Handan

The capital of the Eastern Chou (Zhou) state of Chao from 386-228 BC. The area was already settled in Shang times (c 1766-1122 BC) and first mentioned in about 500 BC, but became a center of trade and famed for luxury and elegance as the capital. In 228 it was attacked and taken by the armies of the Ch'in dynasty (221-206 BC) and became a commandery. Under the Han (206 BC-220 AD) it became the seat of an important feudal kingdom, Chao-kuo. The remains of the walls and foundations of buildings of both the Chao capital and the Han city still remain to the southwest of the modern city. A cemetery north of the walled city contained six chariot burials and 12 rich tombs, five with human sacrifices.

[Han-tan]. The capital of the Eastern Zhou state of Zhao from 386 to 228 bc, probably to be identified with a walled city whose remains lie 4 km southwest of the modem city of Handan in southern Hebei province, China. The massive walls, which enclose an area of about three square kilometers, are built of hangtu, as are the foundation platforms of a number of large buildings. A cemetery 5 km north of the walled city, excavated in 1957 and 1959, contained six chariot burials and twelve rich tombs, five with human sacrifices.