Chinese History Ppaer- 18 pages

Zhaohong Xia

HSTAS 211

05/11/2017

Paper 1 (1.Pre-imperial and 2. Qin-Han empires)

Analysis on The Initial of Chinese King Thoughts and Strategies’ Improvements and Influence

Abstract:

This thesis mainly analyzes the Qin-Han period to the Chinese history of the rulers of the ideological, institutional changes, as well as the cultural, military, and economic changes brought about by the pre-imperial. This paper mainly expounds the changes and differences between the Xia and Shang Dynasties and the Han Dynasty (the specific age), the change of the Kingcraft (王道) and the King Arts (王术), as well as the change and difference of the hereditary custom and legal system.

Introduction:

What is the operation of governance, that is, far away from the subjects of the king, to hide their ordinary side, through the promotion of their extraordinary statue, to win support, so that people can not guess, can only be convinced, do not dare to violate. Easy rule.

Michiharu, on the contrary, let the king to make subjects, everyone knew that the king's appearance, the king's mighty excellences, the closer to the subjects, make people willing to sacrifice for his loyalty, obey the rule. Relatively difficult to achieve.

A custom, though also rules, but more attention to human blood, kinship, identity and rules set the revered progenitor, unreconstructed.

Laws and regulations, the Qin Dynasty, the early strict reward and punishment system, to the Qin Dynasty Han Dynasty, the legal system is only used to restrain the behavior of the people to regulate the moral bottom line, only punishment. There is no doubt that the rule of law, to promote the process of Chinese civilization.

The King Arts of Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou

Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties were China's three earliest dynasties of slavery. Xia Dynasty is the origin to establish king’s leadership in the feudal system of Chinese history. The direct cause of the establishment of the Xia Dynasty, may result from the flood of the Yellow River Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns era. Due to long-term flooding affects the surrounding people's production and life, Dayu organized people to work together against the flood. He tried to lead people control yellow water for many years. His great effort and achievement not only united Chinese ancestors, but also greatly enhance their prestige. After the flood issue was solved, with the improvement of living environment, Dayu became the first unified king by people’s great support.

The Xia tribe city-state alliance transitional period to the feudal state, so there is no clear boundaries, the relationship with other tribes of the Xia clan city-state is like many sovereign and tributary state, but some countries are affected by the summer room ", as a vassal state, so only in the sphere to express its influence. The eleven branch of the clan and tribe surname Si Xia's central royal family in the blood patriarchal relations, political relations with Herod, a tribute relationship on the economy, is composed of the Xia Dynasty core territory. At this point, the identity of the king was relatively simple, closer to the head of the alliance tribe, and was responsible for unifying the decisions to manage the tribes. So even if the Shanrang system becomes the hereditary system, an outstanding representative of the significance of the king is more inclined to civilians, is not unique and distinguished people.

As the "historical records of the Xia Ji" recorded "Laoshenjiaosi Yu water, in thirteen years, the house did not dare to enter," the spirit of hard work has been told for generations, the flood process also promotes the tribal clan unity. However, once the king can not become an example of the people, can not get the hearts of the people, the monarchy will easily be lost. The Xia Jie, for their own pleasure, regardless of the sufferings of the people around before 1600, taking the tribal leaders led Tang Fang tribe against jie.

Battle of mingtiao room in summer fall, Fang tribe's support, "said Wang Shang tang". The excavation of the Shang Dynasty has confirmed China.

King of the Shang Dynasty not only absorbs the subjugation of the summer lessons, wide benevolence, popular, the regime has been strengthened.

At the same time to further development of basic legal thoughts in the Xia Dynasty in the "days" of criminal law concept, more emphasis on "God" especially the ancestor god role. Under the influence of this view of fate, the merchants were very superstitious about ghosts and gods. The merchant king claims to be the son of God, the next emperor, also known as the emperor. The commercial King initiated the title of the son of heaven, and the ancient Chinese superstition of heaven and earth God, and this title directly represents the fate of the return, so that 10000 people had to obey, and opened the king and the ordinary people's vast identity gap. This is the first time in the history of Chinese king to rule the world with obvious advantages of governance, is to let people believe in fate, ruling system carried out very smoothly, and in the long run, not like the king, not easy to convince.

Governance has been created in Wang thought, the Shang Dynasty in the heyday of slavery, the slave owning aristocracy is the ruling class, the formation of bureaucratic institutions and large forces. The King became the existence of obedience to all classes. At this time, the political philosophy is the concept of divine right under the shadow of political thought, the Shang Dynasty ruler "is the ghost", "god". The highest political principle pursued is the administration of the state according to the will of God and spirits. The emergence of Wang's thought can be said to be the inevitability of history.

The Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 256 years ago) is Chinese history after the Shang Dynasty after the third and last hereditary slavery Dynasty in Qin and Han Dynasty became a unified government from central to local, the unification of the country.

Zhou is also the creator of the word "Hua" and its initial reference. The king of Zhou in the overthrow of Shang Dynasty, follows the Shang Dynasty Wang thought, Wang Rengran is the symbol of the emperor. On this basis, in order to make up for the shortcomings of Wang's governance, the king, known as the king of the emperor, can only live in the deep palace and can not directly contact the army and the people, so as to avoid the drop of identity. So based on super packet on,

According to weeks, countries can sometimes serve as feudal royal officials, such as the beginning of the week for the week of our uncle Kang Kou, the late Western Zhou Dynasty Zhou Zheng Huan Stuart, all of the cases. The letter of princes in domestic settings and the Royal bureaucracy, roughly equal, and each has become one of the main forces.

Zhou emperor have greater authority to princes, governors can pay tribute to orders. "He said:" in thirteen years of emperor bangon, severity to column, Lejeune tribute heavy, week system." In addition to Gunnar, Hajj debriefing, sent troops to battle. The emperor of Zhou had the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the princes, and sometimes sent envoys to the vassal state, called princes and prisons".

The king's identity in the Xia Dynasty, the king of the status and operation of governing thought development in Shang Dynasty, reached its peak early in the Western Zhou Dynasty, Wang governance, impact on the feudal dynasties later. According to the thought of Zhou Dai, the clans are divided into large and small families. Zhou Wang claiming to be the emperor, known as the world's largest. The son of the emperor, other than the eldest son, was made a vassal. The princes were small to the emperor, but in his home they were large. The other is the son of princes for feudal bureaucrats. The princes are minor bureaucrats, but in his fief in bulk. From so to scholar bureaucrats. Therefore, the eldest son of the nobility is always of different rank (Zong Zi). The bulk not only enjoys the right to rule the members of the clan, but also enjoys political privileges. Later, the rulers reformed the patriarchal clan system, gradually established by the regime, clan, religious and patriarchal feudal patriarchal system, but the core is still king. Wang thought made the rulers reach a more stable power summit in ancient china.

However, Wang's thinking is not perfect. The advantage is that in the heart of those who were superstitious at that time, the supremacy of the king was firmly established, and the management was indirectly administered by layer upon layer. In the short term, operation under the feudal system, all kinds of rights can slowly transferred to the hands of the king. But after a long period of several hundred years of evolution, Wang Quan was secretly elevated under the indirect rule of superstition. Especially the Western Zhou Dynasty perfected the system of enfeoffment. In the short term, with the rich, rapidly popular stability, stable rule. But the long-term harm appeared in hundreds of years later, because of family alienation between countries, almost no blood relationship with the deep Bureau Wangcheng, not seen, not directly over the army, all countries only know their princes, in the course of time, the emperor's rights have been kings overhead, the emperor has become a kind of belief. The real power in the hands of the hands of kings. So the ideological and political operation defects, leading to the Western Zhou Dynasty to the spring and autumn slowly during the Warring States period.

The King Arts and Kingcraft of Eastern Zhou

The Western Zhou Dynasty, the Zhou emperor still orders princes, into the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Zhou royal authority declined, many princes do not fulfill their obligations of the Royal family. The royal family itself depends on the great powers of the Jin Dynasty, Zheng and Wei, not to mention the orders of princes. Zhou Zheng and "Huan Wang Jian shot", leaving only the majesty of the emperor week is also lost. But still the king of Zhou vassal nations Zhichen is in name, in addition to Chu, no more kings to slander. When the Duke proposed zunwangrangyi, is more for their own interests, but also make the king of Zhou weilue rose. Five of the monarch is also under this slogan act, namely surface Zunwang, but for the expansion of the merger. After entering the Warring States period, multi state mergers has been completed, Wang Zhaozhi Zhou vassal state, only more than and 20, of which the largest number of Warring States seven. The Warring States period, Wei Hui Wang, King Ceng Youzhao in addition to Zhou Zhiju, but also is a show, monarch Zhu Houguo has no move toward the week. It can be said that, with the decline of the power of the Royal Zhou Dynasty, Wang Shuzhi is gradually being eliminated by the times. In the spring and autumn and Warring States in the chaos of the Zhou Dynasty conservative ideological and political state, gradually annexed.

The manifestation of "kingly way" is a new king formed by the gradual emergence of hegemonism under the dispute, and the way of thinking governing the country. During the spring and Autumn period from 770 B. C. to 476 BC, some larger vassal states continued to annex wars in order to compete for land, population, and control over other vassal states. Whoever defeated, held a meeting of the vassals and forced everyone to recognize his position as "overlord". It has strive for hegemony are: Duke, Duke, jinwengong, king, king. History calls them the "spring and autumn annals"

In 685 BC, Qi HuanGong succeeded by Guan Zhong, to rectify the national policy, the abolition of the tax system, determined by land barren, with salt, fat, iron officer and cast money, increase revenue, the basic administrative organizations and soldiers in agriculture, military organization as a whole, increase manpower and operational capability quickly became the most powerful country in the world china. Then he played a "zunwangrangyi" slogan, many conference leaders, help or interfere with other countries, the fight against barbarians, and finally in the week Xi Wang three years (679 BC) to become the overlord. King Zhou Hui twenty-one years (656 BC), the Duke led eight States forces by superior forces forced Chu obey him, entered into an alliance in Shaoling, became the head of five hegemons. Since then, Qi HuanGong established the hegemony system. The manipulation of the royal family became the cloak of hegemonism.

The Kingcraft of Qin

Indeed, the country that has long applied the kingly way has ended hundreds of years of wars and divisions, and has truly unified the world. That is Qin state. Qin Zhou Dynasty is a vassal state in Huaxia China northwest established, establishment is a Chinese nation moved to west. The ancestors surnamed Ying tribe as early as in the Shang Dynasty is guarding the West's right-hand man, popular attention to the Shang Dynasty and Shang Dynasty, aristocratic and princes. Zhou Xiao Wang, Qin Qin ancestors Feizi Mayougong by Zhou Wangfeng by the adoptive vassal in 821 BC, Qin Zhuang Rong was defeated, the doctor again thanks to Western Zhou Xuan Wang, Qin (Tianshui), together with the original of the ethnic Luo home dog Hill (Xianyang). In 771 BC, King Zhou Rong was killed due to attack, Qin Xianggong shuaibing save weeks meritorious, and Zhou Ping Wang appreciated. In 770 BC, Qin Xianggong escorted troops Zhou King moved, called princes, was given a Qishan west of the. Since then, the state of Qin became a vassal state of Zhou dynasty. Which not only can be seen, Qin is not the royal family and was granted the fief, but through the bloody battlefield. The origin of indirectly also reflects the Qin people's character, compared to the central states, the Royal descendants of Qin people more simple, more primitive warrior.

The king at the time after the death of overlord jinwengong, seeking to be impacted by the development of the Eastern Jin. Xiao Peng Yazhi war, war, Qin are defeated. The adjustment of national policy, Qinmu decisive appointment all turned west annexed some Rongdi tribes, dominate the west. Although the 12 countries in order to destroy the western Qinmu Gong Rong family established, open land more than a thousand years, and steady, laid the foundation for the spring and autumn as the four big powers. But only in the reign of king, king thought has revealed, but more to hegemonism service, not able to lay the foundation for long-term development.

After the death of the king, the early Warring States period, the reform of the military system of the state of Wei to successive attack Qin, seized of the land west of Qin, was forced to withdraw the west. Since then, the six generations of Qin rulers can not compete with Wei, relying on the advantages of the remote western topography, failed to be eliminated. The royal power declined and barely passed through the spring and autumn period. Until 385 BC, Shanxi quarrel with each other, to attend to the elderly behind Wei Qin, Qin Shi Xi son be disorderly party go wandering years after returning to the throne, is the king of Qin state. Have the idea of Qin Xiangong king, king thought it difficult to achieve in the decline of Qin hundreds of years under the condition of the Wei army for hasty imitation of Qin, Qin Xiangong in military complex mode, under the command of Qin, Qin Wei began to defeat, the situation to be stable, but the years of the war led to the revolt of Qin famine, domestic trouble and foreign invasion is very dangerous. In 362 BC, Qin Xiangong died, his son is Xiao Liang Li canal.

When Xiao, Xiao Gong did not follow before the king thought, eager to get back the lost ground, but to attract talented people, for the king thought, personal training, and appointment of people who were defending the martingale reform, give full confidence, after the success of reform grant as Shang Jun, Shang Yang. Xiao Gong ascended the throne at the beginning of the Qin Dynasty, with deep hatred and resentment of decline, but under seeking order: "guests have surprisingly strong Qin ministers can count, and I respect the official, and divided into Qin Wei Wei soil" martingale, filial piety to male overbearing, filial piety and full of joy, to guard against all the odds, martingale made in Daliang, the implementation of the reform.

公元前356年和公元前350年，秦孝公任用商鞅进行的变法在战国时期最为彻底。商鞅变法鼓励人口增殖、重农抑商、废除世卿世禄制度、奖励军功、编制户口、实行连坐之法。当时秦国地广人希，三晋人多地少，民众田地缺乏。因此商鞅建议秦孝公对外来移民采取优惠政策，将三晋民众招来秦国，以便开垦荒地。

并从而，秦国开始了以王道为主辅以法制的统治思想。

公元前350年秦国大良造（商鞅）为了深化其改革，摆脱旧贵族势力的干扰，提议都城由雍城（今宝鸡凤翔）迁至新建成的咸阳城，得到秦孝公支持。

卫鞅彻底废除旧的世卿世禄制、建立新的专制主义中央集权制，推行郡县制以加强中央集权，重视农产，出现了“家给人足”的繁荣景象，全国百姓以私下斗殴为耻，以为国家立下战功为荣，国家战斗力不断增强，屡败魏军。富国强兵的秦国，成为战国后期最强大的国家，傲视于西方。史记记载：“孝公十九年，天子致伯。”周显王册封秦君为方伯，正式承认其霸主地位。

公元前338年，秦孝公死，太子驷立，是为秦惠文王。这时受商鞅新法“迫害”而被剥夺政治特权的旧贵族一起发难，发起针对商鞅的反攻倒算。秦惠文王为了缓和矛盾，拿出商鞅作替罪羊，车裂商鞅。商鞅虽死，但“秦法未败”。秦惠文王继续奉行商鞅变法以来的国策，对外发展。

公元前325年秦惠文王称王。公元前316年秦灭巴、蜀、苴，秦军继续屡败魏军，再破三晋伐秦联军，又联韩魏攻打齐楚，大败义渠国，掌控了对山东诸侯作战的战略主动权。

经历了孝公、惠文王、武王三代用王道和法制并用，蚕食三晋，席卷荆楚，已初露一统之端倪。

魏国经魏惠王时代的消耗，国力匮乏，在秦、赵、楚、齐等大国的夹攻下，衰落了，魏惠王晚年，三晋当中赵肃侯已经取代魏国成为了三晋的领军人。赵肃侯、赵武灵王父子一生征战，使赵国雄踞北方。

齐国与秦国不接壤，得以独立发展，在对抗强魏的过程中与秦国是牢靠的战略伙伴，田氏代齐后，经齐威王、齐宣王、以及齐愍王前期三代君主80年开发，齐国富甲一方，与秦成东西并立之势。 楚国的吴起变法曾经令楚国强盛一时，楚悼王死后，新法基本被废，由于楚国本就雄厚的国底，再经历楚宣王、楚威王之耕耘，楚国于公元前333年，大败越王无疆，并吴越之地，天下震动。

In 356 BC and 350 BC, Qin Xiao appointment of Shang Yang's reform in the Warring States period the most thorough. Shang Yang 1898 to encourage population growth, restraining commerce, abolishing the hereditary system, military awards, prepare accounts, sit implement method. Qin was a wide grandmother, Shanxi people much less, the lack of public land. Therefore, Shang Yang suggested that the audience adopt preferential policies for immigrants, Shanxi people from Qin, to reclaim wasteland.

And thus, the Qin Dynasty began to rule with the kingly way, supplemented by the rule of law.

In 350 BC Qin made in Daliang (Shang Yang) in order to deepen the reform, get rid of the interference forces of the old aristocracy, proposed by Yongcheng city (now Baoji Fengxiang) moved to the newly built Xianyang City, get the audience support.

Wei Yang abolished the old hereditary system, the establishment of a new autocratic centralization system, implement the system of prefectures and counties to strengthen the centralization of power, pay attention to agricultural products, the emergence of the "all live in plenty." flourishing, people across the country to fight for private shame, that country exploits proud country combat growing Wei, fail. Qin fuguoqiangbing, become the most powerful country in the late Warring States period, leading in the west. Historical records: "nineteen years of filial piety, the emperor to Bo."." Wang week marked canonization of the king of Qin Fang Bo, officially recognized its dominance.

In 338 BC, Qin Xiaogong died, Prince Si Li, for Qin Hui wang. Then by Shang Yang the "persecution" and deprived of political privileges of the old aristocracy attack, launched the Shang Yang launch counterattack. Qin Huiwenwang in order to ease the contradiction, took Shang Yang as a scapegoat, Julie Shang Yang. Shang Yang died, but Qin law did not fail". Qin Huiwenwang continues to pursue the national policy since Shang Yang's political reform and foreign development.

In 325 BC Qin Wang king. In 316 BC, Qin Ba and Shu Ju, Wei Qin continue to fail, and then break the Shanxi of Qin and Han Wei attacked coalition forces, Lian Qi Chu, Yi Qu defeated country, control of Shandong vassal battle strategy initiative.

Experienced, Wang Hui, Wang Xiao Gong three substitute king and legal system with eroded Shanxi, sweeping Chu, has created the unified clues.

The days of King Wei Guojing Wei Hui consumption, lack of strength, the decline in Qin, Zhao Qi, Chu, and other major powers attack from,, Wei Hui Wang in Shanxi, which Zhao Su Hou has replaced Wei became the leader of shanxi. Zhao Su Hou, Zhao Wuling Wang and his son life battle, Zhao Guoxiong Ju north.

Qi and Qin border, the independent development, in the process of Qin and Wei strong confrontation is a strategic partner firm, Qi Tian generation, the king, King Xuan and the emperor - three monarchs of 80 years of development, the rich, and into something with the potential to qin. Chu Wuqi once made a strong reform of Chu, Chu of mourning after the death of the king, the new law is waste, because of the strong country of Chu, Chu Xuan Wang, has cultivated Chu Wei Wang, Chu in 333 BC, defeated Jiang Yue and Wu Yue to the ground.

公元前307年，秦武王气绝而亡，无子。诸弟争立，穰侯魏冉欲立惠文王妾芈八子之子公子稷，赵武灵王趁秦乱而谋之，乃拥立质燕之芈八子长子公子稷为王，是为秦昭王。昭王幼，芈八子为太后，穰侯秉政。

公元前293年，韩魏欲联军攻秦，秦将白起与其战之于伊阙（河南洛阳南），大败二国联军，斩24万人，掳魏韩联军统帅魏国大将犀武。

公元前283年，燕赵之相乐毅率三晋、秦、燕五国之兵而攻齐，陷齐70城，后田单虽复国，然田齐衰败大势已定。

公元前279年和公元前27

8年的鄢之战，白起统帅的秦军攻占了当时政治核心在南阳和丹阳一带的楚国的南阳郡、南郡、临江郡（江夏郡）、黔中郡。至此南方大国楚国因为丧失大片疆土和人口而走向衰落。

公元前278年，秦将白起出武关伐楚，次年攻入楚国腹地，陷郢都，楚卒溃败不能战，楚顷襄王乃辟迁于陈丘以避秦军之锋。

自此齐、楚俱衰，天下已成秦、赵相争之势。公元前270年，秦昭王见欺于赵惠文王，昭王怒，攻赵阏与，赵将赵奢于阏与大败秦军。

秦昭王知赵之强方锐，不可与之争，乃用范雎为相，迫母宣太后不干政，逐穰侯、华阳君、高陵君、泾阳君。范雎出谋“远交近攻”，昭王以为然，定为国策。至此，秦昭王独揽王权，实行王道以一统天下，排除敌对势力。

公元前262年，秦昭王攻韩国，韩国割上党以赂秦，上党不愿降秦而降赵，赵纳之。秦昭王怒，欲夺上党。赵起倾国之兵以拒秦，秦调关中之卒以攻赵，两军对峙于长平，赵廉颇不能退秦，王龁不能败赵，相持数年。

公元前260年，赵孝成王以赵括为将，秦昭王秘遣白起为帅，赵括攻秦不克，赵军粮道被截，反被秦军所围46天，赵括战死，白起先后斩杀赵军45万于长平。赵国一蹶不振。旷日持久的长平之战以赵国的惨败，秦国的险胜而告终，秦国的最后对手被击溃，统一天下终成定局。至此，秦国的王道在三代秦王坚持商鞅制定的法制基础下，达到了全盛时期。

公元前238年，秦王政亲政，重用李斯等人。自公元前230年起，至公元前221年止。十年中，命王翦、王贲父子及李信、蒙武等将率军先后灭亡韩、赵、魏、楚、燕、齐六国，一统天下。自号皇帝，是为秦始皇。建立中央集权的大一统王朝——秦朝。

秦朝结束了自春秋起五百多年来分裂割据的局面，成为中国历史上第一个以汉族为主体统一的多民族的中央集权制国家，奠定了中国大一统王朝的统治基础，故有“百代犹得秦政法”的说法。

秦始皇后北击匈奴，南服百越。首创了皇帝制度、以三公九卿为代表的中央官制。设立郡县制，彻底打破自西周以来的世卿世禄制度，以维护国家统一、强化中央对地方的控制。

为了有效地管理国家，也为了替子孙万代奠定基业，秦始皇吸取了战国时期设置官职的具体经验，建立了一套相当完整的中央集权制度和政权机构，以达到王道统治天下的目的，而并非西周的王术治理天下。

The King Arts of Han

The advantage was huge, in the Qin Dynasty was overthrown after the demise of the Han Dynasty, but also directly use the system, in the two emperor save Wenjing careful management, appeared in the Han Dynasty, the real king will play to a new level, in order to avoid the old Qin, the Han Dynasty rulers of the Qin rulers more than using a theory, the emperor has been used before, Huang Lao thought of inaction, hope that through ignorance of people, good for rulers of management, which is the unconscious, the unity of the Han Dynasty king will slowly guide patients to rule the world.

刘邦登基后，采用叔孙通的建议，恢复礼法，设三公和九卿，任萧何为丞相，采取与民休息、清静无为、休养生息的黄老政策 。鼓励生产，轻徭薄赋。在政治上，则先分封功臣韩信、彭越、英布等为王，等到政权稳固，为了防止反叛和巩固皇权稳定则又以种种罪名取消他们的王爵，或贬或杀，改封刘氏宗亲为王，订立了“非刘氏而王者，天下共击之” 的誓言。

此时，由于历经多年动乱，国力较弱，而汉高祖刘邦在攻打匈奴时，曾被匈奴冒顿单于围困于白登，即白登之围事件，从此以后，汉朝采用和亲政策，以婚姻和财宝换取帝国和平，于是，汉朝初期并没有什么战事，百姓得以休养生息。

刘邦死后，刘盈继位，即汉惠帝，但是在此期间，实际是吕后称制。吕后尊刘邦遗嘱用曹参为丞相，萧规曹随，沿用汉高祖刘邦的黄老政治的政策，达到了“政不出房户，天下晏然”的效果，为史家所称道，但吕后同时又任用外戚，压制功臣，酿成“诸吕之乱”。

在汉文帝的皇后窦漪房的影响下文帝和儿子汉景帝即位期间，继续采取黄老无为而治的手段，实行轻徭薄赋、与民休息的政策，恩威并施，恢复了多年战争带来的巨大破坏，使人民负担得到减轻；

The Kingcraft of Han

Han Wudi, young, greatly exceeded the kings expected, in the iron rule, almost no one, will serve to power, the core theory of Confucianism to rule the world, since Chinese became permanent in the Confucian core academic thought, until today. The reason is to rule the world of Confucianism benevolent Emperor Wudi respected, not only is the respected human relations make people more harmonious, stable people, because Confucianism respected to learn, to help the emperor to reform and the implementation of the new deal, can find more talents for the country.

汉景帝死后，其子刘彻即位，即为汉武帝。刘彻在位期间采取了一系列改革措施，锐意进取，开疆拓土，奠定了汉朝强盛的局面。

在政治上，汉武帝加强皇权，首创年号，采纳主父偃的建议，施行推恩令，削弱了诸侯王的势力，从此，诸侯王的势力不再能够对中央构成威胁；后又以诸侯献上的黄金成色不纯为由，取消了百余位列侯的爵位，即史书上所称的“酎金失侯”事件。经此二次事件后，中央集权得到了大大的加强。

文化上，废除了汉朝以“黄老学说、无为而治”治国的思想，积极治国；并采纳董仲舒的建议，开始重用儒术。尽管刘彻时期兼用儒、法、道、阴阳、纵横等各家人才，汉朝也一直采取集合霸道、王道的治国方针，但汉武帝对儒家的推崇，使儒家思想得到重视，并在以后逐渐成为中国历经二千年的主流思想。

军事上，积极对付汉朝的最大外患—匈奴。汉武帝时期大幅提高军人的待遇，在巡视北方时，一次犒赏边防军就达100万匹丝绸和200万钱。这期间汉朝先后出现了卫青、霍去病、李广等优秀将领，终于击溃匈奴，修建外长城之光禄塞、居延塞，收复河套并将河西纳入版图，促使“漠南无王庭”的局面，又先后吞并南越、闽越、夜郎、滇国、卫满朝鲜等国，远征大宛降服西域诸国，使中国成为当时首屈一指的强国。汉武帝时期奠定了汉地范围，也是汉朝走向强盛的重要时期。

外交上，两次派张骞出使西域，开辟了丝绸之路。并先后以两位翁主刘细君，刘解忧和亲西域乌孙，而达到了离间西域和匈奴，进而控制西域的目的，并开通了长安到中亚的丝绸之路，丝绸之路成为东西方经济文化交流的桥梁。

汉朝经历多年战争，对经济产生巨大冲击，导致汉朝国力衰弱，前朝积蓄被挥霍殆尽。为此，汉武帝晚年曾发表著名的轮台之诏，不再穷兵黩武。为挽救经济，汉武帝在位期间曾采取一系列政策，将铸币、盐铁收归中央管理，加强农业生产，实行和籴法，开凿白渠，并创立均输、平准政策稳定物价，加强对经济的控制。

汉宣帝治国摒弃不实际的儒学，采取道法结合的治国方针，在位期间关心民间疾苦并借公田来安置流民 ，时常派遣官吏巡查民生以此减免赋税赈济受灾百姓，又设置常平仓供应边塞军需及平衡粮价 ，并多次下诏扶助鳏、寡、孤、独、高龄老人、贫困百姓等人群。经汉宣帝治理，国家经济得到恢复，国势达到西汉极盛，四夷宾服、万邦来朝，使汉朝再度迎来了盛世，史称“孝宣之治”。

Conclusion

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