Latest revision as of 17:41, 22 April 2013

The Han Dynasty lasted from 206 BCE until 220 CE.

Welcome to the Han Dynasty. You have chancellors, and you have Emperors.

The Chancellors of Han

The chancellors in succession, starting from 206 B.C.E. forward, are Xiao He, Cao Can, Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Cao Pi.

The Emperors of Han

The Emperors in succession, starting from 202 B.C.E. forward, are Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wen, Emperor Wu, Emperor Guangwu, and Emperor Xian.

The Misfit, Wang Mang

There is only one person unaccounted for. The one person whose rule marked the split the Han Dynasty into western and eastern halves. That'd be Wang Mang, a Han official who seized some power amid the others, and founded the short-lived Xin Dynasty from 9 A.D. to 23 A.D.

How did it all start?

It all started with Qin Shi Huang. See, he died, in 210 B.C., leaving a vacuum of power opportunity. Xiang Yu of Chu struggled with a man like his brother, Liu Bang of Han, to take the throne. Their struggles led to the Gaixia Battle. During the war, Han Xin of Han, a servent of Liu Bang of Han, kidnapped the wife of Xiang Yu of Chu. so naturally, he grabs 100,000 warriors to help him go and retrieve her. Lots of battles happen. She's located. But she feels guilty for being the cause of so much bloodshed, and she commits suicide. With her gone, Xiang Yu of Chu basically loses his mojo, and he commits suicide.

Emperor Gaozu

Liu Bang Becomes the First Emperor of Han

As a result of the death of Xiang Yu, Liu Bang of Han formally becomes Emperor Gaozu of Han, the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty, not to be confused with Emperor Gaozu of the later Tang Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu rules with Chancellor Xiao He. Emperor Gaozu rules 202 B.C.E. to 195 B.C.E. He ushered in the Western Han Dynasty. He emerged from the peasant class. He preferred Confucianism over Legalism. He set up the capital of Western Han at Luoyang. He died as a result of an arrow wound from Ying Bu's rebellion, one lucky rebellion of many.

Emperor Wen

Next came Emperor Wen, who ruled with Chancellor Cao Can. Emperor Wen ruled 180 B.C.E. to 157 B.C.E. He was Emperor Gaozu's son. He immediately put down the Lu rebellion, which tried to usurp power from his mom, before he came to the throne. He was heavily influenced by Daoism, especially because his mom taught him Daoist principles.

He was known as a kind Emperor. He tried to decrease taxes and made sort of a welfare program. He was considered quite superstitious, and he built many Temples, before he died.

Emperor Wu

Emperor Wu of Han technically ruled 141 B.C.E. to 87 B.C.E. He favored Confucianism over the extant Daoism. He expanded the Western Han Territories, especially to the North. He even invaded modern day Korea.

Like Qin Shi Huang, he became obsessed with immortality, and tried to get magicians to assist him to live forever, but harshly punished any sorcery or witchcraft done elsewhere. He died with no worthy heir to take the throne.

Emperor Guangwu

Emperor Guangwu of Han rules 5 B.C.E. to 57 A.C.E. He restores the Han Dynasty after a rebellion, creating the Eastern Han Dynasty. He put down many uprisings. His rule was thrift and efficient, even lax on laws.

Emperor Xian

Emperor Xian ruled from 189 to 220 A.C.E.

Emperor Xian rules with Chancellor Dong Zhuo. At this time, it seems as though the Chancellors began to usurp power from the Emperors of Han.

Chancellor Dong Zhuo, under the guise of Emperor Xian's forged signature, basically controlled the Han Empire. He did so successfully, under Xian's nose, till his (Dong Zhuo's) assassination in 192 A.D. It was Dong Zhuo who moved the Western Capital of Han to the Eastern Liang province, modern day Gansu. Emperor Xian struggled over power with the next Chancellor, Cao Cao.

Cao Cao played backseat driver to Emperor Xian very often. Cao Cao eventually forced Emperor Xian to abdicate, giving his own son, Chancellor Cao Pi, more power.

These actions by Cao Cao and Cao Pi ultimately broke apart the Han Dynasty.

Summary of the Effects of the Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty spanned over four centuries. It's considered the Golden age of Chinese History. Even today, the major ethnic group in China considers itself Han. Even the Chinese language is called the "Han"-language (汉语).