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Han (state)
Encyclopedia
403 BC
Year 403 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Mamercinus, Varus, Potitus, Iullus, Crassus and Fusus...
-230 BC
230 BC
Year 230 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Barbula and Pera...
) was a kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, located in modern-day Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
and Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
. Not to be confused with South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
which shares the same character.
Its territory directly blocked the passage of the state of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
into the North China Plain
North China Plain
The North China Plain is based on the deposits of the Yellow River and is the largest alluvial plain of eastern Asia. The plain is bordered on the north by the Yanshan Mountains and on the west by the Taihang Mountains edge of the Shanxi plateau. To the south, it merges into the Yangtze Plain...
, thus becoming a frequent target of Qin's military operations. Although Han had attempted several self strengthening reforms, notably under the noted legalist Shen Buhai
Shen Buhai
Shen Buhai was a Chinese bureaucrat who was the Chancellor of Han under Marquis Zhao of Han from 351 BC to 337 BC. Shen was born in the State of Zheng; he was likely to have been a minor official for the State of Zheng. After Han conquered Zheng in 375 BC, he rose up in the ranks of the Han...
, it would never overcome the Qin. In fact it was the first of the other six Chinese kingdoms
Seven Warring States
The Seven Warring States or Seven Kingdoms refers to the seven warring states in China during the Warring States period of Chinese history...
to be conquered by Qin.
The Qin invasion of Han's Shangdang Commandery
Shangdang
The Shangdang Prefecture or commandery , was an administrative subdivision of ancient China from the time of the Spring and Autumn Period...
ushered in the bloodiest battle of the whole period, the Battle of Changping
Battle of Changping
The Battle of Changping was a military campaign that took place during the Warring States Period in China. It concluded in 260 BC with a decisive victory by the State of Qin over the State of Zhao, and ultimately allowed Qin to conquer and unify China decades later...
in 260 BC
260 BC
Year 260 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Asina and Duilius...
.
Rise
According to Shiji, the Han family was descended from the ZhouZhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
kings. The Zhou kings granted Hanyuan (韓原, Land of the Hans) to the Han family which the family used to gain influence and importance. In 403 BC
403 BC
Year 403 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Mamercinus, Varus, Potitus, Iullus, Crassus and Fusus...
, Marquess Jing of Han (韓景侯), along with Marquess Wen of Wei
Marquess Wen of Wei
Marquess Wen of Wei was the first Marquess to rule the State of Wei during the Warring States Period of Chinese history . Born Jī Sī , he was the son of Wèi Huán-zǐ . He became ruler of Wei in 445 BCE and in 424 BCE adopted the title of “Marquess”...
and Marquess Lie of Zhao
Marquess Lie of Zhao
Marquess Lie of Zhao was a ruler of the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period of Chinese history . Born Zhào Jí , his father was Marquess Xian of Zhao ....
partitioned
Partition of Jin
The Partition of Jin , the watershed between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei....
the powerful state Jin into Han, Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
, and Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
marking the beginning of the Warring States Period and Han as an independent polity. King Lie of Zhou
King Lie of Zhou
King Lie of Zhou, ch.: 周烈王, pinyin: zhōu lìe wáng, wg: King Lieh of Chou, was the thirty-third sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and the twenty-first of Eastern Zhou Dynasty.-Personal information: Family name Ji in Chinese...
was forced to recognize the new states and elevated the rulers' titles to Marquess.
Apogee
The high point of the Han state occurred during the rule of Marquess Xi. Xi appointed Shen BuhaiShen Buhai
Shen Buhai was a Chinese bureaucrat who was the Chancellor of Han under Marquis Zhao of Han from 351 BC to 337 BC. Shen was born in the State of Zheng; he was likely to have been a minor official for the State of Zheng. After Han conquered Zheng in 375 BC, he rose up in the ranks of the Han...
(申不害) Chancellor
Chancellor of China
The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Chancellor of State, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China...
and implemented Shen's Legalist
Legalism (Chinese philosophy)
In Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period, although the term itself was invented in the Han Dynasty and thus does not refer to an organized 'school' of thought....
philosophy. Shen's policies strengthened the state of Han and the kingdom became a xiaokang
Xiaokang
Xiaokang is a Confucian term describing a society of modest means, or a society composed of a functional middle-class.- Ancient Use :...
society.
Fall
Because of the nature of the split of Jin, the Han state was landlocked on all sides by other powerful states like ChuChu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
, Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
, and Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
. Han was the smallest of the seven states, and was bullied militarily by more powerful neighbors. During its steady decline, the Han state lost the power to defend its territory and was requesting military assistance from other states when faced with invasions, such as in the Battle of Maling
Battle of Maling
The Battle of Maling took place in Maling, currently Dazhangjia Town , Shen County , Henan Province, in 342 BC during the Warring States Period . The combatants were the State of Qi, who fought on behalf of the State of Han, and the State of Wei...
. Eventually, Han became the first of the six states to be conquered by the expanding Qin in 230 BC
230 BC
Year 230 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Barbula and Pera...
.
Notable individuals
- Han FeiHan FeiHan Fei was a Chinese philosopher who, along with Li Si, Gongsun Yang, Shen Dao and Shen Buhai, developed the doctrine of the School of Law or Legalism...
- Representative figure in LegalistLegalism (Chinese philosophy)In Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period, although the term itself was invented in the Han Dynasty and thus does not refer to an organized 'school' of thought....
philosophy - Zhang Liang - Major contribution in the founding of the Han DynastyHan DynastyThe Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
- Zheng GuoZheng GuoZheng Guo or Cheng Kuo was a hydraulic engineer from the ancient Chinese kingdom of Han who designed the Zhengguo Canal in the kingdom of Qin during the Warring States Period. The canal remains to this day, despite having been constructed in the third century BC. The canal was originally designed...
- Hydraulic engineer who designed the Zhengguo CanalZhengguo CanalThe Zhengguo Canal, Zhengguoqu or Chengkuo Canal , named after its designer, Zheng Guo, is a large canal located in Shaanxi province, China. The canal irrigates the Guanzhong plain, north of Xi'an. Together with the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Lingqu Canal, it is one of the three biggest water...
List of Han rulers
| Title(s) | Given name | Reign years |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-State sovereigns | ||
| Wuzi of Han Wuzi of Han (Spring and Autumn) Wuzi of Han , ancestral name Jì , clan name Hán , given name Wàn , and posthumously known as Wuzi of Han, was the head of the House of Han... 韓武子 |
Hán Wàn 韓万 |
|
| Qiu Bo of Han 韓赇伯 |
||
| Ding Bo of Han 韓定伯 |
Hán Jiǎn 韓简 |
|
| Ziyu of Han 韓子輿 |
Hán Yú 韓輿 |
|
| Xianzi of Han 韓獻子 |
Hán Jué 韓厥 |
|
| Xuanzi of Han 韓宣子 |
Hán Qǐ 韓起 |
|
| Zhenzi of Han 韓貞子 |
Hán Xū 韓須 |
|
| Jianzi of Han 韓簡子 |
Hán Bùxìn 韓不信 |
|
| Zhuangzi of Han 韓莊子 |
Hán Gēng 韓庚 |
|
| Kangzi of Han 韓康子 |
Hán Hǔ 韓虎 |
|
| Wuzi of Han 韓武子 |
Hán Qǐzhāng 韓啓章 |
424 BC 424 BC Year 424 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Crassus, Fidenas, Rutilus and Iullus... – 409 BC 409 BC Year 409 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cossus and Medullinus... |
| State sovereigns | ||
| Marquess Jing of Han 韓景侯 |
Hán Qián 韓虔 |
408 BC 408 BC Year 408 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Iullus, Ahala and Cossus... – 400 BC 400 BC Year 400 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Esquilinus, Capitolinus, Vulso, Medullinus, Saccus and Vulscus... |
| Marquess Lie of Han / Marquess Wu of Han 韓烈侯 / 韓武侯 |
Hán Qǔ 韓取 |
399 BC 399 BC Year 399 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Augurinus, Longus, Priscus, Cicurinus, Rufus and Philo... – 387 BC 387 BC Year 387 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Papirius, Fidenas, Mamercinus, Lanatus and Poplicola... |
| Marquess Wen of Han Marquess Wen of Han Marquess Wen of Han , given name Yóu , was the ruler of the State of Han between 386 BC and until his death in 377 BC. He was the son of Marquess Lie of Han. Marquess Wen saw a rise in the state's prosperity and consequently launched several military campaigns. In 385 BC, Marquess Lie attacked the... 韓文侯 |
Hán Yóu 韓猷 |
386 BC 386 BC Year 386 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Camillus, Cornelius, Fidenas, Cincinnatus, Pulvillus and Poplicola... – 377 BC 377 BC Year 377 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Mamercinus, Poplicola, Cicurinus, Rufus , Cincinnatus and Cincinnatus... |
| Marquess Ai of Han 韓哀侯 |
Hán Túnméng 韓屯蒙 |
376 BC 376 BC Year 376 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Mugillanus, Lanatus, Cornelius and Praetextatus... – 374 BC 374 BC Year 374 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Second year without Tribunate or Consulship... |
| Marquess Gong of Han / Marquess Zhuang of Han / Marquess Yi of Han 韓共侯 / 韓莊侯 / 韓懿侯 |
Hán Ruòshān 韓若山 |
374 BC 374 BC Year 374 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Second year without Tribunate or Consulship... – 363 BC 363 BC Year 363 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aventinensis and Mamercinus... |
| Marquess Xi of Han / Marquess Zhao of Han 韓厘侯 / 韓昭侯 |
Hán Wǔ 韓武 |
362 BC 362 BC Year 362 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ahala and Aventinensis... – 333 BC 333 BC Year 333 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Dictatorship of Rufinus... |
| King Xuanhui of Han / King Xuan of Han / Marquess Wei of Han (before 323 BC 323 BC Year 323 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Longus and Cerretanus... ) 韓宣惠王 / 韓宣王 / 韓威侯 |
Hán Kāng 韓康 |
332 BC 332 BC Year 332 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calvinus and Arvina... – 312 BC 312 BC Year 312 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Corvus and Mus... |
| King Xiang of Han / King Xiang'ai of Han / King Daoxiang of Han 韓襄王 / 韓襄哀王 / 韓悼襄王 |
Hán Cāng 韓倉 |
311 BC 311 BC Year 311 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Barbula... – 296 BC 296 BC Year 296 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Violens and Caecus... |
| King Xi of Han 韓厘王 |
Hán Jiù 韓咎 |
295 BC 295 BC Year 295 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rullianus and Mus... – 273 BC 273 BC Year 273 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Licinus and Canina... |
| King Huanhui of Han King Huanhui of Han King Huanhui of Han , given name Rán , was the ruler of the State of Han between 272 BC and until his death in 239 BC. He was the son of King Xi of Han. During his reign, Han Fei submitted numerous proposals to enact Legalism... 韓桓惠王 |
Hán Rán 韓然 |
272 BC 272 BC Year 272 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cursor and Maximus... – 239 BC 239 BC Year 239 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Turrinus and Falto... |
| King Fei of Han / King An of Han 韓廢王 / 韩王安 |
Hán Ān 韓安 |
238 BC 238 BC Year 238 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gracchus and Falto... – 230 BC 230 BC Year 230 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Barbula and Pera... |
Han in astronomy
Han is represented by the star 35 Capricorni in asterism Twelve States, Girl mansionGirl (Chinese constellation)
The Girl mansion is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the northern mansions of the Black Tortoise.- Asterisms :...
. Han is also represented by the star Zeta Ophiuchi
Zeta Ophiuchi
Zeta Ophiuchi is a star located in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Yamānī, "the Southern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines"., along with α Ser , δ Ser , ε Ser , δ Oph , ε Ser and γ Oph .According to the catalogue of stars...
in asterism Right Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure
Heavenly Market enclosure
Tian Shi Yuan, the Heavenly Market Enclosure , is one of the San Yuan or Three enclosures. Stars and constellations of this group are visible during late summer and early autumn in the Northern Hemisphere . The summer triangle lies directly to the northwest.-Asterisms:The asterisms are :...
(see Chinese constellation
Chinese constellation
Chinese constellations are the way the ancient Chinese grouped the stars. They are very different from the modern IAU recognized constellations. This is because the IAU was based on Greco-Roman astronomy instead of Chinese astronomy....
).