Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che)

Life and times

1. 156 BCEBornHan
2. 138 BCEZhang Qian's MissionIn powerage 18Zhang Qian's missions brought Central Asian geography and politics to the Han court, enabling sustained engagement along the emerging Silk Roads.
   1. Zhang Qian's First Western MissionIn 138 BCE, Zhang Qian was commissioned by Emperor Wu of Han to seek the Yuezhi, beginning a new phase of Han engagement with the Western Regions.
   2. Opening of the Silk RoadZhang Qian's Epic Diplomatic Mission Piercing the Western Regions
3. 134 BCEState-Sanctioned ConfucianismTook partage 22Confucian learning gained stature in court education and politics under Emperor Wu; the formula “reject the hundred schools, honor Confucianism alone” is a later summary, not a contemporary edict.
   1. Tui'en Decree and Confucian Orthodoxy127 BCEage 29Emperor Wu enacted the Decree of Extending Grace to fragment vassal realms and adopted Confucianism as the sole state orthodoxy.
4. 129 BCEXiongnu CampaignsIn powerage 27The thunder northern campaigns that turned Han from strategic defense to strategic offense.
   1. Han Ambush at Mayi Fails133 BCEage 23Emperor Wu laid an ambush near Mayi to lure the Chanyu, who turned back on discovering it; the Xiongnu then broke off heqin relations.
   2. Su Wu's Captivity Among the Xiongnuc. 100 BCEage 56Sent as envoy to the Xiongnu, Su Wu was detained, herded sheep by the Northern Sea without submitting, and returned to Han after nineteen years.
5. 121 BCEHuo Qubing Receives the Hunye Surrenderage 35Huo Qubing crossed the river to secure the Hunye king's surrender, suppressed wavering factions, and escorted tens of thousands into Han territory.
6. 110 BCEHan Wudi's Mount Tai SummitTook partage 46Ascending Mount Tai to declare cosmic peace, cementing the paramount imperial ritual liturgy of China.
   1. Han Wudi Fengshan at Dai TempleEmperor Wu of Han performed the Fengshan sacrifices and expanded the base ceremonial grounds, establishing the earliest layout of Dai Temple.
   2. Emperor Wu Fengshan at Mount TaiEmperor Wu performed grand Fengshan imperial rites at Mount Tai, celebrating Western Han apex.
7. 104 BCECompiling the ShijiIn powerage 52Sima Qian organized the Shiji into annals, tables, treatises, houses, and biographies spanning legendary antiquity through the Han.
   1. Li Ling Surrenders; Sima Qian Punishedc. 99 BCEage 57Li Ling surrendered to the Xiongnu after his defeat at Mount Junji, and Sima Qian, who spoke in his defence, was imprisoned and sentenced to castration.
8. 87 BCEDied
9. Posthumous
10. 81 BCEDiscourse on Salt and IronPrecursorNational summit on state monopolies vs private markets, defining 2,000 years of imperial economic doctrine.
    1. Han Salt-Iron Offices at Yandu119 BCEage 37In 119 BCE, Han authorities established salt-and-iron offices and Yandu County, strengthening state management of production and circulation.