Taking a unique "everyday-life archaeology" perspective, this book explores the daily lives of ordinary people in the Han Dynasty through many aspects of life, including clothing, food, housing, transportation, and entertainment. Grounded in solid historical sources and written in a lighthearted, witty style, it brings to life a vibrant Han Dynasty.
Readers will find here the hardships of ordinary people, amusing details of everyday life, and the wildly varied realities of society. Through these down-to-earth details, they can glimpse a vivid picture of life in the bustling streets and markets of the Han Dynasty.
Did you know that Han clothing was both beautiful and practical, but wearing it incorrectly could cost you your head? That the Han Dynasty was the beginning of China's colorful makeup era? That wellness culture dates back to the Han Dynasty? While we are still worrying about housing, local officials in the Han Dynasty had already escaped the era of being slaves to their mortgages. A little hot pot put an end to a two-thousand-year "war" between the "rice faction" and the "noodle faction." Here's what you need to know about divorce in the Han Dynasty: both men and women had the right to divorce and remarry. Surprised? And that's not all. In addition to these little historical tidbits, the book offers plenty of historical knowledge, including a Han Dynasty perspective on romance and marriage that will upend your expectations, as well as the joys and sorrows of Han Dynasty "working people." It gives a full account of the everyday lives of ordinary people in the Han Dynasty. The author uses concise, humorous language, supplemented by quotations from historical sources that readers can verify. With a fresh perspective and a thoughtful approach, the book invites readers to laugh and reflect as they read.
