Chen Fan
"If one cannot sweep a single room, how can one sweep the realm?" He plotted with Dou Wu to purge the eunuchs, failed, and was killed.
Life
"Sweep clean the realm"
As a youth Chen Fan lived alone in a room with an untidy courtyard. When someone asked why he did not clean it, he replied, "A true man in this world should sweep clean the realm; why bother with a single room?" He later became known for his integrity and outspokenness, and the Imperial Academy students praised him as "Chen Zhongju, who fears no power."
Leader of the partisans
He repeatedly submitted memorials criticizing the eunuchs' domination and was one of the leaders of the partisans. During the Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions in 166 CE, he submitted a memorial defending Li Ying and others, and was dismissed from office for it.
Died for his principles
When Emperor Ling of Han came to the throne in 168 CE, Chen Fan became Grand Tutor and plotted with the imperial in-law General-in-Chief Dou Wu to wipe out the eunuchs. The plan leaked and the eunuchs struck first. Chen Fan, then in his seventies, led more than 80 of his subordinates and students in storming the palace gate, but they were outnumbered and he was killed.
Legacy
Chen Fan was a leading figure of the Eastern Han's "pure stream" scholar-officials, and his death for his principles became a model for later scholars.
Major works & achievements
- Plotted with Dou Wu to purge the eunuchs
Did you know? The saying "If you cannot sweep a single room, how can you sweep clean the world?" grew out of a story about him.
Key dates
- 159Repeatedly submitted memorials criticizing the eunuchs
- 166Dismissed from office for defending the partisans
- 168Became Grand Tutor; killed after a failed plot to purge the eunuchs