Zhang Qian

Zhang Qian

Zhang Qian was born in Chenggu (the present Chenggu County of Shaanxi Province) ofWestern Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD). He was an outstanding envoy and explorer in Chinese history, opening up the ancient Silk Road and bringing reliable information about the Western Regions. 

During the reign of the Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), the Huns (Xiongnu) often intruded into the northern borders of the Han Empire, so the emperor was making preparations to fight against the Huns. When he knew Da Yuezhi (an ancient state in Amu Darya) had a feud with the Huns, because its king was killed by the Huns' Chanyu (the headman of Hunnish tribes) and the head made into a goblet, he decided to unite with this state to combat their common enemy. Therefore, Zhang Qian was sent as a diplomatic envoy to the Western Regions.

In 139 BC, with about 100 people, Zhang Qian departed from Longxi (in Gansu Province). Unfortunately, Zhang Qian and the delegation were captured by the Huns when they reached the Hexi Corridor and detained for ten years as hostage. Finally, they found a chance to flee. They crossed deserts and the Gobi, and went over the snow-covered Pamirs. After about ten days, they arrived in Dawan (in Fergana Basin). Under the help of a Dawan's guide, they went through Kangju (between Balkhash Lake and the Aral Sea) and reached Da Yuezhi.

To Zhang Qian's surprise, satisfied with their life, the Da Yuezhi people refused to make an alliance against the Huns. Besides, they thought it was impossible to resist the Huns together because they were far away from the Han Dynasty. Zhang Qian made an on-the-spot investigation in Daxia (Balkh) and other countries for more than one year. In 128 BC, Zhang Qian decided to return to Chang'an (the ancient name of Xian). On their return journey, they were captured by the Huns again and detained for more than one year. In 126 BC, Zhang Qian seized the opportunity provided by internal disorder among the Huns. He escaped and reached Chang'an. Although he failed to finish the mission to make a military alliance with Da Yuezhi, he obtained a great deal of knowledge about the people, geography, culture and customs of 36 states in the Western Regions.

In 119 BC, Zhang Qian set off on his second journey to the Western Regions, in order to ally with Wusun (in Ili) Valley) against the Huns. At that time, the Huns had been expelled from the Hexi Corridor, so Zhang Qian reached Wusun easily. Then he sent other envoys to Dawan, Kangju, Da Yuezhi, Anxi (Parthia, in now Iran), Juandu (present India), Yutian (Hetian) and other countries. In 115 BC, the king of Wusun put an interpreter and a guide at Zhan Qian's disposal. Moreover, Wusun's ten envoys convoyed Zhang Qian to Chang'an. He died there in 114 BC. Then the diplomatic envoys he sent came back in droves. Finally, the Han Dynasty was able to build good relationships with states of the Western Regions.

xiongnu huns

 

Xiongnu: A multi-ethnic nomadic grouping from Central Asia, which existed between about 300 B.C. and 450 A.D.

The Xiongnu were based in what is now Mongolia, and frequently raided south into China. They were such a threat that the first Qin Dynasty emperor, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the construction of huge fortifications along the northern border of China - fortifications that later were expanded into the Great Wall of China.
Scholars have long debated the ethnic identity of the Xiongnu: Were they a Turkic people, Mongolian, Persian, or some mixture? In any case, they were a warrior people to be reckoned with.

One ancient Chinese scholar, Sima Qian, wrote in the "Records of the Grand Historian" that the last emperor of the Xia Dynasty, who ruled sometime around 1600 B.C., was a Xiongnu man. However, it is impossible to prove or disprove this claim.

Be that as it may, by 129 B.C., the new Han Dynasty decided to declare war against the troublesome Xiongnu. (The Han sought to re-establish trade along the Silk Road to the west - and the Xiongnu made this a difficult task.)
The balance of power between the two sides shifted over the next few centuries, but the Northern Xiongnu were driven out of Mongolia after the Battle of Ikh Bayan (89 A.D.), while the Southern Xiongnu were absorbed into Han China.

Incidentally, many historians believe that the Northern Xiongnu continued west until they reached Europe under a new leader, Attila, and a new name, the Huns.

western han dynasty

 

Bronze Horse in Han Dynasty

The Western Han Dynasty was regarded as the first unified and powerful empire in Chinese history. Lasting from 206 BC to 24 AD, it was established by Liu Bang, who became Emperor Gaozu following four years of civil war started by peasant uprisings against the despotic Qin Dynasty. Liu Bang recruited people based on their ability not birth or wealth, and his government included many former serfs and commoners. The capital city was named Chang'an (present day Xian). This Han Dynasty based on a series of political and economic reforms, was ruled by 12 emperors in succession enjoying peace and prosperity.

Political History
The first emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu initiated many effective measures by recruiting people for his government based on their ability, not birth or wealth, and drawing lessons from the collapse of the Qin and former dynasties. The economy recovered very quickly with able people in the government and with policies based on Lui Bang's reforms. The arts were encouraged by Gaozu and flourished. After Gaozu's death, his son Liu Ying succeeded to the throne although power was held by his mother Queen Lv Zhi. After 16 years of reign by Lv Zhi, Liu Heng (Emperor Wen) and Liu Qi (Emperor Jing) became the emperors in succession. They both reduced the people's tax burdens as Emperor Gaozu had done and encouraged the people to farm and be thrifty in life. Due to their effective measures, the people lived in stability and the nation's wealth and power were enhanced greatly.

During the reign of Emperor Wu, Liu Che who ruled from 141 - 87 BC, the Han Dynasty achieved its most powerful and prosperous period. He dispatched two generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to fight against the invasion of the Hun (an ancient tribe that lived in the north part of China) and greatly enlarged the territory of the Western Han. Emperor Wu's wars assured safe trade routes and the establishment of the great Silk Road. Emperor Wu also sent emissaries and trade missions to many countries and established foreign trade. In his later years, through encouraging the development of agriculture, the economy developed quickly. Emperor Wu also changed the official state religion from Taoism to Confucianism. The eventual decline of the dynasty also began with Emperor Wu's policy of selling land to private landholders that would result in great inequality, raising taxes on the poor working people causing many people to be displaced and become serfs.

Golden Phoenix

The dynasty passed its zenith under Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan who followed and Emperor Yuan (73 BC - 33 BC) began to lose the power to deal with the state affaires; going against the principle of promoting people based on ability, he had chosen prominent Confucians who relied on astronomy and fortune telling to fill government positions and as advisors.
The Western Han Dynasty ended with Liu Ying and the country in revolution. Wang Mang seized the imperial throne (9 - 23) and changed the name of dynasty to Xin. However, after a series of protests the social rebellion became so serious that the rule of Wang Mang was overthrown by an uprising of peasants. This uprising was suppressed by Liu Xiu, (a royal of the Han Dynasty) who was trusted by the people. In 25, Liu Xiu reestablished the Han Dynasty (now called Eastern Han) and made Luo Yang the capital city.

Economy
In agriculture, handicrafts, industry, and commerce there were great achievements.
In agriculture, water conservation and irrigation projects were built and greatly expanded production. Cattle, and iron farm tools were used at large to plough the land, and planting skills were also improved greatly so that one hectare of field could be seeded in a day.

Industry
In industry, productivity was improved greatly in both metallurgy and the textile industry. Looms were used taking the place of manual labor in weaving. Iron-smelting was carried on a large scale and steel was made using coal as fuel. Hydraulics were developed using water power to drive a celestial sphere.

Commerce
The stability of the country and rapid development of the arts with the invention of paper and porcelain and industry provided commerce a favorable environment to develop. Many commercial cities developed around the center of Chang'an. Not only domestic trade flourished but foreign trade prospered due to the opening up of the Silk Road. Diplomatic missions and trade were established with ancient Rome, India and many other countries.

Culture and Arts

Literature flourished with the invention of paper, as art flourished with the invention of the loom, and the invention of porcelain. The achievements of the Western Han had a profound influence on North Vietnam, and North Korea through the expansion of the empire, and on Japan through close trade ties.
From the reign of Emperor Wu, Confucianism became the main stream of thought in government. The phenomenon of letting a hundred schools of thought strive which was formed in the Spring and Autumn Period had disappeared. Henceforth, Confucianism became the philosophy for emperors in many dynasties to manage their state affairs.

In literature, the great historian Sima Qian contributed to the Chinese historiography by writing the Book of History. It is the first chronicle of Chinese history (from Huangdi to Emperor Wu) and occupies an important status in the history and literature of China.
In art, the techniques developed in making porcelain were so superb that the level is comparable with that produced today. From excavated sites cultural relics continue to be unearthed that reveal the superb crafts of this period.
The earliest mathematical works were also created in the Western Han Dynasty; and, astronomy was recorded in great detail including the mankind's first record of the solar system.

For more than 200 years, the Western Han was one of the most powerful countries in the world and its culture reached an unparalleled level.

Horse Statue in Han Dynasty

Mawangdui Ancient Tomb Evacuation Many ancient relics are evacuated in this tomb, including Lao Tzu, I Ching

Silk Road

The Silk Road is a historically important international trade route between China and the Mediterranean. Because silk comprised a large proportion of trade along this road, in 1877, it was named 'the Silk Road' by Ferdinand von Richthofen, an eminent German geographer.

Clothing in Han Dynasty

Culture: The Silk Road is not only an ancient international trade route, but also a splendid cultural bridge liking the cultures of China, India, Persia, Arabia, Greek and Rome. The Four Great Inventions of China and religions of the West were introduced into their counterparts.

History: From the time Zhang Qian opened up the world-famous Silk Road during the Han Dynasty, until the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty, it enjoyed a history of about 1,600 years.

Route: This ancient road begins at Chang'an (now Xian), then by way of the Hexi Corridor, and it reaches Dunhuang, where it divides into three, the Southern Route, Central Route and Northern Route. The three routes spread all over the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and then they extend as far as Pakistan, India and even Rome.

Other Silk Roads: In fact, besides the Silk Road in the northwest of China, there are another two trade roads in the southwest of China and by sea, which also contributed greatly to the development of the world. They are called the "Southern Silk Road" and the "Silk Road on the Sea".

caravan on silk road

Scenery along the Road: The scenery and sights along the Silk Road are spectacular and intriguing. There are well-known Mogao Caves (Mogao Grottoes) in Dunhuang, the bustling Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar and exotic customs in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and more … 

Pictures: The pictures of the Silk Road show the stunning scenery of this time-honored trade route. They display not only the beauty of places of historical places, but also the natural wonders.

Liu Che

Emperor Wu, or Liu Che, (156 BC-87 BC), was one of the greatest emperors of the Han Dynasty. As the tenth son of Emperor Jing, he was chosen as prince at the age of seven and was enthroned when he was sixteen years old. At the age of 70, he died on the throne, ending his 54-year rule.
Emperor Wu was an extraordinary emperor with great talent and bold vision. Specifically, he was a super master of military strategy which made him a combative monarch. This accounts for his title Wu which means 'Martial' - military force. Under his reign, the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220) became the most powerful regime in the world.

The times of Emperor Wu were among the most prosperous periods in Chinese history. At the beginning of Emperor Wu's accession to the throne, a stable political situation and favorable national economy paved the way for splendid achievements in politics, economy, foreign affairs and culture.

As an innovative monarch, Emperor Wu took some effective measures in politics. He set up a special system for selecting, appointing, and assessing governmental officials. During that period, talented figures emerged in all occupations. Li Guang, as well as Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were all generals in that period, famous throughout the history of China. In addition, certain measures were carried out to strengthen the centralization of authority to weaken the power of small kingdoms.
Emperor Wu adopted many economic reform policies. First, the currency system was changed, establishing the wuzhu coin as the national legal currency. Second, industries such as manufacturing and the selling of salt and iron were monopolized by the national government. All these measures strengthened the financial power of central government and restrained the power of businessmen. In addition, Emperor Wu paid close attention to building water conservancy projects and treating the Yellow River.

As for foreign affairs, a prolonged battle was launched by Emperor Wu to drive out the Huns, an ancient tribe who trespassed on Han territory. With a powerful economy and strong military force, Emperor Wu defeated the Huns and safeguarded northern territory including the Hosi Corridor. At that time, China's territory was vaster than that of any previous dynasties. Meanwhile, Emperor Wu sent the envoy Zhang Qian to the western regions. As a result, an ancient Silk Road was opened up and the economic and cultural exchanges between the central plains and western regions were greatly enhanced.

Confucianism became the mainstream Western Han ideology under Emperor Wu's reign. Emperor Wu required that all chancellors in the court learn the Confucian classics before they got a promotion. He also set up an educational system of Confucian classics. With 'unification' as its core, Confucianism helped form an important cultural spirit which joined Chinese people's hearts. In that period, China's first historical record - The Records of the Grand Historian -- was written by Sima Qian (a famous historian in Western Han).

Although Emperor Wu was a warlike emperor, great achievements were accomplished in almost all aspects of society during his reign.

Liu Bang Founder of Han

Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, was born into a peasant family living in what is now known as Jiangsu Province. According to Chinese history, he was called emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty.

In 206 BC, Liu Bang rebelled against the despotic rule of the Qin Dynasty and together with Xiang Yu, led the uprising army against the Qin. In Oct of 206 BC, Liu Bang and his army attacked Xianyang, then the capital of the Qin and overthrew the Qin Dynasty. His first step was to abolish the harsh law of the Qin and establish a new one that was supported by the people.

During the next four years, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu vied for control of the throne. After a series of battles, known as the Chu-Han War, Liu Bang emerged as the victor. Credited with his ability to both adopt his subordinate's good advice as well as with the political acumen to unite other anti-Xiang Yu forces, he eventually won the war.

In 202 BC, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty with the capital of Chang'an (present Xian). In the history books, the dynasty was called the Western Han Dynasty.

As emperor, Liu Bang took a series of measures that were good for his people. He ordered the reduction of field taxes levied on the peasants and let the armies go back to farming. Because of his strong leadership and effective measures, the economy recovered quickly and stability returned to the society. In the annuals of Chinese history, Liu Bang was regarded as an emperor who contributed a tremendous amount to the prosperity of the Han Dynasty.

The Han Empire and the Roman Empire

Flavius Aetius, the last great Roman general, who defeated “the Scourge of God” Attila, was very proud of his nation. He extolled his motherland and said that, during one thousand years, Rome was the center of the world civilization all along.
Zhou Mu-King (周穆王), the fifth king of the Zhou Dynasty (this dynasty was the third kingdom of ancient China which lasted from the 11th century B.C. to 256 B.C.), thought that, the east, the south and the north of his country were surrounded by the sea, and only the west was endless land. So the king tried to travel to the far Western world, but finally had to stop because of rebellion and health problem…
In 202 B.C., Liu Bang (刘邦), the first emperor of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220, the second empire of ancient China), defeated his strong opponent Xiang Yu (项羽), as Scipio Africanus the Elder defeated Hannibal. His Han Kingdom developed into a large empire - the Han Empire. There were much sameness between the Han Empire and the Roman Empire. As ancient Hellene and Roman, the people of the Han Empire thought their country was the center of the world, so they called their country “the Central Nation” (中国). As ancient Hellas and Rome influenced the Western Europe very deeply, ancient China greatly influenced the Eastern Asia. Great civilizations always can understand each other. As Roman, the people of the Han Empire generally regarded foreign peoples as savages. But, Rome, Bactria, Persia (the Arsacid Dynasty of Parthia) and some other far Western countries were exceptions. The Han people didn’t give derogatory appellations to these countries. Rome was called “Da-Qin” (大秦), Bactria was called “Da-Xia” (大夏), and Persia was called “Anxi” (安息).

“Qin” (秦) was the name of the first empire of ancient China, and in the Han Dynasty other nations often called Chinese people “the Qin people”. “Xia” (夏) was the name of the first kingdom of ancient China, and the Chinese nation also called herself “Xia”. “Da” (大) means “great”. Why did Chinese call Rome “Da-Qin” and Bactria “Da-Xia”? A historical book “the History of the Later Han” (後汉书), which was written in the Song Empire (A.D. 420-479, one of the Southern Dynasties), describs the impression of Roman in the heart of the Han people, and says, “The people of this country are high in stature, elegant in manners, honest in morality, so they are similar to our Chinese people. This is why the country is called ‘Da-Qin’.” Bactria was a colonial country of the Greek. But, when Zhang Qian (张骞), a great Chinese explorer, arrived in Bactria, the country had been subjugated by the Yueh-chih (大月氏) who later built the Kushan (贵霜) Empire in the 1st century A.D., so the Chinese people couldn’t communicate with the Greek people, but still felt the illustrious style of the Greek civilization, and then they were willing to give a laudatory appellation to this country. When Chinese visitors arrived in Persia, the country was ruled by the Arsacid Dynasty of Parthia, so Chinese people transliterated “Arsacid” as “Anxi”.

The book “the History of the Later Han” also mentions the political systems of Rome (Da-Qin), and says that, every day the king of Da-Qin read and replied the letters of the common people; the kingship of Da-Qin was not hereditary but was given to a person of virtue; if there was a natural calamity in Da-Qin, the king would be dethroned, but he had no word of complaint. The book says, the king of Da-Qin tried to establish the direct diplomatic relationship with the Han Empire, but Anxi intentionally obstructed the way because the people of Anxi wanted to monopolize the silk trade to the Western world. In A.D. 97, Ban Chao (班超), a famous ironhanded diplomat of the Han Empire, sent his assistant Gan Ying (甘英) to visit Da-Qin. But Gan Ying didn’t arrive in Da-Qin and returned midway. He told Ban Chao about his experiences, “I arrived in Tiaozhi (條支), and prepared to cross the sea. But the sailors from the west border of Anxi said, ‘The sea is very large. Generally it takes three months to cross the sea if the wind is propitious. But if the wind is not propitious, it even takes two years. So the persons who want to cross the sea always prepare the food for three months. The life on the sea is very melancholy, and many persons died of grief.’ So I had to stop.” Where did Gan Ying arrive in? The focus of attention is the area “Tiaozhi”. Where was “Tiaozhi”? The book “The History of the Later Han” describes Tiaozhi, “Tiaozhi is a city-state on a mountain, and it is forty Li (里, “Li” is a measure of length, and one Li in the Han Dynasty is equal to four hundred meters modern-day.) around. The city is near the West Sea, and the sea surrounds the east, the south and the north of the country. Only the northwest has an overland route. The land is hot and humid, and there are many lions, rhinoceros, bison, peafowl and big birds (“big birds” must be referred to ostriches). The egg of a big bird was big as a jar.” About the location of Tiaozhi, modern scholars have different ideas: a city on the Persian Gulf; a city on the Caspian Sea; a city on the the Black Sea; a city on the eastern Mediterranean. All of these ideas have their bases, but all of them also have flaws. But there was a fact: Gan Ying didn’t arrive in Rome because Persian intentionally dissuaded him from sailing. Obviously, Persian didn’t want the direct relationship between China and Rome to be established. The timidity of Gan Ying was the other reason. The try that Chinese explored a road to Rome failed unfortunately, and since then, the government of the Han Empire didn’t try any more. It was really a pity!
The Roman Empire also watched the far friend. In A.D. 166, a man from Da-Qin arrived in China through the Rinan (日南) Jun (“Jun”[郡] was a prefecture of the Han Empire, and this Jun was one of the Han Empire’s prefectures in modern-day Vietnam). He paid a visit to Han Huan-Emperor (汉桓帝, who reigned from A.D. 147 to 167), and said that he was the envoy of the Da-Qin. The man presented ivories, rhinoceros horns, and hawksbill shells to the emperor of China. Because these presents were not rare treasures, some Chinese started to suppose that the richness of Da-Qin has been exaggerated. Remarkably, the name of the Da-Qin’s king, who was mentioned by the man, was recorded as “Andun” (安敦) in the historical book of China. “Andun” sounds like the word “Antoine”. So, many scholars think that, Andun was Marcus Aurelius (reigned from A.D. 161 to 180), the famous philosopher-emperor of the Antoine dynasty of the Roman Empire.
The Han Empire and the Roman Empire, the model of the Oriental Civilization and the model of the Occidental Civilization, though they were remote in distance, they still could understand and appreciate each other. The great handclasp between the two great empires shows that, as the theme word of the 2008 Olympic Games, "One world, One dream", great civilizations are always harmonious, no matter how far the distance is, no matter how different the races are.

Eastern Han Dynasty

Regarded as a continuation of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD) was established by Liu Xiu, who became the Emperor Guangwu. With Luoyang in Henan Province as its capital city, the dynasty was reined over by 12 emperors in a span of 195 years.

Political History
In the year of 25, Liu Xiu, a descendant of Western Han royalty defeated Wang Mang, who had usurped the throne of the Western Han, thus establishing the Eastern Han Dynasty. In his second year on the throne, he revised all the policies that Wang Mang had set.
The most prosperous period of Eastern Han was the middle period of the first century. After the reigns of Emperors Guangwu, Ming and Zhang, the Han Dynasty regained its prosperity. Overall, its economical, scientific and cultural development surpassed that of the Western Han Dynasty.
After the middle period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, most of the emperors were juveniles and the real royal power was held by both distant relatives and eunuchs. This caused darkness and corruption in the later period when farmers all over the country launched rebellions against their rulers. In 184, the Yellow Turbans Uprising, launched by a Hebei farmer Zhang Jiao, hit the regime hard. In the late Eastern Han period, royal power totally fell into the hands of eunuchs which put the court into chaos. During the reign of the last emperor of Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Xian, royalty was dominated by the treacherous court official Dong Zhuo. Finally, Cao Cao, a minor warlord, seized power and Emperor Xian was forced by Cao Pi (the second son of Cao Cao) to abdicate. Thus, the Eastern Han Dynasty came to an end.

Economy
In the early Eastern Han period, the central government focused much attention on irrigation works. In the reign of Emperor Ming, many fields that had been flooded by the Yellow River were changed into fertile lands.
At the same time, the productivity of industry was greatly improved. A special tool called 'Shui Pai' was invented by a local viceroy in Nanyang. This device permitted the power of water to be applied to the air-blasting in the process of iron smelting which promoted productivity in the metallurgical industry.
In the time of Emperor He, the extraction of copper, bronze-ware manufacturing and silk-making industry were developed. Commerce also prospered and the capital city Luoyang became the national business center.

Science and Culture
Some crucial changes in science and culture also took place in the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 105, a court official named Cai Lun improved the previous method of making paper, which ended the use of inscribed bamboo strips.
Meanwhile, great progress was made in astronomy. The famous astronomer, Zhang Heng, created special equipment, which was considered as the earliest seismograph in the world, with superb techniques for testing earthquakes.
In addition, fruitful achievements in medicine were made by the well-known surgeon of ancient China, Hua Tuo, who originated the use of anesthetic techniques in operations.
In Eastern Han, the arts began to gain status. Calligraphy and painting were no longer purely used as letter symbols. Instead, their charm as arts started to emerge. What's more, with the development of ceramics, pottery came into wide-spread use among common people.

Han Dynasty

Jade Burial Suit in Han Dynasty

In 207 BC, the army led by Liu Bang conquered the troops of the Qin Dynasty at Julu (currently Hebei Province) and in 206 BC he seized Xianyang (the capital city of the Qin Dynasty), thus ending the rule of Qin.

After four years of war between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu (Chu-Han War), Liu Bang defeated his rival and established the Han Dynasty establishing Chang'an (the present Xian) as its capital city in 202 BC.
In Chinese history, the Han Dynasty consisted of two dynasties: the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD) and the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220). During the period there were 24 emperors on the throne. Many were excellent contributing to the prosperity of the country with Emperors Gaozu, Wen, Jing and Wu among them.
As many wise emperors took effective measures during their reign, the Han Dynasty was a period of peace and prosperity. It was a World power at that time with interests in literature, arts, culture and technology with the Han Dynasty achieving numerous unparalleled and praiseworthy successes. Some of the achievements at that time still influence the lives of the Chinese people today.

Emperors of the Han Dynasty

Order	Name	Notes	Reign Time (years)
Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 8 AD)
1	Han Gaozu(Liu Bang)	Son of a peasant family; He revolted against the rule of Qin. After defeating Xiangyu (his rival) during a four-year war, he established the Western Han Dynasty in 202 BC and ruled the country for 12 years.	206 BC - 195 BC
2	Han Huidi(Liu Ying)	Son of Liu Bang; Because he was inept to be an emperor, the power was held in the hand of his mother, Lvhou.	195 BC - 188 BC
3	Han Lvhou(Lv Zhi)	Wife of Liu Bang; After Liu Bang died, she was in the seat of power although Liu Ying, Liu Gong and Liu Hong were the emperors in succession.	188 BC - 180 BC
4	Han Wendi(Liu Heng)	The fourth son of Liu Bang; He lightened the taxes and paid great importance to production thus promoting the development of society. Also he was a famously frugal emperor.	180 BC - 157 BC
5	Han Jingdi(Liu Qi)	Son of Han Wendi; He carried out serious measures like Wendi had done and obtained good results.	157 BC - 141 BC
6	Han Wudi(Liu Che)	The ninth son of Han Jingdi; He subdued the ethnic Xiongnu (Hun) invaders by wars. The Western Han Dynasty was in its most powerful period during the reign of the Han Wudi.	141 BC - 87 BC
7	Han Zhaodi(Liu Fuling)	The youngest son of Han Wudi; He lightened the burden of the peasants and was on good terms with Xiongnu (Hun).	87 BC - 74 BC
8	Han Xuandi(Liu Xun)	Also called Liu Bingyi and the great grandson of Han Wudi; During his reign, the ruling position of Confucianism was strengthened and burdens of the people were reduced greatly.	74 BC - 49 BC
9	Han Yuandi(Liu Shi)	Son of Han Xuandi; The Western Han Dynasty began to decline during his reign.	49 BC - 33 BC
10	Han Chengdi(Liu Ao)	Son of Han Yuandi; He squandered the countries wealth, which caused the country to decline.	33 BC - 7 BC
11	Han Aidi(Liu Xin)	Nephew of Han Chengdi; Although all kinds of social contradictions were sharp, he only believed in ghosts and gods to solve all the problems with the result that Wang Mang stole power.	7 BC - 1 BC
12	Han Pingdi(Liu Kan)	Grandson of Han Yuandi; was really a puppet of Wang Mang. Later, he was poisoned to death by Wang Mang.	1 BC - 5 AD
13	Ruzi(Liu Ying)	He came to the throne when he was two years old. In 8 AD, Wang Mang claimed himself as the emperor and killed Ruzi in 25 AD.	6 - 8
Xin Dynasty (9 - 23)
14	Wang Mang	Nephew of the queen of Han Yuandi. In 8 AD, he became the emperor of the Western Han Dynasty and changed the country's name to 'Xin' the next year. Although he carried out a series of measures, the society was in great disarray. The dynasty was finally overthrown by a peasant revolt.	9 - 23
Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220)
15	Guang Wudi(Liu Xiu)	He joined the troops to rebel against the Xin Dynasty. After defeating the army of Wang Mang, he re-established the Han Dynasty making Luoyang its capital city.	25 - 57
16	Mingdi(Liu Zhuang)	The fourth son of Guang Wudi; People lived a stable life during his reign. The famous White Horse Temple was built under his order.	57 - 75
17	Zhangdi (Liu Da)	The fifth son of Mingdi; He was also regarded as a calligraphist adept at cursive scripts.	75 - 88
18	Hedi(Liu Zhao)	The fourth son of Zhangdi	88 - 105
19	Shangdi (Liu Long)	The youngest son of Hedi	105 - 106
20	Andi (Liu Hu)	Grandson of Zhangdi; The social divide was increased and all kinds of social contradictions became sharp under his rule.	106 - 125
21	Shundi (Liu Bao)	Son of Andi; Eunuch grasped the power to deal with the state affairs under his reign.	125 - 144
22	Chongdi(Liu Bing)	Son of Shundi	144 - 145
23	Zhidi(Liu Zuan)	Great grandson of Zhangdi	145 - 146
24	Huandi(Liu Zhi)	Great grandson of Zhangdi	146 - 167
25	Lingdi(Liu Hong)	Great-great-grandson of Zhangdi; the country was again in great disarray, meaning that people lived a very hard life. The rule of Lingdi intensified all kinds of social (divides) contradictions that caused the insurgence led by Zhang Jiao.	168 - 189
26	Xiandi (Liu Xie)	Son of Lingdi; the Han Dynasty perished under his reign.	189 - 220