Western Han

Liu Bang (256 BCE or 247 BCE–June 1, 195 BCE), courtesy name Ji, was from Zhongyang Village in Fengyi, Pei (present-day Feng County, Xuzhou, Jiangsu), with ancestral origins stated in the source as Daliang (present-day Kaifeng, Henan). He was the founding emperor of the Western Han, reigning from February 28, 202 BCE to June 1, 195 BCE, and was also a politician, strategist, and military leader. Born into a farming f

The legitimate eldest son of Emperor Gaozu, Liu Ying was regarded as benevolent but weak after succeeding to the throne. Government was largely controlled by Empress Lü, and he reigned only seven years.

Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng (203 BCE–157 BCE), was the fourth son of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Western Han, and Lady Bo. He was the fifth emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning from 180 BCE to 157 BCE. Initially enfeoffed as Prince of Dai, he guarded the northern frontier. After the death of Empress Lü, the group of senior meritorious officials suppressed the Lü Clan disturbance and installed Liu Heng as e

Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi (188 BCE–March 9, 141 BCE), was the sixth emperor of the Western Han and the son of Emperor Wen, Liu Heng, and Empress Dou, Dou Yifang. Liu Qi reigned for sixteen years from 157 to 141 BCE. He continued his father's policy of allowing the people to recuperate, maintaining light corvée and taxation and reducing punishments. He accepted Chao Cuo's proposal to reduce the power of the feudator

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che (156 BCE–March 29, 87 BCE), was the seventh emperor of the Western Han, the son of Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, and Empress Wang. His temple name was Shizong, his posthumous name Emperor Xiaowu, and he was buried at Maoling. He reigned for fifty-four years, making him one of the longest-reigning emperors in Chinese history. His rule was characterized by stronger central authority, long wars

Emperor Zhao of Han, Liu Fuling (94–74 BCE), was the eighth emperor of the Western Han and the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che; his mother was Consort Gouyi of the Zhao clan. In 87 BCE, the second year of Houyuan, Emperor Wu named the eight-year-old Liu Fuling crown prince shortly before his death and appointed Huo Guang, Jin Midi, Shangguan Jie, and Sang Hongyang as regents. Emperor Zhao reigned for thirt

Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun (91 BCE–January 10, 48 BCE), originally named Liu Bingyi and with the courtesy name Ziqing, was the tenth emperor of the Western Han, reigning from September 8, 74 BCE to January 10, 48 BCE. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Wu, Liu Che; grandson of Crown Prince Li, Liu Ju; and son of Liu Jin, known as the Imperial Grandson Shi. Liu Xun suffered the consequences of the Witchcraft Calamit

Emperor Yuan of Han, Liu Shi (74 BCE, first year of Yuanping–33 BCE, first year of Jingning), was the eleventh emperor of the Western Han and the son of Emperor Xuan, Liu Xun, and his first wife, Empress Gong'ai Xu Pingjun. He succeeded to the throne in January 48 BCE, the twelfth month of the first year of Huanglong, and reigned for sixteen years. Liu Shi was gentle, benevolent, and fond of Confucian learning but la

Emperor Cheng of Han, Liu Ao (51 BCE–April 15, 7 BCE), courtesy name Taisun, was the twelfth emperor of the Western Han and the son of Emperor Yuan Liu Shi and Wang Zhengjun. He reigned for twenty-five years, from 33 BCE to 7 BCE. As the legitimate grandson of Emperor Xuan, Liu Ao was greatly loved by his grandfather, who personally chose the name Ao for him. In his youth he was described as broad-minded and cautious

Liu Xin (25 BCE–August 15, 1 BCE), courtesy name unknown, was from Dingtao Kingdom in Yanzhou (present-day Dingtao District, Heze, Shandong). He was the thirteenth emperor of the Western Han when counted from Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and, according to the source, reigned for seven years. He was a grandson of Emperor Yuan Liu Shi, the son of Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao, and the son of Lady Ding. In 8 BCE, the first

Liu Kan, originally named Liu Jizi, was the fourteenth emperor of the Western Han. He was a grandson of Emperor Yuan, Liu Shi, and a son of Liu Xing, Prince Xiao of Zhongshan; his mother was Lady Wei. He was born in 8 BCE, the first year of Suihe, and in 1 BCE, the second year of Yuanshou, Wang Mang brought him to the throne at age nine. During his reign, Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun ruled at court while Grand

Wang Mang (45 BCE–23 CE), courtesy name Jujun, was a native of Yuancheng in Wei Commandery (present-day Handan, Hebei), a maternal relative of the Western Han imperial house, a powerful official, and the founder of the Xin dynasty. He was a nephew of Wang Zhengjun, empress of Emperor Yuan of Han. In his early career he became known for modesty, frugality, learning, and high moral conduct. After the death of Emperor A

Modu Chanyu (d. 174 BCE), of the Luandi clan and the Xiongnu people, was a Xiongnu Chanyu in the late Qin and early Han periods and the son of Touman Chanyu. In 209 BCE, the first year of Qin Er Shi, he killed his father and took the throne. The source text describes him as an outstanding Xiongnu military commander and the founder of a steppe empire. Using the whistling-arrow method to seize power, Modu became the fi

Luandi Touman (d. 209 BCE), of the Luandi clan, was the first Chanyu clearly recorded in Xiongnu history and the father of Modu Chanyu. During his reign, the Xiongnu gradually developed from a dispersed tribal confederation toward a more unified polity, laying foundations for the Xiongnu state. His realm bordered the Donghu in the east, the Yuezhi in the west, the Qin dynasty in the south, and the Dingling in the nor

The Former Young Emperor of the Western Han (dates unknown–184 BCE) was a son of Emperor Hui of Han, Liu Ying, and the third emperor of the Western Han, reigning from 188 to 184 BCE. His birth mother was one of Emperor Hui's palace women. After Empress Lü had her killed, Empress Zhang Yan nominally adopted the child and he was made Crown Prince. Following Emperor Hui's death, Empress Lü ruled at court and placed him

Qiedihou Chanyu (d. 96 BCE), of the Luandi clan, was a son of Yizhixie Chanyu, a younger brother of Wuwei Chanyu, and a Xiongnu Chanyu during the Western Han. He acceded in 101 BCE, the fourth year of the Taichu era, and died in office in 96 BCE, the first year of the Taishi era, after a reign of about five years. During his reign, Han–Xiongnu relations shifted from a brief easing to full confrontation. Because his p

Yizhixie Chanyu (d. 114 BCE), of the Luandi clan and the Xiongnu people, was the younger brother of Junchen Chanyu and had formerly served as Left Guli King. When Junchen Chanyu died in 126 BCE, the third year of the Yuanshuo era, Yizhixie defeated Junchen's crown prince Yudan and proclaimed himself Chanyu. Yudan fled to the Han, where he was enfeoffed as Marquis of She'an, and died several months later. Yizhixie's r

Xulüquanqu Chanyu ruled during a period of increasing internal conflict among the Xiongnu, when the strength and cohesion of the royal court continued to decline.

Luandi Hulugu (d. 85 BCE), of the Luandi clan, was a Xiongnu chanyu during the Western Han and a son of Qiedihou Chanyu. He succeeded to the chanyu position in 96 BCE. During his reign he repeatedly raided Han frontier commanderies, entering Shanggu, Wuyuan, and Jiuquan, and fought Han forces at Mount Junji and the narrow pass at Fuyangju. He was at one point defeated by the Han general Li Guangli. In 90 BCE, the thi

Zhizhi Chanyu, elder brother of Huhanye Chanyu, once controlled the Chanyu court. After he could no longer maintain his position, he moved west to Kangju and was ultimately killed at Zhizhi City by forces led by Chen Tang.

Chanyu Wuwei was the eldest son of Yizhixie Chanyu and ruled the Xiongnu for about a decade after succeeding his father in 114 BCE. His reign coincided with the high point of Emperor Wu’s campaigns against the Xiongnu. The Han victories under Wei Qing and Huo Qubing had pushed the Xiongnu away from the southern approaches and weakened the political position inherited by Wuwei.

Junchen Chanyu (d. 126 BCE), of the Luandi clan, was a Chanyu of the Xiongnu and a son of Lao Shangchanyu. He succeeded to the throne in 161 BCE, the third year of Emperor Wen's later reign, and is stated in the source text to have ruled for thirty-five years, spanning the reigns of Emperors Wen, Jing, and Wu of the Western Han. During his rule, Xiongnu–Han relations moved from the coexistence of heqin and frontier r

Liu Hong (d. November 14, 180 BCE), originally named Liu Shan and later Liu Yi, is traditionally designated in imperial historiography as Emperor Houshao of Western Han. Early dynastic accounts record him as a son of Emperor Hui of Han (Liu Ying), though imperial chancellors during his deposition claimed he was not biologically related to Emperor Hui—a claim originating from fierce factional court struggles rather th