Western Han Armor Gallery 西汉铠甲
.jpg "These armors were worn during the Western Han dynasty, cresting the reign of the dynamic and long- lived Emperor Wu of Han and until the last days of the dynasty near 0 AD.")
.jpg "These armors were worn during the Western Han dynasty, cresting the reign of the dynamic and long- lived Emperor Wu of Han and until the last days of the dynasty near 0 AD.")
These armors were worn during the Western Han dynasty, cresting the reign of the dynamic and long- lived Emperor Wu of Han and until the last days of the dynasty near 0 AD.
WESTERN HAN ARMOR
Western Han dynasty officer in scale armor with affixed sleeves. Like many Han era armors, pauldron and sleeves are built in on the armor itself and sewn into the scale coat. The helmet body is formed by riveting long strips of lamellar, and the lower part (neck guard) is laced by small scale. Unlike the heaviest of Western Han soldiers, which featured built in sleeves of scales, this set of officer's armor was relatively light. These armors allow the wearer to strap them over long- sleeved robes.
Han dynasty armors are frequently attached to pauldrons. The heavier armors have a full armored sleeve to protect against the usually vulnerable armpits of the lamellar wearer. Many Han armors, such as the 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, "Collared" lamellar armor also have raised back and side collars to protect against glancing sword slashes towards the wearer's neck.
A similar alternative construction where the cuirass is made of lamellar strips.
Emperor Wu, the warrior emperor of Han was noted for his aggressive expansions in all directions which resulted in the Han empire effectively doubling its size. At its height, the Empire's borders spanned from the Tarim Basin and the Fergana Valley in the west, to central Korea in the east, and to northern Vietnam in the south. His posthumous honorific: "Wu" 武 ~ (Literally Translated as the "Martial One" or the "Warrior") by his successors, was attributed in regards to his vigorous campaigns.
HEAVY WEST HAN TROOPER ARMOR- IRON FISH SCALE ARMOR
Armor Made by: Harentang 函人堂 Studio
Heavy West Han dynasty iron fish scale 铁鱼鳞甲 armor recovered from the northern suburbs of Xian- or Chang'An, once the capital of the West Han dynasty. Constructed of many overlapping scales. The pauldrons are sewn to the scale coat and there is a scaled skirt sewn underneath the torso protection.
Closeup of the scale helmet showing the overlapping scales.
Diagram of the armor scale from the northern district scale armor.
Han dynasty Great Wall: The wall also extended across the back of the narrow Hexi Corridor and into the Tarim Basin itself, linking with key oasis cities of Loulan (Kroran) and Quici (Kucha.) It is paramount to note that the Tarim lap of the Han Great Walls were built directly into one of the most uninhabitable biomes on planet Earth, right across long stretches of the deadly dune sea of the Taklamakan desert itself. All parts of this network made clever use of the terrain and comprehensively connected northern China in one defense.
ARMOR OF A HAN DYNATY (VASSAL) KING
.jpg "This suit of armor is recreated from the set recovered from the tomb of Liu Sheng (165 BC ~ 133 BC), Prince of Zhongshan (中山靖王), who was a king/prince of Western Han. Yes, King, for at least in the early part of the Han dynasty, much of what was eastern part of the empire was actually a series of semi- independent vassal states ruled over by imperial princes and uncles of the Liu clan.")
.jpg "This suit of armor is recreated from the set recovered from the tomb of Liu Sheng (165 BC ~ 133 BC), Prince of Zhongshan (中山靖王), who was a king/prince of Western Han. Yes, King, for at least in the early part of the Han dynasty, much of what was eastern part of the empire was actually a series of semi- independent vassal states ruled over by imperial princes and uncles of the Liu clan.")
This suit of armor is recreated from the set recovered from the tomb of Liu Sheng (165 BC ~ 133 BC), Prince of Zhongshan (中山靖王), who was a king/prince of Western Han. Yes, King, for at least in the early part of the Han dynasty, much of what was eastern part of the empire was actually a series of semi- independent vassal states ruled over by imperial princes and uncles of the Liu clan.
This framework was created after the Han dynasty's founder Liu Bang reunited China after the collapse of the harsh Qin dynasty. In order to rule with a lighter touch, early Han dynasty gave the eastern part of the empire limited autonomy. However ever since their initial formation, Liu Bang and succeeding emperors persistently eroded their powers and in time, fully absorbed them as part of a fully centralized empire. Liu Sheng, the owner of the topical tomb in life was one of the more influential vassal kings of the realm and was known to have protested to Emperor Wu about the mistreatment of the vassal kings by the Emperor's appointed officials on trumped up charges. Impressed with his petition Wu then ordered the persecutions and prosecutions of the vassal kings be halted.
Despite their eventual evaporation into the empire, while they ruled, much of these vassal Han Kings lived in dazzling opulence and had magnificent material goods in their burials. Liu Sheng (165 BC ~ 133 BC), Prince of Zhongshan (中山靖王) had been buried in an expensive suit of jade laced together with expensive gold threads 金缕玉衣. When his extremely elaborate tomb was discovered in 1968 it was the first undisturbed Western Han tomb discovered. For despite Liu Sheng's more laudable qualities, he was also a life long hedonist, and was known to have over indulged in wine and women, and was not only known to have had a large harem but was reputed to have fathered some 120 sons.
Armor from Liu Sheng's Mausoleum, scale coated cuirass with separated flaps of attached faulds. The armor was fashioned like an article of clothing or a protective coat, and also had sleeves of scales sewn in with the armored coat. The front of the armor could be opened and is secured with silk knots.
.jpg "This suit of armor is recreated from the set recovered from the tomb of Liu Sheng (165 BC ~ 133 BC), Prince of Zhongshan (中山靖王), who was a king/prince of Western Han. Yes, King, for at least in the early part of the Han dynasty, much of what was eastern part of the empire was actually a series of semi- independent vassal states ruled over by imperial princes and uncles of the Liu clan.")
HAN HEAVY TROOPER'S LAMELLAR HIGH COLLAR ARMOR
.png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, "Collared" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Extensive article elaborating on the equipment of Han dynasty troopers are detailed here. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.
NU~ THE CROSSBOW "弩 "
.png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
The crossbow was extensively deployed the the previous Qin dynasty and later Warring States's polities. During the Han dynasty the crossbow was widely equipped by its soldiers.
Realizing that the Xiongnu were poorly equipped to be on the defensive and cannot easily replenish their own slain soldiers, Emperor Wu used the Han Great Walls as his line of projection beyond the north. From these walls, he stockpiled for the long campaigns. The army would be well supplied for a long expedition. The core Han infantry would be supported with massed crossbowmen. For protection, many mounted crossbowmen were deployed in support of the infantry forces. In the Western Han period, these served as the majority of Han cavalry.
.png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
Above: a Han dynasty infantry sighting a target using the marker on the back of the metal crossbow trigger. Below: Han dynasty relief depicting a Han mounted crossbow man with Hand crossbow (Shou Nu/ 手弩) pursuing a Xiongnu warrior firing backward from his saddle.
.png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
Unlike bowmenship, which takes a life time to perfect, the crossbow as well as its trigger mechanisms are very easy to use by even the simplest of peasants. The Han archers were overwhelmingly crossbowmen. In one of the Han Dynasty armament records (《武库永始四年兵车器集簿》) there were 520000 crossbows in the arsenal, but only 70000 bows. Bolts were numbered over 11 million.
Heavy chariots were also deployed in the Han columns. Although they were beginning to be phased at this point, in the wide flat expanse of the steppes these heavy chariots/ and supply carts could form lines of defensive barrier forts to protect the Han soldiers from Xiongnu volleys and charges. Thus arrayed, the Han attacked the Xiongnu on many campaigns.
.png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
.png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
%20(1).png "Heavy Han dynasty trooper in 襟领铠 Jīn lǐng kǎi, \"Collared\" lamellar armor made of lamellar strips, including an extended armored collar. Nearly all males in the empire were susceptible for conscription and often such men would be drilled and equipped for campaigns with specific objectives in mind. The generals are also only appointed and entitled to only handle a specific focused campaign to discourage them from nurturing their own private power blocs after extended deployment on the frontiers. For this reason the Han army often equipped its soldiers modularly.")
.jpg "Heavy chariots were also deployed in the Han columns. Although they were beginning to be phased at this point, in the wide flat expanse of the steppes these heavy chariots/ and supply carts could form lines of defensive barrier forts to protect the Han soldiers from Xiongnu volleys and charges. Thus arrayed, the Han attacked the Xiongnu on many campaigns.")
BONUS: ARMOR OF THE KING OF NANYUE
Nanyue King's Armor. The armor recovered from the tomb of Nanyue's King. Nanyue was a kingdom to the south of the Han dynasty in what is today's Guangdong. The reconstructed scale armor (above) shows its original design. Like many Han armor, including those shown above, the lower portion was made so it could coil and wrap around the waist and be fastened.
A CHANGING OF WAYS- A NEW HAN DYNASTY
One thing to note is that the primary enemy the Han army faced during this period was the Xiongnu 匈奴 Confederacy, which meant that the main type of enemy they were equipped to face off against were deadly and nimble nomadic horse archers. Before Wang Mang's coup and usurpation of the West Han court in 9 AD the Han had (in contrast to the centuries of Warring States before the creation of the Han) very little in the ways of internal disturbances. The few rebellions it faced were often brief and quickly crushed. For this reason, and for the purposes of campaigns on the steppes against fast enemies, the horses of the Han cavalry were not armed and it's soldiers largely relied on massed crossbowmen to win the day.
However after the end of the Western Han period, and after the subjugation of the Xiongnu in the early Eastern Han period (after an extremely bloody- albeit relatively brief period of realm wide chaos then swift resumption to a new golden age under the miraculous tenure of the savior Guangwu Emperor) in time the Han army's equipment began to change.
THREE KINGDOM- JIN ARMORS
Iron Horses: The Jin (265–420) would see some of the first true heavy cavalries in China. The development of heavy cavalry in China corresponded with the invention of double stirrups. To this day, some of the earliest heavy horse armor were dated to the Jin dynasty. Iron faulds also began to appear in large quantities during the Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty.
By the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, and the onset of the calamitous period of civil war known as the Three Kingdoms era, Han armors significantly changed because the Han's primary enemies have changed. When the primary enemies the Han armies faced- were other rival factions of the Han army from nearby provinces, and when ambitious regional governor- turned warlords fought each other, Han armor rapidly became heavier. It was during the multiple decades of seemingly endless civil war that heavy cavalry armor appeared along with long protective leg faulds and protective hoops of extended lamellar collars.
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Comments
Can you elaborate on the governmental structure of the Western Han, was it very different from the previous Qin Dynasty? How was the Three Excellencies / Nine Ministers system set up? what were the functions of each office? How were officials selected?