A dictionary from the Tang dynasty explained that "Han" () is the name of a nearby mountain (Hanshan), and "Dan" () meant "the terminus of a mountain" with an added radical () denoting a city. Together, "Handan" means "the city at the terminus of Mount Han". This explanation has been widely accepted until the discoveries of jade writings in Houma, Shanxi in 1965, where the "Dan" in Handan was spelt "", meaning red. This then lead to another explanation that Handan was named so because Mount Han appeared reddish-purple in color.