Han (state)
| Han | |||||
| 韓 or 韩 *Gar | |||||
| Kingdom | |||||
| |||||
 | |||||
| Capital | Yangzhai (before 375 BC) Xinzheng (after 375 BC) | ||||
| Religion | Chinese folk religion ancestor worship | ||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||
| Historical era | Warring States period | ||||
| - | Partition of Jin | 403 BC | |||
| - | Conquered by Qin | 230 BC | |||
| Currency | spade money other ancient Chinese coinage | ||||
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 (Chinese: 韓, old *Gar,[1] mod. Hán; also 韓國 or 韩国, Hánguó) 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 260 BC.
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 子 (zǐ, "viscounts"). In 403 BC, 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 侯 (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 (332–312 BC), 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 260 BC, 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 230 BC.
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.
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 |
424 BC – 409 BC | |
| State sovereigns | |||
| Marquess Jing 韓景侯 |
Hán Qián 韓虔 |
408 BC – 400 BC | |
| Marquess Lie 韓烈侯 |
Hán Qǔ 韓取 |
399 BC – 387 BC | Marquess Wu (韓武侯) |
| Marquess Wen 韓文侯 |
unknown | 386 BC – 377 BC | |
| Marquess Ai 韓哀侯 |
unknown | 376 BC – 374 BC | |
| Marquess Gong 韓共侯 |
Hán Ruòshān 韓若山 |
374 BC – 363 BC | Marquess Zhuang (韓莊侯) Marquess Yi (韓懿侯) |
| Marquess Xi 韓厘侯 |
Hán Wǔ 韓武 |
362 BC – 233 BC | Marquess Zhao (韓昭侯) |
| King Xuanhui 韓宣惠王 |
unknown | 332 BC – 312 BC | King Xuan (韓宣王) Marquess Wei (韓威侯), before 323 BC |
| King Xiang 韓襄王 |
unknown | 311 BC – 296 BC | King Xiang'ai (韓襄哀王) King Daoxiang (韓悼襄王) |
| King Xi 韓釐王 |
Hán Jiù 韓咎 |
295 BC – 273 BC | |
| King Huanhui 韓桓惠王 |
unknown | 272 BC – 239 BC | |
| King An 韓王安 |
Hán Ān 韓安 |
238 BC – 230 BC | |
Famous people
- Han Fei, a Legalist philosopher
- Zhang Liang, a major figure in the early Han dynasty
- Zheng Guo, the hydraulic engineer who designed the Zhengguo Canal for Qin
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
- ↑ Baxter, William & al. "Baxter–Sagart Old Chinese Reconstruction", p. 43. 2011. Accessed 26 Nov 2013.
- ↑ Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy. "天文教育資訊網". 24 Jun 2006. (Chinese)
- Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Ch. 45
- Zizhi Tongjian Volumns 1-6
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