Origins & Early Life

Huo Qubing (140 – c. October 117 BC), formerly romanized as Ho Ch'ü-ping, was a Chinese military general and politician of the Western Han dynasty during the reign of Emperor Wu. He was a nephew of the general Wei Qing and Empress consort Xiaowusi, and a half-brother of the statesman Huo Guang. Along with Wei Qing, he led a campaign into the Gobi Desert of what is now Mongolia to defeat the Xiongnu nomadic confederation, winning decisive victories such as the Battle of Mobei in 119 BC.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Huo Qubing was one of the most legendary commanders in Chinese history and his name still lives on in Chinese culture today. Huo Qubing was an illegitimate son from the love affair between Wei Shao'er (衛少兒), the daughter of a lowly maid from the household of Princess Pingyang (Emperor Wu's older sister), and Huo Zhongru (霍仲孺), a low-ranking civil servant employed there at the time. However, Huo Zhongru did not want to marry a lower class serf girl like Wei Shao'er, so he abandoned her and went away to marry a woman from his hometown instead. Wei Shao'er insisted on keeping the child, raising him with help of her siblings. When Huo Qubing was around two years old, his younger aunt Wei...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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