Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
This article traces early Han from court chaos to the Lü Clan purge. Emperor Gaozu established rituals to restore order, but after his death, Empress Lü seized power and promoted her clan. Following her death, loyalists overthrew the Lü family and installed Emperor Wen, reviving the Liu dynasty and ushering in stability.
This article follows Liu Bang’s rise from conqueror to Emperor Gaozu, founder of the Western Han. After defeating Xiang Yu, he secured power by curbing Han Xin, moved the capital to Chang’an for safety, and stabilized the realm. Though he unified China, fresh threats from feudal lords and the Xiongnu lay ahead.
This article narrates Xiang Yu’s tragic end at Gaixia. Besieged by Liu Bang’s forces, he heard Chu songs from enemy camps, breaking his army’s morale. After bidding farewell to Lady Yu, he broke out with a few riders but chose death over surrender at the Wu River, closing the chapter of Western Chu.
This article recounts the Chu‑Han stalemate at Honggou. After years of war, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang split the realm at the Honggou Canal. Xiang Yu returned Liu Bang’s family and withdrew east – but Liu broke the truce at his advisors’ urging. He rewarded allied generals, uniting forces to destroy Chu at Gaixia.
This article tells the classic stratagem “Deceive by repairing the gallery roads, strike secretly at Chencang.” Han Xin fooled Zhang Han into fixing roads while leading Liu Bang’s main army through a hidden path. He swiftly conquered the Three Qins, seized Guanzhong, and secured a strong base for Liu Bang to fight Xiang Yu.
This article traces Han Xin’s rise from humiliation to greatness. Enduring the “crawl between legs” shame, he joined Liu Bang and was discovered by Xiao He. After the famous “chase by moonlight,” he was named Grand General. His strategy laid the foundation for Liu Bang to conquer the empire.
This article recounts Xiang Yu’s brutal entry into Xianyang: executing Ziying, massacring Qin nobles, and burning Epang Palace. He divided the empire into 18 kingdoms, exiling Liu Bang to remote Hanzhong. Liu burned gallery roads to feign submission, while Xiao He’s pursuit of Han Xin laid the groundwork for Han’s rise.
Zhang Liang (?–189 BCE) was a prominent statesman in the early Western Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Zifang, and he was from Chengfu, Yingchuan (in present-day southwestern Xiangcheng, Henan). His ancestors were nobles of the former state of Han, with five generations serving as Han ministers. Seeking revenge for the Qin conquest of…
Huang Quan (courtesy name Gongheng), born in Langzhong, Baxi Commandery (modern-day Langzhong, Sichuan), stands out in the turbulent Three Kingdoms era as a rare figure whose reputation grew with every change of master. Though he served three regimes – Liu Zhang, Liu Bei, and Cao Wei – he was never branded a turncoat. Instead,…