Changes

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 漢 ''(Hàn / Kan)''

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 漢 ''(Hàn / Kan)''

The Han Dynasty was the first of China's [[Confucianism|Confucianist]] dynasties, and after the very short-lived [[Qin Dynasty]] (221-206 BCE) represents the beginning of the period of Imperial China.  

The Han Dynasty was the first of China's [[Confucianism|Confucianist]] dynasties and, along with the very short-lived [[Qin Dynasty]] (221-206 BCE) which preceded it, represents the beginning of the period of Imperial China.  

Along with the [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] and [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Dynasties]], the Han is commonly seen as representing the "true" Chinese culture and history, and as representing, in some respects, the source or origin of certain aspects of Chinese culture. It was during the Han Dynasty that the Chinese developed the compass, the sternpost rudder, wheelbarrow, paper, seismograph, and various advancements in medicine, music, and astronomy.<ref>Craig, 45.</ref> The significant position of the Han Dynasty in the collective memory in the region is indicated by the fact that the word "Han" is still today often used in Chinese, Japanese, and elsewhere in the region to refer to essential Chinese culture or identity. Some examples include the use of the term "Han people" to refer to the core/majority Chinese ethnicity (in contrast to those of Manchu, Mongol, Tibetan, Hmong, or other ethnic backgrounds), and the terms ''hànzi'' (J: ''kanji'', K: ''hanja'', "Chinese characters") and ''hàn yǔ'' ("Chinese language").

Along with the [[Tang Dynasty|Tang]] and [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Dynasties]], the Han is commonly seen as representing the "true" Chinese culture and history, and as representing, in some respects, the source or origin of certain aspects of Chinese culture. It was during the Han Dynasty that the Chinese developed the compass, the sternpost rudder, wheelbarrow, paper, seismograph, and various advancements in medicine, music, and astronomy.<ref>Craig, 45.</ref> The significant position of the Han Dynasty in the collective memory in the region is indicated by the fact that the word "Han" is still today often used in Chinese, Japanese, and elsewhere in the region to refer to essential Chinese culture or identity. Some examples include the use of the term "Han people" to refer to the core/majority Chinese ethnicity (in contrast to those of Manchu, Mongol, Tibetan, Hmong, or other ethnic backgrounds), and the terms ''hànzi'' (J: ''kanji'', K: ''hanja'', "Chinese characters") and ''hàn yǔ'' ("Chinese language").

The Han empire at its greatest extent covered all of central and nearly all of southern China, reaching beyond Hanoi in the south, and [[Lelang]] (parts of northern Korea) in the east, with a narrow arm running west along the [[Silk Road]], as far as [[Kashgar]]. Some of the only major areas controlled by the People's Republic of China today not controlled by the Han Dynasty include a considerable area in the west and southwest (roughly, [[Qinghai province]] and [[Tibet]]), a portion of the eastern coast around [[Fujian province|Fujian]] or [[Zhejiang province]], the island of [[Hainan]], and [[Manchuria]] in the northeast.

The Han empire at its greatest extent covered all of central and nearly all of southern China, reaching beyond Hanoi in the south, and [[Lelang]] (parts of northern Korea) in the east, with a narrow arm running west along the [[Silk Road]], as far as [[Kashgar]]. Some of the only major areas controlled by the People's Republic of China today not controlled by the Han Dynasty include a considerable area in the west and southwest (roughly, [[Qinghai province]] and [[Tibet]]), a portion of the eastern coast around [[Fujian province|Fujian]] or [[Zhejiang province]], the island of [[Hainan]], and [[Manchuria]] in the northeast.

Though the first emperor of the dynasty, [[Emperor Gaozu of Han]], is said to have despised Confucianism, his successors gradually adopted it. By 135 BCE, the Confucian classics became the foundation for the training and guiding political philosophy of all scholar-bureaucrats, with a bureaucratic system of administration gradually coming into place which would serve as the basis for governmental administration of all later dynasties, down into the early 20th century. Concepts such as the [[Mandate of Heaven]] were also adopted, and incorporated into the cosmological and political philosophical beliefs of the regime.

Though the first emperor of the dynasty, [[Emperor Gaozu of Han]], is said to have despised Confucianism, his successors gradually adopted it. Though overall the Han has traditionally been contrasted strongly with the Qin which came before, historians today point out considerable continuities between the two, in terms of legal codes and political structures, at least initially.<ref>Schirokauer, et al, 54.</ref>

 

By 135 BCE, however, the Confucian classics became the foundation for the training and guiding political philosophy of all scholar-bureaucrats, with a bureaucratic system of administration gradually coming into place which would serve as the basis for governmental administration of all later dynasties, down into the early 20th century. Concepts such as the [[Mandate of Heaven]] were also adopted, and incorporated into the cosmological and political philosophical beliefs of the regime.

 

Under the rule of [[Emperor Wu of Han]], also known as Han Wudi (r. 141-87 BCE), the Han expanded militarily into Vietnam, and into parts of [[Manchuria]] and [[Lelang|northern Korea]]. While some parts of these regions eagerly adapted Han agricultural technologies and practices, while resisting to some extent Han political impositions, the nomadic steppe peoples of Manchuria and other northern areas, including most especially the [[Xiongnu]], were not agricultural by tradition, and more powerfully resisted Han control, leading many uprisings, attacks, and raids.

===Wang Mang===

===Wang Mang===

The dynasty weakened considerably beginning in the 20s BCE, as the court faced numerous rebellions from without, and factional struggles, nepotism & corruption, and a succession of weak emperors within. The Imperial regent, [[Wang Mang]], eventually was named to the throne in [[8]] CE; since he was not related by blood to the Imperial family, this would technically be considered the beginning of a new dynasty, and so the rule of Wang Mang is sometimes referred to as the Xin Dynasty.<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations'', Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 47.</ref> He launched numerous reforms aimed at improving society, but faced considerable popular opposition as well as natural disasters and Xiongnu invasions. His efforts to create a new dynasty from within a terribly weakened Court, and without additional military support, ultimately failed, succumbing to a rebellion in [[23]] CE. The rebels took [[Chang'an]], killed Wang Mang, and in [[25]] CE took the throne for themselves; since their leader was related by blood to the previous Imperial line, this is regarded not as a new dynasty, but as the revival of the Han, which would then go on to last an additional 200 years.

The dynasty weakened considerably beginning in the 20s BCE, as the court faced numerous rebellions from without, and factional struggles, nepotism & corruption, and a succession of weak emperors within. The Imperial regent, [[Wang Mang]], eventually was named to the throne in [[8]] CE; since he was not related by blood to the Imperial family, this would technically be considered the beginning of a new dynasty, and so the rule of Wang Mang is sometimes referred to as the Xin Dynasty.<ref>Schirokauer, et al, 47.</ref> He launched numerous reforms aimed at improving society, but faced considerable popular opposition as well as natural disasters and Xiongnu invasions. His efforts to create a new dynasty from within a terribly weakened Court, and without additional military support, ultimately failed, succumbing to a rebellion in [[23]] CE. The rebels took [[Chang'an]], killed Wang Mang, and in [[25]] CE took the throne for themselves; since their leader was related by blood to the previous Imperial line, this is regarded not as a new dynasty, but as the revival of the Han, which would then go on to last an additional 200 years.

===Later Han===

===Later Han===

==References==

==References==

*[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 34-42.

*[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 34-42.

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[[Category:Historical Periods]]

[[Category:Historical Periods]]