Ding Fu

Biography

Ancestry and Early Career Historical records provide two divergent accounts regarding Ding Fu's origins. Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, Table of Meritorious Officials) records that he was originally a general of Zhao who joined Liu Bang's banner at Ye (west of modern Linzhang, Hebei). Conversely, Ban Gu's Book of Han (Hanshu) notes that he was a Yue commander who aligned with Liu Bang at Xue (south of modern Tengzhou, Shandong). Late Ming scholar Gu Yanwu analyzed in his Record of Daily Knowledge (Rizhilu) that Liu Bang had never marched to Ye during his early campaigns, while he indeed absorbed allied Yue forces at Xue, making the Hanshu account more plausible. Regardless of origin, Ding Fu joined the anti-Qin rebellion in its initial years, rapidly distinguishing himself through cavalry prowess and operational command. ### Loufan Commander and the March into Han In 206 BCE, Ding Fu accompanied Liu Bang's forces to Bashang (east of modern Xi'an), where he was appointed General of Loufan (General of Loufan). The Loufan were nomadic horsemen historically residing on the northern frontier of Zhao, renowned for mounted archery and shock combat. Ding Fu's appointment to lead this elite corps underscored Liu Bang's deep confidence in his cavalry leadership. That same year, Liu Bang was exiled to Hanzhong as King of Han, and Ding Fu followed him. Months later, the Han armies launched a surprise campaign to reconquer the Three Qin territories. Ding Fu led a separate detachment north, advancing aggressively and successfully forcing King Dong Yi of Zhai to surrender his capital at Gaonu. He was subsequently placed under the overall command of Lü Ze, becoming a pillar of the Lü contingent. ### Heroic Exploits in the Chu-Han Contention Throughout the prolonged war against Xiang Yu, Ding Fu rendered sterling service. In 203 BCE, during the climactic campaign in Qi, Xiang Yu dispatched his paramount military commander Long Ju with 200,000 veteran troops. In the monumental Battle of Weishui, Ding Fu's cavalry coordinated closely with Han Xin's battle line, outflanking and crushing the Chu vanguard and directly participating in the demise of Long Ju. Soon after, Ding Fu drove deep into Henan, crushing Chu reserve garrisons at Ye and cutting Xiang Yu's communication lines. In recognition of these consecutive battlefield triumphs, Liu Bang promoted him to full general. ### Enfeoffment and Later Years On the fifth day of the first lunar month in 201 BCE (6th year of Gaozu), Emperor Gaozu conducted the grand investiture of founding heroes. For his vast military contributions across thousands of miles, Ding Fu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yangdu (in modern Yinan, Shandong) with an immense taxable domain of 7,800 households. Among the 143 founding marquises of the Western Han, Ding Fu stood 18th in official merit, and 5th in terms of fief size, positioned alongside the dynasty's paramount luminaries. He maintained prudence and political loyalty during the early tumultuous reigns, dying peacefully in 182 BCE. He was granted the honored posthumous name Marquis Jing. ### Succession and Heritage Following Ding Fu's death, his son Ding Ning inherited the title and ruled for twelve years before passing away with the posthumous title Zao. His grandson Ding Ancheng then inherited the estate, which expanded to over ten thousand households by the early reign of Emperor Jing. In 155 BCE, Ding Ancheng was stripped of the marquisate due to judicial offenses. However, in 62 BCE (4th year of Yuankang), Emperor Xuan issued an imperial decree honoring the lineages of Gaozu's meritorious servants, granting Ding Fu's great-grandson Ding Ci exemption from corvée and restoring family honors.

Major Activities

Pacifying the Three Qin and Forcing Dong Yi's Surrender In 206 BCE, during the Han reconquest of the Guanzhong basin, Ding Fu was tasked with leading an independent northern thrust into Shangjun. His swift operational maneuver shattered enemy defenses and compelled King Dong Yi of Zhai to capitulate, securing the northern flank of the nascent Han realm. ### Slaying Long Ju at the Battle of Weishui In 203 BCE, Xiang Yu's premier general Long Ju led the elite strike force of Western Chu to rescue Qi. At the decisive Battle of Weishui, Ding Fu led the Loufan cavalry in devastating flanking charges, breaking the enemy lines and slaying Long Ju on the field, which crippled Western Chu's strategic capabilities in Eastern China. ### Smashed Chu Outposts at Ye Following the victory at Weishui, Ding Fu spearheaded operations in southern Henan, crushing Xiang Yu's garrison at the crucial chokepoint of Ye. His success severed Chu's lateral communications between the Central Plains and southern territories, leading to his formal appointment as general.

Personal Relations

• Monarch: Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han, founding sovereign)
• Superior Commander: Lü Ze (King Daowu, Ding Fu's overarching commander during the Three Qin campaigns)
• Military Peers: Han Xin (Marquis of Huaiyin, commander-in-chief at Weishui), Cao Shen (Marquis of Pingyang), Guan Ying (Marquis of Yingyin)
• Son: Ding Ning (inherited the Yangdu marquisate, posthumous title Zao)
• Grandson: Ding Ancheng (succeeded to the marquisate, later forfeited due to offenses)
• Descendant: Ding Ci (great-grandson, granted imperial rehabilitation under Emperor Xuan in 62 BCE)

Historical Assessment

• Sima Qian (Shiji, Table of Meritorious Officials): "Marquis of Yangdu Ding Fu joined from Ye as a Zhao commander and entered Han as a Loufan officer; as a general he crushed Long Ju and Chu forces at Ye, winning enfeoffment as a loyal minister."
• Ban Gu (Hanshu, Table of Meritorious Officials): "Joined from Xue as a Yue general, entered Han, broke the King of Zhai, served under King Daowu, slew Long Ju, and received enfeoffment for his military merit."
• Gu Yanwu (Rizhilu): "During the Chu-Han contention, Loufan horsemen were frequently organized as dedicated corps. They were famed for riding and archery; Ding Fu served Gaozu with this elite corps, winning immense renown."
• Liang Yusheng (Shiji Zhiyi): "Ding Fu possessed 7,800 households and ranked 18th in merit. Among the foremost military stalwarts of early Han, he undeniably held an exalted place."