Considered as a dramatically important episode in Chinese history, the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) has exerted great influences on life in China to this day, on such facets as the social structure, philosophy, and people's lifestyle.

So it is not surprising that even the word "Han" has become an ingrained Chinese symbol. Chinese people, the Chinese language, and the Chinese character are named as han ren, han yu, and han zi respectively.

Although the Han Dynasty was way before our time, a second look at these Han-related aspects will definitely set us into meditation about the legacy this great era has bequeathed to its offspring.
Succession of Living Patterns

Since the excavation of some ancient Han people's tombs, a lot of miniature funerary objects have been brought to light: pottery utensils like wells, kitchen ranges, storehouses, pottery of domestic animals like cattle, sheep, and pigs, iron dead stock like ploughs, and the then currency copper Wuzhu coins.

Are you familiar with these items? What conclusion can you draw when juxtaposing these objects with those the modern Chinese farmers have today?

On one hand, you may be surprised at the late Chinese development, because those funerary objects displayed Han people's basic lifestyle, but are still used by Chinese farmers. On the other hand, you may be amazed at the unbroken continuity of Chinese civilization since the Han Dynasty.

Chinese farmers in the next few dynasties and even later gained a lot from their Han ancestors. The ploughs and other utensils they employed, the houses they lived in, and the food they ate, perhaps improved, were all handed down from the Han predecessors. Therefore, in addition to the succession of physical items, it may be concluded that the aesthetic preference of the Han people has long been accepted.

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