Han-Zhao

Quick Facts: Who was Han-Zhao?

Subject:

Han-Zhao

Known for:

Xiongnu-led dynastic state in China during the tumultuous Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Han-Zhao (simplified Chinese: 汉赵; traditional Chinese: 漢趙; pinyin: Hàn Zhào; 304–329 AD), or Former Zhao (simplified Chinese: 前赵; traditional Chinese: 前趙; pinyin: Qián Zhào), was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Liu (Luandi) clan of Chuge-Xiongnu ethnicity during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of Chinese history. In Chinese historiography, it was given two conditional state titles: the Northern Han (北漢; Běi Hàn), for the state proclaimed in 304 by Liu Yuan; and the Former Zhao (前趙; Qián Zhào), for the state proclaimed in 319 by Liu Yao. The reference to them as separate states can be misleading, given that when Liu Yao changed the name of the state from "Han" to "Zhao" in 319, he treated the state as having been continuous from when Liu Yuan founded it in 304; instead, he de-established his imperial lineage from the Han dynasty and claimed ancestry directly from Modu Chanyu. The reason the Han-Zhao is also referred to as "Former Zhao" in historiography is to distinguish it from the Later Zhao founded by Shi Le in 319 (which was also known officially as "Zhao"). Since both the Former Zhao and Northern Han were ruled by the same family, Chinese scholars often conditionally combined them into a single Han-Zhao regime.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Numerous Western texts refer to the two states separately; others referred to the Han state as the "Northern Han" (this is not to be confused with Northern Han of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period). During the Han period, the capital was frequently moved around Shanxi before finally settling in Pingyang. The Han was a driving force during the upheaval of the Five Barbarians, as they brought the Disaster of Yongjia and demise of the Western Jin dynasty by 317. At the height of its power, the Han ruled Shanxi, Shaanxi, eastern Gansu, and large parts of Shandong, Hebei, and Henan. After Jin Zhun's coup in 318, the empire, which renamed itself to (Former) Zhao in 319, was split into two between Liu Yao and the warlord, Shi Le.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Liu Yao moved the capital to the west in Chang'an, retaining Shaanxi and eastern Gansu, while the eastern portion of the empire fell to Shi Le's Later Zhao dynasty. Following the split of the Xiongnu Empire in the 1st century, the Southern Xiongnu branch submitted to the Han dynasty and were resettled across the northern frontier province of Bing in 50 AD. Under the supervision of their chanyu, the Southern Xiongnu effectively acted as a buffer state for the Han and rendered military service by defending the borders from nomadic enemies. After helping defeat their rival Northern Xiongnu, however, relations between the Han and Southern Xiongnu deteriorated. The subsequent rise of the Xianbei people on the steppe and the restriction of the southern chanyu's authority by the Han imperial court saw many Xiongnu flee the frontier to join the Xianbei.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Han-Zhao

True or False: “The Han-Zhao regime was always recognized by all contemporary Chinese historians as a single, continuous entity from its founding in 304 AD.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Chinese historiography often treated the Northern Han (304) and Former Zhao (319) separately, even though they were ruled by the same family.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Hana Hegerová — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Esteemed Slovak singer and actress, known as the Queen of Czechoslovak chanson.
• Hanaoka Seishū — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering Japanese surgeon of the Edo period, known for combining Eastern and Western medicine.
• Hande Yener — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A leading Turkish pop singer and songwriter known for her evolving image and chart-topping hits.
• Handover of Hong Kong — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the UK to the People's Republic of China in 1997.
• Hani (singer) — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: South Korean singer and actress known for her work with EXID and solo endeavors.
• Hank Aaron — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Legendary right fielder, 'Hammerin' Hank', who set multiple MLB power-hitting records.

Frequently Asked Questions about Han-Zhao