The Han Dynasty

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes Chinese history. The paper takes a look at the Han Dynasty, focusing specifically on the tombs of the time, especially the Mawangdui tomb. According to the paper, cave like tombs were as important to the Chinese as the Pyramids were to ancient Egyptians. Imperial Chinese families were buried in the royal tombs, along with many items necessary for a happy life after death. The paper discusses how the Han Dynasty created some of the most remarkable Chinese burial tombs, and created the great trade route known as the Silk Road, which greatly aided China and Asia in world trade.

From the Paper:

"Two of the tombs contained numerous fragments and entire pieces of silk material, which are some of the first silk remnants found in China. Cang's wife was found wrapped in eighteen layers of fine silk, while there were numerous silk manuscripts found in all the tombs. The excavation is the oldest known in China, and so indicates the first silk findings in the country's history. They indicate early silk was exceptionally light, delicate, and beautiful, but under the right conditions, it survived thousands of years. Most people associate silk with garments and even home decor, but the finds in the Mawangdui indicate silk had another very important use in preserving Chinese culture. Scholars used silk as a writing medium, and bound the delicate silk pages into books. Over 30 of these books were unearthed in the Mawangdui tombs, and they indicate the level of learning and scholarly discourse during the zenith of the Han Dynasty. Archaeologists also found maps painted on silk, and silk T-shaped wall hangings depicting life and culture during the Han Dynasty (Doar). Thus, the Mawangdui tombs represent one of the most important excavations in Chinese history, especially when it comes to the significance of silk in the culture and society."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Doar, Bruce Gordon. "New Scholarship." ChinaHeritageNewsletter.org. June 2005. 23 May 2006.http://www.chinaheritagenewsletter.org/scholarship.php?searchterm=002_review.inc&issue=002
• Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. "Ancient Tombs." University of Washington. 2006. 23 May 2006. http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/archae/2tommain.htm
• Editors. "Changsha Mawangdui Han Tomb Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall." ChinaMuseums.com. 2006. 23 May 2006.http://www.chinamuseums.com/changsham.htm
• Grousset, Rene. The Rise and Splendour of the Chinese Empire. 1st ed. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1952.
• "Imperial Tombs of China." USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) July 1995: 56+.

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