During Han dynasty, the first civil service exam was set up. Confucianism, with no surprise, was one of the key subjects to study for the civil service exam. Provincial schools were established countrywide and the Confucianism tradition of education was spread all over China.

The Han dynasty was governed by a centralized monarchy headed by an emperor and supported by an elaborate structure of imperial administration. The Han government was divided into three branches: the civil service (public administration), the military (defense), and the censorate (auditor).

The main jobs in the Han Dynasty were artisans, being part of the imperial family, merchants, nobles, officials, peasants, slaves, and soldiers. At the top of the social pyramid was the emperor. Then, came the military leaders, scholars, government officials, and nobles.

In Han times, school was free for boys. At one point, over 30,000 students (all boys) were enrolled. Girls from both rich and poor families could not attend school. It was not allowed.

Girls couldn’t go to school even if they had rich, important families. They stayed in the home with their mothers, learning how to work in and take care of the home and their family. Though they didn’t have much education, their mothers often did teach them things like numbers, directions, and even how to read.

Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are considered the “three pillars” of ancient Chinese society.

The earliest known school in ancient China was Jixia Academy. Confucius was a tutor in ancient China. Overtime, the Han Dynasty allowed all boys to attend school. School taught the teachings of the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism.

Ancient Chinese art includes calligraphy, embroidery, paintings, statues, buildings, shrines, porcelain, silk, puppets, lacquer ware, firecracker folk toys, opera, paper fans, paper cutouts and lanterns and kites, seals, swords, daggers, and more!

Figures, mountains and water, and flowers and birds are major figures and common themes found in Chinese paintings, corresponding to their counterparts found in European paintings. Figure painting originated in primitive times, when people painted figures and animals on walls with chalk, red earth and carbon black.

Education System in China