Han Dynasty was a period full of legend figures. From Wang Zhaojun - the Han ethnic princess married with Xiongnu for peaceful reason, to Zhang Heng – great scientist estimated the value of π, Sima Qian – great historian who recorded a history of Han Wudi, etc…
♦ Wang Zhaojun – Han ethnic princess married with Xiongnu
Wang Zhaojun, styled Qiang, was selected into the court in the reign of the Yuan Emperor in the Western Han Dynasty. She volunteered to be a peace envoy through her marriage to Huhanye Chanyu (king of the Xiongnu in ancient China) and became Ninghu Yanshi (Yanshi, the legal wife of Xiongnu's King).
Wang made contributions to further develop and strengthen friendly ties between the Han and Xiongnu. She was favored by various nations and her name will be remembered forever. Therefore, Zhaojun Coming out of the North Frontier has become a story of national unity and the common development of various nations. It is said that when Zhaojun died, farmers and herdsmen from the pass and beyond attended her funeral. They carried earth with their clothes and thus built the tomb of Zhaojun.
♦ Zhang Heng - one of a long line of astronomers
Zhang Heng was an astronomer, mathematician, engineer, and painter who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD, 东汉 Dōng Hàn). He served during the reigns of Emperors Āndì 安帝 (94-125) and Shùndì 順帝 (125-144). He is one of a long line of astronomers who served the emperors through the various dynasties. Astronomers served an important function of State by creating and maintaining calendars, making predictions concerning celestial events, and keeping records of the events observed in the heavens. The belief that the organization of civil life was a reflection of and controlled by the heavens demanded careful attention to events that might influence government.
Zhang Heng soaked in the influences from every source and excelled in most fields. In mathematics he estimated the value of π pi as the square root of 10 or 3.1622. He invented a cart to measure li, the Chinese mile. (Three Chinese li are roughly equivalent to an English mile.) It was the first odometer.
♦ Sima Qian - writter of historical records from earliest time to Han Wudi
Sima Qian (or Ssu-ma Ch'ien) (c.145–85 BC) Chinese historian, an official at the court of the HAN emperor Wudi. His Historical Records is a history of China from earliest times to the days of Wudi, and is a model for later dynastic histories. As well as recounting ancient myths, he provided much source material, quoting inscriptions from old bronzes and imperial decrees from the archives. One section of the work, Assorted Traditions, has lively biographies of generals, poets, scoundrels, and court ladies. Angered by his defence of a general forced to surrender to the XIONGNU, Wudi had him castrated. Although such punishment often led officials to commit suicide he decided to live on to complete his history.
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