Han Dynasty 202 BCE - 220 CE

Beginnings Qin “looses the mandate” Revolts in central China Aristocrats revolt

Qin “looses the mandate”

Revolts in central China

Aristocrats revolt

Liu Bang Army lieutenant defeats last Qin emperor and his leader Founds Han Dynasty Man of the people - common roots, realized the importance of maintaining popular suport. Did away with Qin legalism but maintained strong central power Revived Confucian learning and applied Confucian principles to government. Did NOT restore power to aristocracy.

Army lieutenant defeats last Qin emperor and his leader

Founds Han Dynasty

Man of the people - common roots, realized the importance of maintaining popular suport.

Did away with Qin legalism but maintained strong central power

Revived Confucian learning and applied Confucian principles to government.

Did NOT restore power to aristocracy.

Threats Internal - distant states under Han rule were hard to govern. External - Xiong-nu (aka Huns) - nomads from the north Wage attacks on (& through) the great wall. As Xiong-ne came closer to Changan, Liu Bang offere a Chinese princess to marry the son of the Xiong-nu leader and gave silk, liquor, rice, and money. Xiong-nu will be a menace, off and on, until 52 BC.

Internal - distant states under Han rule were hard to govern.

External - Xiong-nu (aka Huns) - nomads from the north

Wage attacks on (& through) the great wall.

As Xiong-ne came closer to Changan, Liu Bang offere a Chinese princess to marry the son of the Xiong-nu leader and gave silk, liquor, rice, and money.

Xiong-nu will be a menace, off and on, until 52 BC.

Wu Di Expanded borders Palace Writers System Writers write the emperors decrees and orders Determine which documents get to the emperor.

Expanded borders

Palace Writers System

Writers write the emperors decrees and orders

Determine which documents get to the emperor.

Gov’t Appointments Beginnings of Exam System Recommended men took a written exam Grand Master of Ceremonies graded the papers. The king looked at the scores and made final selection Demanded the best from high ranking officials and generals.

Beginnings of Exam System

Recommended men took a written exam

Grand Master of Ceremonies graded the papers.

The king looked at the scores and made final selection

Demanded the best from high ranking officials and generals.

Zhang Qian Traveled north to seek an alliance against the Xiong-nu Captured by the Xiong-nu & held for 10 years. After escaping he continued on his original mission. The tribe he sought had moved on, so he tracked them down in Afghanistan. They didn’t want anything to do with China. Failure? China became more aware of the world to the west. Zhang Qian is sent out to explore again and finds opportunities to trade.

Traveled north to seek an alliance against the Xiong-nu

Captured by the Xiong-nu & held for 10 years.

After escaping he continued on his original mission.

The tribe he sought had moved on, so he tracked them down in Afghanistan.

They didn’t want anything to do with China.

Failure? China became more aware of the world to the west.

Zhang Qian is sent out to explore again and finds opportunities to trade.

Life under Wu Di Maintained permanent defense on great wall using smoke and flag signals. Regular mail delivery. Trained police dogs.

Maintained permanent defense on great wall using smoke and flag signals.

Regular mail delivery.

Trained police dogs.

Scary Times 87 BC - 23 AD After Wu Di died, a corrupt general had control and disrupted his systems. Several people around the palace vied for favors.

After Wu Di died, a corrupt general had control and disrupted his systems.

Several people around the palace vied for favors.

Wang Mang 9-23 AD Seizes power and attempts to form a new dynasty Makes all land gov’t land and redistributes it to peasants. Chaos insues - the system of land distribution fails. Major flood further complicates life.

Seizes power and attempts to form a new dynasty

Makes all land gov’t land and redistributes it to peasants.

Chaos insues - the system of land distribution fails.

Major flood further complicates life.

Red Eyebrow Revolt Led by Mother Lu Painted their faces to look like demons Argued that Wang Mang did not have the Mandate of Heaven. Wang Mang was killed.

Led by Mother Lu

Painted their faces to look like demons

Argued that Wang Mang did not have the Mandate of Heaven.

Wang Mang was killed.

Guang Wu Di Ended revolt Aristocrats and officials who were causing problems were mostly dead. Moved capital to Luoyang (flooding in Changan)

Ended revolt

Aristocrats and officials who were causing problems were mostly dead.

Moved capital to Luoyang (flooding in Changan)

Ban Chao Explorer for Guang Wu Di Finds the Caspian Sea 97 AD - visits Persia (modern Iran/Iraq) Began to trade silk through Persia to Rome. Learn about Rome Both China and Rome consider themselves center of the universe and exist independently.

Explorer for Guang Wu Di

Finds the Caspian Sea

97 AD - visits Persia (modern Iran/Iraq)

Began to trade silk through Persia to Rome.

Learn about Rome

Both China and Rome consider themselves center of the universe and exist independently.

End of Han 180’s AD - Floods along Yellow River Yellow Turbans - group of frustrated poor people Daoist - desire to create a place of great peace where all are equal and share everything. Other groups revolt as well. 190’s AD Powerful generals sack and burn the capital. Empire splits into 3 pieces.

180’s AD - Floods along Yellow River

Yellow Turbans - group of frustrated poor people

Daoist - desire to create a place of great peace where all are equal and share everything.

Other groups revolt as well.

190’s AD Powerful generals sack and burn the capital.

Empire splits into 3 pieces.

Han Poetry

Poem Without a Category Office work: a wearisome jumble; Racing the writing brush, no time to eat, Sun slanting down but never a break; Swamped and muddled in records and reports, Head spinning till it’s senseless and numb- I leave off and go west of the wall, Climb the height and let my eyes roam; Square embankments hold back the clear water Wild ducks and geese at rest in the middle- Where can I get a pair of whirring wings So I can join you to bob on the waves?

Office work: a wearisome jumble;

Racing the writing brush, no time to eat,

Sun slanting down but never a break;

Swamped and muddled in records and reports,

Head spinning till it’s senseless and numb-

I leave off and go west of the wall,

Climb the height and let my eyes roam;

Square embankments hold back the clear water

Wild ducks and geese at rest in the middle-

Where can I get a pair of whirring wings

So I can join you to bob on the waves?

Li Furen The sound of her silk skirt has stopped. On the marble pavement dust grows. Her empty room is cold and still. Fallen leaves are piled against the doors. Longing for that lovely lady How can I bring my aching heart to rest?

The sound of her silk skirt has stopped.

On the marble pavement dust grows.

Her empty room is cold and still.

Fallen leaves are piled against the doors.

Longing for that lovely lady

How can I bring my aching heart to rest?

Speaking My Mind The Great Way - simple as it is, Few spy out its secrets… From times past, ties and entanglements… These hundred worries - what are they? All that’s most important rests in you! Hand your woes to the sky above, Bury your troubles in the ground, Flout and discard the Five Classics, Put an end to the songs. And those muddled scraps that are the hundred philosophers- Consign them please to the flames!…

The Great Way - simple as it is,

Few spy out its secrets…

From times past, ties and entanglements…

These hundred worries - what are they?

All that’s most important rests in you!

Hand your woes to the sky above,

Bury your troubles in the ground,

Flout and discard the Five Classics,

Put an end to the songs.

And those muddled scraps that are the hundred philosophers-

Consign them please to the flames!…

At Fifteen I Joined the Army At fifteen I joined the army, At eighty I first came home. On the road I met a villager, “At my home what kin are there?” “Look over there-that’s your home!” Pine, cypress, burial mounds piled, piled high… The inner garden grown wild with corn… I leave by the gates, look east. Tears fall and soak my clothes.

At fifteen I joined the army,

At eighty I first came home.

On the road I met a villager,

“At my home what kin are there?”

“Look over there-that’s your home!”

Pine, cypress, burial mounds piled, piled high…

The inner garden grown wild with corn…

I leave by the gates, look east.

Tears fall and soak my clothes.