CChronica Maps

Emperor Wu of Han

Reigned for fifty-four years, fought the Xiongnu, set up the Hexi commanderies including Dunhuang, sent Zhang Qian to Central Asia and made Confucianism the state teaching.

Lived156 BC – 87 BC
Known asHan emperor
Birthplace or main placeXi'an
Places on the mapXi'an, Dunhuang
Map of the world around Emperor Wu of Han in 200 BCXi'an
Border map for 200 BC. See the world in 200 BC.

See the world of Emperor Wu of Han in the interactive map

Embed this interactive map on your site

Free to use on blogs, school pages and course sites. Copy the code below; please keep the credit line.

Who ruled these places in his lifetime

PlaceAt birth (map of 200 BC)At death (map of 100 BC)
Xi'anHan Empiresame
DunhuangYuezhiUnclaimed / no data

From the border maps nearest to each date; borders are approximate.

Events in his lifetime

YearEventWhere
111 BCEmperor Wu of Han creates Dunhuang commanderyDunhuang
138 BCZhang Qian sets out from Chang'an for the Western RegionsXi'an

Further reading

Contemporaries

LivedPerson
c. 145 BC – 86 BCSima QianHistorian
c. 164 BC – 113 BCZhang QianEnvoy and explorer
106 BC – 43 BCCiceroOrator and statesman

Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.