下，悉裝所儲于海舟，焚城郭，引舟至江陰軍。十二月，以前軍駐通惠鎮，中軍駐江灣，後軍駐海口，韓知金人不能久，大造戰艦，俟其歸而擊之。四年（1130年）正月，詔赴行在，上言于高宗，願將所部全軍往建康府鎮江府，斷金人歸路，盡死一戰，詔從之。三月至四月，與金兀朮相持于黃天蕩四十八天，屢破之，以八千人困金兵十萬，其妻梁紅玉親自擂鼓，傳為千古佳話。後金兵掘河北上方得脫困，兀朮僅以身免，俘獲殺傷者不可勝計，所遺輜重山積，所掠男女獲免者不知數，又獲龍虎大王舟十餘艘。五月，詔戶部賜白金三萬兩為犒軍之用。六月，御前五軍改神武軍，御營五軍改神武副軍。八月，所部改神武左軍，錄守江之功，除檢校少師、改武成感德軍兩鎮節度使、神武左軍都統制、淮南東路宣撫使、置司鎮江府。

紹興元年（1131年）十一月，以建州賊范汝為連破州郡，淮康軍承宣使、神武副軍都統制、福建路制置使辛企宗用兵累月未能戡平，以韓為福建江西湖南北路宣撫副使，前往剿討之。二年（1132年）正月初四，圍建州城，用火樓巨石、天梯雲登攻打建州城（今福建建甌）。五日後，克複建州城，范汝為自縊死。捷聞，有詔褒獎，賜黃金器皿。三月，移兵西向，征討荊湖南路賊寇武功大夫，榮州團練使曹成、拱衛大夫，成州團練使馬友、武功大夫，貴州團練使李宏、劉忠。閏四月，屯駐洪州江濱，連營數十里，遣神武左軍提舉事務官、拱衛大夫、貴州刺史董����招降曹成。六月，詔班師，以平群盜之功，遷太尉（武階，第一階，正二品）。九月，除江南東路宣撫使、置司建康府。

三年（1133年）三月，進開府儀同三司，充淮南東路宣撫使，置司泗州。四年（1134年）三月，受賜平江府朱緬南圜及陳滿塘官地一千兩百畝畝。十月，邀擊金人于大儀鎮，敗之。五年（1135年）正月，除少保（加官，三少，正一品），賜銀三千兩，絹三千匹，入覲。六年（1136年）三月，除京東淮東宣撫處置使，改鎮武、安化軍兩鎮節度使，置司楚州。四月，加橫海武寧安化軍三鎮節度使，賜號揚武翎雲功臣。九年（1139年）正月，遷少師（加官，三少，正一品）。十年（1140年），又一次率軍擊敗南下的金兵，進位太保（加官，三公，正一品）、英國公（爵，從一品），十一年（1141年）四月，拜樞密使（從一品）。十一月，罷樞密使，除太傅（加官，三公，正一品）、授橫海武寧安化軍三鎮節度使、充醴泉觀使、奉朝請、進封福國公。

韓世忠的朝中地位較岳飛高，在反對和議等事的態度和行為其實比岳飛還要激烈，八年（1138年）第一次和議的時候，韓數次上書要求北伐，還打算劫殺金使。十一年（1141年），秦檜開始清洗南宋抗金力量的時候，原來的首要目標是韓世忠，秦檜逮捕韓世忠的部下統領胡訪，逼他誣告韓世忠謀反，但因為韓世忠有救駕之功，得到高宗的保全，使得秦檜將目標轉移至岳飛，遂有岳飛的冤案。相傳韓世忠接到岳飛的密信後就連忙入宮舉著自己僅剩的四個手指頭的手，找宋高宗大哭大鬧，避掉殺身之禍。另一個說法是宋高宗念及其在苗劉之變時護駕有功，准其告老還鄉。

岳雲與張憲兩人在岳飛被賜死前的一個月遭到斬首，韓世忠知悉，直闖秦檜府第，秦檜回答：「飛子雲與張憲書，雖不明，其事體莫須有。」韓則駁斥莫須有這三字，何以服天下？十一年十一月二十八日壬戌，為太傅（加官，三公，正一品）、橫海、武甯、安化軍節度使、醴泉觀使，自請解職。閉門謝客，絕口不言兵。

十二年（1142年）十月，改封潭國公。八月，韋太后在紹興和議簽訂後，從金國抵達臨安，韓世忠隨高宗在臨平鎮朝謁韋太后。韋太后在金國時，早已聽聞韓世忠的威名，特地將他招至簾前，問道：「這是韓相公嗎？」慰問良久。次年（1143年）二月，進封咸安郡王。十七年（1147年）三月，改任鎮南、武安、寧國軍三鎮節度使。高宗多次召韓世忠及其家人進宮飲宴，「眷禮深篤」，屢賜其名馬、寶劍等。

二十一年（1151年）秋，病重，上表辭官，八月初五（9月15日），拜太師致仕。同日，薨于臨安府賜第，年六十三。贈通義郡王，賜朝服、貂冠、水銀、龍腦以斂，賻內帑銀帛三千匹兩，錄其親屬九人為官，命睿思殿祗侯徐伸護葬事。十月，葬于平江府吳縣胥台鄉靈岩山之原。

乾道四年（1168年）五月，追封蘄王，因此後世也稱其為「韓蘄王」。涥熙三年（1176年）二月，謚號忠武。十五年（1178年）三月，與呂頤浩、趙鼎、張俊配享高宗廟庭。

現今中華人民共和國江蘇省蘇州市的木瀆鎮靈岩山有韓世忠墓，1982年被評為江蘇省文物保護單位。

詩詞

韓世忠早年不識字，解職後開始自學文化，詩文不多，但是豪氣十足，他的著名詩句是《臨江仙》和《南鄉子》。

• 《臨江仙》：「冬日青山瀟灑靜，春來山暖花濃。少年衰老與花同。世間名利客，富貴與貧窮。榮華不是長生藥，清閒不是死門風。勸君識取主人翁。單方只一味，盡在不言中。」

• 《南鄉子》：「人有幾多般。富貴榮華總是閒。自古英雄都是夢，為官。寶玉妻兒宿業纏。年事已衰殘，須鬢蒼蒼骨髓乾。不道山林多好處，貪歡。只恐癡迷誤了賢。」

家族

• 曾祖：韓則，贈太師、追封營國公、楚國公

• 曾祖母：郝氏，追封兗國夫人、吳國夫人

• 祖：韓廣，贈太師、追封代國公、秦國公

• 祖母：高氏，累贈雍國夫人、冀國夫人

• 父：韓慶，贈太師、追封唐國公、陳國公

• 母：賀氏，追封揚國夫人、楚國夫人

• 兄：韓世旺

• 兄：韓世良，終官奉國軍承宣使、提舉台州崇道觀、贈武當軍節度使、少傅

　• 侄：韓彥純，終官朝奉郎、知泰州事

　　• 侄孫：韓沂，秉義郎、監衢州江山縣禮賢鎮稅兼煙火公事

　　　• 侄曾孫：韓鏜

　　　• 侄曾孫：韓鉞

　　　• 侄曾孫：韓鐸

　　　• 侄曾孫女：韓氏，適進士丁昌期

　　　• 侄曾孫女：韓氏

　　• 侄孫：韓渝，早夭

　　• 侄孫：韓濤，迪功郎

　　• 侄孫：韓浩

　　• 侄孫：韓淮

　　• 侄孫女：韓氏，適宣義郎、通判平江府囗囗囗

　　• 侄孫女：韓氏，適從義郎李師旦

　　• 侄孫女：韓氏

　　• 侄孫女：韓氏

• 妻：白氏，秦國夫人、贈潭國夫人

• 妻：梁氏，楊國夫人、贈邠國夫人

• 妻：茆氏，秦國夫人

• 妻：周氏，蘄國夫人

• 子：韓彥直，太中大夫、延水縣開國伯，食邑八百戶

• 子：韓彥樸，奉議郎，直顯謨閣，早卒

• 子：韓彥質，朝奉大夫、直徽猷閣

• 子：韓彥古，朝奉大夫、充敷文閣侍制

• 女：韓氏，適朝散郎、通判饒州事曹霑

• 女：韓氏，適宣教郎馮用休

• 女：韓氏，適宣教郎、知寧國縣事王萬修

• 女：韓氏，適從政郎劉莒

• 女：韓氏，適宣權郎、宗正寺主簿胡南逢

• 女：韓氏，適承議郎、充集英殿修撰、主管佑神觀張子仁

• 女：韓氏，出家為道

• 女：韓氏，出家為道

• 孫：韓挺，奉議郎、太社局令

• 孫：韓扶，奉議郎、直秘閣

• 孫：韓格，宣教郎

• 孫：韓樞，承務郎

• 孫：韓松，通仕郎

• 孫：韓相，承事郎

• 孫：韓椿，承務郎

• 孫：韓林，將仕郎

• 孫：韓森

• 孫：韓休

• 孫：韓楫

• 孫：韓傑

• 孫：韓本

• 孫：韓梓

• 孫：韓樟

• 孫女：韓氏，適將仕郎王大昌

• 孫女：韓氏

• 孫女：韓氏

• 孫女：韓氏

• 孫女：韓氏

• 孫女：韓氏

• 孫女：韓氏

• 孫女：韓氏

影視作品

電視劇

注釋

參考書目

• 《宋史》韓世忠傳

• 《宋朝南渡十將傳》卷5《韓世忠傳》

• 鄧廣銘：《韓世忠年譜》

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" (萬人敵) 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:王淵). 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 (趙構, 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 (金兀朮), 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 (黃天蕩), 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 (金兀朮) 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." 十萬敵兵來假道，八千驍騎截中流.

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? (其事体莫須有)" (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.