Lesson 4: The Han Dynasty (Ancient China)
🏯 Han Dynasty Government
🌅 The Rise of a New Dynasty
After the harsh Qin Dynasty fell, many people wanted peace. A man named Liu Bang (L’yoh Bahng), a farmer who became a soldier, defeated all his enemies. He started the Han Dynasty in 206 BCE.
Fun Fact!
Liu Bang was the first common person to become emperor in China! He lowered taxes and gave land to soldiers and friends. People were happy with his rule.
👑 Wudi Creates a New Government
Later, Emperor Wudi (Woo-dee) ruled for over 50 years. He made the government stronger. He created schools to teach students to work in the government.
Wudi believed in Confucianism—people should respect their elders, do their duty, and be honest.
Story Time!
To get a government job, students had to pass hard exams. Some studied for many years, and one student even tied his hair to a tree to stay awake while studying! 🎋😴
👨👩👧👦 Family Life
🏛️ Social Classes
Han China had four social classes:
Emperor and nobles
Peasants (farmers)
Artisans
Merchants
But these were not like modern rich vs. poor. Peasants were respected more than merchants because they worked hard to grow food.
💰 Lives of Rich and Poor
Rich families lived in big homes, wore silk, and had many servants.
Poor families lived in small homes with dirt floors. Children worked in the fields.
❤️ The Revival of the Family
The Han rulers said that the family is the center of Chinese life. Children had to respect their parents and grandparents.
Story Time!
A young boy named Dong Yong sold himself as a servant to pay for his father's funeral. People said he was the perfect son. Stories like his taught children to honor their families. 👴👦
🖌️ Han Achievements
🎨 Art and Literature
Han artists made beautiful paintings of nature and animals. Writers created poems and stories. A woman named Ban Zhao wrote a book to teach girls how to be wise and kind.
🧪 Inventions and Advances
The Han invented many things:
Paper 📝 (yes, paper!)
Seismograph (a tool to feel earthquakes 🌍)
Sundials (to tell time with the sun ☀️)
Fun Fact!
One Han scientist, Zhang Heng, made a seismograph shaped like a jar with dragon heads. When an earthquake came, a ball dropped from the dragon’s mouth into a frog's mouth below—showing the direction of the shake! 🐉🐸
🚜 Farming and Manufacturing
The Han improved farming tools like:
The iron plow
The wheelbarrow
They also made silk, which was very valuable. China kept the way to make silk a secret for hundreds of years!
🛕 Buddhism Comes to China
🕉️ Arrival of a New Religion
During the Han Dynasty, Buddhism came from India to China on the Silk Road. People were suffering, and Buddhism gave hope.
Monks told stories about the Buddha, who left his rich life to find peace.
💬 Impact on China
Many Chinese people liked the idea of reincarnation (being born again) and ending suffering. Over time, Buddhism became one of the major religions in China.
Temples were built, and monks copied texts by hand. Some people even became monks or nuns, leaving their homes to live simple lives.
🌟 Summary
The Han Dynasty was a time of peace, invention, and family values.
Liu Bang and Wudi helped make the government strong.
Families became the heart of Chinese life.
The Han gave the world great art, science, and inventions.
Buddhism brought new ideas and hope.
The Han Dynasty lasted over 400 years and helped shape China’s future. ✨