The Han Empire has the honor of being the dynasty with the longest duration in the whole 2,100 year era of imperial rule in china. It lasted 426 years or about 100 years longer than other long lasting dynasties such as the Tang and Qing. The rule was interrupted by a coup in the middle by the Xin Dynasty (9–23 AD) which divided the whole period into two eras called the Western Han (206 BC – 9 AD) and Eastern Han (25–220 AD). After the division, stability returned and the same dynastic clan continued ruling.