List of The Western Han Dynasty Rulers

Complete list of China's Western Han Dynasty rulers' name, posthumous name, era name, reign, born and died year with Pinyin and playable Chinese pronunciation audio. Click here to view full China dynasties list.

About Western Han Dynasty

The Western Han dynasty (西汉) was the first half of the Han dynasty, one of the most influential and prosperous periods in Chinese history. It lasted from 202 BCE to 9 CE, and was founded by Liu Bang, who became Emperor Gaozu after defeating his rival Xiang Yu (项羽) in the Chu-Han contention (楚汉之争), a civil war that followed the collapse of the Qin dynasty.

The Western Han dynasty was known for its political stability, economic prosperity, cultural achievements and territorial expansion. It consolidated the imperial system that was established by the Qin and adopted a more humane and flexible approach to governance. It also promoted Confucianism as the official ideology and fostered the development of literature, art, science and technology. The Western Han dynasty expanded its territory through military campaigns and diplomatic relations, reaching as far as Central Asia, Vietnam, and Korea.

The Western Han dynasty collapsed in 9 CE when Wang Mang (王莽), a usurper from the imperial clan, seized power and founded the Xin dynasty (新朝, 9 CE to 23 CE).