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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.  

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]], [[Tibet]]an, [[Miao people|Hmong]], or other ethnic backgrounds), and the terms ''hànzi'' (J: ''kanji'', K: ''hanja'', "Chinese characters") and ''hàn yǔ'' ("Chinese language").

==History==

==History==