Biography

Chen was born to a fishing family in Mianyang (沔阳) in present-day Hubei. Some say he was born with surname Chen (陈), while others say he was born with surname Xie (谢).

Vietnamese records say that Chen Youliang was the son of Chen Yiji (陈益稷) or Trần Ích Tắc, a Trần dynasty leader who settled in the Yuan dynasty.

In his childhood, he grew up poor, and he and his family were relatively unsuccessful fishermen. Chen once served as a district official before becoming a general under Ni Wenjun during the Red Turban Rebellion. Ni Wenjun planned to assassinate Xu Shouhui, the Red Turban rebels' leader, but Chen Youliang killed Ni Wenjun before Ni could kill Xu. At this time, Chen Youliang took over Fujian and Jiangxi. Upon hearing that Jiangxi had been captured, Xu Shouhui wished to move the capital there, but Chen Youliang feared that Xu Shouhui would threaten him there and sent an envoy to stop him. Still Xu and his troops arrived in Jiangxi, so he later turned on Xu Shouhui and assassinated him.

In 1357, Chen proclaimed himself "King of Han" in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), and emperor after Xu Shouhui died. His era name, as well as his empire's name, was Da Han (大汉; literally "Great Han"). Chen Youliang appointed Zou Pusheng (邹普胜) as Grand Preceptor and Zhang Bixian (张必先) as prime minister (丞相).

From 1359 to 1363 Chen's fleet was the strongest on the upper Yangtze River. His power was at least as great as that of another rebel state, Wu, led by Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming dynasty.

In 1360 the Han fleet and army began a long war against Wu forces. At that time, the Wu forces were based in Jiqing (present-day Nanjing). The Wu was later renamed "Ming" in 1368. An attack on the Wu capital was defeated thanks to excellent Wu intelligence (likely due to the defection of part of the Han fleet earlier in the year). The war continued until the climactic Battle of Lake Poyang where the Wu fleet narrowly defeated the larger fleet of Han after three days of fighting.

A month after the battle at Lake Poyang, the Han fleet tried to break out from Lake Poyang. During the resulting ship battles Chen was killed (he was alleged to have died from an arrow wound in the head). He was 43 years old at the time of his death in 3 October 1363.

As his crown prince Chen Shan (陈善) had been captured, Chen Youliang was succeeded by his second son, Chen Li, who was soon attacked by the fleet and army of Wu. The conquest of Han took an additional two years but by April 1365 the Han empire was gone and all its lands were now part of the Wu power base.

Family

• Grand-ancestors: Chen Qianyi (陈千一)

• Father: Chen Pucai (陈普才) became Marquis of Cheng'en (承恩侯) by Zhu Yuanzhang after the downfall of Han

• Mother: from the Wu clan (吴氏)

• Brothers:

　• Chen Youfu (陈友富) would be promoted to the title Marquis of Guiren (归仁伯) by Zhu Yuanzhang

　• Chen Youzhi (陈友直) would be promoted to the title Marquis of Huaien (怀恩伯) by Zhu Yuanzhang

　• Chen Youren (陈友仁), KIA in the Battle of Poyang Lake

　• Chen Yougui (陈友贵), KIA in the Battle of Poyang Lake

• Spouses: Chen Youliang had several concubines respectively surnamed Yang (杨), Lou (娄), Tao (陶) and Du (阇). Consort Du was captured along with Chen Shan. Concubines Yang and Lou predeceased Chen Youliang.

• Children:

　• Chen Shan (陈善), Crown Prince, joined Ming army

　• Chen Li, his successor, started Yangsan Jin clan of Korea

• Grandchildren

　• Chen Mingshan (陈明善), a descendant in Korea

Controversial relationship with Trần Ích Tắc

Vietnamese historical annals such as Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư recorded that Chen Youliang sent a diplomatic delegate to Đại Việt to ask for alliance, claiming that he had biological relationship with Trần dynasty (Trần is the Vietnamese pronunciation of Chen 陈). Chen claimed to be the biological son of Trần Ích Tắc (1254–1329; 66 years older than Chen Youliang), a Trần royal member who defected to the Yuan forces during the second invasion of Vietnam. However, Chinese history annals did not record any such relationship, instead claimed that Chen Youliang's ancestor originally have the family name as "Xiè" (谢), later was married into a certain Chen clan and changed his name to the maternal family. Chen Youliang also descended from a fishermen family in Hubei, meanwhile Trần Ích Tắc was appointed as a court magistrate in Huguang, hence it was unlikely that a high-rank magistrate like Ích Tắc had a fishermen son. It is suspected that Chen Youliang pretended to be a Vietnamese royal family to earn support from Đại Việt.

The Trần dynasty, however, did not to respond to Chen's request. Trần Ích Tắc was considered a traitor and was legally removed from the Trần royal family, it is unlikely for Đại Việt to ally with a traitor's descendant. Đại Việt also had no reason to intervene into the affairs of her northern neighbor.

Evaluations

Through his established empire Chen Han, Chen Youliang is remembered as a revolutionary, even hero, who helped resist Yuan rule and pave the way for the new Ming dynasty.

• Liu Ji: "Youliang's territory included Rao Prefecture and Xin Prefecture; and spanned from the Jing to the Xiang, nearing half of the world. Shicheng is occupied with defending himself against the barbarians, hence he is not a worry to us. Youliang betrayed his lord and threatens his subordinates; he has no legitimacy. He occupies the upriver territory, and we are always on his mind; hence, we should take him first. After the Chen family is eliminated, the Zhang family is isolated, and can be eliminated with one fell swoop."

• Zhu Yuanzhang: "After Youliang's death, the world was not difficult to pacify." "I find Youliang to be arrogant and Shicheng to be narrow-minded; the arrogant are prone to conflicts, while the narrow-minded lack far-sighted plans."

• Yang Jing: "In the past Chen and Zhang occupied the Wu and Chu regions, built boats to plug rivers, accumulated grain to cross mountains, built their armies and called themselves invincible. However, after the battle in Poyang, Youliang was killed, and Chen turned his army toward the east, while Zhang surrendered. This is not man's choice; it is in fact destiny. "

• Rao Hanxiang: "Vanguard of the Jiang-Han, awe-inspiring man of the Three Chu regions." (「江汉先英、三楚雄风。」)

• Cai Dongfan: "I said that Youliang caused his own defeat. Jiangzhou was lost, his base was gone, and he fled to Wuchang; at this point he should build his army and bid his time. But he was impatient, put all his eggs in one basket, lost his children, lost his favorite mistress, and even died himself, becoming a mockery for the world. It is obvious that the rise and fall of a state is really related to man's choices. One should not be like Xiang Yu who, at the moment of his suicide in Wujiang, claimed that he had never lost a battle."

• Historian Wu Han: "Although Chen Youliang failed, he was, after all, a hero who opposed the rule of the Mongolian and Han landlord classes in the Yuan dynasty. He played a role in history. At that time, people sympathized with him and missed him. His grave is still preserved under the newly built Yangzi River Bridge for visitors to mourn."

Memorial

Also see Tomb of Chen Youliang (陈友谅墓), a cenotaph (衣冠冢).

Tomb

On 3 October 1363, after Chen Youliang died in the Battle of Poyang Lake, his real remains disappeared. His clothes were taken back by his subordinates in a boat and sent to the south slope of Sheshan, approaching the Wuchang Bridge Head (武昌桥头) of Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan City, Hubei Province (next to the Yellow Crane Tower, a famous scenic spot in Wuhan, Hubei Province) for burial.

It faces south, has a rectangle with rounded corners and a height of 2.2 meters. The tomb base is 12 meters long. The tomb is built on the mountain. Here is There is a hexagonal unknown pavilion nearby, and the pillars of the pavilion are engraved with handwriting.

In the Qing dynasty, this place became a part of the garden "Naiyuan" (乃园) of Hubei Provincial Bureau of Supervision, and few people visited it. In 1908, Wan Yaohuang and Geng Zhongzhao discovered this tomb in the thirty-fourth year of Guangxu in Qing dynasty.

In 1912, Hubei Provincial Department of Internal Affairs requested renovation, and built a 16-step tomb road and a tall archway in front of the tomb (between the archway and the tomb). On the forehead of the memorial archway, "Jiang Han Xian Ying" ("江汉先英」), and on the back, "San Chu Xiongfeng" (「三楚雄风"), a monument was erected in front of the tomb, "Da Han Chen Youliang Tomb", and Rao Hanxiang of Guangji made an inscription. There is also a tablet pavilion on each side of the tomb. In 1913, the cemetery was renovated and surrounded by pines and cypresses.

In 1923 (after the Revolution of 1911), the Republic of China rebuilt it.

In 1949, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was slightly repaired.

In 1956, the tomb was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Hubei Province.

It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. In 1981, the local government allocated funds to restore it. In June 1998, it was completely renovated, with brick cement tomb walls and the monument of "Rebuilding Dahan Chen Youliang Tomb".

Memorial Palace

At 9:00 on 18 December 2013, the local government opened the "Chen Youliang Memorial Hall" (陈友谅纪念馆) at 90 Pier, Mian Street, Xiantao City, Hubei Province (formerly Mianyang, Hubei Province). This memorial hall has three floors of antique buildings, covering an area of 3,891 square meters, with a total construction area of 1,615 square meters. The first two floors have an exhibition hall of 920 square meters, and the last floor is an office rest area.

Legends

Yuan Mei's "Zi Bu Yu" (袁枚《子不语》), Volume 10, contains an article "Destroying Chen Youliang Temple", which tells the story of the ruined Jingzhou Chen Youliang Temple when Zhao Xili (赵锡礼) was appointed as a county magistrate. Zhao only knew that it was an unknown Wangye Temple, and thought it was an obscene temple and destroyed the temple, but he didn't know that the temple was dedicated to Chen Youliang, and he didn't know it until he asked Zhang Tianshi (张天师).

Cultural portrayals

Film and TV

• 1978 Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre《倚天屠龙记》 by Long Tiansheng (龙天生)

• 1984 《倚天屠龙记》 by Chen Xiang (陈祥)

• 1986 《倚天屠龙记》 何贵林

• 1987 《大明群英》 刘青云 Liu Qingyun

• 1993 《朱元璋》 张矩 Zhang Ju

• 1994 《倚天屠龙记》 郑平君

• 1998 《乞丐皇帝传奇》 李志希

• 2001 《倚天屠龙记》 陈荣峻 Chen Rongjun

• 2003 《倚天屠龙记》 孙斌

• 2004 《武当》 刘旭 Liu Xu

• 2006 《传奇皇帝朱元璋》李庆祥

• 2006 《朱元璋》李明

• 2008 《飞天舞》 沉浮

• 2009 《倚天屠龙记》 周晓滨

• 2009 《真命天子》 季肖冰

• 2015 《乞丐皇帝与大脚皇后传奇》 季晨

• 2019 《倚天屠龙记》侯瑞祥

Novels

Chen Youliang features as a character in the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Louis Cha.

祖姓争议

童承叙的《平汉录》记载：「陈友谅，沔阳人，本姓谢，祖千一，赘于陈，遂从其姓。父普才，黄蓬渔子也。」陈友谅本姓谢，祖父时入赘陈家，改姓陈。此说被《明史》采纳，流传广泛。

越南《大越史记全书》则称，陈友谅是投降元朝的越南陈朝宗室陈益稷之子，曾向陈朝遣使求和亲和借师。陈益稷投降元朝后，被封为安南国王，后元朝征越失败，将陈益稷安置在汉阳。

生平

早年事迹

陈友谅少时好学，略通文义，姿貌丰伟，膂力过人，优于武艺，弱冠仕元任元沔阳总管府「狱吏」。

反元路途

元顺帝至正十一年（1351年）八月，徐寿辉、彭莹玉、邹普胜等人在蕲州（今湖北蕲春南）起事。同年（1351年）十月，攻克蕲水（今湖北浠水），据此建立政权，国号宋（一说天完），年号治平，徐寿辉被拥立为帝。陈友谅投效红巾军将领倪文俊麾下的「北琐红军」，开始反元。

至正十五年（1355年）正月，徐寿辉遣其将倪文俊复破沔阳，陈友谅于黄蓬起义被编入天完红巾军，初为簿书掾，徐寿辉授其为沔阳州总管府总管。同年八月，陈友谅协助倪文俊攻占武昌、汉阳，研制出「混江龙」、「塞断江」、「撞倒山」、「江海鳌」等功能各具的大型战舰。

至正十六年（1356年），陈友谅晋升为天完「领兵元帅」，出任黄州路总管府总管。陈友谅率部水陆并进,蔽江东下，一举攻下江州。

至正十七年（1357年）九月，陈友谅袭杀倪文俊，因功升为「平章政事」，自称勤王，自称宣慰使，起兵攻下江西诸路，连克江西、安徽、福建等地。

至正十八年（1358年），陈友谅率军从武昌顺江而下，攻陷安庆，又破龙兴、瑞州。而后分兵攻取邵武、吉安，而自己则领兵进入抚州。不久，又破建昌，接连取得赣州、汀州、信州、衢州。

汉王

至正十九年（1359年），陈友谅杀将领赵普胜，挟徐寿辉，迁都江州（今江西九江），自立为汉王。

建国

至正二十年（1360年）闰五月，陈友谅攻陷太平路，命死士在太平路采石（今安徽省马鞍山市）五通神庙内刺杀徐寿辉。十六日戊午（6月16日），陈友谅于采石五通庙登基称帝，国号汉，改元大义，以邹普胜为太师，张必先为丞相。随即与张士诚合攻朱元璋。朱元璋金陵应天府被陈友谅趁机围住，只好遣胡大海进攻信州，迫陈友谅回师救援。朱元璋一面离间张士诚，张按兵不动，又命属下康茂才向陈友谅诈降并作为陈友谅在朱元璋军中内应，结果康茂才引陈友谅军到金陵城（今南京）西北的龙湾（今南京市大胜关），中了朱元璋在当地的伏兵，后江水退潮，汉军百艘巨舰搁浅，陈友谅大败，败走江州（今九江）。

至正二十一年（1361年），陈友谅遭遇朱元璋西剿。因为割据的地理原因，陈友谅与朱元璋相靠，陈友谅自恃兵力强大，想向东攻取应天。陈友谅亲率水师东下，到达江东桥，双方战于龙湾（今江苏南京城郊），陈友谅大败。因为是潮落，船被搁浅，死者无数，丧失战舰数百艘，陈友谅只得坐小船逃走。张德胜乘胜追击，在慈湖被其打败，焚船。冯国胜率五路大军乘胜追击，陈友谅派出皂旗军迎战，复大败。陈友谅放弃太平路（今安徽当涂），逃至江州。朱元璋军乘胜攻取安庆，陈友谅的部将于光、欧普祥都缴械投降。

至正二十二年（1362年），陈友谅派兵再次攻陷安庆。被朱元璋亲自率军讨伐长驱直入抵达江州后，陈友谅复失安庆。陈友谅战败后，连夜携妻带子逃往武昌，其部将吴宏以饶州投降，王溥以建昌投降，胡廷瑞以龙兴投降。

战殁

至正二十三年（1363年）四月壬戌，陈友谅大举兵围洪都（今南昌），史称洪都保卫战。本年8月30日，陈友谅复率六十万水军在鄱阳湖进攻朱元璋，朱排布水军二十万亲自迎敌，是为「鄱阳湖之战」。陈友谅自恃巨舰出战，采用炮攻，差点捕获朱元璋。随后，朱元璋采纳郭兴的建议，利用东北风而改用火攻，致使陈友谅部大量受损。之后朱元璋利用鄱阳湖水位降低便于小舟活动，改为分兵水路围攻陈友谅。同年八月壬戌（10月3日），陈友谅突围时起雾，陈从船舱中探头出看，竟中流箭而死，汉军溃败。随后朱元璋围攻武昌，并尽占湖北各地。

死后

陈友谅死后，张定边等人在武昌立陈友谅次子陈理登基为帝，改元德寿。

至正二十四年（1364年）二月，朱元璋的西吴军廖永忠部兵临武昌城下，其帝陈理出降，陈友谅所建立的陈汉政权就此亡国。陈理被朱元璋召至金陵，封为归德侯，洪武五年（1372年）陈理及其九族被流放至朝鲜半岛，为今日韩国梁山陈氏先祖。

其部将殷文才的子嗣为避祸改姓为邓。

故居

河南行省荆湖北路宣慰司沔阳府沔阳城南（今仙桃市沔城回族镇古城遗址中）有一座庙宇叫玄妙观，原为元末农民起义领袖陈友谅的行宫。此观位于沔城南门，坐东朝西，占地面积8000平方米。明、清两朝的道正司一直设在这里。

陈友谅兵败后，当地百姓怕朱元璋毁观，将其龙兴故居改为玄妙观，为沔阳州道正司的所在，清代避康熙帝讳，改为元妙观，亦是清代沔阳州道正司。

1941年的中日战争，国军一二八师师长王劲哉焦土抗战过程中，此庙堂遭毁。

家庭

祖上

• 祖父陈千一（另一说祖父为谢千一，祖母陈氏）

• 二叔祖父陈千二

• 三叔祖父陈千三

• 四叔祖父陈千四

• 五叔祖父陈千五

父辈

• 父陈普才，朱元璋封为承恩侯，洪武五年徙滁阳

• 伯陈普略

• 叔陈普全

母亲

• 吴氏

兄弟

• 长兄陈友富，朱元璋封为归仁伯

• 次兄陈友直，朱元璋封为怀恩伯

• 四弟陈友仁，在鄱阳湖战死，朱元璋赠康山王并立庙祭祀

• 幼弟陈友贵，在鄱阳湖战死，祔陈友仁庙

后妃

•

•

• 陶氏

• 闍氏，称妻子或姬妾，被朱元璋军所俘。明代文献多称她是达定妃，她与朱元璋所生潭王朱梓传为陈友谅遗腹子。明人已知其为野史讹传。《万历野获编》称朱元璋深恨陈友谅，「曾纳其妾，旋即遣去，深以为悔。野史讹传，曾生潭王梓」。

子女

• 太子陈善儿，被朱元璋军所俘

• 陈理：因战败投降明政府朱元璋后，受封为明归德侯

孙

• 陈明善，无后而逝

传说

• 袁枚《子不语》卷十收录一篇《毁陈友谅庙》，讲清朝赵锡礼任县令时，毁了荆州陈友谅庙改奉关帝君的佚事。赵只知道是不明的王爷庙，认为是淫祠而毁庙，但并不知该庙是奉祀陈友谅，直到向张天师询问之后，方才得知。

历史评价

总评

古有「友谅最桀，士诚最富」之说，陈友谅穷极奢侈，不得民心，旧部多叛，为失败主因。

名人评说

• 刘基：「友谅包饶、信，跨荆、襄，几天下半。」「士诚自守虏，不足虑。友谅劫主胁下，名号不正，地据上流，其心无日忘我，宜先图之。陈氏灭，张氏势孤，一举可定。」

• 朱元璋：「友谅亡，天下不难定也。」「朕以友谅志骄、士诚器小，志骄则好生事，器小则无远图。」

• 杨璟：「向者如陈、张之属，窃据吴、楚，造舟塞江河，积粮过山岳，强将劲兵，自谓无敌。然鄱阳一战，友谅授首，旋师东讨，张氏面缚。此非人力，实天命也。」

• 饶汉祥：「江汉先英、三楚雄风。」

• 《朱元璋系年要录》：「至倾国六十万尝试江流，牧野、昆阳、赤壁、淝水、古帝王豪杰能用其众者，未之有闻。」

• 蔡东藩：「吾谓友谅亦有自败之道，江州失守，根本之重地已去，及奔至武昌，正宜敛兵蓄锐，徐图再举，乃迫不及待，孤注一掷，丧子弟，失爱妃，甚至身死人手，为天下笑，是可见国之兴亡，实关人谋，不得如项羽之刎首乌江，自诿为非战之罪也。」

• 历史学家吴晗：「陈友谅虽然失败了，但他毕竟是反对元朝蒙汉地主阶级统治的英雄人物，在历史上起过作用，当时人们对他是同情的、怀念的，他的坟墓，到今天还在新建的长江大桥下被保存著，供来往游人悼念。」

后世纪念

衣冠冢

1363年10月3日，陈友谅身中流矢，卒于鄱阳湖之战后，其真实尸骸不知去向，衣冠被部下以舟载回，遣送至湖北武汉城内长江大桥武昌桥头引桥蛇山南坡下（湖北武汉著名景点黄鹤楼旁）埋葬，坐北朝南，长方形，圆角，高2.2米，墓基周长12米，墓冢依山构筑，此地为陈友谅的衣冠冢。附近一座六角无名亭，亭柱上刻满字迹。

清代，此地成为湖北按察使署的花园「乃园」之一部分，少有人往。清光绪三十四年（1908年）万耀煌、耿仲钊等发现此墓。

1912年，湖北省内务司议请整修，并在墓前（牌坊与墓之间）修筑了16级台阶的墓道和一座高大牌坊。牌坊前额书「江汉先英」，后额书「三楚雄风」，墓前立碑「大汉陈友谅墓」，广济饶汉祥作碑铭。墓两侧还各建有碑亭一座。1913年墓园进行整修完工，墓地周围苍松翠柏环抱，气氛肃穆。

1923年（辛亥革命后），中华民国对其重建。

1949年，中华人民共和国成立后曾稍作维修。

1956年，该墓被列为湖北省文物保护单位。

文革期间被毁，1981年，中华人民共和国中共地方政府拨款将其复修。1998年6月全面整修竣工，有砖砌水泥墓墙，立「重修大汉陈友谅墓」碑石。

纪念馆

2013年12月18日9时，当地政府在湖北省仙桃市（原湖北沔阳）沔街九十墩开设「陈友谅纪念馆」。这个纪念馆内有三层仿古式建筑，占地3891平方米，总建筑面积达到1615平方米。前两层设有920平方米的展厅，最后一层为办公休息区。

影视形象

• 1978 《倚天屠龙记》 龙天生

• 1981 台视杨丽花歌仔戏 《朱洪武与刘伯温》 王桂冠

• 1987 台视杨丽花歌仔戏 《朱洪武》 陈亚兰

• 1984 《倚天屠龙记》 吕耀华

• 1986 《倚天屠龙记》 何贵林

• 1987 《大明群英》 刘青云

• 1993 《朱元璋》 张炬

• 1994 《倚天屠龙记》 郑平君

• 1998 中视黄香莲歌仔戏《臭头洪武君 》 吴安琪

• 1998 《乞丐皇帝传奇》 李志希

• 2001 《倚天屠龙记》 陈荣峻

• 2003 《倚天屠龙记》 孙斌

• 2004 《武当》 刘旭

• 2006 《传奇皇帝朱元璋》李庆祥

• 2006 《朱元璋》李明

• 2008 《飞天舞》 沉浮

• 2009 《倚天屠龙记》 周晓滨

• 2015 《乞丐皇帝与大脚皇后传奇》 季晨

• 2016 《真命天子》 季肖冰

• 2019 《倚天屠龙记》侯瑞祥

注释

延伸阅读