The Han

 The Western Regions under the Hsiung-Nu and the Han gives an overview of the conditions of the communities dispersed in the Western Regions, which is the area in the Turfan basin, west of Lop Nor and  along the northern end of the Kunlun and Altai Mountain ranges. These communities are also known as ‘Walled-City States of the Western Regions’. The Han wanted to control these ‘Walled-City States’ however the Hsiung-Nu had control over them. Eventually the Han gained control of these communities.
            Under Han rule the Western Regions excelled at textile making. According to the article the textiles produced were of very high quality. This is no surprise considering the people of the Western Regions had direct access to the Silk Road. The article also mentions a robe found in a tomb that is embroidered with characters that state “Good luck for 10,000 generations”. This theme of good luck or good fortune is still a prominent theme in Chinese culture.
            Also during Han rule trade between the Western Regions and China expanded and the speed at which things were being transported increased. For example the article mentions that paper was found in the Western Regions shortly after it was invented in China. Does this speed indicate that the Western Regions and China had an exceptional trading system where goods can travel effectively from place to place? Or does this mean that the Western Regions and China depended on each other for trade therefore the trading between them had to be effective?

 Myth and the Construction of Foreign Ethnic Identity in Early and Medieval China by Bret Hinsch deals with the idea of manipulating myths associated with different ethnic groups. Hinsch gives many examples of how Chinese historians use myths to either change the way a specific group is viewed or to be used when China wants to expand. The idea that myths have the power to determine how an entire ethnic group is perceived, used to assimilate foreigners, or to justify expansion is an entirely new concept to me. Hinsch does illustrate the many ways the Chinese manipulated myths in order to gain or to change the ethnicity of a certain group with good examples, however I feel as though something is missing. Can changing a myth about a certain group’s ancestors really be that effective?