The Midway Interruption and Restoration of the Han Dynasty
2 min readEmperor Wu’s expansionist policies strengthened the empire，nevertheless they drained the imperial treasury.This resulted in sharp increases in taxes and tight control over the economy.In the long term，this had the effect of undermining the dynastic influence.
When Emperors Zhao and Xuan were in power，potential social crises began to surface despite economic growth.During the last decades of the Western Han Dynasty，a series of child emperors occupied the throne.These necessitated regencies and power fell into the hands of eunuchs and empresses’relatives.This led to corruption and greater class division resulting in frequent peasant uprisings.
At the end of the Western Han Dynasty（206 BC-24AD），Wang Mang，a distant relative of the royal family，usurped the throne of the Liu family.He began to reform the corruptive country by adopting policies described in the Confucian classics.However，despite his efforts，Wang Mang was still unwelcome because of his unorthodox succession.To make things worse，his financial reform failed and he had to wage wars to strengthen his power.Ultimately，the Western Han Dynasty fell after the infant EmperorCheng succeeded to the throne.In 8 AD Wang Mang deposed Cheng and proclaimed himself emperor of the Xin Dynasty.
Although condemned as a usurper，Wang Mang was a learned Confucian scholar.He wished to retrieve the glory of Han by adopting policies described in the Confucian classics.
He renamed offices，outlawed slavery，limited land holdings and monopolized both industry and commerce.He also reduced court expenses.However，Wang Mang’s unpopularity due to the issue of new coins，nationalization of gold reserves and frequent declarations of war finally led to more serioussocial turmoil.In 17 AD，a nationwide rebellion broke out.Six years later，in 23 AD Wang Mang was killed by rebels.
Very soon after that，Liu Xiu，a member of the Han imperial family，re-established Han supremacy through what has become known as the Eastern Han Dynasty.Liu Xiu，by the reign name Guangwu，would continue the long dynasty of Han as the Guangwu Mid-way Prosperity.
