Han Society and Achievements Chapter 9 Section 3

Background The Han dynasty was a time of innovation and economic development. The production of many goods increased and trade flourished. More people worked as craftsmen and merchants. Many important inventions also date to this dynasty.

Han Society China under the Han was a mixture of peoples and cultures, but the country became more unified during this dynasty. Han emperors continued many of the Qin policies that standardized life in China, such as using a common currency. Shared values also bound people together.

The Social Order China’s social order was based on Confucian values. Confucius and his followers valued mental work more than physical labor. Scholars, therefore, were highly respected. Farmers were also highly respected because they produced the most important and basic goods, like food and cloth. Artisans were valued for their skill and hard work.

The Social Order Confucius and many other early Chinese thinkers had little respect for merchants because merchants do not produce anything. As a result, merchants fell lower in the social order. The government placed restrictions on merchants. They were not allowed to wear fine clothing or own land. Their children could not become officials. Still, many merchants became wealthy and powerful. They had lived comfortable lives despite the lack of respect for trade.

The Social Order At the bottom of the social order were a small number of slaves. When someone committed a serious crime, family members might be punished with slavery. Other people were sold into slavery when their families fell deep into debt.

Family Life Confucian teachings about family loyalty and respect for elders were important values. During the Han, ancestor worship continued. The Han legal code enforced Confucian values. Parents could report children who did not behave with “filial piety.” Adult children would be punished harshly. Younger children were usually exempt from punishment.

The Role of Women The status of women was generally lower than that of men. Most worked in the home, weaving and caring for their children and elderly family members. One exceptional woman was Ban Zhao (bahn jow). Unlike most Han women, Ban became a historian in the royal court. She wrote that young women deserved an education. Yet she also accepted the higher status men were given within society.

Economic Life China under the Han was peaceful compared to the chaotic Warring States Period. The Han emperors lowered the high taxes that Shi Huangdi had collected. China prospered in this stable time.

Agriculture Farmers were the backbone of China’s economy. They made up about 90% of the population. Most farms in Han China were small. Farmers grew wheat, millet, barley, beans, and rice. Farmers with more land might also grow fruit or bamboo. Farming families often made their own cloth.

Agriculture Silk production was especially important as trade along the Silk Road increased. On small farms, the women of the family tended the silkworms and wove silk. In wealthy households, the women hired workers to help make silk. Workshops in cities also employed many weavers. Workshops bought silk thread from farms. They specialized in making the most expensive, high quality cloth.

Industry Industries, such as iron production, also became important. Iron was useful making tools and weapons. Salt mining was another important industry. These industries became so important that Wudi turned them into state monopolies. A monopoly is when a single group controls the production of a good or service. The monopolies brought in money. Profits from selling iron and salt helped support Wudi’s military.

Controlling Production and Prices Wudi’s monopoly was also a way to try to keep important producers and merchants from becoming too powerful. Some producers of salt and iron had become very wealthy. They bought huge areas of land and employed large numbers of people. The Han emperors worried that these producers could become so influential that they could change the emperor’s power. The emperors also worried that too many farmers were leaving their fields to work for these producers.

Controlling Production and Prices The Han emperors also made policies to try to control prices. Fro example, in years when crops were good, the government bought up extra grain. In years when the harvest was bad, the grain harvest decreased and grain became expensive. The government then sold back the stored grain to keep prices lower and avoid a shortage.

Controlling Production and Prices Despite the benefits of these policies, there were many problems. Some officials tried to make money by selling stored goods at high prices. Also, there were complaints that iron tools produced by the government monopoly were poor quality. Many emperors after Wudi either changed or gave up these policies.

Han Achievements The prosperity of Han China helped support many cultural achievements. Artists, writers, and muscians created works of beauty. Scientists and inventors also made important advances.

China’s Traditional Arts The traditional arts of China include painting, sculpture, and poetry. Han artists painted colorful murals. Sculptors created beautiful works in stone, clay, and bronze. Poets wrote about the Chinese countryside. Because Confucius believed music was good for the spirit, Han rulers created an official Bureau of Music. Musicians played drums, bells flutes, and harps. Music and dancing were common at public festivals and ceremonies.

China’s Traditional Arts The other traditional arts were garden design and calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing. Caligaphers expressed emotions in the way they painted Chinese characters. Garden designers carefully arranged plants, rocks, and water to resemble scenes in nature.

China’s Traditional Arts Perhaps the greatest craft of the Han period was lacquerware. Lacquer is a protective coating made from sap of a special tree. Han artists brushed it on wood or metal objects to create a hard finish. The process required many layers of lacquer and many hours of work. When color was added, the lacquerware seemed to glow.

Advances in Science Han China is also known for its scientific advances. Astronomers studied the sky and made precise calculations of the length of the solar year. Han doctors made progress in medicine. They studied ancient texts on medicine and developed new theories to explain and treat illness. Herbal medicines were one important treatment. Another was acupuncture, a therapy that uses needles to cure sickness and stop pain.

Chinese Inventions Han inventors produced important new tools. One was the seismometer, a tool to detect earthquakes. The seismometer was a metal jar that dropped small balls when a tremor from an earthquake was felt. Another invention was the wheel-barrow. It was so useful for moving heavy loads that it was called the “wooden ox.”

Chinese Inventions Perhaps the most important innovation of the Han was paper. Early paper was made from rags and bark. Paper was most likely not widely used at first. Documents continued to be written on more durable wood and silk. In later dynasties, printing on paper became a way to make cheap books. More people could afford books, and new ideas spread quickly.