Book of Han

Ming Dynasty wood carved edition of Book of Han in Ningbo Tianyi Chamber Library collection

The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty (simplified Chinese: 汉书 or 前汉书; traditional Chinese: 漢書 sometimes, 前漢書; pinyin: Qián Hànshū; Wade–Giles: Ch'ien Han Shu - is a classical Chinese history finished in AD 111, covering the history of China under the Western Han from 206 BC to 25 AD. It is also sometimes called the Book of Former Han. The work was composed by Ban Biao, Ban Gu, and Ban Zhao. A second work, the Book of the Later Han covers the Eastern Han period from 25 to 220, and was composed in the fifth century by Fan Ye (398–445). Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE. The book also contains the first written historical mention of Japan.

Contents

This history developed from a continuation of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian or, more correctly, Records of the Grand Scribe, initiated by Ban Gu's father, Ban Biao, at the beginning of the Later Han Dynasty. This work is usually referred to as Later Traditions 後傳, which clearly indicates that the elder Ban's work was meant to be a continuation. (It should be noted that other scholars of the time, including Liu Xin and Yang Xiong also worked on continuations of Sima's history.) After Ban Biao's death, his eldest son Ban Gu was dissatisfied with what his father had completed, and he began a new history that started with the beginning of the Han dynasty. This distinguished it from Sima Qian's history, which had begun with China's earliest legendary rulers. In this way, Ban Gu initiated the format for dynastic histories that was to remain the model for the official histories until modern times.

For the periods where they overlapped, Ban Gu adopted nearly verbatim much of Sima Qian's material, though in some cases he also expanded it. He also incorporated at least some of what his father had written, though it is difficult to know how much. The completed work ran to a total of 100 fascicles 卷, and included essays on law, science, geography, and literature. Ban Gu's younger sister Ban Zhao finished writing the book in 111, 19 years after Ban Gu had been imprisoned. An outstanding scholar in her own right, she is thought to have written volumes 13-20 (eight chronological tables) and 26 (treatise on astronomy). As with the Records of the Grand Historian, Zhang Qian, a notable Chinese general who travelled to the west, was a key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions contained in the 96th fascicle. The "Annals" section and the three chapters covering the reign of Wang Mang were translated into English by Homer H. Dubs. Other chapters have been rendered into English by Anthony Hulsewé, Clyde B. Sargent, Nancy Lee Swann, and Burton Watson.

Ban Gu's history set the standard for the writings of later Chinese dynasties, and today it is a reference used to study the Han period. It is regarded as one of the "Four Histories" 四史 of the Twenty-Four Histories canon, together with the Records of the Grand Historian, Records of Three Kingdoms and History of the Later Han.

Annals

Ji (紀, annal), 12 volumes. Emperors' biographies in strict annal form, which offer a chronological overview of the most important occurrences, as seen from the imperial court.

Number	Title	Translation	Notes
1	高帝紀	Annals of Emperor Gao	Emperor Gaozu of Han, 206-195 BC; two parts
2.	惠帝紀	Annals of Emperor Hui	Emperor Hui of Han, 194-188 BC
3.	高后紀	Annals of Empress Gao	Empress Lü Zhi (regent 195-180 BC)
4.	文帝紀	Annals of Emperor Wen	Emperor Wen of Han, 179-157 BC
5.	景帝紀	Annals of Emperor Jing	Emperor Jing of Han, 156-141 BC
6.	武帝紀	Annals of Emperor Wu	Emperor Wu of Han, 140-87 BC
7.	昭帝紀	Annals of Emperor Zhao	Emperor Zhao of Han, 86-74 BC
8.	宣帝紀	Annals of Emperor Xuan	Emperor Xuan of Han, 73-49 BC
9.	元帝紀	Annals of Emperor Yuan	Emperor Yuan of Han, 48-33 BC
10.	成帝紀	Annals of Emperor Cheng	Emperor Cheng of Han, 32-7 BC
11.	哀帝紀	Annals of Emperor Ai	Emperor Ai of Han, 6-1 BC
12.	平帝紀	Annals of Emperor Ping	Emperor Ping of Han, 1 BC - 5 AD

Chronological tables

Biao (表, tables), 8 volumes. Chronological tables of important people.

Number	Title	Translation	Notes
13.	異姓諸侯王表	Table of nobles not related to the imperial clan
14.	諸侯王表	Table of nobles related to the imperial clan
15.	王子侯表	Table of sons of nobles	two parts
16.	高惠高后文功臣表	Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of (Emperors) Gao, Hui, Wen and Empress Gao	Starting with Emperor Gaozu and including Empress Lü
17.	景武昭宣元成功臣表	Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of (Emperors) Jing, Wu, Zhao, Xuan, Yuan and Cheng	From Emperor Wu until Emperor Cheng
18.	外戚恩澤侯表	Table of nobles from families of the imperial consorts
19.	上百官公卿表	Table of nobility ranks and government offices	Introduction to the Han bureaucracy and chronological table of government offices; two parts
20.	古今人表	Prominent people from the past until the present

Treatises

Zhi (志, memoirs), 10 volumes. Each treatise describes an area of effort of the state.

Number	Title	Translation	Notes
21.	律曆志	Treatise on Rhythm and the Calendar	Music (and measurements) and calendars; two parts
22.	禮樂志	Treatise on Rites and Music
23.	刑法志	Treatise on Punishment and Law
24.	食貨志	Treatise on Food and Money	Agriculture, taxation, currency and monetary policy; two parts
25.	郊祀志	Treatise on Sacrifices	two parts
26.	天文志	Treatise on Astronomy	Astrology and astronomy
27.	五行志	Treatise on the Five Elements	five parts
28.	地理志	Treatise on Geography	Administrative jurisdictions; two parts
29.	溝洫志	Treatise on Rivers and Canals	Hydrology, flood control and irrigation
30.	藝文志	Treatise on Literature	Bibliography based on Imperial Library catalog compiled by Liu Xiang

Biographies

Zhuan (傳, exemplary traditions, usually translated as biographies), 70 volumes. Biographies of important people. The biographies confine themselves to the description of events that clearly show the exemplary character of the person. Two or more people are treated in one main article, as they belong to the same class of people. The last articles describe the relations between China and the various peoples beyond the frontiers.

Number	Title	Translation	Notes
31.	陳勝項籍傳	Biographies of Chen Sheng and Xiang Yu
32.	張耳陳餘傳	Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu
33.	魏豹田儋韓王信傳	Biographies of Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Hán)
34.	韓彭英盧吳傳	Biographies of Han, Peng, Ying, Lu and Wu	Han Xin, Peng Yue, Ying Bu (英布), Lu Wan and Wu Rui 吳芮
35.	荊燕吳傳	Biographies of the Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu
36.	楚元王傳	Biography of Prince Chu Yuan	Includes the biographies of Liu Xiang and Liu Xin.
37.	季布欒布田叔傳	Biographies of Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu
38.	高五王傳	Biographies of the five sons of Emperor Gao
39.	蕭何曹參傳	Biographies of Xiao He and Cao Shen
40.	張陳王周傳	Biographies of Zhang, Chen, Wang and Zhou	Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Wang Ling (王陵) and Zhou Bo (周勃)
41.	樊酈滕灌傅靳周傳	Biographies of Fan, Li, Teng, Guan, Fu, Jin and Zhou	Fan Kuai, Li Shang (酈商), Xiahou Ying, Guan Ying (灌嬰), Fu Kuan, Jin She (靳歙) and Zhou Xue (周緤)
42.	張周趙任申屠傳	Biographies of Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu	Zhang Cang (張蒼), Zhou Chang (周昌), Zhao Yao (趙堯), Ren Ao (任敖) and Shentu Jia (申屠嘉)
43.	酈陸朱劉叔孫傳	Biographies of Li, Lu, Zhu, Liu and Shusun	Li Yiji (酈食其), Lu Gu (陸賈), Zhu Jian (朱建), Lou Jing (婁敬) and Shusun Tong (叔孫通)
44.	淮南衡山濟北王傳	Biographies of the kings of Huainan, Hengshan and Jibei
45.	蒯伍江息夫傳	Biographies of Kuai, Wu, Jiang and Xifu	Kuai Tong (蒯通), Wu Bei (伍被), Jiang Chong (江充) and Xifu Gong (息夫躬)
46.	萬石衛直周張傳	Biographies of the lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang	Shi Fen (石奮), Wei Wan (衛綰), Zhi Buyi (直不疑), Zhou Ren (周仁) and Zhang Ou (張歐)
47.	文三王傳	Biography of the three sons of Emperor Wen
48.	賈誼傳	Biography of Jia Yi
49.	爰盎晁錯傳	Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo
50.	張馮汲鄭傳	Biographies of Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng	Zhang Shizhi (張釋之), Feng Tang (馮唐), Ji An (汲黯) and Zheng Dangshi (鄭當時)
51.	賈鄒枚路傳	Biographies of Jia, Zou, Mei and Lu	Jia Shan (賈山, Zou Yang (鄒陽), Mei Cheng (枚乘) and Lu Wenshu (路溫舒)
52.	竇田灌韓傳	Biographies of Dou, Tian, Guan and Han	Dou Ying (竇嬰), Tian Fen (田蚡), Guan Fu (灌夫) and Han Anguo (韓安國)
53.	景十三王傳	Biographies of the thirteen sons of Emperor Jing
54.	李廣蘇建傳	Biographies of Li Guang and Su Jian
55.	衛青霍去病傳	Biographies of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing
56.	董仲舒傳	Biography of Dong Zhongshu
57.	司馬相如傳	Biography of Sima Xiangru	two parts
58.	公孫弘卜式兒寬傳	Biographies of Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan	Er Kuan is also known as Ni Kuan
59.	張湯傳	Biography of Zhang Tang
60.	杜周傳	Biography of Du Zhou
61.	張騫李廣利傳	Biographies of Zhang Jian and Li Guangli
62.	司馬遷傳	Biography of Sima Qian	Includes the biography of Sima Tan
63.	武五子傳	Biographies of the five sons of Emperor Wu
64.	嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳	Biographies of Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang and Jia	Yan Zhu (嚴助), Zhu Maichen (朱買臣), Wuqiu Shouwang (吾丘壽王), Zhufu Yan (主父偃), Xu Yue (徐樂), Yan An (嚴安), Zhong Jun (終軍), Wang Bao (王褒) and Jia Juanzhi (賈捐之); two parts
65.	東方朔傳	Biography of Dongfang Shuo
66.	公孫劉田王楊蔡陳鄭傳	Biographies of Gongsun, Liu, Tian, Wang, Yang, Cai, Chen and Zheng	Gongsun He (公孫賀), Liu Quli (劉屈氂), Tian Qiuqian (田千秋), Wang Xin (王訢), Yang Chang (楊敞), Cai Yi (蔡義), Chen Wannian (陳萬年) and Zheng Hong (鄭弘)
67.	楊胡朱梅云傳	Biographies of Yang, Hu, Zhu, Mei and Yun	Yang Wangsun (楊王孫), Hu Jian (胡建), Zhu Yun (朱雲), Mei Fu (梅福) and Yun Chang (云敞)
68.	霍光金日磾傳	Biographies of Huo Guang and Jin Midi
69.	趙充國辛慶忌傳	Biographies of Zhao Chongguo and Xin Qingji
70.	傅常鄭甘陳段傳	Biographies of Fu, Chang, Zheng, Gan, Chen and Duan	Fu Jiezi, Chang Hui (常惠), Zheng Ji, Gan Yannian (甘延壽), Chen Tang and Duan Huizong (段會宗)
71.	雋疏于薛平彭傳	Biographies of Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng	Jun Buyi (雋不疑), Shu Guang (疏廣) and Shu Shou (疏受), Yu Dingguo (于定國), Xue Guangde (薛廣德), Ping Dang (平當) and Peng Xuan (彭宣)
72.	王貢兩龔鮑傳	Biographies of Wang, Gong, two Gongs and Bao	Wang Ji (王吉), Gong Yu (貢禹), Gong Sheng (龔勝) and Gong She (龔舍) and Bao Xuan (鮑宣)
73.	韋賢傳	Biography of Wei Xian
74.	魏相丙吉傳	Biographies of Wei Xiang and Bing Ji
75.	眭兩夏侯京翼李傳	Biographies of Sui, two Xiahous, Jing, Ji and Li	Sui Hong (眭弘), Xiahou Shichang (夏侯始昌) and Xiahou Sheng (夏侯勝), Jing Fang (京房), Ji Feng (翼奉) and Li Xun (李尋)
76.	趙尹韓張兩王傳	Biographies of Zhao, Yin, Han, Zhang and two Wangs	Zhao Guanghan (趙廣漢), Yin Wenggui (尹翁歸), Han Yanshou (韓延壽), Zhang Chang (張敞), Wang Zun (王尊) and Wang Zhang (王章)
77.	蓋諸葛劉鄭孫毋將何傳	Biographies of Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He	Gai: Gai Kuanrao (蓋寬饒), Zhuge: Zhuge Feng (諸葛豐), Liu: Liu Fu (劉輔), Zheng: Zheng Chong (鄭崇), Sun: Sun Bao (孫寶), Wujiang: Wujiang Long (毋將隆), He: He Bing (何並)
78.	蕭望之傳	Biography of Xiao Wangzhi
79.	馮奉世傳	Biography of Feng Fengshi
80.	宣元六王傳	Biographies of the six sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan
81.	匡張孔馬傳	Biographies of Kuang, Zhang, Kong and Ma	Kuang Heng (匡衡), Zhang Yu (張禹), Kong Guang (孔光) and Ma Gong (馬宮)
82.	王商史丹傅喜傳	Biographies of Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi
83.	薛宣朱博傳	Biographies of Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo
84.	翟方進傳	Biography of Zhai Fangjin
85.	谷永杜鄴傳	Biographies of Gu Yong and Du Ye
86.	何武王嘉師丹傳	Biographies of He Wu, Wang Jia and Shi Dan
87.	揚雄傳	Biography of Yang Xiong	two parts
88.	儒林傳	Biographies of Confucian Scholars
89.	循吏傳	Biographies of Upright Officials
90.	酷吏傳	Biographies of Cruel Officials
91.	貨殖傳	Biographies of Usurers	People who enriched themselves.
92.	游俠傳	Biographies of Knights-errants
93.	佞幸傳	Biographies of Flatterers
94.	匈奴傳	Traditions of the Xiongnu	two parts
95.	西南夷兩粵朝鮮傳	Traditions of the Yi of the southeast, the two Yues, and Chosun (Korea)	Two Yues refer to Nanyue and Min Yue
96.	西域傳	Traditions of the Western Regions	two parts
97.	外戚傳	Biographies of the Empresses and Imperial Affines	two parts
98.	元后傳	Biography of the Empress of Yuan	Empress Wang Zhengjun
99.	王莽傳	Biography of Wang Mang	Wang Mang; three parts
100.	敘傳	Afterword and Family History	Afterward and History of Ban Family; two parts

Mentioning of Japan

The Japanese first appear in written history in this book (Book of the Later Han), in which it is recorded, "The people of Wo are located across the ocean from Lelang, are divided into more than one hundred tribes, and come to offer tribute from time to time." It is later recorded that in 57, the southern Wa kingdom of Na sent an emissary named Taifu to pay tribute to Emperor Guangwu and received a golden seal. The seal itself was discovered in northern Kyūshū in the 18th century. According to the Book of Wei, the most powerful kingdom on the archipelago in the 3rd century was called Yamataikoku and was ruled by the legendary Queen Himiko.

See also

• Twenty-Four Histories

References

• Dorn'eich, Chris M. (2008). Chinese sources on the History of the Niusi-Wusi-Asi(oi)-Rishi(ka)-Arsi-Arshi-Ruzhi and their Kueishuang-Kushan Dynasty. Shiji 110/Hanshu 94A: The Xiongnu: Synopsis of Chinese original Text and several Western Translations with Extant Annotations. Berlin. To read or download go to: [1]
• Honey, David B. "The Han shu Manuscript Evidence, and the Textual Criticism of the Shih-chi: The Case of the Hsiung-nü lieh-chuan," CLEAR 21 (1999), 67-97.
• Hulsewe, A.F.P. "A Striking Discrepancy between the Shih chi and the Han shu." T'oung Pao 76.4-5 (1990): 322-23.
• Hulsewé, A. F. P. and Loewe, M. A. N. China in Central Asia: The Early Stage 125 BC – AD 23: an annotated translation of chapters 61 and 96 of the History of the Former Han Dynasty. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1979.
• Dubs, Homer H. (trans.) The History of the Former Han Dynasty. 3 vols. Baltimore: Waverly, 1938-55. Digitized text. (Digitized text does not retain volume or page numbers and alters Dubs' footnote numbering.) Glossary.
• Sargent, Cyde B., Tr. Wang Mang; A Translation of the Official Account of His Rise to Power as Given in the History of the Former Han Dynasty, with Introd. and Notes. Shanghai: Graphic Art Book Co., 1947.
• Swann, Nancy Lee, tr. Food and Money in Ancient China: The Earliest Economic History of China to A.D. 25. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1950; rpt. New York: Octagon Books, 1974.
• Stange, Hans O.H. "Die monographie über Wang Mang." Abhandlungen für die kunde des morgenlandes XXIII, 3, 1939.
• Stange, Hans O.H. Leben und persünlichkeit und werk Wang Mangs. Berlin, 1914.
• Tinios, Ellis. “Sure Guidance for One’s Own Time: Pan Ku and the Tsan to Han-shu 94.” Early China 9-10 (1983-85): 184-203.
• Van der Sprenkel, O. B. Pan Piao, Pan Ku, and the Han History. Centre for Oriental Studies Occasional Paper, no. 3. Canberra: Australian National University, 1964.
• Watson, Burton. 1974. Courtier and Commoner in Ancient China. Selections from the History of the Former Han. Columbia University Press, New York. (A translation of chapters 54,63,65,67,68,71,74,78,92, and 97).
• Wilbur, C. Martin. Slavery in China during the Former Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.–A.D. 25. Publications of Field Museum of Natural History, Anthropological Series, 35. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1943. Reprint. New York: Russell & Russell, 1967. Selected translations from the Han shu.
• Wu, Shuping, "Hanshu" ("Book of Han"). Encyclopedia of China (Chinese Literature Edition), 1st ed.

External links

• Book of Han (Full text) - Chinese Text Project
• Pan Chao (Ban Zhao), Female Historian
• Silk Road Seattle (The Silk Road Seattle website contains many useful resources including a number of full-text historical works, maps, photos, etc.)