The "Book of the Han" is a historical text that covers the history of the Han Dynasty in China, spanning from its founding in 206 BCE to the end of the Wang Mang interregnum in 23 CE. Compiled by the historian Ban Gu and his sister Ban Zhao, it is part of the larger "Twenty-Four Histories" and serves as a crucial source for understanding early Chinese history, culture, and governance. This work is divided into several sections, including annals, treatises, and biographies. It provides insights into the political, social, and economic conditions of the time, detailing the lives of notable figures and events that shaped the Han Dynasty.