Han (state)

This article is about the state of Han during China's Warring States period.
For the earlier Chinese state, see Han (Western Zhou); for the later Chinese dynasty, see Han dynasty.
For the modern state known by the same name in Chinese, see South Korea.
Han
 or 
*Gar
Kingdom
403BC–230BC
Capital Yangzhai (before 375BC)
Xinzheng (after 375BC)
Religion Chinese folk religion
ancestor worship
Government Monarchy
Historical era Warring States period
   Partition of Jin 403BC
   Conquered by Qin 230BC
Currency spade money
other ancient Chinese coinage
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Jin (Chinese state)
Qin Dynasty
Han
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese

Han (Chinese: , Old Chinese: *[g]ˤar) was an ancient Chinese state during the Warring States period of ancient China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan.

Its territory directly blocked the passage of the state of Qin into the North China Plain and thus it was a frequent target of Qin's military operations. Although Han had attempted several self-strengthening reforms (notably under the noted legalist Shen Buhai), it never overcame Qin and was instead the first of the warring states to be conquered by it.

The Qin invasion of Han's Shangdang Commandery ushered in the bloodiest battle of the whole period (at Changping) in 260BC.

History

Founding

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, the royal family of Han were a cadet branch of the Zhou dynasty. Members of the family became ministers in the powerful state of Jin and were granted Hanyuan (modern Hancheng in Shaanxi).

Spring and Autumn period

During the Spring and Autumn period, the Han family gradually gained influence and importance within Jin. They were made (, "viscounts"). In 403BC, Jing of Han, along with Wen of Wei and Lie of Zhao partitioned Jin among themselves. In Chinese history, this Partition of Jin is the event which marks the end of the Spring and Autumn period and the beginning of the Warring States. Subsequently, Han was an independent polity. King Lie eventually recognized the new states and elevated the rulers to (hou, "marquess").

Warring States Period

Han's highest point occurred under the rule of Marquess Xi. Xi appointed Shen Buhai as his chancellor and implemented his Legalist policies. These strengthened the state and the realm became a xiaokang society. Under Xuanhui (332312BC), Han declared itself an independent kingdom.

However, Han was disadvantaged in the competition of the Warring States because Jin's partition had left it surrounded on all sides by other strong states Chu to the south, Qi to the east, Qin to the west, and Wei to the north. It was the smallest of the seven states and, without any easy way to expand its own territory and resources, it was bullied militarily by its more powerful neighbors.

Defeat

During its steady decline, Han eventually lost the power to defend its territory and had to request military assistance from other states. The contest between Wei and Qi over control of Han resulted in the Battle of Maling, which established Qi as the preëminent state in the east. In 260BC, Qin's invasion of Han led to Zhao intervention and the Battle of Changping.

During the late years of the era, in an attempt to drain Qin's resources in an expensive public works project, the state of Han sent the civil engineer Zheng Guo to Qin to persuade them to build a canal. The scheme, while expensive, backfired spectacularly when it was eventually completed: the irrigation abilities of the new Zhengguo Canal far outweighed its cost and gave Qin the agricultural and economic means to dominate the other six states. Han was the first to fall, in 230BC.

In 226 BC, ex-Han nobility launched a failed rebellion in former capital Xinzheng, and An, the last king of Han, was put to death the same year.

Culture and society

Before Qin unified China, each state had its own customs and culture. According to the Yu Gong or Tribute of Yu, composed in the 4th or 5th centuryBC and included in the Book of Documents, there were nine distinct cultural regions of China, which are described in detail in this book. The work focuses on the travels of the titular sage, Yu the Great, throughout each of the regions. Other texts, predominantly military, also discussed these cultural variations.[1]

One of these texts was The Book of Master Wu, written in response to a query by Marquis Wu of Wei on how to cope with the other states. Wu Qi, the author of the work, declared that the government and nature of the people were reflective of the terrain they live in. Of Han, he said:

The Han and the Zhao are gentle people. Their populations are weary from war and experienced in arms, but they have little regard for their generals. The soldiers' salaries are meager and their officers have no strong commitment to their countries. Although their troops are experienced, they cannot be expected to fight to the death. To defeat them, we must concentrate large numbers of troops in our attacks to present them with certain peril. When they counterattack, we must be prepared to defend our positions vigorously and make them pay dearly. When they retreat, we must pursue and give them no rest. This will grind them down.
Wuzi, Master Wu Chen Song translation

Rulers

Title Name Reign Alternative Title(s)
Pre-State sovereigns
Wuzi
韓武子
Hán Wàn
韓萬
Qiubo
韓赇伯
unknown
Dingbo
韓定伯
Hán Jiǎn
韓简
Ziyu
韓子輿
Hán Yú
韓輿
Xianzi
韓獻子
Hán Jué
韓厥
Xuanzi
韓宣子
Hán Qǐ
韓起
Zhenzi
韓貞子
Hán Xū
韓須
Jianzi
韓簡子
Hán Bùxìn
韓不信
Zhuangzi
韓莊子
Hán Gēng
韓庚
Kangzi
韓康子
Hán Hǔ
韓虎
Wuzi
韓武子
Hán Qǐzhāng
韓啓章
424BC – 409BC
State sovereigns
Marquess Jing
韓景侯
Hán Qián
韓虔
408BC – 400BC
Marquess Lie
韓烈侯
Hán Qǔ
韓取
399BC – 387BC Marquess Wu (韓武侯)
Marquess Wen
韓文侯
unknown 386BC – 377BC
Marquess Ai
韓哀侯
unknown 376BC – 374BC
Marquess Gong
韓共侯
Hán Ruòshān
韓若山
374BC – 363BC Marquess Zhuang (韓莊侯)
Marquess Yi (韓懿侯)
Marquess Xi
韓厘侯
Hán Wǔ
韓武
362BC – 333BC Marquess Zhao (韓昭侯)
King Xuanhui
韓宣惠王
unknown 332BC – 312BC King Xuan (韓宣王)
Marquess Wei (韓威侯), before 323BC
King Xiang
韓襄王
unknown 311BC – 296BC King Xiang'ai (韓襄哀王)
King Daoxiang (韓悼襄王)
King Xi
韓釐王
Hán Jiù
韓咎
295BC – 273BC
King Huanhui
韓桓惠王
unknown 272BC – 239BC
King An
韓王安
Hán Ān
韓安
238BC – 230BC

Rulers family tree

Famous people

Han in astronomy

Han is represented by the star 35 Capricorni in the "Twelve States" asterism, part of the "Girl" lunar mansion in the "Black Turtle" symbol. Han is also represented by the star Zeta Ophiuchi in the "Right Wall" asterism, part of the "Heavenly Market" enclosure.[2]

See also

References

  1. Lewis 2007, p. 12
  2. Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy. "天文教育資訊網". 24 Jun 2006. (Chinese)
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