an imperial dynasty that ruled China from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. The Han Dynasty is divided into the Western, or Former (Old), Han, which lasted from 206 B.C. to 25 A.D.; and the Eastern, or Later (New), Han, which lasted from 25 A.D. to 220 A.D. Chinese historians often treat as a discrete period the reign of Wang Mang (9–23 A.D.) and the two-year reign of Liu Hsiian (Keng Shih), which immediately followed; by this reckoning, the Western Han lasted from 206 B.C. to 8 A.D.
The founder of the Han Dynasty, Liu Pang, united the country and created a strong centralized empire. Liu Pang’s policy of granting extensive territories to his close associates and to members of the imperial clan, however, led to the fragmentation of the country. The principalities formed as a resuit of his policy had their own troops, finances, and administration and became independent kingdoms hostile to the central government.
Central authority was strengthened during the reign of the emperors Ching-ti (156–141 B.C.) and, especially, Wu-ti (140–87 B.C.). The Han Dynasty adopted the ideas of Confucianism, which became the official ideology under Wu-ti. The Han waged wars of conquest in the north and northwest against the Hsiung-nu, in the west against the Ch’iang tribes, in the east and northeast against the Koreans, the Wu-huan, and the Hsien-pei, and in the south and southwest; these wars greatly extended the boundaries of the empire. During the Han Dynasty commercial and cultural contacts were established with the states of Middle Asia and India.
The Western Han Empire was brought to an end by the peasant uprisings of the Red Eyebrows (seeRED EYEBROW REBELLION) and the Dwellers in the Green Forests (17–27 A.D.). The Eastern Han Empire collapsed as a result of the peasant uprising of the Yellow Turbans, which took place between 184 and 204 (seeYELLOW TURBANS, REBELLION OF THE), and strife among feudal military cliques.
L. I. DUMAN
an ancient Chinese state. The Han state, which was formed in 403 B.C., encompassed southeastern Shansi Province and central Honan Province; it was conquered by the Ch’in state in 230 B.C.
(also Han-gang), a river in South Korea. The Han measures 514 km in length and drains an area of 34,500 sq km. It originates in the Taebaek-sanmaek and flows primarily through low mountains and hills. In the lower course it flows through the Han Lowland. The river empties into the Kanghwa-man, an inlet of the Yellow Sea, forming an estuary.
The mean flow rate is approximately 670 cu m per sec. Flash floods occur in summer. The river is navigable by junks for more than 300 km. The city of Seoul is located on the Han.