The Research Of Zhangtang Family In Han Dynasty

The research subject of this paper is Zhangtang family in Han Dynasty (202 B.C -220 A.D).The author try to display the particularity of this family by investigating this family‘s performance on official career,politic, thoughts and economy on detail,comparing with Duzhou family which share the similar background with it.In term of official career, Zhangtang family deserved the name of official family.Most descendants of Zhangtang family took the position of officers which close to the emperor in Nei Chao by Ren Zi system ,as a result of owning the rank of Marquis and Zhangtang’s fathers’higher status in court.The Zhangtang family finally be squeezed out the Nei Chao under the case of monopolized power of the wives’or mothers’relatives and the eunuchs in turn.In the terms of value orientation(on politic and thoughts):the members of Zhangtang family striving for the protection of the emperor,seeking the support from the aristocracy made the family survived during the risks;This family‘s thoughts finished its transformation from legalism to Confucianism followed the trends of dominant political thoughts in Han dynasty.In the matter of economy, in addition to the Shi Yi as marquis and the salary of officer in court,the family often rewarded by the emperor.In the times of Zhang anshi,the Zhangtang family also profited from hand manufacture industry.In conclusion,the Zhangtang family was rather powerful in economy. The wealthy And Influential Familes of The Eastern Han Dynasty were very powerful. but such a wealthy family like Zhagtang family with the rank of marquis in the Eastern Han Dynasty, never became one of the Great Families.Both the Du zhou family and Zhangtang family were the official families,finished their transformation on thoughts from Legalism to confuciansim,rewarded by the court or emperor,received the salary from the court,owned the rank of marquis.The Duzhou family lost their rank of marquis during the period of Wang Mang,didn’t follow Liu xiu,the first emperor of Eastern Han Dynasty established the dynasty.Du duo was prized by Liu xiu,without restore the rank of marquis for his family.The Zhangtang family disappeared in the end of Eastern Han Dynasty whereas the Duzhou family was gradually prosperous by its talented family member in politics and Confucion.