 |
| Netsuke |
| Snuff Bottles |
| Cloisonne |
| Gemstones |
| Peking Glass |
| Porcelain |
| Enamels |
| Ivory, Bone, or ? |
| Cinnabar |
| Yixing Pottery |
| Symbolism |
| Chinese Dynasties |
| Historical Places |
Han Dynasty ~ 206 BC - 220 AD
Major Advancement: The Invention of Paper, Western Trade and The Silk Road
Major Public Works: The Western Han Tombs
Western Han Dynasty
| Gaodi | 206 - 195 BC | Huidi | 195-188 BC |
| Lu Hou | 188-180 BC | Wendi | 180-157 BC |
| Jingdi | 157-141 BC | Wudi | 141-87 BC |
| Zhaodi | 87-74 BC | Xuandi | 74-49 BC |
| Yuandi | 49-33 BC | Chengdi | 33-7 BC |
| Aidi | 7-1 BC | Pingdi | 1 BC - 6 AD |
| Ruzi | 7-9 | Wang Mang | 9-23 |
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After a brief return to the feudal system following the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Gaodi reunited China under Imperial Rule. Much was to be done to restore the strenth of the empire, and gain the support of the people. Many of the harse laws imposed by the Qin were repealed. Rather than huge public projects like The Great Wall, the government focused on stabilizing the economy. They worked to fill the warehouses with grain to help the people through periods of famine and flood. The first Civil Service examination program was instituted. This enabled the common people to achieve public positions based on knowledge and ability, not bloodline. Expeditions were sent west to explore the lands beyond the kingdom, and to develop trade. This was the beginning of the Silk Road. China's cities were soon flooded with western traders and the goods they brought. As time went on, the dynasty ran short on suitable heirs to the throne. Control fell to the dowager-empress Wang. The Emperors placed on the throne during this period included six year old Pingdi, and two year old Ruzi. This gave rise to much protest and eventually to civil war. The Western Han dynasty was defeated and the capital was moved east to Luoyang. Thus the change in name to the Eastern Han Dynasty. |
Eastern Han Dynasty
| Guang Wudi | 25-57 | Mingdi | 57-75 |
| Zangdi | 75-88 | Hedi | 88-106 |
| Shangdi | 106 | Andi | 106-125 |
| Shundi | 125-144 | Chongdi | 144-145 |
| Zhidi | 145-146 | Huandi | 146-168 |
| Lingdi | 168-189 | Xiandi | 189-220 |