Part I: Early Han Dynasty Emperors
It was the Golden Age of China. The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty in Chinese history. This dynasty was a long one — it was established during the 3rd century BC and lasted all the way until the 3rd century AD. It was a golden age in Chinese history and its influence can still be felt even today. Members of China’s majority ethnic group even refer to themselves as the Han, and Chinese script is known as ‘Han characters’.
The Han Dynasty is divided into two periods — the Western or Former Han, and the Eastern or Later Han, as a result of Wang Mang’s usurpation of the throne and the establishment of the Xin Dynasty.
Rising from Rebellion
The Han Dynasty succeeded the Qin Dynasty, the first imperial dynasty of China. Although the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, was a formidable ruler, the empire he had established did not last long after his death, as he had a weak successor and there was in-fighting amongst his officials. The last days of the rule of the Qin Dynasty were so unbearable that many rebellions broke out across the empire.
These rebels were under the nominal leadership of Xiang Yu, a warlord from the state of Chu. Another important rebel leader was Liu Bang, a minor Qin official who was also from the Chu state. Following the death of Qin Shi Huang, Liu Bang resigned from his post, raised an army, and rebelled against Qin rule.
Although Liu Bang initially served under Xiang Yu during the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty, the two men would later become rivals, as each desired to become the Emperor of China. The struggle for supremacy between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang is known as the Chu-Han Contention, which lasted from 206 BC to 202 BC. At the Battle of Gaixia, the Han forces under Liu Bang won a decisive victory over Xiang Yu, who committed suicide after this defeat. Liu Bang proclaimed himself the Emperor of China and the Han Dynasty was established.
