8

THE  CHINESE  EMPIRE

The  Han  (b.c.  2o6-a.d.  25)
This,  in  a  sense,  may  be  considered  as  the  first  national
dynasty,  for  even  to  the  present  day  the  Chinese,  with  the
exception  of  the  Cantonese,  frequently  refer  to  themselves
as  "  the  sons  of  Han.”
It  was  at  this  period  that  the  wild  tribes  in  the  north
began  to  make  more  frequent  incursions  into  the  Empire,
and  the  long  conflict  between  them  and  the  Chinese  began.
The  struggle,  as  we  shall  see,  was  carried  on  with  various
intervals  of  peace,  and  with  alternate  success  and  disaster
to  the  Chinese,  for  eighteen  centuries,  until  finally  China  was
conquered  by  the  Manchus  in  a.d.  1644.
The  first  tribe  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Empire  was  the
Hiung-nu,  whose  home  was  in  Mongolia.  They  were  of  the
same  stock  as  the  Huns,  who  later,  under  the  leadership  of
Attila  in  a.d.  445,  became  the  scourge  of  Europe.  The
Chinese  Emperors  were  obliged  to  purchase  immunity  from
their  attack  by  agreeing  to  pay  an  annual  subsidy  of  silks,
rice,  and  wine.
During  the  Han  Dynasty  the  boundaries  of  the  Empire
were  further  enlarged  (see  Map).  On  the  west  was  added
the  territory  now  comprised  in  the  province  of  Kansu,  and
on  the  south  that  comprised  in  Hunan,  Kiangsi,  Kweichow,
Kwangsi,  and  Kwangtung.
The  northern  part  of  Korea  was  subjugated,  the  expedition ­
  into  that  country  being  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of
erecting  a  buffer  state  on  the  north-east,  to  prevent  the
Hiung-nu  from  finding  an  entrance  into  China  from  that
quarter.
This  extension  of  territory  brought  China  into  communication ­
  with  Western  countries,  and  at  that  time  some
intercourse  was  held  between  China  and  Parthia,  Mesopotamia, ­
  Bactria,  Afghanistan,  and  India.  The  Roman
Empire  seems  to  have  been  known  to  the  Chinese,  being
referred  to  by  the  name  of  Tsin.
During  the  latter  part  of  the  Han  Dynasty  the  country
was  plunged  into  civil  war.  This  was  due  to  the  weakness