Han Shantong

Han Shantong (died 1351) was a White Lotus preacher and a founder of the Red Turban rebellion against the Yuan dynasty. He taught that the Maitreya Buddha and the King of Light would soon appear and claimed descent from the Song emperors.

In 1351, when the Yuan conscripted labourers to repair Yellow River dikes, he and Liu Futong buried a one-eyed stone man there and plotted revolt. The plot was discovered and Han was captured and executed. Liu continued to lead the rebellion, while Han's son Han Lin'er became its figurehead, the Young King of Ming.