Advancements
Mathematics
- Two biggest mathematical creations during the Han Dynasty: Square roots and negative numbers
- Both were written about in Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art by Jiu Zhang - The Pythagorean Theorem wasn't recorded during the Han Dynasty, but the mathematicians of the Han Dynasty are often said to have known about the theorem - More breakthroughs in math led to advancements in other subjects such as music and medicine |
Tradition
- Traditions from the Han Dynasty that were upheld for a long time:
- Human and animal sacrifice - Emperor would climb up Mount Taishan and make sacrifices to the gods, spirits, and ancestors - Ancestor worship - Afterlife beliefs and preparation - Burial ceremonies - All of the above were practiced or done during the Han Dynasty |
Medicine
- The Han believed that one got sick when the forces of Yin and Yang were not at a balance
- Doctors and healers restored the balance - Advancements doctors made in medicine in order to heal a person: - Acupuncture - A way to cure many illnesses - Natural pain-reliever - Used on a patient before surgery or for small illnesses such as a headache - Moxibustion - Also a pain-reliever - Usually used for: - Arthritis - Pain due to pregnancy - Digestive problems |
Han Dynasty Advancements Essay
The Han Empire came to power after the Qin Dynasty, during a small civil war period in which the people rebelled against the Qin government. This rebellion was lead by Liu Bang, now known as Emperor Gaozu of Han. The main ideology of the Han Dynasty was Confucianism and many people went to school to become Confucian scholars. Infact, the Imperial University of China, Taixue, was built during the Han Dynasty. The educated people usually went on to become philosophers or government officials. The educated people of the Han Dynasty also made advancements in technology, mathematics, and science that improved the quality of life in China. They invented many everyday objects that people use today as well. These advancements are what make the Han Dynasty Empire one of the most powerful, successful, and thriving empires to ever come to power.
There were many mathematical breakthroughs written during the Han Dynasty that helped the Han stay in power and made life easier. The ancient Chinese were intelligent people and used different formulas to achieve new heights in mathematics. One big advancement was the invention of square and cube roots. However, probably the Han’s greatest mathematical achievement was the creation of negative numbers. Negative numbers were written in a book entitled The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art by Jiu Zhang and have lent themselves to counting debt and temperature. The mathematical proofs, equations, and theorems the people of the Han Dynasty developed led to advancements in music also. These mathematical breakthroughs pushed the world to greater heights. Advancements in mathematics were a big reason the Han Dynasty became so powerful. They allowed people to do so much more with music and medicine and they also helped people out on an everyday basis. Still, the Han achieved even more.
A lot of the traditions and rituals the people of the Han Dynasty practiced are still practiced today by modern cultures. Ancient Chinese religious leaders lead ceremonies that included sacrifice and ancestor worship. The Han also believed in an afterlife in Heaven. People of the Han Dynasty believed that the spirits and ancestors in heaven could use items they sacrificed. It was a tradition for the emperor to climb up Mount Tai to make sacrifices to the gods and ancestors. Another way the Han payed respect to their ancestors was by participating in extravagant burial ceremonies. These ceremonies were lead by the relatives of the one who had passed and often included the decorating of a tomb. Right after the Han Dynasty ended, when the Qin took over power, people were still practicing these traditions and rituals. Even now, people still practice rituals and ceremonies with such elements.
The ancient Chinese believed that one got sick when the forces of Yin and Yang were not at a balance. A doctor or healer’s job was to restore the balance. Methods used to do this were not safe and did not heal a patient. During the later part of the Han Dynasty, many new medical advancements were introduced. In 100-115 AD, Chinese doctors created acupuncture, a way to cure many illnesses. Acupuncture is a natural pain-reliever, mainly used on a patient before a surgical operation, but it can also be used to cure small illnesses, such as headaches. Another new strategy developed during the Han Dynasty was moxibustion. This was also a pain-reliever, however it was usually used for more long-term illnesses. Nonetheless, moxibustion and acupuncture are both huge advancements that are thanks to the Han Empire.
As well as mathematical breakthroughs, new traditions and rituals, and advancements in medicine, inventors during the Han Dynasty invented the wheelbarrow, the seismograph, the compass, and paper. All of these new ideas and advancements lent themselves to the Han Dynasty’s success and power. Without what the Han Empire created and achieved, society today would not be nearly as advanced as it is. The Han Dynasty Empire was one of the most powerful, successful, and thriving empires. The Han Empire thrived from 206 BC, to 220 AD. In 220-221 AD, agriculture started to fail and the people started to forget about the importance of farming. The emperors had also grown weak and in 180 BC, a warlord named Dong Zhuo assassinated Emperor Shao and handed the throne over to Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty.
There were many mathematical breakthroughs written during the Han Dynasty that helped the Han stay in power and made life easier. The ancient Chinese were intelligent people and used different formulas to achieve new heights in mathematics. One big advancement was the invention of square and cube roots. However, probably the Han’s greatest mathematical achievement was the creation of negative numbers. Negative numbers were written in a book entitled The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art by Jiu Zhang and have lent themselves to counting debt and temperature. The mathematical proofs, equations, and theorems the people of the Han Dynasty developed led to advancements in music also. These mathematical breakthroughs pushed the world to greater heights. Advancements in mathematics were a big reason the Han Dynasty became so powerful. They allowed people to do so much more with music and medicine and they also helped people out on an everyday basis. Still, the Han achieved even more.
A lot of the traditions and rituals the people of the Han Dynasty practiced are still practiced today by modern cultures. Ancient Chinese religious leaders lead ceremonies that included sacrifice and ancestor worship. The Han also believed in an afterlife in Heaven. People of the Han Dynasty believed that the spirits and ancestors in heaven could use items they sacrificed. It was a tradition for the emperor to climb up Mount Tai to make sacrifices to the gods and ancestors. Another way the Han payed respect to their ancestors was by participating in extravagant burial ceremonies. These ceremonies were lead by the relatives of the one who had passed and often included the decorating of a tomb. Right after the Han Dynasty ended, when the Qin took over power, people were still practicing these traditions and rituals. Even now, people still practice rituals and ceremonies with such elements.
The ancient Chinese believed that one got sick when the forces of Yin and Yang were not at a balance. A doctor or healer’s job was to restore the balance. Methods used to do this were not safe and did not heal a patient. During the later part of the Han Dynasty, many new medical advancements were introduced. In 100-115 AD, Chinese doctors created acupuncture, a way to cure many illnesses. Acupuncture is a natural pain-reliever, mainly used on a patient before a surgical operation, but it can also be used to cure small illnesses, such as headaches. Another new strategy developed during the Han Dynasty was moxibustion. This was also a pain-reliever, however it was usually used for more long-term illnesses. Nonetheless, moxibustion and acupuncture are both huge advancements that are thanks to the Han Empire.
As well as mathematical breakthroughs, new traditions and rituals, and advancements in medicine, inventors during the Han Dynasty invented the wheelbarrow, the seismograph, the compass, and paper. All of these new ideas and advancements lent themselves to the Han Dynasty’s success and power. Without what the Han Empire created and achieved, society today would not be nearly as advanced as it is. The Han Dynasty Empire was one of the most powerful, successful, and thriving empires. The Han Empire thrived from 206 BC, to 220 AD. In 220-221 AD, agriculture started to fail and the people started to forget about the importance of farming. The emperors had also grown weak and in 180 BC, a warlord named Dong Zhuo assassinated Emperor Shao and handed the throne over to Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty.
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Barborek, Jennifer. "Medicine." The Han Dynasty. Last modified 2007. Accessed November 19, 2014. http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/Archives/ED101sp07/barborek/handynasty.htm.
De Bary, Theodore, and Irene Bloom, comps. Sources of Chinese Tradition. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York City, NY: Columbia University Press, 1999.
"Han Dynasty Achievements." Totally History. Last modified 2012. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-achievements/.
"Han Dynasty Inventions." Totally History. Last modified 2012. Accessed November 12, 2014. http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-inventions/.
"Han Dynasty Relgion." Totally History. Last modified 2012. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-religion/.
Joyce, David E. "Mathematics in China." History of Mathematics. Last modified September 15, 1995. Accessed November 17, 2014. http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/mathhist/china.html.
Lu, Yang. "Han Dynasty." Cultural Essentials. Accessed November 14, 2014. http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/yanglu/ECC_HISTORY_HAN%20DYNASTY.htm.
O'Connor, J. J., and E. F. Robertson. "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art." Chinese Mathematics. Last modified December 2003. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/Nine_chapters.html.
A Short Description of Each of the Nine Chapters of the Book. Photograph. Cultural China. 2007. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/135K296K11394.html.
Theobald, Ulrich. "Han Dynasty Science, Technology, and Inventions." Chinese History. Last modified May 7, 2011. Accessed November 17, 2014. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/han-tech.html.
Theobald, Ulrich. "Taixue the National University." Chinese History. Last modified May 7, 2011. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Terms/taixue.html.