12 Interesting Facts About Han Dynasty

The Han dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China (206 BC–220 AD), preceded by the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD). Spanning over four centuries, the Han period is considered a golden age in Chinese history so far so that many people from the ethnic group of China consider themselves as “Han People”.
Here are some interesting facts about Han Dynasty.

Image: wikipedia

1. The Big Interruption

Han Dynasty was briefly interrupted by the Xin dynasty (9–23 AD) of the former regent Wang Mang. This interruption separates the Han dynasty into two periods: the Western Han or Former Han (206 BC – 9 AD) and the Eastern Han or Later Han (25–220 AD).
Source: wikipedia, Image: history.com

2. Economic Prosperity

Han Dynasty was a period of economic prosperity and it was during this time that the coinage issued by the central government mint in 119 BC remained the standard coinage of China until the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD).
Source: wikipedia, Image: history.com

3. Named After

A peasant, Liu Bang, started the Han Dynasty after the Qin Dynasty Collapsed.
Source: weebly.com, Image: wikipedia

4. More Than an Emperor

An Emperor had many responsibilities. He preformed many religious ceremonies, and on the longest night of the year (winter solstice) he would dress in a blue robe and go on a fast.
Source: weebly.com, Image: tumblr

5. Silk Road

The Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes that were central to cultural interaction connecting the West and East from China to the Mediterranean Sea, created in the Han period is still in use today.
Source: wikipedia, Image: mapsofhistory.com

6. Civil Services

One of the first things that Emperor Gaozu did was to establish the civil service by gathering a number of educated men around him to help him run the empire. Later, Han emperors established examinations and schools to make sure that only the most intelligent men would run the government.
Source: leonardo-newtonic.com

7. Wu Who?

Emperor Wu was the longest reigning emperor of the Han dynasty. His reign lasted 54 years, a record until the 61 years reign of the Kangxi Emperor more than 1,800 years later. Wu spanned from modern Kyrgyzstan in the west, to Korea in the east, and to northern Vietnam in the south.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

8. Paper Invention

Cai Lun was responsible for the invention of the standard paper-making process. The oldest known surviving piece of paper with writing on it was found in the ruins of a Han watchtower that had been abandoned in 110 AD, though it has been found out that early forms of paper were used in china since 2 BC.
Source: learnodo-newtonic.com, Image: wikipedia

9. Inventions! Inventions! and Inventions!

China discovered square roots, cube roots, the Pythagorean Theorem, improved calculations of pi, and most prominently the first use of negative numbers in world history! Rudder, which is used to steer a ship, boat etc. was invented during the Han period and so was seismoscope! Also a manually operated rotary fan was invented by the engineer Ding Huan of the Han Dynasty.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

10. Buddhism

Buddhism came into China during the Han period.
Source: ducksters.com, Image: religions.iloveindia.com

11. Merchants

Merchants didn’t enjoy a respectable position. However, they were able to become rich, especially with trade improving due to the Silk Road. Laws were made to make merchants wear white clothes and pay high taxes.
Source: duckster.com

12. Confucianism

Qin dynasty ruled with the philosophy of Legalism and all other non-legalistic philosophies, including Confucianism, were suppressed. During the early Han period, teachings of Legalism and Confucianism were both accepted. However, the Han court under Emperor Wu gave Confucianism exclusive patronage and therefore making Confucianism the official state ideology of the Han. It remains amongst the most prominent philosophies in China till modern times.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia