Book of Han
The Book of Han or History of the Former Han is a history of China finished in 111, covering the Western, or Former Han dynasty from the first emperor in 206 BCE to the fall of Wang Mang in 23 CE. It is also called the Book of Former Han.
The work was composed by Ban Gu, an Eastern Han court official, with the help of his sister Ban Zhao, continuing the work of their father, Ban Biao. They modeled their work on the Records of the Grand Historian, a universal history, but theirs was the first in this annals-biography form to cover a single dynasty. It is the best source, sometimes the only one, for many topics in this period. 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.
Contents
This history developed from a continuation of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, 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, which indicates that the elder Ban's work was meant to be a continuation. 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 Jizhuanti 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 died in prison. An outstanding scholar in her own right, she is thought to have written volumes 13–20 and 26, the latter with the help of Ma Xu. 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 A. F. P. Hulsewé, Clyde B. Sargent, Nancy Lee Swann, and Burton Watson.
The text includes a description of the Triple Concordance Calendar System 三統曆 developed by Liu Xin in fascicle 21. This is translated to English by Cullen.
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 the Three Kingdoms and History of the Later Han.
Annals
Ji, 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 | Title |
| 001 | :s:zh:漢書/卷001上|Volume 1, :s:zh:漢書/卷001下|Volume 1 | 高帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Gaozu, 206–195 BCE |
| 002 | :s:zh:漢書/卷002|Volume 2 | 惠帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Hui, 194–188 BCE |
| 003 | :s:zh:漢書/卷003|Volume 3 | 高后紀 | Annals of Empress Lü Zhi |
| 004 | :s:zh:漢書/卷004|Volume 4 | 文帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Wen, 179–157 BCE |
| 005 | :s:zh:漢書/卷005|Volume 5 | 景帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Jing, 156–141 BCE |
| 006 | :s:zh:漢書/卷006|Volume 6 | 武帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Wu, 140–87 BCE |
| 007 | :s:zh:漢書/卷007|Volume 7 | 昭帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Zhao, 86–74 BCE |
| 008 | :s:zh:漢書/卷008|Volume 8 | 宣帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Xuan, 73–49 BCE |
| 009 | :s:zh:漢書/卷009|Volume 9 | 元帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Yuan, 48–33 BCE |
| 010 | :s:zh:漢書/卷010|Volume 10 | 成帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Cheng, 32–7 BCE |
| 011 | :s:zh:漢書/卷011|Volume 11 | 哀帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Ai, 6–1 BCE |
| 012 | :s:zh:漢書/卷012|Volume 12 | 平帝紀 | Annals of Emperor Ping, 1 BCE – 5 CE |
Chronological tables
Biao, 8 volumes. Chronological tables of important people.| # | Number | Title | Title |
| 013 | :s:zh:漢書/卷013|Volume 13 | 異姓諸侯王表 | Table of nobles not related to the imperial clan |
| 014 | :s:zh:漢書/卷014|Volume 14 | 諸侯王表 | Table of nobles related to the imperial clan |
| 015 | :s:zh:漢書/卷015|Volume 15 | 王子侯表 | Table of sons of nobles |
| 016 | :s:zh:漢書/卷016|Volume 16 | 高惠高后文功臣表 | Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of Gao, Hui, Wen and Empress Gao |
| 017 | :s:zh:漢書/卷017|Volume 17 | 景武昭宣元成功臣表 | Table of meritorious officials during the reigns of Jing, Wu, Zhao, Xuan, Yuan and Cheng |
| 018 | :s:zh:漢書/卷018|Volume 18 | 外戚恩澤侯表 | Table of nobles from families of the imperial consorts |
| 019 | :s:zh:漢書/卷019|Volume 19 | 上百官公卿表 | Table of nobility ranks and government offices |
| 020 | :s:zh:漢書/卷020|Volume 20 | 古今人表 | Prominent people from the past until the present |
Treatises
Zhi, 10 volumes. Each treatise describes an area of effort of the state.| # | Number | Title | Title |
| 021 | :s:zh:漢書/卷021|Volume 21 | 律曆志 | Treatise on Rhythm and the Calendar |
| 022 | :s:zh:漢書/卷022|Volume 22 | 禮樂志 | Treatise on Rites and Music |
| 023 | :s:zh:漢書/卷023|Volume 23 | 刑法志 | Treatise on Punishment and Law |
| 024 | :s:zh:漢書/卷024上|Volume 24, :s:zh:漢書/卷024下|Volume 24 | 食貨志 | Treatise on Food and Money |
| 025 | :s:zh:漢書/卷025上|Volume 25, :s:zh:漢書/卷025下|Volume 25 | 郊祀志 | Treatise on Sacrifices |
| 026 | :s:zh:漢書/卷026|Volume 26 | 天文志 | Treatise on Astronomy |
| 027 | :s:zh:漢書/卷027上|Volume 27, :s:zh:漢書/卷027中之上|Volume 27, :s:zh:漢書/卷027中之下|Volume 27, :s:zh:漢書/卷027下之上|Volume 27, :s:zh:漢書/卷027下之下|Volume 27 | 五行志 | Treatise on the Five Elements |
| 028 | :s:zh:漢書/卷028上|Volume 28, :s:zh:漢書/卷028下|Volume 28 | 地理志 | Treatise on Geography |
| 029 | :s:zh:漢書/卷029|Volume 29 | 溝洫志 | Treatise on Rivers and Canals |
| 030 | :s:zh:漢書/卷030|Volume 30 | 藝文志 | Treatise on Literature |
Biographies
Zhuan, 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 | Title |
| 031 | :s:zh:漢書/卷031|Volume 31 | 陳勝項籍傳 | Chen Sheng and Xiang Yu |
| 032 | :s:zh:漢書/卷032|Volume 32 | 張耳陳餘傳 | Zhang Er and Chen Yu |
| 033 | :s:zh:漢書/卷033|Volume 33 | 魏豹田儋韓王信傳 | Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin |
| 034 | :s:zh:漢書/卷034|Volume 34 | 韓彭英盧吳傳 | Han, Peng, Ying, Lu and Wu – Han Xin, Peng Yue, Ying Bu, Lu Wan and Wu Rui |
| 035 | :s:zh:漢書/卷035|Volume 35 | 荊燕吳傳 | the Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu |
| 036 | :s:zh:漢書/卷036|Volume 36 | 楚元王傳 | Prince Yuan of Chu – Liu Xiang and Liu Xin |
| 037 | :s:zh:漢書/卷037|Volume 37 | 季布欒布田叔傳 | Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu |
| 038 | :s:zh:漢書/卷038|Volume 38 | 高五王傳 | the five sons of Emperor Gao |
| 039 | :s:zh:漢書/卷039|Volume 39 | 蕭何曹參傳 | Xiao He and Cao Shen |
| 040 | :s:zh:漢書/卷040|Volume 40 | 張陳王周傳 | Zhang, Chen, Wang and Zhou – Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Wang Ling and Zhou Bo |
| 041 | :s:zh:漢書/卷041|Volume 41 | 樊酈滕灌傅靳周傳 | Fan, Li, Teng, Guan, Fu, Jin and Zhou – Fan Kuai, Li Shang, Xiahou Ying, Guan Ying, Fu Kuan, Jin She and Zhou Xue |
| 042 | :s:zh:漢書/卷042|Volume 42 | 張周趙任申屠傳 | Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu – Zhang Cang, Zhou Chang, Zhao Yao, Ren Ao and Shentu Jia |
| 043 | :s:zh:漢書/卷043|Volume 43 | 酈陸朱劉叔孫傳 | Li, Lu, Zhu, Liu and Shusun – Li Yiji, Lu Gu, Zhu Jian, Lou Jing and Shusun Tong |
| 044 | :s:zh:漢書/卷044|Volume 44 | 淮南衡山濟北王傳 | the kings of Huainan, Hengshan and Jibei |
| 045 | :s:zh:漢書/卷045|Volume 45 | 蒯伍江息夫傳 | Kuai, Wu, Jiang and Xifu – Kuai Tong, Wu Bei, Jiang Chong and Xifu Gong |
| 046 | :s:zh:漢書/卷046|Volume 46 | 萬石衛直周張傳 | the lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang – Shi Fen, Wei Wan, Zhi Buyi, Zhou Ren and Zhang Ou |
| 047 | :s:zh:漢書/卷047|Volume 47 | 文三王傳 | the three sons of Emperor Wen |
| 048 | :s:zh:漢書/卷048|Volume 48 | 賈誼傳 | Jia Yi |
| 049 | :s:zh:漢書/卷049|Volume 49 | 爰盎晁錯傳 | Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo |
| 050 | :s:zh:漢書/卷050|Volume 50 | 張馮汲鄭傳 | Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng – Zhang Shizhi, Feng Tang, Ji An and Zheng Dangshi |
| 051 | :s:zh:漢書/卷051|Volume 51 | 賈鄒枚路傳 | Jia, Zou, Mei and Lu – Jia Shan, Mei Cheng and Lu Wenshu |
| 052 | :s:zh:漢書/卷052|Volume 52 | 竇田灌韓傳 | Dou, Tian, Guan and Han – Dou Ying, Tian Fen, Guan Fu and Han Anguo |
| 053 | :s:zh:漢書/卷053|Volume 53 | 景十三王傳 | the thirteen sons of Emperor Jing |
| 054 | :s:zh:漢書/卷054|Volume 54 | 李廣蘇建傳 | Li Guang and Su Jian |
| 055 | :s:zh:漢書/卷055|Volume 55 | 衛青霍去病傳 | Wei Qing and Huo Qubing |
| 056 | :s:zh:漢書/卷056|Volume 56 | 董仲舒傳 | Dong Zhongshu |
| 057 | :s:zh:漢書/卷057上|Volume 57, :s:zh:漢書/卷057下|Volume 57 | 司馬相如傳 | Sima Xiangru |
| 058 | :s:zh:漢書/卷058|Volume 58 | 公孫弘卜式兒寬傳 | Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan |
| 059 | :s:zh:漢書/卷059|Volume 59 | 張湯傳 | Zhang Tang |
| 060 | :s:zh:漢書/卷060|Volume 60 | 杜周傳 | Du Zhou |
| 061 | :s:zh:漢書/卷061|Volume 61 | 張騫李廣利傳 | Zhang Qian and Li Guangli |
| 062 | :s:zh:漢書/卷062|Volume 62 | 司馬遷傳 | Sima Qian |
| 063 | :s:zh:漢書/卷063|Volume 63 | 武五子傳 | the five sons of Emperor Wu |
| 064 | :s:zh:漢書/卷064上|Volume 64, :s:zh:漢書/卷064下|Volume 64 | 嚴朱吾丘主父徐嚴終王賈傳 | Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang and Jia – Yan Zhu, Zhu Maichen, Wuqiu Shouwang, Zhufu Yan, Xu Yue, Yan An, Zhong Jun, Wang Bao and Jia Juanzhi ; two parts |
| 065 | :s:zh:漢書/卷065|Volume 65 | 東方朔傳 | Dongfang Shuo |
| 066 | :s:zh:漢書/卷066|Volume 66 | 公孫劉田王楊蔡陳鄭傳 | Gongsun, Liu, Tian, Wang, Yang, Cai, Chen and Zheng – Gongsun He, Liu Quli, Tian Qiuqian, Wang Xin, Yang Chang, Cai Yi, Chen Wannian and Zheng Hong |
| 067 | :s:zh:漢書/卷067|Volume 67 | 楊胡朱梅云傳 | Yang, Hu, Zhu, Mei and Yun – Yang Wangsun, Hu Jian, Zhu Yun, Mei Fu and Yun Chang |
| 068 | :s:zh:漢書/卷068|Volume 68 | 霍光金日磾傳 | Huo Guang and Jin Midi |
| 069 | :s:zh:漢書/卷069|Volume 69 | 趙充國辛慶忌傳 | Zhao Chongguo and Xin Qingji |
| 070 | :s:zh:漢書/卷070|Volume 70 | 傅常鄭甘陳段傳 | Fu, Chang, Zheng, Gan, Chen and Duan – Fu Jiezi, Chang Hui, Zheng Ji, Gan Yannian, Chen Tang and Duan Huizong |
| 071 | :s:zh:漢書/卷071|Volume 71 | 雋疏于薛平彭傳 | Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng – Jun Buyi, Shu Guang and Shu Shou, Yu Dingguo, Xue Guangde, Ping Dang and Peng Xuan |
| 072 | :s:zh:漢書/卷072|Volume 72 | 王貢兩龔鮑傳 | Wang, Gong, two Gongs and Bao – Wang Ji, Gong Yu, Gong Sheng and Gong She and Bao Xuan |
| 073 | :s:zh:漢書/卷073|Volume 73 | 韋賢傳 | Wei Xian |
| 074 | :s:zh:漢書/卷074|Volume 74 | 魏相丙吉傳 | Wei Xiang and Bing Ji |
| 075 | :s:zh:漢書/卷075|Volume 75 | 眭兩夏侯京翼李傳 | Sui, two Xiahous, Jing, Ji and Li – Sui Hong, Xiahou Shichang and Xiahou Sheng, Jing Fang, Ji Feng and Li Xun |
| 076 | :s:zh:漢書/卷076|Volume 76 | 趙尹韓張兩王傳 | Zhao, Yin, Han, Zhang and two Wangs – Zhao Guanghan, Yin Wenggui, Han Yanshou, Zhang Chang, Wang Zun and Wang Zhang |
| 077 | :s:zh:漢書/卷077|Volume 77 | 蓋諸葛劉鄭孫毋將何傳 | Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He – Gai: Gai Kuanrao, Zhuge: Zhuge Feng, Liu: Liu Fu, Zheng: Zheng Chong, Sun: Sun Bao, Wujiang: Wujiang Long, He: He Bing |
| 078 | :s:zh:漢書/卷078|Volume 78 | 蕭望之傳 | Xiao Wangzhi |
| 079 | :s:zh:漢書/卷079|Volume 79 | 馮奉世傳 | Feng Fengshi |
| 080 | :s:zh:漢書/卷080|Volume 80 | 宣元六王傳 | the six sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan |
| 081 | :s:zh:漢書/卷081|Volume 81 | 匡張孔馬傳 | Kuang, Zhang, Kong and Ma – Kuang Heng, Zhang Yu, Kong Guang and Ma Gong |
| 082 | :s:zh:漢書/卷082|Volume 82 | 王商史丹傅喜傳 | Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi |
| 083 | :s:zh:漢書/卷083|Volume 83 | 薛宣朱博傳 | Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo |
| 084 | :s:zh:漢書/卷084|Volume 84 | 翟方進傳 | Zhai Fangjin |
| 085 | :s:zh:漢書/卷085|Volume 85 | 谷永杜鄴傳 | Gu Yong and Du Ye |
| 086 | :s:zh:漢書/卷086|Volume 86 | 何武王嘉師丹傳 | He Wu, Wang Jia and Shi Dan |
| 087 | :s:zh:漢書/卷087上|Volume 87, :s:zh:漢書/卷087下|Volume 87 | 揚雄傳 | Yang Xiong |
| 088 | :s:zh:漢書/卷088|Volume 88 | 儒林傳 | Confucian Scholars |
| 089 | :s:zh:漢書/卷089|Volume 89 | 循吏傳 | Upright Officials |
| 090 | :s:zh:漢書/卷090|Volume 90 | 酷吏傳 | Cruel Officials |
| 091 | :s:zh:漢書/卷091|Volume 91 | 貨殖傳 | Usurers |
| 092 | :s:zh:漢書/卷092|Volume 92 | 游俠傳 | Youxias |
| 093 | :s:zh:漢書/卷093|Volume 93 | 佞幸傳 | Flatterers |
| 094 | :s:zh:漢書/卷094上|Volume 94, :s:zh:漢書/卷094下|Volume 94 | 匈奴傳 | Traditions of the Xiongnu |
| 095 | :s:zh:漢書/卷095|Volume 95 | 西南夷兩粵朝鮮傳 | Traditions of the Yi of the southeast, the two Yues, and Chosun – Nanyue and Min Yue |
| 096 | :s:zh:漢書/卷096上|Volume 96, :s:zh:漢書/卷096下|Volume 96 | 西域傳 | Traditions of the Western Regions |
| 097 | :s:zh:漢書/卷097上|Volume 97, :s:zh:漢書/卷097下|Volume 97 | 外戚傳 | the Empresses and Imperial Affines |
| 098 | :s:zh:漢書/卷098|Volume 98 | 元后傳 | Wang Zhengjun |
| 099 | :s:zh:漢書/卷099上|Volume 99, :s:zh:漢書/卷099中|Volume 99, :s:zh:漢書/卷099下|Volume 99 | 王莽傳 | Wang Mang |
| 100 | :s:zh:漢書/卷100上|Volume 100, :s:zh:漢書/卷100下|Volume 100 | 敘傳 | Afterword and Family History |