The Probert Encyclopaedia of People

HAN

The Han are the majority ethnic group in China, numbering about 990 million. The Hans speak a wide variety of dialects of the same monosyllabic language, a member of the Sino-Tibetan family. Their religion combines Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and ancestor worship. The Han was a Chinese dynasty founded by the general Liu Bang, who overthrew the Qin dynasty. Its power was strengthened by the emperor Wu Di, who conquered a vast empire. Paper was invented by the Han Chinese, who also produced porcelain. The dynasty was overthrown in 8 AD but later restored for a second period, known as the Later Han which ran from 23 to 220.
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