The first Chinese history devoted to a single dynasty, covering the Western Han from 206 BC to AD 23 in 100 chapters. Begun by 班彪, it was written mainly by his son 班固 and completed by his daughter 班昭. It is the second of the 二十四史, after 史记.
culture
Chengyu that come from it include 实事求是 'to seek truth from facts', which later became a political watchword, and 不合时宜 'out of step with the times'.
