After centuries of wars between rival states, China entered a new era of unification under one empire beginning in the Qin and Han Dynasties. During this period, the emperor had supreme power over a centralized government led by “three statesmen and nine ministers” (but not limited to nine). At the local level, a system of jun (prefectures) and xian (counties) was introduced. The establishment of a centralized political system had a profound impact on later political development in China.
Qin Dynasty, 28th year of Emperor Qinshihuang’s reign (219 BC)
Bronze Measuring Utensil
Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)
Melon-shaped Bronze Weight
Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)
Roof Tile-end
Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)
Roof Tile-end
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
“Wu Zhu” Bronze Coins Made by Sanguan
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Yi Li (Rituals) Written on Wooden Slips
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Jade Mask
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Jade Pillow
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Jade Dragon
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Wall-written Imperial Edict on Taboos in Four Seasons Western Han Dynasty, 5th year of Yuanshi Era (5 AD)
Travelling Procession with Chariots and Horses (replica)
After mural panting unearthed from Eastern Han tomb at Anping, Hebei Province
Green-glazed Pottery Tower
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Pottery Fort
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Iron Ploughshare with Mouldboard
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Five-pronged Iron Harrow
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Seed Plough (model)
Pottery Blast Pipe
Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD)
Water-powered Bellows for Blast Furnace (model)
Iron Lamp with Twelve Branches
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Oval Lacquer Box with Silver Mount
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Rectangular Lacquer Box with Silver Mount
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Jade Huang (semicircle)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Jade Huang (semicircle)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Jade Huang (semicircle)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Jade Bi (disc)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Green-glazed Pottery Hu (wine or grain container)
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Celadon Bu (wine or water container)
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Celadon Cup
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Embroidered Silk
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Brocade Sock with Auspicious Chinese Characters
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Brocade Shoe
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Sachet Embroidered with Coloured Cloud Design
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Brocade Sachet with Auspicious Characters
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Pottery Soybean Granary
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Millet Granary
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Barley Granary
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Polished Rice Granary
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Stone Pig and Piglets
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Green-glazed Pottery Sheepfold
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Bronze Stove and Winged Bowl
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Figure with Mortar and Pestle
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Pottery Cooking Figure
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Pottery Figure Serving Food
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Pottery Figure with Broom and Dustpan
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Pottery Figure with Pots
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Green-glazed Pottery Tower
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Deer-shaped Bronze Mat Weight Mounted with Shell
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Cart
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Pottery Cart
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Wheelbarrow (model)
Brick Relief with Salt-mining Scene
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Brick Relief with Grove of Tung Trees
Brick Relief with Grove of Tung Trees
Brick Relief with Rice-husking Scene
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Brick Relief with Kitchen Scene
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Stone Carving with Ox-ploughing Scene
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Stone Carving with Iron-smelting Scene
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Stone Carving with Spinning and Weaving Scene
Stone Carving with Spinning and Weaving Scene
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, there were many important scientific and cultural achievements. The invention of paper created a revolutionary new writing material. In other areas like astronomy, the calendar, seismology, and medicine, China led the world. In the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was adopted as the dominant ideology. Famous historians like Sima Qian (145 BC–?) and Ban Gu (32–92 AD) pioneered in biographical and dynastic history respectively. Folk songs, sanwen (prose), and fu (rhyme prose) of the Han provide rich information about this period.
Paper from Maquanwan
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Paper from Jinguan
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Paper from Fufeng
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Writing Brush
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Ink, Inkstone, and Grindstone
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Rabbit-shaped Bronze Dropper
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Iron Scraper
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Water Clock
Western Han Dynasty, 2nd year of Heping Era (27 BC)
Lead Counting Rods
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Stone Carving with Acupuncture Scene
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Silk Painting IllustratingPhysical Exercises (replica)
Stone Bixie (mythical beast)
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Leopard-shaped Stone Mat Weight
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, apart from the Han people who populated the Central Plains, there were the Xiongnu people in the north, the Wuhuan and Xianbei peoples in the northeast, the Western Regions peoples, the Baiyue people in the southeast and far south, and the Xi’nanyi people in the southwest. Diverse ethnic cultures contributed to the development of a multi-ethnic country.
Bronze Belt Hook with Three Musicians
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Belt Hook in the Shape of Figure on Horse
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Fu (cooking vessel)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Ox-shaped Bronze Ornament
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Ornament with Paired Goats
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Bronze Plaque with Mounted Warriors
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Horse-shaped Bronze Ornament
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Iron Sword with Bronze Handle
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
String of Beads
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Seal
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Paddle-shaped Wooden Marker
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Felt Hat
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Oxhide Boots
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Feather Hat Accessory
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Wooden Wool Carder
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Wooden Comb
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Gourd-shaped Pottery Pot
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Pail
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Pottery Container with Three Legs
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Yue-style Bronze Ding (food container)
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Hu (wine vessel) with Chains
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Bronze Drum with Winged Figure Design
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Gold Seal
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Bronze Chunyu (percussion instrument) with Tiger-shaped Handle
Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)
Bronze Male Figure Holding an Umbrella
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Buckle Ornament with Monkey Procession
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Buckle Ornament with Monkey Procession
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Bronze Dagger with Monkey-shaped Handle
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
In the Qin and Han Dynasties, China enjoyed a new era of foreign trade and cultural exchange. Zhang Qian’s two diplomatic missions to the Western Regions during the Western Han opened a land route from the capital Chang’an extending westward to Central and West Asia. Merchants carried exquisite Chinese silks along this road to the west and exotic western goods travelled to China in return. This route later became known as the Silk Road. Trade and cultural exchange with neighbouring countries was further enhanced by the opening of southwest land routes to present-day Myanmar and India, in addition to maritime routes from present-day Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan to India and Sri Lanka.
Zhang Qian Travelling to the Western Regions (replica)
Envoys from Sogdiana Written on Wooden Slips
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)
Fragments of Stone Well Railing with Kharosthi Script
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Bronze Coin with Chinese and Kharosthi Scripts
Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD)
Blue Glass Bowls
Western Han Dynasty (202 BC–8 AD)