@simplychina.bsky.socialHanzhong is one of those Chinese cities that should be much more famous. This video explains why its geography, strategic position, and link to the Han dynasty make it so important. #China #Hanzhong #ChineseHistory #HanDynasty #HistoricChina
@fokswang.bsky.socialLiu Heng survived the dangerous politics of the early Han court by staying cautious and keeping his distance.
Years later, those same qualities helped make him emperor.
@histphilosophy.bsky.socialAnd also in our regular slot, the next episode of the History of Chinese Philosophy, in which Karyn and I introduce the major themes of philosophy in the Han Dynasty:
@fokswang.bsky.socialModu Chanyu sent Empress Lü an insulting marriage proposal, and the Han court wanted revenge.
Instead, she chose diplomacy.
For someone remembered as ruthless, her response to the Xiongnu was surprisingly restrained.
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DXDKZLHJ
Cao Can became Chancellor of the Han dynasty and then did something unusual: almost nothing.
He kept Xiao He’s policies, avoided unnecessary reforms, and let the country recover after years of war.
Sometimes good government means knowing what not to change.
#HanDynasty
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DXDKZLHJ
Liu Bang conquered an empire, but near the end of his life he found one thing he could not easily control: the succession.
He wanted to replace Crown Prince Liu Ying with Liu Ruyi. The court had other plans.
#ChineseHistory #HanDynasty #LiuBang #LiuYing
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DXDKZLHJ
Peng Yue helped Liu Bang defeat Xiang Yu and build the Han dynasty.
A few years later, he was accused of rebellion, exiled, brought back, and executed.
The troubling part is that he may never have actually rebelled.
#ChineseHistory #HanDynasty #PengYue #LiuBang
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DXDKZLHJ
Han Xin helped Liu Bang win the empire.
A few years later, he was arrested in Chang'an and executed by the same government he had helped build.
His rise and fall is one of the most striking stories of the early Han dynasty.
#ChineseHistory #HanDynasty #HanXin #LiuBang
@fokswang.bsky.socialLiu Bang had defeated Xiang Yu and founded the Han dynasty. Then he ignored one warning and walked straight into a Xiongnu trap at Baideng.
How did the emperor who won China nearly lose everything?
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DXDKZLHJ
Why did Liu Bang move the Han capital from Luoyang to Chang'an?
It wasn't about prestige. It was about survival.
A story of strategy, geography, and how a new dynasty prepared for the next crisis.
#ChineseHistory #HanDynasty #History #LiuBang #ChangAn
@histphilosophy.bsky.socialThe History of Philosophy in China is back from summer break, with a new interview podcast episode: we talk to archeologist Alice Yao about what her discipline can tell historians of philosophy about the Han Dynasty.
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DVPR9VBS
Xiang Yu captured Liu Bang’s father and threatened to kill him unless Liu Bang surrendered.
Liu Bang answered with one of the coldest lines in Chinese history—and made the threat almost useless.
#ChineseHistory #LiuBang #XiangYu #ChuHan #HanDynasty
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DVPR9VBS
Xiang Yu was still winning battles. But talented men kept leaving him.
Chen Ping was one of them.
Liu Bang did something Xiang Yu often struggled to do: trust useful people even when their past looked messy.
#ChineseHistory #ChenPing #LiuBang #XiangYu #HanDynasty
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DVPR9VBS
Han Xin had no famous victories, no powerful family, and almost no reputation.
Xiao He still believed Liu Bang would regret losing him—and rode through the night to bring him back.
That decision changed the war.
#ChineseHistory #HanXin #XiaoHe #LiuBang #HanDynasty
@fokswang.bsky.socialwww.amazon.com/dp/B0DVPR9VBS
Liu Bang entered Xianyang, saw the palaces, gold, wine, and treasures—and started enjoying the victory.
Then Fan Kuai and Zhang Liang told him exactly why that was dangerous.
He listened.
#ChineseHistory #LiuBang #ZhangLiang #XiaoHe #HanDynasty #QinDynasty
@iamgrayellis.bsky.social