Portrait of Han Wendi (汉文帝）

Han Wendi (汉文帝) was one of the first emperors of the Han Dynasty, ruling from (180-157_B.C.). During his reign, Han Wendi reduced the field tax (田赋), proclaimed a tax merchant suspension for twelve years, and suspended forced labor.  The emperor also financed the construction of canals and dams, and encouraged peasants to grow mulberry trees in order to increase silk production. Over the course of Han Wendi’s reign, the economy saw stable growth. Han Wendi’s reign is remembered as a time of peace and prosperity. 

Han Wendi scaled back on royal expenses and reduced lavishness in the imperial palace. Han Wendi did not increase the number of court carriages or official court robes.  He had also initially planned on building a terrace in the palace, but did not proceed after learning how much construction would cost. Conscious of spending, court robes were not lavish and no expensive silks were used as curtains in the palace. 

Most notably, Han Wendi reformed the idea of civil service for dynastic China. In 165 _B.C., Han Wendi introduced the idea of civil servants being recruited based on exam scores; however, these exams did not provide formal entry to government posts. Even though, the origins of the exam were not based on Confusion texts, the early exams laid the foundation as the precursor to the commonly known Civil Service Exams (科举) as a way to ensure a common knowledge of writing, the classics, and literary among state officials.