Xin dynasty

The Xin dynasty was a Chinese dynasty founded by Wang Mang that ruled from 9 to 23 CE, between the Western and Eastern Han dynasties.

Wang Mang: A Han official who seized the throne and founded the Xin dynasty in 9 CE. His reform program and political choices shaped Xin rule from its founding to its collapse.
Western Han dynasty: The Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 202 BCE to 9 CE before Wang Mang’s Xin interregnum. Xin replaced the Western Han after Wang Mang accumulated authority at court.
Eastern Han dynasty: The Han dynasty restored in 25 CE, ruling from Luoyang until 220 CE. Its founders treated the overthrow of Xin as restoration of legitimate Han rule.
New Text Confucianism: A Han-era approach to Confucian classics that interpreted textual variants and political prophecy as significant. Wang Mang drew on this intellectual climate to support claims that a new dynasty was ordained.
Xin dynasty land reform: Wang Mang’s attempt to nationalize land and restrict its sale during the Xin dynasty. The land system sought to curb great estates but met resistance from powerful landholders.
Emperor Ping of Han: A Han emperor who reigned from 1 to 6 CE while Wang Mang served as regent. His reign gave Wang Mang a route to control the government before taking the throne.
Emperor Guangwu of Han: The Han prince who defeated rival claimants and restored the dynasty as Emperor Guangwu in 25 CE. His victory ended the post-Xin struggle and established Eastern Han authority.
Old Text Confucianism: A Han-era approach to Confucian classics that favored versions presented as recovered from pre-imperial texts. Its scholarship offered a different account of classical authority from the prophetic arguments associated with Wang Mang.
Xin dynasty currency reform: A series of Xin monetary changes that introduced new coin types and disrupted established exchange. Repeated changes undermined confidence and complicated trade and taxation.
Ruzi Ying: A child named heir to the Han throne after Emperor Ping, who never ruled independently. Wang Mang used the child’s nominal succession to prolong his own regency.

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