Citations

"Confucianism." Totally History. 2012. April 25 2013. http://totallyhistory.com/confucianism-during-the-han-dynasty/

 "Confucianism." April 25 2013. http://confucianism.freehostingguru.com/

 Department of Asian Art. "Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of                     Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-. April 24 2013                         http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm


Hays, Jeffrey. "Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220)." Facts and Details. December 2012. April              25 2013. http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=39

Opinion Piece

Ally Nyren, Staff Writer

The Hans are responsible for many inventions that are important to people around the world today and periods of success in education and government, that also impacted our lives today.  "Emperor Qin Shihuang is usually given credit for unifying the Chinese writing system but a careful look reveals the system was largely standardized in the Han dynasty." The Hans were actually the creators of the first Chinese dictionary, first official history, and gave names to all the dynasties before them. They also tried to make a standardized writing system for all of China. Cai Lun invented paper in Han China. Hans used pulleys and wheelbarrows to transport goods long before people in the West. Iron working was advanced and Hans created strong tools and weapons. All of these inventions were advanced over time and became what we have today that make many people's lives around the world much better than they would have been without the Han Dynasty.


Education, government, and the economy were very successful during the Han Dynasty. "The Han period was a time of economic expansion." Poetry, literature, and philosophy flourished in China during Han times. Astronomy prospered as well. Agriculture and irrigation were improved in the Han Empire. The Silk Road was a big part of the Han Dynasty's great economy. All the silk and other goods they traded throughout Asia and Europe made Han China wealthy. Han scholars solved complex math problems and wrote detailed histories. The Han Dynasty's success affects people today because their academic discoveries as well as geographic ones changed modern China and other education systems all around the world.

Religion/Philosophy

Ally Nyren, Staff Writer


The main belief of the Hans was Confucianism. Their major values were respect, social order, and achievement of their responsibilities. When all of these were fulfilled, people had harmony and balance. Confucianism has 5 main respect relationships: ruler to subject, father to son, older to younger brother, husband to wife, and friend to friend. There are different rituals performed at different stages in a Confucian person's life. For example, when someone reached maturity, the family celebrated with a group meal in which the young adult is fed chicken. Also, the morning after a wedding, the bride served breakfast to the groom's parents. The biggest part of Confucianism was filial piety. Filial piety was to submitting to your role in society and respecting others.

The Han Empire improved the system of ruling with morals and ethics because of Confucianism. "The establishment of a Confucian state has helped Han Wudi rule for 54 years, making him one of the longest rulers in China’s history." Confucianism created a more peaceful community, so no one felt like they had to rebel against their rulers and the emperors ruled for long periods of time. The affect that Confucianism had on the Hans was a good one. It helped them get along better and helped poetry, literature, and philosophy flourish.

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Picture Collage

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=39

Liu Bang: Liu Bang was the first emperor of the Han dynasty. He came to power with help from military leaders who were dog butchers. Emperor Liu Bang was mean and nasty to his family as well as Confucians. He made the capital Chang'an. After his death, Lu Zhi, his empress, murdered some of his sons and took power. Her family ruled for 15 years until Liu's son, Emperor Wen, took the throne.

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=39

Bronze Horse: Many Han artists sculpted horses. They valued horses so much because they believed that since they carried the Hans to central Asia, horses would carry their emperor to heaven. One of the greatest artistic accomplishments of the Hans was the "Flying horse," which was supported by only one hoof.

Emperor Wu Di: The Han Empire flourished the most under Wu Di, who began his rule at age 15 for 54 years. He established Confucian schools all over China. The teasury was full and everyone lived well under emperor Wu Di. The Hans reconquered land created the Silk Road under Wu Di's rule.

 

 








  Jade Suit: The jade suit in the photo belonged to Prince Liu Sheng. It was made of 2,498 plates of jade sewn together with silk/gold wire. The Hans used these suits because they believed the jade suits slowed decompisition and preserved the body well after death.

 

Papermaking: Cai Lun invented paper and the papermaking process in China during Han times. His paper was made with hemp that was pounded and wound. It was a very important invention for the entire world because without Cai Lun's papermaking, we would not have paper.

Expansion and the Silk Road

Han Empire Map

<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm>

     The Han Empire covered most of modern day China. The Hans expanded east to Korea, south to Vietnam, north into the Gobi desert, and west to the Tarim Basin.These expansions made it possible for the Hans to trade over land with Europe, so the Silk Road was created, running through the Han Empire. The coast also created trade, as well as a way to fish and get food. In the summer, rivers like the Yangzi and Han flooded, which made the soil good for crops. The Great Wall in the north provided protection from the Mongols and created a border. The Himalayas are located in the southwest portion of the Han Empire, and the capitals, Chang'an and Luoyang, are in the northern part of the empire.