Liu Pang (256-195 BC) founded the Han dynasty in 206 BC and established the capital at Ch'ang-an, from whence he set off to centralize authority and unify the country. Under the enlightened rule of the following emperors Wen-ti and Ching-ti (from 179 to 141), the dynasty was further solidified. By the reign of Emperor Wu-ti (140-87), Han victories over the Hun tribes to the north paved the way for westward expansion and the opening of trade routes. Chinese rule reached unheralded proportions when it extended into the area of what is now Vietnam. Territorial expansion was matched by cultural growth as Confucianism rose to become the basis for state ideology. With the imperial system unified, the foundations of Chinese culture were complete. This part of the Han was critical to the formation of later imperial China.

　　The Western (or Former) Han refers to the period before 8 BC, when the usurper Wang Mang (45 BC-AD 23) seized the throne and set up his own dynasty called the Hsin. However, it was short-lived, since Wang's oppressive regime received little popular support. It was not until the year 25 that the emperor Kuang-wu-ti restored the Han house. Establishing the dynastic capital at Lo-yang, he took the revival of the dynasty as his mission and sought to restore Confucianism to its previous position. The notion of morality, established as the guiding philosophy of conduct, became one of the unique features of Confucian culture in China at this time. The restored dynasty lasted until 220, becoming known as the Eastern (or Latter) Han. The Western and Eastern Han spanned a total of 425 years, making it one of the longest and most glorious epochs in imperial China. Han achievements in learning and the arts served as the foundation for many later developments.

　　By Western reckoning, we now stand at the brink of a new millenium. If we take this opportunity to look back 2,000 years in Chinese history, the middle of the Han dynasty stands out at the inception of the first millennium AD.

　　We tend to associate history with facts, figures and dates, but it is also a storehouse of fascinating stories passed down through the ages. When it comes to understanding a particular period, these stories often seem to attract the most attention of later generations. Reading them-combined with illustrations-presents an easy and convenient manner of understanding and appreciation. When they are done in beautiful writing, they are considered calligraphy; when represented in gorgeous illustrations, the paintings can be viewed as works of art.