The Han dynasty was a period in the history of China between 206 BCE-220 CE.
During this period, Confucian ideology dominated thought, and this was reflected in the social order the culture adopted.
Within the household, one example is the idea of filial duty, in which children were encouraged to respect their parents, ancestors and elderly in general. This produced a hierarchy within families, with older, male relatives at the top, and younger, females at the bottom.
Confucianism had significant effects in society at large as well. The doctrine argued that human beings were naturally good, and only acted wrong as a result of corruption. The way to overcome this was education. This led to an enormous appreciation for education, and a belief in the moral value of educated people. This emphasis on organized education led to a clear hierarchy of public officials based on educational accomplishment. This translated into a hierarchy of social status.
