Qiao Xuan

Qiao Xuan (110–June 6, 184), courtesy name Gongzu, was an official who lived in the Eastern Han dynasty.

Family background

Qiao Xuan was born in the Eastern Han dynasty during the reign of Emperor An (r. 106–125 CE). He was from Suiyang County (睢陽縣) in the Liang State (梁國; south of present-day Shangqiu, Henan) and came from a scholar-gentry background. His ancestor Qiao Ren (橋仁), who lived seven generations before him, served as a Minister Herald (大鴻臚) during the reign of Emperor Cheng (r. 33–7 BCE). Qiao Ren also wrote 49 volumes of the Li Ji Zhangju (禮記章句; Verses from the Book of Rites), and was nicknamed "Scholar Qiao" (橋君學). Qiao Xuan's grandfather Qiao Ji (橋基) served as the Administrator (太守) of Guangling (廣陵), while Qiao Xuan's father Qiao Su (橋肅) served as the Administrator of Donglai (東萊).

Early career

In his youth, Qiao Xuan served as an "Officer of Merit" (功曹) in the local county office. When Zhou Jing (周景), the Inspector (刺史) of Yu Province, visited the Liang State, Qiao Xuan reported to him the crimes of Yang Chang (羊昌), the Chancellor (相) of the Chen State (陳國). Zhou Jing ordered Qiao Xuan to conduct an investigation so Qiao detained Yang Chang and wrote a thorough list of Yang's offences. However, as Yang Chang was favoured by the General-in-Chief (大將軍) Liang Ji, Liang sent an urgent letter to Zhou Jing, asking him to release Yang. Zhou Jing feared Liang Ji so he obliged and instructed Qiao Xuan to set Yang Chang free. However, Qiao Xuan returned the letter and had Yang Chang escorted to the capital as a criminal in a prison cart. Qiao Xuan became famous after this incident.