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'Han' (韓國, ''Hánguó'') (403 BC-230 BC was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the name in Chinese.
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 Buhai, it would never overcome the Qin. In fact it was the first of the Six states to be conquered by Qin.
The Qin invasion of Han's Shangdang Commandery (上党郡) ushered in the bloodiest battle of the whole period, the Battle of Changping in 260 BC.

Contents

Rise

Fall

Famous People

List of Han rulers

See Also

Rise

According to Shiji, the Han family was descended from the Zhou nobles. The Zhou kings granted Han Yuan (韓原) to the Han family which the family used to gain influence and importance. In 403 BC, Marquis Jing of Han (韓景侯), along with Marquis Wen of Wei and Marquis Lie of Zhao partitioned the powerful state Jin into Han, Wei, and Zhao marking the beginning of the Warring States Period and Han as an independent polity. The kings of Zhou were forced to recognize the new states and elevated the ruler's titles to Marquis.

Fall

The height of the Han state was during the rule of Marquis Xi. Xi appointed Shen Buhai (申不害) Chancellor and implemented Shen's Legalist philosophy. Shen's policies strengthened Han. Because of the nature of the split of Jin, the Han state was landlocked on all sides by other powerful states like Chu, Qi, Qin, and Wei. Han was the smallest of the seven states, and was bullied militarily by more powerful neighbors. During its steady decline, The Han state lost the power to defend its territory and was asking for military assistance from other states when faced with invasions. Eventually, Han became the first of the six states to be conquered by the expanding Qin in 230 BC.

Famous People

The most famous person of Han is the Legalist philosopher Han Fei.

List of Han rulers

Title(s)	Given name	Reign years
Pre-State sovereigns
Viscount Xian of Han 韓獻子	Han Jue 韓厥
Viscount Xuan of Han 韓宣子	Han Qi 韓起
Viscount Zhen of Han 韓貞子	Han Xu 韓須
Viscount Jian of Han 韓簡子	Han Buxin 韓不信
Viscount Zhuang of Han 韓莊子	Han Geng 韓庚
Viscount Kang of Han 韓康子
Viscount Wu of Han 韓武子	Han Qizhang 韓啓章	424 BC – 409 BC
State sovereigns
Marquis Jing of Han 韓景侯	Han Qian 韓虔	408 BC – 400 BC
Marquis Lie of Han / Marquis Wu of Han 韓烈侯 / 韓武侯	Han Qu 韓取	399 BC – 387 BC
Marquis Wen of Han 韓文侯		386 BC – 377 BC
Marquis Ai of Han 韓哀侯		376 BC – 374 BC
Marquis Gong of Han / Marquis Zhuang of Han / Marquis Yi of Han 韓共侯 / 韓莊侯 / 韓懿侯	Han Ruoshan? 韓若山?	374 BC – 363 BC
Marquis Xi of Han / Marquis Zhao of Han 韓厘侯 / 韓昭侯		362 BC – 333 BC
King Xuanhui of Han / King Xuan of Han / Marquis Wei of Han (before 323 BC) 韓宣惠王 / 韓宣王 / 韓威侯		332 BC – 312 BC
King Xiang of Han / King Xiang'ai of Han / King Daoxiang of Han 韓襄王 / 韓襄哀王 / 韓悼襄王	Han Cang 韓倉	311 BC – 296 BC
King Xi of Han 韓厘王	Han Jiu 韓咎	295 BC – 273 BC
King Huanhui of Han 韓桓惠王		272 BC – 239 BC
King Fei of Han / King An of Han 韓廢王 / 韩王安	Han An 韓安	238 BC – 230 BC

See Also

★ Chinese nobility