State of Han

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The Han (simplified Chinese: 韩, traditional Chinese: 韓) was a state during the Warring States Period in China. It is conventionally written in some academic texts as Hann to distinguish it from the more prominent Han Dynasty later.

The viscounts of the Han family had been engaged in a long struggle with competing families within the state of Jin. This struggle culminated with the disintegration of Jin in 452 BC and the establishment of Han, Wei and Zhao. Although Jin did not cease to exist as a state, the disregard of the three new states for the Zhou Dynasty eventually ushered in the Warring States period. The three states recognized each other as independent in 424 BC. In 375 BC, Han conquered the neighboring state of Zheng.

Its territory directly blocked the passage of the state of Qin into the North China Plain, thus becoming a frequent target of Qin's military operations. Although the Han had attempted several self strengthening reforms, notably under the famous Legalist Shen Bu-hai (simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese: 申不害) during the reign of Marquess Zhao of Han, it would never overcome the Qin. In fact, it was the first of the Six States to be conquered by Qin in 230 BC.

The invasion of Qin into Shangdang Commandery (simplified Chinese: 上党郡, traditional Chinese: 上黨郡) ushered in the bloodiest battle of the whole period, the Battle of Changping in 260 BC.

Han Fei(韓非) was a noble of Han, but his thinking was put into practice by Qin Shi Huangdi.

List of Han rulers

Marquess Jing of Han

Marquess Lie of Han

Marquess Wen of Han

Marquess Ai of Han

Marquess Zhuang of Han

Marquess Zhao of Han

King Xuanhui of Han

King Xiang of Han

King Xi of Han

King Huanhui of Han

King An of Han

See also

See Han (disambiguation page) for other meaning of the word

ja:韓 zh-cn:韩国 (战国)