Shen Dan

Shen Dan (; courtesy name Yiju ) was a regional strongman of the Shen (申) clan who dominated the mountainous Shangyong corridor in eastern Hanzhong during the final years of the Eastern Han dynasty and the early Three Kingdoms period. Over roughly two decades he shifted allegiance from the Han court to Cao Cao, surrendered to Liu Bei in 219 CE, and finally defected to Cao Wei after 220.

Background Before the central government collapsed, Shangyong lay inside Jing Province, and governor Liu Biao formally acknowledged the Shen clan’s de-facto control, leaving Shen Dan in charge so long as he kept the mountain passes quiet.