西汉经济干预政策剖析 = INTERVENTIONIST ECONOMIC POLICY OF THE FORMER HAN

Abstract

The former Han Dynasty, during the reign of the vigorous and strong-willed Wu-ti, was noted for its firm control of the economy of the nation. This paper focused on the interventionist economic policies of that famous reign and discussed the justifiability of these policies. The academic exercise consisted of five chapters. Chapter 1 discussed the objectives, scope and methodology adopted for the study. Chapter 2 examined ancient interventionist theories that provided the basis for the former Han's economic policy-makers. Chapter 3 analysed the reasons which prompted Wu-ti to take such drastic actions. Chapters 4 and 5 considered the various policies implemented and discussed the good and ill effects of such policies. Chapter 6 dealt with the ideological battle between the interventionist school of legalism and Confucianism. Chapter 7, which is the final chapter, gave an overall assessment of the interventionist economic policies during Wu-ti's reign. It is clear that the interventionist policies implemented on a large scale for the first time in Chinese History by Wu-ti had indeed great influence on later Chinese dynasties. The former Han Dynasty, during the reign of the vigorous and strong-willed Wu-ti, was noted for its firm control of the economy of the nation. This paper focused on the interventionist economic policies of that famous reign and discussed the justifiability of these policies. The academic exercise consisted of five chapters. Chapter 1 discussed the objectives, scope and methodology adopted for the study. Chapter 2 examined ancient interventionist theories that provided the basis for the former Han's economic policy-makers. Chapter 3 analysed the reasons which prompted Wu-ti to take such drastic actions. Chapters 4 and 5 considered the various policies implemented and discussed the good and ill effects of such policies. Chapter 6 dealt with the ideological battle between the interventionist school of legalism and Confucianism. Chapter 7, which is the final chapter, gave an overall assessment of the interventionist economic policies during Wu-ti's reign. It is clear that the interventionist policies implemented on a large scale for the first time in Chinese History by Wu-ti had indeed great influence on later Chinese dynasties. The former Han Dynasty, during the reign of the vigorous and strong-willed Wu-ti, was noted for its firm control of the economy of the nation. This paper focused on the interventionist economic policies of that famous reign and discussed the justifiability of these policies. The academic exercise consisted of five chapters. Chapter 1 discussed the objectives, scope and methodology adopted for the study. Chapter 2 examined ancient interventionist theories that provided the basis for the former Han's economic policy-makers. Chapter 3 analysed the reasons which prompted Wu-ti to take such drastic actions. Chapters 4 and 5 considered the various policies implemented and discussed the good and ill effects of such policies. Chapter 6 dealt with the ideological battle between the interventionist school of legalism and Confucianism. Chapter 7, which is the final chapter, gave an overall assessment of the interventionist economic policies during Wu-ti's reign. It is clear that the interventionist policies implemented on a large scale for the first time in Chinese History by Wu-ti had indeed great influence on later Chinese dynasties.