The Images of long （龍） on the Stone Reliefs of the Han Dynasty ― the episode of the first distribution area

摘要

It is common to look at the Chinese Han dynasty as being unified in every aspect. However according to some recent discoveries regarding Han political and financial systems in local and central authorities, it seems that this view is untenable. And what of Han culture? Was Han culture indeed united completely under the imperial government? This paper discusses these matters by looking at the carved images of long （龍）, or dragons on the stone reliefs of the Han dynasty. Through this study, the variations of the long carvings based on differing chronological periods and regions of the Han dynasty should become clearer.