The Confucian philosophy heavily influenced government and society during the Han Dynasty in China. The Han Emperor Wu Di established Confucianism as the empire's official religion and founded universities to teach Confucian concepts. He also implemented a civil service system with written exams to select government officials based on merit instead of hereditary status. Confucian ideals like everyone performing their duties honorably according to their role, as well as treating others with respect and fairness, helped guide social interactions and political leadership during this prosperous era in Chinese history known as the Han Golden Age.

1. Confucianism in the Han Dynasty

2. Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.) Liu Bang conquers the former Qin lands

3. Declares himself the emperor “Han Gaozu” or “High Ancestor”

4. Confucianism was the ideas that ruled the dynastyHan Dynasty (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.)Wu Di “Warlike Emperor” (Han Emperor – 141 B.C.E.) Expands empire

5. Make Confucianism the empire’s official religion

6. Starts university to teach Confucian ideas