Han's father died early, and he had a poor childhood. It was said that one time when he was alone playing, he was confronted by a couple of hoodlums. They wanted to make fun of him that they made him crawl under their crotch. Han Xin knew at that time that if he were to combat them, he would be at a great disadvantage. So instead of putting up a fight, he did as he was told. This incident as he recalled later on was the best thing that happened in his life, because instead of letting his misfortunes handle his life, he used this event as a s ...

See also:

Han Xin, Han Xin - Early life and career, Han Xin - Han's masterplan for Liu Bang, Han Xin - Northern campaign, Han Xin - Participation in the campaign of Xiang Yu's destruction, Han Xin - Demotion and death, Han Xin - Impact on Chinese history

Read more here: » Han Xin: Encyclopedia II - Han Xin - Early life and career

Read more here: » Xin Dynasty: Encyclopedia - Xin Dynasty

The Chu-Han contention (楚漢相爭 or 楚漢春秋, 206–202 BC) was a post-Qin Dynasty interregnum period in China. During this period the rebel kings derived from the collapse of Qin Dynasty formed two camps fighting each other. One camp was headed by Liu Bang, King of Han while the other was headed by Xiang Yu, King Ba of Chu. Several minor kings also fought independent wars against each other during that period. The war ended with total victory of Liu Bang, who claimed himself the emperor and established the Han Dynasty. Including:

• Chu-Han contention - Origin of the War
• Chu-Han contention - Political Situation at the Start of the War
• Chu-Han contention - Start of the War: Qi Rebellion
• Chu-Han contention - Occupation of Guanzhong by Liu Bang
• Chu-Han contention - Development in Other Kingdoms
• Chu-Han contention - Battle of Pengcheng and Lingbi
• Chu-Han contention - Recovery of Han
• Chu-Han contention - Chu Striking Back
• Chu-Han contention - Battle of River of Si
• Chu-Han contention - Conquest of Qi by Han Xin
• Chu-Han contention - End of the War
• Chu-Han contention - Aftermath
• Chu-Han contention - Legends
• Chu-Han contention - Impact on Chinese culture
• Chu-Han contention - Notable Figures

Read more here: » Chu-Han contention: Encyclopedia - Chu-Han contention

The consort clan (外戚 Pinyin: wàiqī) is the family, clan or a group related to a spouse or an empress dowager of the Chinese dynastic ruler or a warlord. The leading figure of the clan was either a sibling, cousin, or parent of the consort or concubine. Consort clan - Famous leading figures. Consort clan - Han Dynasty. Wang Mang - nephew of Empress Dowager Wang, cousin of Emperor Cheng of Han China and founder of the Xin Dynasty. Dou Xian - brother of ...

Including:

• Consort clan - Famous leading figures
• Consort clan - Han Dynasty
• Consort clan - Three Kingdoms
• Consort clan - Jin Dynasty 265-420
• Consort clan - Tang Dynasty

Read more here: » Consort clan: Encyclopedia - Consort clan

23 - Events. Greek geographer Strabo publishes Geography, a work covering the world known to the Romans and Greeks at the time of Emperor Augustus - it is the only such book to survive from the ancient world. Liu Xuan, a descendant of the Han Dynasty royal family and leader of insurgents against the Xin Dynasty, proclaims himself emperor against Wang Mang. Tiberius lost his son Julius Caesar Drusus, and from then on seems to have lost interest in the Empire and occupied himself with ...

Including:

• 23 - Events
• 23 - Births
• 23 - Deaths

Read more here: » 23: Encyclopedia - 23

David H. Li, born 1928 in Ningbo, China, moved to the United States of America in 1949. He currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland. After retirement from an accountancy and academic career, Professor Li has published a number of books in the English language on the culture of China, including translations of the Analects of Confucius, The Art of War, and Tao Te Ching, as well as several books on Xiangqi or Chinese chess. In his book "The Genealogy of Chess" (which won the Book of the Year 1998 award from the editors of GAM ...

Read more here: » David H. Li: Encyclopedia - David H. Li

Wang Mang (王莽, pinyin: Wáng Măng) (45 BC–October 6, 23), courtesy name Jujun (巨君), was a Han Dynasty official who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded Xin (or Hsin) Dynasty (新朝, meaning "new dynasty"), ruling AD 8–23. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow, and historians have traditionally viewed Wang as a "usurper," while some others have portrayed him as a visionary and selfless social reformer. Though a learned Confucian scholar who sought to implement the harmonious society he ...

Including:

• Wang Mang - Early life and career
• Wang Mang - First tenure as the commander of the armed forces
• Wang Mang - Retirement during Emperor Ai's reign
• Wang Mang - Regency and buildup of personality cult
• Wang Mang - As acting emperor
• Wang Mang - Early reign: mistakes
• Wang Mang - Economic policies
• Wang Mang - Deterioration of the relationship with Xiongnu and other vassals
• Wang Mang - Paralysis and corruption of the government
• Wang Mang - Middle reign: agrarian rebellions
• Wang Mang - Late reign: hopelessness
• Wang Mang - Reasons for Wang Mang's failure
• Wang Mang - Personal information

Read more here: » Wang Mang: Encyclopedia - Wang Mang

Xiang Yu (Traditional:項羽; Simplified: 项羽; Wade-Giles: Hsiang Yü; pinyin: Xiàng Yǚ; 232 BC - 202 BC) was a prominent general during the fall of the Qin Dynasty. His name was Ji (籍), Yu was his courtesy name. He was a descendant of Chu nobility. A great general, it took him only several years to put a giant empire effectively at his whim -- but no diplomat or statesman, his impetuous nature and inability to realize his shortcomings doomed him to failure. He is commonly known by his self-styled title of Xichu Bawang ( ...

Including:

• Xiang Yu - Early career
• Xiang Yu - The Battle of Julu and Xiang's rise to military supremacy
• Xiang Yu - Entry into Qin proper and Xiang's jealousy of Liu Bang
• Xiang Yu - Xiang's deposition of Prince Xin of Chu and division of the empire
• Xiang Yu - Xiang's downfall
• Xiang Yu - Impact on Chinese history

Read more here: » Xiang Yu: Encyclopedia - Xiang Yu

  This article is about the year 8. For other uses of 8, see 8 (number). 8 - Events. Ovid is banished to the Black Sea. Vipsania Julia banished The Ara Pacis ("altar to peace") is built by Augustus. Marcus Furius Camillus, Sextus Nonius Quinctilianus, suff. Lucius Apronius become Roman Consuls Vonones I becomes king of Parthia. Start of Chushi era of the Chinese Han Dynasty Wang Mang seizes power in China and establishes the short-live ...

Including:

• 8 - Events
• 8 - Births
• 8 - Deaths

Read more here: » 8: Encyclopedia - 8

This article is about the Han Dynasty strategist. For the Yellow Turban general, see Zhang Liang (Yellow Turban). Zhang Liang (張良, d. 189 BC) (meaning Zhang who is of good conscience), courtesy name Zifang (子房), was a descendant from a noble family of State of Han during the Warring States Period. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all officials of the State of Han (韩). Zhang Liang had once planned an assassination against Qin Shi Huang but the employed assassin mistakenly destroyed the d ...

Including:

• Zhang Liang - The assassination attempt against Qin Shi Huang
• Zhang Liang - Meeting Liu Bang and divided loyalties between serving him and restablishing Hán
• Zhang Liang - Death of Hán Cheng and Zhang's subsequent permanent allegiance to Liu
• Zhang Liang - Contributions to Liu Bang during Chu Han Contention
• Zhang Liang - Contributions after the establishment of Han Dynasty
• Zhang Liang - Impact on Chinese history

Read more here: » Zhang Liang: Encyclopedia - Zhang Liang

Chang'an listen ▶ (help·info) (Simplified: 长安; Traditional: 長安; Hanyu Pinyin: Cháng'ān; Wade-Giles: Ch'ang-an) is the ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in China. "Chang'an" means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. (During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the name was changed to 常安 -- pronounced the same way, but with the meaning of " ...

Including:

• Chang'an - External link

Read more here: » Chang'an: Encyclopedia - Chang'an

45 BC - Events. Rome January 1 - Julian calendar goes into effect March 17 - In his last victory, Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the younger in the Battle of Munda. Pompey the younger was excuted, and Labienus died in battle, but Sextus Pompey escaped to take command of the remnants of the Pompeian fleet. The veterans of Julius Caesar's Legions Legio XIII Gemina and Legio X Equestris dembobilized. The veterans of ...

Including:

• 45 BC - Events
• 45 BC - Births
• 45 BC - Deaths

Read more here: » 45 BC: Encyclopedia - 45 BC

After Liu became emperor, he began to become paranoid about the powerful princes -- all who were considered a threat to the Han empire just had to be removed, including Han Xin. In winter 202 BC, under the guise of a imperial gathering at Chenqiu (陳丘, in modern Zhoukou, Henan) he was summoned to a meeting and captured, and then stripped of his principality and demoted to Marquess of Huaiyin with no military authority. In 198 BC or 197 BC, Liu commissioned Chen Xi (陳豨), the Marquess of Yangxia, a friend of Han's, to be the comm ...

See also:

Han Xin, Han Xin - Early life and career, Han Xin - Han's masterplan for Liu Bang, Han Xin - Northern campaign, Han Xin - Participation in the campaign of Xiang Yu's destruction, Han Xin - Demotion and death, Han Xin - Impact on Chinese history

Read more here: » Han Xin: Encyclopedia II - Han Xin - Demotion and death

Han's forces left Liu's territory proper in the autumn of 205 BC. His first target was Western Wei, which by that point had again rebelled and aligned itself with Western Chu. Han devised the strategy of confusing Western Wei forces into concentrating itself on the border while making a surprise attack on the capital of Western Wei, Anyi (安邑, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), in a strategy that would later be echoed by German World War II strategies in t ...

See also:

Han Xin, Han Xin - Early life and career, Han Xin - Han's masterplan for Liu Bang, Han Xin - Northern campaign, Han Xin - Participation in the campaign of Xiang Yu's destruction, Han Xin - Demotion and death, Han Xin - Impact on Chinese history

Read more here: » Han Xin: Encyclopedia II - Han Xin - Northern campaign

The varieties of Chinese Tea are extensive with many different types grown during each Chinese dynasties. When picking tea, there is no need to pick too fine leaves, too fine tea leaves are nascent and lack flavour. Also avoid leaves which are too green, as they are too old and have lost tenderness and flavour. It is best to pick the leaves which are greenish, roundish and thick. Do not dry them in the sun, rather bake them in a charcoal fire, cool down with a fan then stored in container lined with ruo leaves and keep in a hig ...

Including:

• Chinese tea - Modern tea production
• Chinese tea - The Tang Dynasty
• Chinese tea - The Song Dynasty
• Chinese tea - The Ming Dynasty
• Chinese tea - Tiger Hill Tea and Heaven Pool Tea
• Chinese tea - Jie Tea
• Chinese tea - Liu An Tea
• Chinese tea - Song Luo Tea
• Chinese tea - Dragon Fountain Tea and Eyes on Heaven Tea
• Chinese tea - Variety of Tea

Read more here: » Chinese tea: Encyclopedia - Chinese tea

The Chinese phrase Four Great Ancient Capitals of China (Traditional Chinese: 中國四大古都; Simplified Chinese: 中国四大古都; pinyin Zhōngguó Sì Dà Gǔdū) traditionally refers to Nanjing, Beijing, Luoyang, and Xi'an. After the 1920s as more discoveries were made, other historical capitals were added to the list. The phrase Seven Ancient Capitals of China introduced later on, also include Kaifeng (added in the 1920s as the fifth ancient capital), Hangzhou (became the sixth ancient capital in the 1930s), a ...

Including:

• Historical capital of China - List of historical capitals of China
• Historical capital of China - Chronology

Read more here: » Historical capital of China: Encyclopedia - Historical capital of China

The Xiongnu (Chinese: 匈奴; Hanyu Pinyin: Xiōngnú; Wade-Giles: Hsiung-nu) were a nomadic (and probably Hunnic/proto-Bulgar) people of Central Asia, generally based in present day Mongolia. From the 3rd century BC they controlled a vast steppe empire extending west as far as the Caucasus. They were active in the areas of southern Siberia, western Manchuria and the modern Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Xinjiang. Very anci ...

Including:

• Xiongnu - Origins and early history of the Xiongnu
• Xiongnu - Confederation under Maodun
• Xiongnu - Nature of the Xiongnu state
• Xiongnu - The marriage treaty system
• Xiongnu - War with Han China
• Xiongnu - Leadership struggle among the Xiongnu
• Xiongnu - Tributary relations with the Han
• Xiongnu - Northern and southern Xiongnu
• Xiongnu - The Xiongnu after the Han Dynasty
• Xiongnu - Did the Xiongnu become the Huns?
• Xiongnu - Footnotes

Read more here: » Xiongnu: Encyclopedia - Xiongnu

Luoyang (Simplified: 洛阳; Traditional: 洛陽; Hanyu Pinyin: Luòyáng) is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast. Situated on the central plain of China, cradle of the Chinese civilization, Luoyang was one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Luoyang - ...

Including:

• Luoyang - Administration
• Luoyang - History
• Luoyang - Culture
• Luoyang - Colleges and universities
• Luoyang - Public
• Luoyang - Famous residents

Read more here: » Luoyang: Encyclopedia - Luoyang

Changsha (Simplified: 长沙; Traditional: 長沙; Hanyu Pinyin: Chángshā; Wade-Giles: Chang-sha) is the capital of Hunan, a province of Southcentral China, located on the lower reaches of Xiangjiang river, a branch of the Yangtze River. It covers an area of 11,819 sq. kilometers and has a population of 6,017,600 (2003 population census). Changsha - Administration. Changsha has jurisdiction over five districts ...

Including:

• Changsha - Administration
• Changsha - History
• Changsha - Geography and climate
• Changsha - Neighboring areas:
• Changsha - Economy
• Changsha - Colleges and universities
• Changsha - Notable inhabitants

Read more here: » Changsha: Encyclopedia - Changsha

Water Margin or Outlaws of the Marsh (Traditional Chinese: 水滸傳; Simplified Chinese: 水浒传; pinyin: Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn) is one of the Four Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Attributed to Shi Nai'an and Luo Guanzhong, the novel details the trials and tribulations of one hundred and eight outlaws during the early 12th century. Water Margin - Historical context and development. Water Margin is vaguely based upon the historical bandit Song Jiang and his thirty-six compani ...

Including:

• Water Margin - Historical context and development
• Water Margin - Authorship and early editions
• Water Margin - Index of the 108 heroes
• Water Margin - The Fictions and Realities
• Water Margin - Outline of Chapters
• Water Margin - Modern transformations

Read more here: » Water Margin: Encyclopedia - Water Margin