Book of Han
Encyclopedia
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
history finished in AD 111, covering the history of China under the Western Han from 206 BC to 25 AD. It is also sometimes called the Book of Former Han. The work was composed by Ban Biao
Ban Biao
Ban Biao , courtesy name , was a Chinese historian, and an official born in what is now Xianyang, Shaanxi during the Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng....
, Ban Gu
Ban Gu
Ban Gu , courtesy name Mengjian , was a 1st century Chinese historian and poet best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han. He also wrote in the main poetic genre of the Han era, a kind of poetry interspersed with prose called fu. Some are anthologized by Xiao Tong in his Selections of...
, and Ban Zhao
Ban Zhao
Bān Zhāo , courtesy name Huiban , was the first known female Chinese historian. She completed her brother Ban Gu's work as he was imprisoned and executed in the year 92 BCE. because of his association with the family of Empress Dowager Dou. It was said her works could have filled eight volumes...
. A second work, the Book of the Later Han covers the Eastern Han period from 25 to 220, and was composed in the fifth century by Fan Ye
Fan Ye (historian)
Fan Ye , courtesy name Weizong , was a Chinese historian and the compiler of Book of Later Han of Liu Song. Fan came from an official family background, he was born in present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang, his ancestry was from Nanyang, Henan. His father was Fan Tai .-References:*Tan, Jiajian, ....
(398–445). Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE. The book also contains the first written historical mention of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Contents
This history developed from a continuation of Sima QianSima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
's Records of the Grand Historian or, more correctly, Records of the Grand Scribe, initiated by Ban Gu's father, Ban Biao
Ban Biao
Ban Biao , courtesy name , was a Chinese historian, and an official born in what is now Xianyang, Shaanxi during the Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng....
, at the beginning of the Later Han Dynasty. This work is usually referred to as Later Traditions 後傳, which clearly indicates that the elder Ban's work was meant to be a continuation. (It should be noted that other scholars of the time, including Liu Xin
Liu Xin
Liu Xin , later changed name to Liu Xiu , courtesy name Zijun , was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the Xin Dynasty . He was the son of Confucian scholar Liu Xiang and an associate of other prominent thinkers such as the philosopher Huan Tan...
and Yang Xiong
Yang Xiong
Yang Xiong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 32nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Sick Guan Suo".-Background:...
also worked on continuations of Sima's history.) After Ban Biao's death, his eldest son Ban Gu
Ban Gu
Ban Gu , courtesy name Mengjian , was a 1st century Chinese historian and poet best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han. He also wrote in the main poetic genre of the Han era, a kind of poetry interspersed with prose called fu. Some are anthologized by Xiao Tong in his Selections of...
was dissatisfied with what his father had completed, and he began a new history that started with the beginning of the Han dynasty. This distinguished it from Sima Qian's history, which had begun with China's earliest legendary rulers. In this way, Ban Gu initiated the format for dynastic histories that was to remain the model for the official histories until modern times.
For the periods where they overlapped, Ban Gu adopted nearly verbatim much of Sima Qian's material, though in some cases he also expanded it. He also incorporated at least some of what his father had written, though it is difficult to know how much. The completed work ran to a total of 100 fascicles 卷, and included essays on law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. Ban Gu's younger sister Ban Zhao
Ban Zhao
Bān Zhāo , courtesy name Huiban , was the first known female Chinese historian. She completed her brother Ban Gu's work as he was imprisoned and executed in the year 92 BCE. because of his association with the family of Empress Dowager Dou. It was said her works could have filled eight volumes...
finished writing the book in 111, 19 years after Ban Gu had been imprisoned. An outstanding scholar in her own right, she is thought to have written volumes 13-20 (eight chronological tables) and 26 (treatise on astronomy). As with the Records of the Grand Historian, Zhang Qian
Zhang Qian
Zhang Qian was an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Han Dynasty...
, a notable Chinese general who travelled to the west, was a key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions
Western Regions
The Western Regions or Xiyu was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to 8th century AD that referred to the regions west of Jade Gate, most often Central Asia or sometimes more specifically the easternmost portion of it The Western Regions or Xiyu was a...
contained in the 96th fascicle. The "Annals" section and the three chapters covering the reign of Wang Mang were translated into English by Homer H. Dubs
Homer H. Dubs
Homer Hasenpflug Dubs was a pioneering and prolific American Sinologist and polymath. Though best known for his masterful translation of sections of Ban Gu's Han shu , he published on a wide range of topics in ancient Chinese history, astronomy and philosophy...
. Other chapters have been rendered into English by Anthony Hulsewé, Clyde B. Sargent, Nancy Lee Swann, and Burton Watson.
Ban Gu's history set the standard for the writings of later Chinese dynasties, and today it is a reference used to study the Han period. It is regarded as one of the "Four Histories" 四史 of the Twenty-Four Histories
Twenty-Four Histories
The Twenty-Four Histories is a collection of Chinese historical books covering a period from 3000 BC to the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century. The whole set contains 3213 volumes and about 40 million words...
canon, together with the Records of the Grand Historian
Records of the Grand Historian
The Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
, Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
and History of the Later Han.
Annals
Ji (紀, annal), 12 volumes. Emperors' biographies in strict annal form, which offer a chronological overview of the most important occurrences, as seen from the imperial court.| Number | Title | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 高帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Gao | Emperor Gaozu of Han, 206-195 BC; two parts |
| 2. | 惠帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Hui | Emperor Hui of Han Emperor Hui of Han Emperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape... , 194-188 BC |
| 3. | 高后紀 | Annals of Empress Gao | Empress Lü Zhi Empress Lü Zhi Empress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan... (regent 195-180 BC) |
| 4. | 文帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Wen | Emperor Wen of Han Emperor Wen of Han Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager... , 179-157 BC |
| 5. | 景帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Jing | Emperor Jing of Han Emperor Jing of Han Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights... , 156-141 BC |
| 6. | 武帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Wu | Emperor Wu of Han Emperor Wu of Han Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized... , 140-87 BC |
| 7. | 昭帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Zhao | Emperor Zhao of Han Emperor Zhao of Han Emperor Zhao of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 87 BC to 74 BC.Emperor Zhao was the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Han. By the time Zhao was born, Emperor Wu was already 62. Zhao ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Wu in 87 BC. He was only 8 years old... , 86-74 BC |
| 8. | 宣帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Xuan | Emperor Xuan of Han Emperor Xuan of Han Emperor Xuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu... , 73-49 BC |
| 9. | 元帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Yuan | Emperor Yuan of Han Emperor Yuan of Han Emperor Yuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan was remembered for the promotion of Confucianism as the official creed of Chinese government. He appointed Confucius adherents to important government posts... , 48-33 BC |
| 10. | 成帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Cheng | Emperor Cheng of Han Emperor Cheng of Han Emperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor... , 32-7 BC |
| 11. | 哀帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Ai | Emperor Ai of Han Emperor Ai of Han Emperor Ai of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC.... , 6-1 BC |
| 12. | 平帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Ping | Emperor Ping of Han Emperor Ping of Han Emperor Ping was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 1 BC to AD 5. After Emperor Ai died childless, the throne was passed to his cousin Emperor Ping—then a child of nine years old. Wang Mang was appointed regent by the Grand Empress Dowager Wang... , 1 BC - 5 AD |
Chronological tables
Biao (表, tables), 8 volumes. Chronological tables of important people.| Number | Title | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | 異姓諸侯王表 | Table of nobles not related to the imperial clan | |
| 14. | 諸侯王表 | Table of nobles related to the imperial clan | |
| 15. | 王子侯表 | Table of sons of nobles | two parts |
| 16. | 高惠高后文功臣表 | Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of (Emperors) Gao, Hui, Wen and Empress Gao | Starting with Emperor Gaozu and including Empress Lü |
| 17. | 景武昭宣元成功臣表 | Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of (Emperors) Jing, Wu, Zhao, Xuan, Yuan and Cheng | From Emperor Wu until Emperor Cheng |
| 18. | 外戚恩澤侯表 | Table of nobles from families of the imperial consorts | |
| 19. | 上百官公卿表 | Table of nobility ranks and government offices | Introduction to the Han bureaucracy and chronological table of government offices; two parts |
| 20. | 古今人表 | Prominent people from the past until the present |
Treatises
Zhi (志, memoirs), 10 volumes. Each treatise describes an area of effort of the state.| Number | Title | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21. | 律曆志 | Treatise on Rhythm and the Calendar | Music (and measurements) and calendars; two parts |
| 22. | 禮樂志 | Treatise on Rites and Music | |
| 23. | 刑法志 | Treatise on Punishment and Law | |
| 24. | 食貨志 | Treatise on Food and Money | Agriculture, taxation, currency and monetary policy; two parts |
| 25. | 郊祀志 | Treatise on Sacrifices | two parts |
| 26. | 天文志 | Treatise on Astronomy | Astrology and astronomy |
| 27. | 五行志 | Treatise on the Five Elements Wuxing Wuxing may refer to:*Wu Xing , concept in Chinese philosophy*Wuxing , a Chinese "Warring States" text*Flag of the People's Republic of China, also known as the "Five-starred red flag"... |
five parts |
| 28. | 地理志 | Treatise on Geography | Administrative jurisdictions; two parts |
| 29. | 溝洫志 | Treatise on Rivers and Canals | Hydrology, flood control and irrigation |
| 30. | 藝文志 | Treatise on Literature | Bibliography based on Imperial Library catalog compiled by Liu Xiang |
Biographies
Zhuan (傳, exemplary traditions, usually translated as biographies), 70 volumes. Biographies of important people. The biographies confine themselves to the description of events that clearly show the exemplary character of the person. Two or more people are treated in one main article, as they belong to the same class of people. The last articles describe the relations between China and the various peoples beyond the frontiers.| Number | | Title | | Translation | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31. | 陳勝項籍傳 | Biographies of Chen Sheng Chen Sheng Chen Sheng , also known in some sources as Chen She , was the leader of the first rebellion, known as Daze Village Uprising, against the Qin Dynasty during the reign of Qin Er Shi.-Start of the rebellion:... and Xiang Yu Xiang Yu Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu .... |
|
| 32. | 張耳陳餘傳 | Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu | |
| 33. | 魏豹田儋韓王信傳 | Biographies of Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Hán) | |
| 34. | 韓彭英盧吳傳 | Biographies of Han, Peng, Ying, Lu and Wu | Han Xin Hán Xìn Han Xin was a military general who served Liu Bang during the Chu–Han contention and contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty... , Peng Yue Peng Yue Peng Yue , style name Zhong , was a prominent military leader and political figure in the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty. He was involved in the Chu–Han contention and served Liu Bang as an ally... , Ying Bu (英布), Lu Wan Lu Wan Lu Wan was a military general serving under Liu Bang .-Biography:Lu Wan was from Fengyi, Pei County . He was a childhood friend of Liu Bang and they both studied in the same school in their hometown. Besides, they also shared the same birthday... and Wu Rui 吳芮 |
| 35. | 荊燕吳傳 | Biographies of the Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu | |
| 36. | 楚元王傳 | Biography of Prince Chu Yuan | Includes the biographies of Liu Xiang and Liu Xin Liu Xin Liu Xin , later changed name to Liu Xiu , courtesy name Zijun , was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the Xin Dynasty . He was the son of Confucian scholar Liu Xiang and an associate of other prominent thinkers such as the philosopher Huan Tan... . |
| 37. | 季布欒布田叔傳 | Biographies of Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu | |
| 38. | 高五王傳 | Biographies of the five sons of Emperor Gao | |
| 39. | 蕭何曹參傳 | Biographies of Xiao He Xiao He Xiao He was a Chinese statesman who lived during the early Han Dynasty. He served Liu Bang during the insurrection against the Qin Dynasty, and fought on Liu's side in the Chu–Han contention against Xiang Yu. After the founding of the Han Dynasty, Xiao He became chancellor and held office until... and Cao Shen |
|
| 40. | 張陳王周傳 | Biographies of Zhang, Chen, Wang and Zhou | Zhang Liang, Chen Ping Chen Ping (Han Dynasty) Chen Ping was an adviser to Liu Bang during the Chu–Han Contention period of Chinese history. After Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty and became known as Emperor Gaozu, Chen Ping served as a chancellor and received titles of a marquis.-Biography:Chen Ping was a native of Huyou Town , Yangwu... , Wang Ling (王陵) and Zhou Bo (周勃) |
| 41. | 樊酈滕灌傅靳周傳 | Biographies of Fan, Li, Teng, Guan, Fu, Jin and Zhou | Fan Kuai, Li Shang (酈商), Xiahou Ying Xiahou Ying Xiahou Ying was a Minister Coachman of the early Han Dynasty. He also participated in the Chu–Han contention on Liu Bang 's side and contributed to the founding of the Han Dynasty.-Biography:... , Guan Ying (灌嬰), Fu Kuan, Jin She (靳歙) and Zhou Xue (周緤) |
| 42. | 張周趙任申屠傳 | Biographies of Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu | Zhang Cang (張蒼), Zhou Chang (周昌), Zhao Yao (趙堯), Ren Ao (任敖) and Shentu Jia (申屠嘉) |
| 43. | 酈陸朱劉叔孫傳 | Biographies of Li, Lu, Zhu, Liu and Shusun | Li Yiji (酈食其), Lu Gu (陸賈), Zhu Jian (朱建), Lou Jing (婁敬) and Shusun Tong (叔孫通) |
| 44. | 淮南衡山濟北王傳 | Biographies of the kings of Huainan, Hengshan and Jibei | |
| 45. | 蒯伍江息夫傳 | Biographies of Kuai, Wu, Jiang and Xifu | Kuai Tong (蒯通), Wu Bei (伍被), Jiang Chong (江充) and Xifu Gong (息夫躬) |
| 46. | 萬石衛直周張傳 | Biographies of the lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang | Shi Fen (石奮), Wei Wan (衛綰), Zhi Buyi (直不疑), Zhou Ren (周仁) and Zhang Ou (張歐) |
| 47. | 文三王傳 | Biography of the three sons of Emperor Wen | |
| 48. | 賈誼傳 | Biography of Jia Yi Jia Yi Jia Yi was a Chinese poet and statesman of the Han Dynasty.- Life:Jia Yi was born in 201 BCE in Luoyang.... |
|
| 49. | 爰盎晁錯傳 | Biographies of Yuan Ang Yuan Ang Yuan Ang was a Han Dynasty minister who served Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing. His biography appears in the Shi Ji, and a parallel one is in Han Shu... and Chao Cuo Chao Cuo Cháo Cuò was a Chinese political advisor and official of the Han Dynasty , renowned for his intellectual capabilities and foresight in martial and political matters. Although not against the philosophy of Confucius , he was described by later Eastern Han scholars as a Legalist... |
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| 50. | 張馮汲鄭傳 | Biographies of Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng | Zhang Shizhi (張釋之), Feng Tang (馮唐), Ji An (汲黯) and Zheng Dangshi (鄭當時) |
| 51. | 賈鄒枚路傳 | Biographies of Jia, Zou, Mei and Lu | Jia Shan (賈山, Zou Yang (鄒陽), Mei Cheng (枚乘) and Lu Wenshu (路溫舒) |
| 52. | 竇田灌韓傳 | Biographies of Dou, Tian, Guan and Han | Dou Ying (竇嬰), Tian Fen (田蚡), Guan Fu (灌夫) and Han Anguo (韓安國) |
| 53. | 景十三王傳 | Biographies of the thirteen sons of Emperor Jing | |
| 54. | 李廣蘇建傳 | Biographies of Li Guang Li Guang Lĭ Guăng , born in Tianshui, Gansu, was a famous general of the Han Dynasty. Nicknamed The Flying General by his Xiongnu enemies , he fought primarily in the campaigns against the Xiongnu peoples to the north of Han China... and Su Jian |
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| 55. | 衛青霍去病傳 | Biographies of Wei Qing Wei Qing Wei Qing , born Zheng Qing in Linfen, Shanxi, was a famous general during Han Dynasty of China, whose campaigns against the Xiongnu earned him great acclaim. He was the younger half-brother of Empress Wei Zifu, making him the the Emperor Wu's brother-in-law... and Huo Qubing Huo Qubing Huo Qubing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu. Being the illegitimate son of Wei Shaoer, he was the nephew of Wei Qing and Empress Wei Zifu.... |
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| 56. | 董仲舒傳 | Biography of Dong Zhongshu Dong Zhongshu Dong Zhongshu was a Han Dynasty Chinese scholar. He is traditionally associated with the promotion of Confucianism as the official ideology of the Chinese imperial state.-History:... |
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| 57. | 司馬相如傳 | Biography of Sima Xiangru Sima Xiangru Sima Xiangru, also known as Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju was a Chinese writer. He was a minor official of the Western Han Dynasty, but was better known for his poetic skills, jiu business, and controversial marriage to the widow Zhuo Wenjun after both eloped... |
two parts |
| 58. | 公孫弘卜式兒寬傳 | Biographies of Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan | Er Kuan is also known as Ni Kuan |
| 59. | 張湯傳 | Biography of Zhang Tang Zhang Tang Zhang Tang was a high ranking official of the Western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu.-Personal life:Zhang Tang was a native of Du, the son of a deputy in Changan's city government. His father died before Zhang Tang became a minor official, but his mother, along with a number of younger brothers,... |
|
| 60. | 杜周傳 | Biography of Du Zhou | |
| 61. | 張騫李廣利傳 | Biographies of Zhang Jian and Li Guangli | |
| 62. | 司馬遷傳 | Biography of Sima Qian Sima Qian Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to... |
Includes the biography of Sima Tan Sima Tan Sima Tan was an early Chinese historian who worked under the Western Han. He studied astronomy with Tang Du, the I Ching under Yang He and Daoism under Master Huang. He held the position of Grand Historian between 140-110 BC. While Sima Tan had begun the Records of the Grand Historian , he died... |
| 63. | 武五子傳 | Biographies of the five sons of Emperor Wu | |
| 64. | 嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳 | Biographies of Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang and Jia | Yan Zhu (嚴助), Zhu Maichen (朱買臣), Wuqiu Shouwang (吾丘壽王), Zhufu Yan (主父偃), Xu Yue (徐樂), Yan An (嚴安), Zhong Jun (終軍), Wang Bao (王褒) and Jia Juanzhi (賈捐之); two parts |
| 65. | 東方朔傳 | Biography of Dongfang Shuo Dongfang Shuo Dongfang Shuo was a Han Dynasty scholar-official, fangshi , author, and court jester to Emperor Wu... |
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| 66. | 公孫劉田王楊蔡陳鄭傳 | Biographies of Gongsun, Liu, Tian, Wang, Yang, Cai, Chen and Zheng | Gongsun He (公孫賀), Liu Quli (劉屈氂), Tian Qiuqian (田千秋), Wang Xin (王訢), Yang Chang (楊敞), Cai Yi (蔡義), Chen Wannian (陳萬年) and Zheng Hong (鄭弘) |
| 67. | 楊胡朱梅云傳 | Biographies of Yang, Hu, Zhu, Mei and Yun | Yang Wangsun (楊王孫), Hu Jian (胡建), Zhu Yun (朱雲), Mei Fu (梅福) and Yun Chang (云敞) |
| 68. | 霍光金日磾傳 | Biographies of Huo Guang Huo Guang Huo Guang , courtesy name Zimeng was a Western Han statesman who was a rare example in Chinese history of a powerful official who deposed an emperor for the good of the state rather than to usurp the throne... and Jin Midi Jin Midi Jin Midi , formally Marquess Jing of Du , was a prominent official of the Chinese dynasty Han Dynasty of Xiongnu ethnicity. He served as coregent early in the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han.- Background :... |
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| 69. | 趙充國辛慶忌傳 | Biographies of Zhao Chongguo and Xin Qingji | |
| 70. | 傅常鄭甘陳段傳 | Biographies of Fu, Chang, Zheng, Gan, Chen and Duan | Fu Jiezi Fu Jiezi Fu Jiezi , born in Qingyang, Gansu, was responsible for the assassination of Loulan king Angui in 77 BC.... , Chang Hui (常惠), Zheng Ji, Gan Yannian (甘延壽), Chen Tang Chen Tang Chen Tang , born in Jining, Shandong, was famous for his battle against Zhizhi in 36 BC , and a quote 夫胡兵五而当汉兵一 "a single soldier of Han is equivalent to five Central Asian soldiers".... and Duan Huizong (段會宗) |
| 71. | 雋疏于薛平彭傳 | Biographies of Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng | Jun Buyi (雋不疑), Shu Guang (疏廣) and Shu Shou (疏受), Yu Dingguo (于定國), Xue Guangde (薛廣德), Ping Dang (平當) and Peng Xuan (彭宣) |
| 72. | 王貢兩龔鮑傳 | Biographies of Wang, Gong, two Gongs and Bao | Wang Ji (王吉), Gong Yu (貢禹), Gong Sheng (龔勝) and Gong She (龔舍) and Bao Xuan (鮑宣) |
| 73. | 韋賢傳 | Biography of Wei Xian | |
| 74. | 魏相丙吉傳 | Biographies of Wei Xiang and Bing Ji | |
| 75. | 眭兩夏侯京翼李傳 | Biographies of Sui, two Xiahous, Jing, Ji and Li | Sui Hong (眭弘), Xiahou Shichang (夏侯始昌) and Xiahou Sheng (夏侯勝), Jing Fang Jing Fang Jing Fang , born Li Fang , courtesy name Junming , was a Chinese music theorist, mathematician and astrologer. Born in present-day Puyang, Henan during the Han Dynasty , he was the first to notice how closely a succession of 53 just fifths approximates 31 octaves... (京房), Ji Feng (翼奉) and Li Xun (李尋) |
| 76. | 趙尹韓張兩王傳 | Biographies of Zhao, Yin, Han, Zhang and two Wangs | Zhao Guanghan (趙廣漢), Yin Wenggui (尹翁歸), Han Yanshou (韓延壽), Zhang Chang Zhang Chang (Han) Zhang Chang was a distinguished scholar and official who flourished under the Emperor Yuandi of Han dynasty China.He first attracted attention by denouncing the irregular conduct of Prince He of Changyi, who was promptly disgraced upon his representations. He became Governor of Shanyang in... (張敞), Wang Zun (王尊) and Wang Zhang (王章) |
| 77. | 蓋諸葛劉鄭孫毋將何傳 | Biographies of Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He | Gai: Gai Kuanrao (蓋寬饒), Zhuge: Zhuge Feng (諸葛豐), Liu: Liu Fu (劉輔), Zheng: Zheng Chong (鄭崇), Sun: Sun Bao (孫寶), Wujiang: Wujiang Long (毋將隆), He: He Bing (何並) |
| 78. | 蕭望之傳 | Biography of Xiao Wangzhi | |
| 79. | 馮奉世傳 | Biography of Feng Fengshi | |
| 80. | 宣元六王傳 | Biographies of the six sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan | |
| 81. | 匡張孔馬傳 | Biographies of Kuang, Zhang, Kong and Ma | Kuang Heng (匡衡), Zhang Yu (張禹), Kong Guang (孔光) and Ma Gong (馬宮) |
| 82. | 王商史丹傅喜傳 | Biographies of Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi | |
| 83. | 薛宣朱博傳 | Biographies of Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo | |
| 84. | 翟方進傳 | Biography of Zhai Fangjin | |
| 85. | 谷永杜鄴傳 | Biographies of Gu Yong and Du Ye | |
| 86. | 何武王嘉師丹傳 | Biographies of He Wu, Wang Jia and Shi Dan | |
| 87. | 揚雄傳 | Biography of Yang Xiong | two parts |
| 88. | 儒林傳 | Biographies of Confucian Scholars | |
| 89. | 循吏傳 | Biographies of Upright Officials | |
| 90. | 酷吏傳 | Biographies of Cruel Officials | |
| 91. | 貨殖傳 | Biographies of Usurers | People who enriched themselves. |
| 92. | 游俠傳 | Biographies of Knights-errant Chinese knight-errant Youxia was a type of chivalrous hero which came into existence during the Han Dynasty and disappeared during the Qing Dynasty .... s |
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| 93. | 佞幸傳 | Biographies of Flatterers | |
| 94. | 匈奴傳 | Traditions of the Xiongnu | two parts |
| 95. | 西南夷兩粵朝鮮傳 | Traditions of the Yi Dongyi Dongyi was a collective term for people in eastern China and in lands located to the east of ancient China. People referred to as Dongyi vary across the ages.The early Dongyi culture was one of earliest neolithic cultures in China.... of the southeast, the two Yues, and Chosun (Korea) |
Two Yues refer to Nanyue Nanyue Nanyue was an ancient kingdom that consisted of parts of the modern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan and northern Vietnam. Nanyue was established in 204 BC at the final collapse of the Qin Dynasty by Zhao Tuo, who was the military commander of Nanhai Commandery at the time, and... and Min Yue |
| 96. | 西域傳 | Traditions of the Western Regions | two parts |
| 97. | 外戚傳 | Biographies of the Empresses and Imperial Affines | two parts |
| 98. | 元后傳 | Biography of the Empress of Yuan | Empress Wang Zhengjun Empress Wang Zhengjun Empress Wang Zhengjun , , official imperial title Empress Xiaoyuan , later and more commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang, born in Yuancheng , was an empress during the Western Han Dynasty of China, who played important roles during the reigns of five successive Han emperors—her... |
| 99. | 王莽傳 | Biography of Wang Mang | Wang Mang Wang Mang Wang Mang , courtesy name Jujun , was a Han Dynasty official who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded the Xin Dynasty , ruling AD 9–23. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow and his rule marks the separation between the Western Han Dynasty and Eastern Han Dynasty... ; three parts |
| 100. | 敘傳 | Afterword and Family History | Afterward and History of Ban Family; two parts |
Mentioning of Japan
The Japanese first appear in written history in this book (Book of the Later Han), in which it is recorded, "The people of WoWa (Japan)
Japanese is the oldest recorded name of Japan. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese scribes regularly wrote Wa or Yamato "Japan" with the Chinese character 倭 until the 8th century, when the Japanese found fault with it, replacing it with 和 "harmony, peace, balance".- Historical references :The earliest...
are located across the ocean from Lelang, are divided into more than one hundred tribes, and come to offer tribute from time to time." It is later recorded that in 57, the southern Wa kingdom of Na sent an emissary named Taifu to pay tribute to Emperor Guangwu
Emperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu , born Liu Xiu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han...
and received a golden seal. The seal itself was discovered in northern Kyūshū in the 18th century. According to the Book of Wei
Book of Wei
The Book of Wei is a classic Chinese historical writing compiled by Wei Shou from 551 to 554, and serves as an important historical text describing the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei from 386 to 550....
, the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
in the 3rd century was called Yamataikoku
Yamataikoku
or is the Sino-Japanese name of an ancient country in Wa during the late Yayoi period . The Chinese history Sanguo Zhi first recorded Yemetaiguo or Yemayiguo as the domain of shaman Queen Himiko...
and was ruled by the legendary Queen Himiko.
External links
- Book of Han (Full text) - Chinese Text ProjectChinese Text ProjectThe Chinese Text Project is a digital library project that assembles collections of early Chinese texts. The name of the project in Chinese literally means "The Digitization Project of Chinese Philosophy Books", showing its focus on books related to Chinese philosophy...
- Pan Chao (Ban Zhao), Female Historian
- Silk Road Seattle (The Silk Road Seattle website contains many useful resources including a number of full-text historical works, maps, photos, etc.)