Download Chapter 6 Lesson 4 The Han Dynasty (KEY)

KEY Chapter 6: Ancient China Section 4: The Han Dynasty Big Idea: The Han dynasty created a new form of government that valued family, art, and learning. Han Dynasty Government After the Qin dynasty collapsed, many groups battled for power. An army led by Liu Bang
won, and he became the first emperor of the Han dynasty.
The Rise of a New Dynasty
Liu Bang was a peasant who became emperor, mainly because of the Chinese belief in the
mandate of heaven. Both soldiers and peasants liked him.
He wanted to free people from harsh government policies, so he lowered taxes for farmers,
made punishments less severe and gave large blocks of land to his supporters. He also changed
the way government worked and relied on educated officials to help him rule.
Wudi Creates a New Government
Emperor Wudi took the throne in 140 BC, creating a stronger central government. He took land
from the lords, raised taxes and controlled grain supply.
Confucianism became the official government philosophy. Wudi began a university to teach
Confucian ideas. Only people, who had been recommended for government service, could
obtain a good position in the government if they passed an exam on Confucian teachings. Once
again, the wealthy/government families continued to control the government.
Family Life During the Han period, the family became important within Chinese society.
Social Classes
Upper class – emperor, his court, and scholars who held government positions
Second class – peasants (largest class)
Third class – artisans (produced items for daily life and luxury goods)
Lowest class – merchants (did not produce anything of their own, only bought and sold goods
made by others)
*The military was not an official class, but was considered part of the government
Lives of Rich and Poor
The social rank did not indicate wealth or power. The peasants were poor, while some
merchants were wealthy and powerful despite being in the lowest class.
People’s lifestyles varied according to wealth. The emperor and his court lived in a large
palace. Multilevel houses were occupied by less important officials. Wealthy people owned
large estates and employed laborers and hired armies to defend their estates. They had many
expensive decorations, such as paintings, pottery, bronze lamps and jade. They hired musicians
for entertainments and filled tombs of with expensive objects.
About 90 percent of the people didn’t live like the wealthy. They lived in the countryside and
worked on the land. In the winter, they were forced to work on building projects for the
government. Many farmers were forced to sell land and work for rich landowners.
The peasants lived simple lives, wore plain clothing and ate cooked grains like barley. They
lived in small, wood-framed houses with walls made of mud or stamped earth.
The Revival of the Family
Children were taught to respect their elders. Disobeying parents was a crime; therefore, even
emperors respected their parents. Some men gained government jobs based on the respect they
showed their parents.
The father was the head of the family and had absolute power. Wives and children had to obey
their husbands and fathers.
Honoring one’s family was an important duty in Han China. They were expected to honor dead
parents with ceremonies and offerings. Family members were expected to care for family burial
sites.
Boys were valued more than girls. Sons carried on the family line and took care of parents as
they got older, while daughters went to live with their husbands’ families. However, some
women still gained power, and an older widow could become the head of the family.
Han Achievements Art and literature thrived and inventors developed many useful devices during the Han dynasty.
Art and Literature
The Han made many achievements in art. They were experts in figure painting. Their portraits
and realistic scenes covered the walls of palaces and tombs.
The Han are also known for their poetry. Fu poetry combined prose and poetry in a long work
of literature, while shi used short lines of verse that could be sung.
Han Writers produced important works of history. Sima Qian wrote a complete history of all of
the dynasties through the early Han.
Inventions and Advances
Vocabulary
1) Sundial – a device that uses the position of shadows cast by the sun to tell the time of day
2) Seismograph – a device that measures the strength of an earthquake
3) Acupuncture – the practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points to
cure disease or relieve pain
4) Innovation – a new idea, method, or device
The Han invented paper by grinding plant fibers, such as mulberry bark and hemp, into a paste.
Then they let it dry in sheets. Scholars produced “books” by pasting pieces of paper together
into a long sheet and rolling the sheet into a scroll.
They also made other innovations in science, such as the sundial, a seismograph and
acupuncture. Many Han inventions are still used today.