Emperor Jing of Han in the context of "Rebellion of the Seven States"

The Xin dynasty (/ʃɪn/; Chinese: 新朝; pinyin: Xīn cháo), also known as Xin Mang (新莽) in Chinese historiography, was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty which lasted from 9 to 23 AD, established by the Han dynasty consort kin Wang Mang, who usurped the throne of the Emperor Ping of Han and the infant "crown prince" Liu Ying. The Xin dynasty ruled for over a decade before it was overthrown by rebels. After Wang's death, the Han dynasty was restored by Liu Xiu, a distant descendant of the Emperor Jing of Han; therefore, the Xin dynasty is often considered an interregnum of the Han, dividing it into the Western Han and the Eastern Han.

The Red Eyebrows (Chinese: 赤眉; pinyin: Chìméi) was one of the two major peasant rebellion movements against Wang Mang's short-lived Xin dynasty, the other being Lülin. It was so named because the rebels painted their eyebrows red.

The rebellion, initially active in the modern Shandong and northern Jiangsu regions, eventually led to Wang Mang's downfall by draining his resources, allowing Liu Xuan (the Gengshi Emperor), leader of the Lülin, to overthrow Wang and temporarily reestablish an incarnation of the Han dynasty. The Red Eyebrows later overthrew the Gengshi Emperor and placed their own Han descendant puppet, teenage emperor Liu Penzi, on the throne, who ruled briefly until the Red Eyebrows leaders' incompetence in ruling the territories under their control caused the people to rebel against them, forcing them to retreat and attempt to return home. When their path was blocked by the army of Liu Xiu's (Emperor Guangwu) newly established Eastern Han regime, they surrendered to him.

Emperor Wen of Han (Chinese: 漢文帝; 203/02 – 6 July 157 BC), personal name Liu Heng (劉恆), was the fifth emperor of the Han dynasty from 180 until his death in 157 BC. The son of Emperor Gao and Consort Bo, his reign provided a much needed stability within the ruling Liu clan after the unstable and violent regency of Empress Lü, who went after numerous members of the clan. The prosperous reigns of Emperor Wen and his son Emperor Jing are highly regarded by historians, being referred to as the Rule of Wen and Jing. He was one only four Western Han emperors to receive a temple name, along with Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wu, and Emperor Xuan of Han.

When Emperor Gaozu suppressed the rebellion of Dai (代), he made Liu Heng Prince of Dai. Since Emperor Gaozu's death, power had been in the hands of his wife, Empress Lü, the empress dowager. After Empress Lü's death, the officials eliminated the powerful Lü clan, and deliberately chose the Prince of Dai as the emperor, since his mother, Consort Bo, had no powerful relatives, and her family was known for its humility and thoughtfulness.

Empress Dou (Chinese: 竇皇后; died 29 June 135 BC), personal name Dou Yifang, posthumous name Empress Xiaowen (孝文皇后), was an empress consort of the Chinese Western Han dynasty who greatly influenced the reigns of her husband Emperor Wen and her son Emperor Jing with her adherence to Taoist philosophy; she was the main supporter of the Huang-Lao school. She therefore contributed greatly to the Rule of Wen and Jing, commonly considered one of the golden ages of Chinese history.

Zhou Yafu (simplified Chinese: 周亚夫; traditional Chinese: 周亞夫; pinyin: Zhōu Yàfū) (died c.143 BC) was a Chinese military general and politician of the Western Han dynasty. He is known for putting down the Rebellion of the Seven States, but was later arrested and imprisoned by Emperor Jing for treason. Zhou Yafu committed suicide by starving himself in prison.

Empress Bo (Chinese: 薄皇后; pinyin: Bò Huánghòu) (personal name unknown) (died 147 BC) was an empress during the Han dynasty. She was the first wife of Emperor Jing, and also the first empress to be deposed in Chinese imperial history.

Empress Bo was from the family of Empress Dowager Bo, who was probably her paternal grandaunt and betrothed her to her grandson, then-Crown Prince Qi during the reign of her son, Emperor Wen. She carried the title of crown princess during the reign of her father-in-law. Then, when her husband became emperor in 157 BC, she was created empress, but she was not favored by her husband, and she had no sons. It was as a consequence of this that Consort Li's son Liu Rong was made crown prince.

Liu Sheng (simplified Chinese: 刘胜; traditional Chinese: 劉勝; pinyin: Liú Shèng; died 113 BC), posthumously known as King/Prince Jing of Zhongshan (Chinese: 中山靖王; pinyin: Zhōngshān Jìng Wáng), was a king/prince of the Western Han empire of Chinese history. His father was Emperor Jing, and he was the elder brother of Emperor Wu of Han. His mausoleum is one of the most important archaeological sites pertaining to the Western Han imperial family.