Editing Han dynasty (section)

===Wang Mang's reign and civil war===
{{main|Wang Mang|Xin dynasty}}
[[File:Han Dynasty Granary west of Dunhuang.jpg|thumb|upright=2|These [[rammed earth]] ruins of a [[granary]] in Hecang Fortress ({{zhi|t=河仓城|p=Hécāng chéng}}), located approximately {{cvt|11|km|mi|sigfig=1}} northeast of the Western Han-era [[Yumen Pass]], were built during the Western Han (202&nbsp;BC{{snd}}9&nbsp;AD) and was significantly rebuilt during the [[Western Jin]] (280–316&nbsp;AD).{{sfnp|Wang|Li|Zhang|2010|pp=351–352}}]]
{{multiple image | direction = vertical
| image1 = CMOC Treasures of Ancient China exhibit - painted figure of a cavalryman.jpg
| width1 = 150 | caption1 = A Western Han painted ceramic mounted cavalryman from a general's tomb at [[Xianyang]], Shaanxi
| image2 = Bronze horse with lead saddle, Han Dynasty.jpg
| width2 = 150 | caption2 = A Western or Eastern Han bronze horse statuette with a lead saddle
}}
[[Wang Zhengjun]] (71&nbsp;BC{{snd}}13&nbsp;AD) was first empress, then [[empress dowager]], and finally [[grand empress dowager]] during the reigns of the Emperors [[Emperor Yuan of Han|Yuan]] ({{reign|49|33&nbsp;BC}}), [[Emperor Cheng of Han|Cheng]] ({{reign|33|7&nbsp;BC}}), and [[Emperor Ai of Han|Ai]] ({{reign|7|1&nbsp;BC}}), respectively. During this time, a succession of her male relatives held the title of regent.{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=225–226}}{{sfnp|Huang|1988|pp=46–48}} Following the death of Ai, Wang Zhengjun's nephew [[Wang Mang]] (45&nbsp;BC{{snd}}23&nbsp;AD) was appointed regent as Marshall of State on 16 August under [[Emperor Ping of Han|Emperor Ping]] ({{reign}}1&nbsp;BC{{snd}}6&nbsp;AD).{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=227–230}}

When Ping died on 3 February 6&nbsp;AD, [[Ruzi Ying]] ({{died-in|25&nbsp;AD}}) was chosen as the heir and Wang Mang was appointed to serve as acting emperor for the child.{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=227–230}} Wang promised to relinquish his control to Liu Ying once he came of age.{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=227–230}} Despite this promise, and against protest and revolts from the nobility, Wang Mang claimed on 10 January that the divine [[Mandate of Heaven]] called for the end of the Han dynasty and the beginning of his own: the [[Xin dynasty]] (9–23&nbsp;AD).{{sfnp|Hinsch|2002|pp=23–24}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=230–231}}{{sfnp|Ebrey|1999|p=66}}

Wang Mang initiated a series of major reforms that were ultimately unsuccessful. These reforms included outlawing slavery, [[nationalization|nationalizing]] and [[Well-field system|equally distributing]] land between households, and introducing new currencies, a change which debased the value of coinage.{{sfnp|Hansen|2000|p=134}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=232–234}}{{sfnp|Morton|Lewis|2005|p=58}}{{sfnp|Lewis|2007|p=23}} Although these reforms provoked considerable opposition, Wang's regime met its ultimate downfall with the massive floods of {{circa|3}}&nbsp;AD and 11&nbsp;AD. Gradual silt build-up in the [[Yellow River]] had raised its water level and overwhelmed the [[Flood control|flood control works]]. The Yellow River split into two new branches: one emptying to the north and the other to the south of the [[Shandong Peninsula]], though Han engineers managed to dam the southern branch by 70&nbsp;AD.{{sfnp|Hansen|2000|p=135}}{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|p=196}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=241–244}}

The flood dislodged thousands of peasant farmers, many of whom joined roving bandit and rebel groups such as the [[Red Eyebrows Rebellions|Red Eyebrows]] to survive.{{sfnp|Hansen|2000|p=135}}{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|p=196}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=241–244}} Wang Mang's armies were incapable of quelling these enlarged rebel groups. Eventually, an insurgent mob forced their way into the [[Weiyang Palace]] and killed Wang Mang.{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|p=568}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|p=248}}

The [[Gengshi Emperor]] ({{reign|23|25&nbsp;AD}}), a descendant of [[Emperor Jing of Han|Emperor Jing]] ({{reign|157|141&nbsp;BC}}), attempted to restore the Han dynasty and occupied Chang'an as his capital. However, he was overwhelmed by the Red Eyebrow rebels who deposed, assassinated, and replaced him with the puppet monarch [[Liu Penzi]].{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|pp=197, 560}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=249–250}} Gengshi's distant cousin Liu Xiu, known posthumously as [[Emperor Guangwu of Han|Emperor Guangwu]] ({{reign|25|57&nbsp;AD}}), after distinguishing himself at the [[Battle of Kunyang]] in 23&nbsp;AD, was urged to succeed Gengshi as emperor.{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|pp=558–560}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=251–254}}

Under Guangwu's rule, the Han Empire was restored. Guangwu made [[Luoyang]] his capital in 25&nbsp;AD, and by 27 his officers [[Deng Yu]] and [[Feng Yi]] had forced the Red Eyebrows to surrender and executed their leaders for [[treason]].{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=251–254}}{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|pp=196–198, 560}} From 26 until 36&nbsp;AD, Emperor Guangwu had to wage war against other regional warlords who claimed the title of emperor; when these warlords were defeated, China reunified under the Han.{{sfnp|de Crespigny|2007|pp=54–55, 269–270, 600–601}}{{sfnp|Bielenstein|1986|pp=254–255}}
[[File:Western Han Arrow, Jiaqu Military Hq, Inner Mongolia (10095529473).jpg|thumb|A Western Han period arrow from [[Inner Mongolia]], now in the [[Gansu Provincial Museum]], Lanzhou]]
The period between the foundation of the Han dynasty and Wang Mang's reign is known as the Western Han ({{zhi|t={{linktext|西漢}} |s={{linktext|西汉}} |p=Xīhàn|first=t}}) or Former Han ({{zhi|t={{linktext|前漢}} |s={{linktext|前汉}} |p=Qiánhàn|first=t}}) (206&nbsp;BC{{snd}}9&nbsp;AD). During this period the capital was at [[Chang'an]] (modern [[Xi'an]]). From the reign of Guangwu the capital was moved eastward to Luoyang. The era from his reign until [[End of the Han dynasty|the fall of Han]] is known as the Eastern Han or Later Han (25–220&nbsp;AD).{{sfnp|Hinsch|2002|pp=24–25}}