Han Dynasty

The Han was a period of prosperity that would not be seen again in China until the rise of the Tang (T’ang) dynasty in 618. Chinese Buddhism flourished, and Confucianism was adopted as the state's official doctrine. In addition, many of the governmental standards in use until the 20th century, such as a strong central government that ruled with the help of a large, efficient bureaucracy, flowered in Han China. Although its eventual collapse was followed by almost three centuries of disunity and war, the Han dynasty managed to set a standard that would be adopted by almost all of the later imperial Chinese dynasties.