First, the Liao Empire (916–1125 AD) invaded the northeast region including the Yellow River Basin and Beijing. Then, the Western Xia Dynasty (1038–1227) carved an empire in the northwest. Then, the Jurchens (Manchu) invaded from further in the northeast and captured the Liao Empire.
Modern China is a fascinating amalgam of Han culture: high technology, ancient traditions, and urban and rural ways of life. China now has many of the world's largest cities, and there are notable Han archeological sites such as the Terracotta Army, wonders of nature such as Zhangjiajie to see, as well as modern marvels such as the Three Gorges Dam to visit.
Han Clothing. Chinese clothing or " hanfu " (漢服 Hànfú literally means 'Han clothing') has always had a distinctive look that also was adopted by other East Asian countries. Since the Shang era, the rulers preferred silk, and commoners wore clothing made of other materials such as linen, cotton, and animal skins.
Rice is the most commonly eaten staple grain for Han people, though wheat foods are more popular in the north.
But by the time of the Han empire, the silk industry grew so large that it was a major Han export, and the higher classes as well as the rulers wore it. Silk exports brought much wealth to the empire. It wasn't until the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) era that peasants could legally wear silk.
The ancient homeland of the Han is basically the areas you see in the accompanying map. Paper and block printing, two of the world's greatest inventions, were invented. For more about the history and development of the Han people, see our Chinese History and Chinese Culture pages.
There are about 1.5 billion Han people in the world, and they are about 19% of the global population. The Han are superlative in a number of ways besides population. Other than Jews, they have the longest unbroken written history that is 3,000 years old. They were the innovators of some of the world's greatest inventions.
A)Warfare caused the fragmentation of the Chinese cultural realm into an ever larger number of feudal domains.
D)Based on the archaeological evidence, which shows the foundations of walled towns, it appears that Longshan Culture was more complex.
C)That Shang rulers had broken the oaths they had taken when they allied with the Zhou to govern western territory.
C)Following advice in the Art of War, the Zhou kingdom was able to reunify the realm under one centralized monarchy by fielding the most powerful army and proclaiming the Mandate of Heaven.
A)Whereas Yangshao Culture was located along the Yellow River, Longshan Culture was centered on the middle reaches of the Yangzi River.
C)A chiefdom governed by a tribal council.
A)Over time, chariots became more important because large campaigns were conducted on plains.