1. Chinese Society and Culture
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Han Society
Trade and Buddhism
Map: The Silk Roads
Han Achievements

2. Chinese Society and Culture
Main Idea
The Han dynasty was a time of social change, the growth of trade, and great achievements in the arts and sciences.
Reading Focus
What features characterized Chinese society in the Han period?
How did trade and the spread of Buddhism affect Han society?
What were some achievements in art, science, and technology during the Han period?

3. Han Society Family Life Dutiful Children
China’s Han period was a time of great prosperity, growth and achievement, defining imperial Chinese civilization for years.
Confucianism shaped Chinese society
Confucius taught that family was central to well-being of the state
Officials promoted strong family ties
Fathers head of family
Filial piety stressed
Obedience, devotion to parents, grandparents
Family Life
Children served parents as they aged, honored dead at household shrines
Han officials believed dutiful children made respectful subjects
Some men even received government jobs because of respect shown parents
Dutiful Children

4. Family Life Women in China Marriage Power and Status
Had fewer privileges, less status than men
Rarely received education, owned property
Sons valued more than daughters
Marriage
Sons carried on family line
Remained part of parents’ household after marriage
Daughters married and joined husband’s household
Power and Status
Older women achieved power because of Confucian respect for elders
Ban Zhao, female scholar, writer; helped write history of Han dynasty
Called for mutual respect between husbands, wives, education for women

5. Social Structure Other Classes
Han society highly structured, clearly defined social classes
Emperor at top, ruled with mandate from heaven
Upper class of palace court, nobles, government officials, scholars
Second, largest class consisted of peasants, who grew empire’s food
Other Classes
Third class composed of artisans, made useful items, luxury goods
Merchants occupied fourth class, trade not valued by Confucianism
Slaves at bottom of society
Military not an official class, but part of government and offered way to rise in status

6. Han Society Rich and Poor Peasant Class
Social class determined status, but not wealth or power
Merchants usually wealthier than peasants, but were lower in status
Wealthy in Han China lived well
Spacious homes, large estates
Hired numerous laborers
Rich and Poor
90 percent of nearly 60 million in China at time were peasants
Lived in small villages in simple houses, labored long hours in fields, worked on government projects in winter
High taxes, bad weather could force them into debt
Many had to sell lands, become laborers for wealthy
Peasant Class

7. What was life like for Chinese peasants during the Han dynasty?
Summarize
What was life like for Chinese peasants during the Han dynasty?
Answer(s): worked hard in fields, farmed, raised animals, often sold land to feed families, forced to work on building projects, easily forced into debt, worked for wealthy landowners

8. Trade grew in Han period
Trade and Buddhism
Trade grew in Han period
Agriculture basis of economy
Growth of trade increased prosperity
Led to contact between China, other civilizations
Han products
Ironworkers made iron armor, swords
Artisans made pottery, jade and bronze objects, lacquerware
Production of silk
Most prized Chinese product
Secret method for making silk
Revealing secret punishable by death
Major industry
Raised silkworms, unwound threads of cocoons
Dyed threads, wove into fabric
Fabric beautiful, soft, strong
Clothing costly, in high demand

9. Growth of Trade
As they conquered areas of Central Asia, the Han learned people farther west wanted Chinese goods
Zhang Qian returned from Central Asia mission, 126 BC
Told of region’s riches, demand for Chinese goods
Events led to increased trade with west
Blood-sweating horses seen by Qian
Parasites caused boils that bled
The Han thought they were blessed by heaven
To obtain them, Emperor Wudi conquered more land
Trade with Central Asia increased even more

10. The Silk Roads Travel Trade
Merchants traveling between China, Central Asia used overland routes. The most famous were called the Silk Roads. This network of routes eventually stretched from China over 4,000 miles to Mediterranean Sea, and linked China to India, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire.
Travelers on Silk Roads crossed rugged, barren terrain
Faced attacks by bandits
For protection, traveled in huge camel caravans
Stopped at stations along way
Travel
Most merchants traveled only part of way
Traded goods with merchants from distant lands
Most goods traded were luxury items
Small, valuable, highly profitable
Trade

12. Trade and Buddhism
Traders carried ideas as well as goods over the Silk Roads
Buddhism spread from to China from India
Reached China in first century AD
Han government became less stable, violence increased
Buddhism’s message of rebirth offered hope
Buddhism gained popularity by AD 200
Example of cultural diffusion
Spread of ideas from one culture to another

13. How did trade over the Silk Roads affect China’s culture?
Draw Conclusions
How did trade over the Silk Roads affect China’s culture?
Answer(s): profitable trade in luxury items, connections to Central Asia, introduction of Buddhism

14. Han Achievements Classical Age Artisans and Artists Literature
During Han period, arts flourished, sciences and technology improved life
Han China boasted magnificent palaces, multistoried towers
None survived, but ceramic models from tombs show architecture of period
Artisans and Artists
Artisans produced ceramic, bronze figurines, jade carvings, silk cloth
Artists painted portraits and nature scenes on walls, scrolls, room screens
During Later Han, Buddhist art flourished, including temple wall paintings
Literature
Han literature known for poetry, new styles of verse
Fu style, combined prose and poetry to create long works of literature
Shi featured short lines of verse, could be sung

15. Han Achievements Han writers produced important works of history
Sima Qian
Wrote Records of the Grand Historian or Shiji
This early history became model for Chinese historical writing

16. Han Achievements Technology Farming Science
One of most important Han inventions - paper
Made by grinding plant fibers into paste, paste dried in sheets
Created “books” by connecting several sheets of paper into long scroll
Farming
Inventions included iron plow, wheelbarrow
With iron plow, farmer could till more land
With wheelbarrow, farmer could haul more
Science
Created seismograph to measure earthquake tremors
Made advances in acupuncture, use of needles to cure disease, relieve pain
Invented compass, sundial, water mill, ship’s rudder

17. What were some technological advances of the Han dynasty?
Summarize
What were some technological advances of the Han dynasty?
Answer(s): paper, iron plow, wheelbarrow, acupuncture, compass, sundial, water mill, rudder