Han Dynasty

汉朝

Emperor Gaozu of the Han

汉高祖

Emperor Gaozu, also known under the name Liu Bang, was the first emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. ---- 24 A.D.).

汉高祖刘邦是西汉（公元前206年至公元24年）的开国皇帝。

He was born into a peasant family in Pei (present Pei County in Jiangsu Province), and was once one of the leaders of the peasant insurrections in the late Qin Dynasty (221—206 B.C.).

他出生于沛县（今江苏省沛县）的一个农民家庭，在秦朝（公元前221年至公元前206年）晚期曾担任农民起义的领袖。

Having suffered a lot under the despotic rule, Liu Bang rose against it at the end of the Qin Dynasty together with Xiang Yu.

因为遭受了残暴统治的巨大痛苦，刘邦在秦末和项羽一起揭竿造反。

The two of them became two important leaders of the peasant uprisings which were taking place at the time.

他们二人成为了那时农民起义的主力军。

In 206 B.C, Liu Bang started by breaking the capital city of Qin, Xianyang, thus putting an end to the notorious Qin Dynasty.

公元前206年，刘邦在秦朝都城咸阳起义，结束了这个臭名昭著的秦王朝。

He abandoned the harsh laws, reduced taxes and instituted three regulations in order to protect the interests of normal people.

他取消了严厉的刑法，减少了苛捐杂税，建立了三项规定来保障人民的利益。

These actions made him popular with the people.

这些举动使他深得民心。

However, Liu Bang’s actions and fame were the source of Xiang Yu’s envy.

然而，刘邦的行为与名气招致了项羽的嫉妒。

Xiang Yu had the intention of becoming an emperor with control over the entire country.

项羽想要成为一统全国的皇帝。

When Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the King of Chu, Liu Bang realized that he was inferior to Xiang Yu

当项羽宣称自己是楚国的君主时，刘邦意识到自己的身份比项羽低微，

and adopted the suggestions of Xiao He to move to Hanzhong (present Hanzhong in Shaanxi Province) with the title “King of Han” which was conferred by Xiang Yu.

就听取了萧何的建议以项羽授予自己的“汉军君主”的名号转移到了汉中（今陕西省汉中）。

In Hanzhong, Liu Bang focused his efforts on developing the agriculture and training an army, through which he reinforced his material accumulation and military power.

在汉中，刘邦潜心发展农业和军队，通过此举，他加强了自己的物资积累和军事实力。

Before long， Liu Bang left Hanzhong and stationed in the Central Shaanxi Plain, where he launched a war now known as the Chu-Han War, against Xiang Yu.

没过多久，刘邦离开汉中，驻扎在了陕西平原中部。在那里，他与项羽展开了一场著名的战争——楚汉之争。

The war lasted four years (206---- 202 B.C.) and ended with Liu Bang’s victory.

这场战争持续了四年时间（公元前206年至公元前202年）并以刘邦的胜利结束。

Having defeated Xiang Yu, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty in 202 BC and made Chang’an (present city of Xian) his capital city.

打败项羽后，刘邦于公元前202年建立汉朝，定都长安（今西安）。

Liu Bang became historically known as Emperor Gaozu.

他在历史上被称为汉高祖。

During the time Liu Bang was in power, he continued to use the centralism created by Qin, replaced original vassals¹ and granted lands to his relatives.

刘邦执政期间沿用了秦朝的中央集权制，取消了原来的诸侯国，将土地无偿分封给他的亲戚。

In economy, he reduced taxes and corvee and developed agriculture, but he restricted the commerce.

经济上，他减免了苛捐杂税与劳逸并积极发展农业，但是限制了商业的发展。

Emperor Gaozu’s efforts laid a solid foundation for the over four-hundred-year reign² of the Han Dynasty.

高祖的努力为汉朝之后四百多年的统治打下了牢固的基础。