Front Page News Story

Discovering a Road of Silk

Teaghan Murphy: Time Travel Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

     In the Han dynasty, Zhang Quian, was the first to discover the route of the Silk Road. This man was deployed to the western region by emperor Wudi (Silk Road in Western China). Zhang Quian was sent to make an alliance with the Da Yuezhi. In 139 B.C, Zhang Quian was set out. However, when he crossed the Hexi Corridor, he was captured by Huns. He spent ten years in captivity and was finally able to escape. He traveled through the Pamir Mountains and the Gobi desert. Zhang Quian finally met the Da Yuezhi. However, they would not make an alliance with them because they believed that the Huns were too strong. Dissatisfied, Zhang Quian decided to return to the Han Empire. On his way home, he was once again captured by the Huns for a year. Again he made an escape and made it home (Zhang Quian). When he returned he told Wudi about the lands he had seen. Wudi was very interested in the information about the far lands (Silk Road in Western China).

 

     Zhang Quian made a second journey out to ally with another group. This time he made it much more easily. He is credited with being the pioneer of the Silk Road (Silk Road in Western Han Dynasty). The first and second trips westward became the western and southern routes of the Silk Road. The expeditions occurred because Zhang Quian was the ambassador at that time. Being an ambassador means that it was his job to travel to far lands. Zhang Quian was sent out to make an alliance but Zhang Quian actually changed the future of trade in his discoveries.

Opinion/Editorial

Civil Service Exam: Should it really deserve an A+

Teaghan Murphy, Time Travel Reporter

 

The civil service exam was created in the Han dynasty. The exam is a recruitment system in ancient China. Passing this test means receiving a job as a government official. Boys are hired based on educational value rather than family merit. This test is a bad idea because it does not give the poor a fair chance at passing the test and those who do not pass the test are beheaded. Many living in China do not have the educational resources to pass this exam which made it unfair. It is also very cruel that if you do not pass the test, you die. In the Han dynasty, education is highly regarded, "because education was the key to success in the system, education was highly regarded in traditional China" (Chinese Examination System). Because of the amount of education you need, the poor is put at a disadvantage. They are not wealthy enough to afford schooling. This lack of resources limits their chances of passing the examination. The exam does not give chances to everyone which shows how unfair and cruel this system actually was. The Civil service exam is also terrible because of the punishment you receive if you do not pass the test.

The civil service exam is known for the awful punishments given if the test is failed. If the student passes their exam, they are promoted to a government official. However if failed there were far worse punishments.” If the student had failed the exam, he was likely beheaded"(Han Dynasty 2). This is a very unfair outcome because students spend months and years studying for this test in hopes of passing. The future after this test is bright for students that do pass (Chinese Examination System). However, it is extremely cruel should someone fail the test and have to pay with their life. Since the Hans are the first to start this examination system, it carries on through other dynasties. The violent consequence of failing the test looms over many students’ heads. Although some believe the civil service exams are a good idea to give the poor a chance, due to lack of resources it puts the poor at jeopardy of losing their lives if they try and fail.

     

Interview with a Famous Person

 

Interview with Liu Bang

 

 

Teaghan: I will be conducting an interview with the first emperor of the Han dynasty, Liu Bang.

 

Question: As a child you were always underestimated, how did that change as you aged?

Answer: I changed a lot since I was a child. As a boy I was considered futile with no ambition. As I got older, I was very fortunate for receiving a job as an official. However one day, I saw the Qin emperor riding on a carriage. He looked very rich and happy. From that day on I knew I wanted to become an emperor and be rich like him (Liu Bang - Emperor Gaozu of Western Han).

 

Question: You eventually overthrew the emperor of the Qin dynasty, tell me about that.

Answer: I started a rebellion of the Qin dynasty. It took two years to win that war. However, the director of another rebellion group was very angry about my victory. Xiang Yu, that director planned to kill me and a four year war began. However, after I had won the war, Xiang Yu committed suicide in a nearby river (Liu Bang - Emperor Gaozu of Western Han).

 

Question: Tell me about some of your laws and duties.

Answer: When I came to power, I needed more men for my military. I used the civil service to find those men. I also asked my family to take roles in the military. However I still needed civil servants. I found help from a new group called the gentry. This class had the smartest men be government officials and the other men become farmers. Also, there was more respect for women in my dynasty thanks to appropriate marriages (Wu).

 

Question: What religions did you follow?

Answer: While I was looking for civil servants, I talked with many scholars in my empire. They were followers of Confucianism and this did not mix well with my legalist thoughts and ideas (Wu). Although I did not like the Qin dynasty, I followed the same political ideas as them. I did finally incorporate some Confucian ideas into my governing (Han Dynasty 1).

 

 

Question: How did you die?

Answer: As my health was declining, I instructed my second son to be my heir. However the empress, Lu, did not want my son to fight against Ying Bu. Because of this I was forced to fight him myself. I was struck in my shoulder and severely injured. After that I plotted to kill the empress and my son but my past injuries sent me into relapse and I died at age 61 from those injuries. However, I died one of the greatest emperors of all time (Wu).



Inventions

Paper Making Process

 

 

 

The paper-making process was extremely important to China and carried over to be one of the most important developments to this day. China was the first to create paper and the Han Dynasty perfected the paper-making process. It was used to keep up with the advancements in language and provided a way for the citizens of China to write and learn. At first the Chinese wrote on wood and bamboo but the Han Dynasty created a way for people to use paper (Lipes and Bernard). We have them to thank for this crucial advancement in the way we communicate.

The paper-making process was developed in 105 A.D. by emperor Ts’ ai Lun. In 610 A.D, after the Han Dynasty ended, paper was first exported to Japan, from where it was then exported all over the world. Eastern civilizations, like those in Korea, first took advantage of it. From there, the use spread throughout Europe (Lipes and Bernard).

The paper-making process obviously changed people’s lives. Back then, it gave people an effective way to write and share ideas. Today, paper is a critical invention that is extremely important to us all. We use it in almost every aspect of our lives and without its creation by the Han Dynasty, we would not be able to share our ideas as effectively as we do today.

Picture from

-http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp/collection/museum_invention_paper.htm

 

 

Map

    
      The Han Dynasty was located in what is now known as China Proper. It contained the most agriculture and rivers in China. The major geographic features were the Yellow River, the Yangtse River and the Wei River. These were the most essential rivers in China because they supplied a large population of people with fertile land and water. Also in the north of the Han empire was the Great Wall of China, an extremely important protection feature in China. In addition, two of the most famous cities in the Han Dynasty, Luoyang and Chang'an, are located on this map. Finally, many trade routes that led to the Roman Empire are located on this map. They helped the Han Dynasty expand their trade with other areas.

This picture is from http://chinesedynastiesd.pbworks.com/w/page/15785984/D%20HAN%20MAP