Liu Bang was a man of humble birth, but he created a powerful dynasty. First he led the revolt against the cruel Qin dynasty. Then in 206 BCE, he created the Han dynasty.
His dynasty took ideas from both Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism called for a strong central government, and the Han had that. The government appointed officials. They were promoted based on how well they did their jobs. Unlike the Qin, the Han also used the ideas of Confucius. They stressed the importance of morality and filial piety. This moderate style made the Qin dynasty a bit less strict. Ideas from this dynasty can still be seen in the culture of modern China. In fact, the Chinese people still call themselves the children of the Han.
