Han (state)
Han was an ancient Chinese state during the Warring States period of ancient China. Scholars frequently render the name as Hann to clearly distinguish it from China's later Han dynasty.
Han | |||||||||
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| 403 BC–230 BC | |||||||||
| Status | State → Kingdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Yangzhai (before 375 BC) Xinzheng (after 375 BC) | ||||||||
| Religion | Chinese folk religion ancestor worship | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Hou → King | |||||||||
| Chancellor | |||||||||
| Historical era | Warring States period | ||||||||
| 403 BC | |||||||||
• Conquered by Qin | 230 BC | ||||||||
| Currency | spade money other ancient Chinese coinage | ||||||||
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| Han | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"State of Han" in small seal script (220 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 韓國 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 韩国 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It was located in central China (modern-day Shanxi and Henan) in a region south and east of Luoyang, the capital of the Eastern Zhou. It was ruled by aristocrats of the Ji (姬) family ancestral temple who rose to power as a ministerial family in the state of Jin, and whose power eventually eclipsed that of the Jin ruling house. The partition of Jin which resulted in the states of Han, Wei, and Zhao, marked the beginning of the Warring States period.
The state of Han was small and located in a mountainous and unprofitable region. Its territory directly blocked the passage of the state of Qin into the North China Plain.. Although Han had attempted to reform its governance (notably under Chancellor and "Legalist" Shen Buhai who improved state administration and strengthened its military ability) these reforms were not enough to defend itself and it was the first of the seven warring states to be conquered by Qin in 230 BC.: 45
Qin invasion of Han's Shangdang Commandery in 260 BC resulted in the Battle of Changping and was allegedly the bloodiest battle of the Warring States period where up to 400,000 soldiers died.: 38