Ban Biao

Ban Biao (Chinese: 班彪; pinyin: Bān Biāo; Wade–Giles: Pan1 Piao1, 3–54 CE), courtesy name (Chinese: 叔皮; pinyin: Shūpí; Wade–Giles: Shu1-P'i2), was a Chinese historian and politician born in what is now Xianyang, Shaanxi during the Han dynasty.

He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng.

Ban Biao's mother was of Xiongnu origin, daughter of Jin Chang (金敞), an attendant to Emperor Yuan of Han (48–33 BCE).

[3] The Xiongnu origins of Ban Biao on the maternal side might help explain the skills of the Ban family in dealing with matters related to China's history and foreign relations.

Ban Biao wrote an essay titled Treatise on the Mandate of Kings (王命論), which was influential on the Chinese concept of sovereignty and is included in Wenxuan.