 Political philosophy was central to the Han Dynasty from its very beginning. In the Han Shu (Book of the Han), we read that the first Han emperor, Gaozu (formerly Liu Bang, 256–195 BCE), commissioned a number of scholars to construct texts on subjects valuable for the operation of empire. Lu Jia (d. 170 BCE), one of Gaozu’s ministers, wrote the Xinyu (“New Discussions”), the earliest extant treatise on political philosophy and practical government of the Han period. The organization of the text follows a pattern that would become common in political texts throughout the period and into later Chinese history. It begins with theoretical foundations discussing the connection of political concerns to broader metaphysical concerns, then expands on this to show how the practical application of political ideas follows.