CLASSICAL CHINA

ZHOU DYNASTY 1076-221 BC

Conflict led to decline into the "Period of the Warring States" (403-221 B.C.). Introduced Mandate of Heaven

MANDATE OF HEAVEN

Principles:
right

to rule is granted by Heaven. only one Heaven so only one ruler in China. right to rule depends on the virtue of the ruler.

Advantages:
It

gives the ruler supreme power politically and religiously power kept in check by virtue.

The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful

DYNASTIC CYCLE

ECONOMY

Iron age

stronger and cheaper than bronze weapons strengthened Zhou army

catapult creation of Chinas first cavalry

90% of peasants lived on farms in family compounds new iron tools increased harvest, food surpluses Silk was their most important product Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication Introduced coins, use of chopsticks Population grew under Zhou Cities grew in size

SOCIETY
1.

2.
3. 4.

Emperor Regional rulers Farmers Slaves but, Confucian ideals changed this near the end of the Zhou.

ART
Bronze work Tombs decorated for wealthy

WHEN WE LAST CHECKED IN

The Zhou was a bronze age dynasty that had pushed out the previous Shang rulers. By 256 bce, the Zhou had lost the Mandate of Heaven and China entered the Warring States period

Zhou Wuwang

GENERAL INFO Qin Han Dynasty Dynasty

221 B.C. - 206 B.C. 206 B.C. 220 A.D.

First Emperor
Qin Shih Huangdi

The Most Famous Ruler

Wu Ti

Dynasty
It was short-lived.

Dynasty
It lasted over 400 years.

THE QIN DYNASTY

The Qin defeated regional states and unified the kingdoms of China by 221 B.C.E.
The

First Emperor of China

Shi

Huangdi 221-206 bce)

(r

 Economic
Public

Power!

works intended to improve economy

Canals Irrigation

Acquisition

iron ore

of areas rich in

Mass mobilization of FORCED LABOR for public works including Great Wall of China

700,000 workers used to create capital city

Beginning in 220 B.C., Shi Huandi began restoring and linking separate sections of the Great Wall which had been built years before

Government Structure
He provided a single law code for the whole empire
(laws posted for all to see)

Established a uniform tax system Appointed governors to control (legal/military) each district.
Standardized weights and measures Standardized written Chinese language!

PROBLEMS BECOME OPPURTUNITY

Grain Storage and Arbitrage Government buys grain in good times Stores it Government sells grain in shortage periods Intent: Profit and Government Revenue Outcome: Price Stabilization Avoid Famine Stabilize political system and support

HARSH SYSTEM OF RULE: LEGALISM

The best way to control human behavior is through written law rather than through rituals, customs, or ethics. laws maintain the stability of the state from the people who are selfish and ignorant. laws let the ruler govern efficiently and sometimes ruthlessly. Text apart from law books were considered useless (and were often destroyed along with other arts)

QIN DYNASTY
Rejects Confucian Governance Rules Orders Slaughter of 400 Scholars Orders ALL Confucian Documents/Books Burned Captures and unifies much of China Builds first Great Wall Builds Canal System

HAN CONTRIBUTIONS
In 132 AD a Han inventor invented the first seismograph, a device to measure earthquakes. They wrote essays, plays and their history.

QIN DYNASTY: BRUTALITY PAYS (BUT ONLY FOR A WHILE)

Brutality of Legalist Governance alienates: Gentry Not recognized as important Traditional privileges stripped Scholars Confucian knowledge and skills distained Many scholars slaughtered Commoners Brutal, forced labor and harsh law enforcement

THE LEGALIST PHILOSOPHY OF THE QIN CONFLICTED WITH OTHER POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES OF THE TIME Confucianism Good government requires men of benevolence, virtue, and culture Governments should promote these traits; their absence leads to chaos all people have virtue and are educable

Kong Fuzi Confucious

THE ANALECTS
Never kiss a fool, or be fooled by a kiss.
Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.

Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Respect yourself and others will respect you. Study the past if you would define the future. Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake.

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

1. Ruler 2. Father

Subject Son

3. Husband
4. Older Brother 5. Older Friend

Wife
Younger Brother Younger Friend

DAOISM (TAOISM)

The Dao is The Way The way is to become one with nature Nature should take its course with no human interference People should go with the flow a rock in the stream letting the water (life) flow around you "Wei Wu Wei" = "action without action".

Man is unhappy because he lives acc. to man-made laws, customs, & traditions that are contrary to the ways of nature.

DAOISM

Rejected Confucianism but was often tied to it

Confucianism

= the public philosophy Daoism = solace in private lives

Members of a Taoist spiritual group cheer colleagues backstage during an annual prayer ceremony in Taipei. BBC 2008

THE QIN DYNASTY

Daoism

helped rulers explain certain things as out of their control but not very practical as a guide to rule by was rejected due to its great respect for the past and its emphasis on personal ties

Confucianism

Legalism

is the way of the Qin!

The Fall of the Qin Dynasty

Dynasty

collapsed with death of Qin Shi Huangdi in 210 B.C.E. oppression brought backlash in regional capitals

His

Rebellions The

Qin had lost the Mandate of Heaven

QIN SHI HUANGDI TOMB INCLUDED 7,000 LIFE-SIZE FIGURES OF SOLDIERS

An Entire Terra Cotta Army

An Entire Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdis Terra Cotta Soldiers & Cavalrymen

Cavalry

Individual Soldiers

THE HAN DYNASTY

One of the longest lasting and most influential of all dynasties Rose to power at nearly the same time as Rome

THE HAN DYNASTY (206 BCE 220 CE)

Liu Bang, first Han, commoner who chose educated men History became morewith Confucian principles

important Established elite academy to teach Confucianism as part of requirement that knowledge of Confucius is necessary for promotion in bureaucracy Consolidated legal system Established principles for the conduct of women

THE HAN DYNASTY

Military Power and Diplomacy Han as militaristic as Qin had been

Army

of 300,000 to one million

Campaigns

to the west for silk markets and access to horses

Foreign relations by tributary system Payments and obedience to Chinese government in return for gifts from emperor to

THE HAN DYNASTY

Economic Power Developed ironworking techniques

Spread trade routes to the west (utilized Silk Road) Raised land revenues and nationalized private enterprise

Confucianists opposed these policies but also opposed business activity in general

A WEAKENED HAN DYNASTY [23-220 C.E.]

Han weakness enabled barbarians to live inside the Great Wall, serve in army, and intermarry with Chinese Led to sinicization of barbarians

Han failed to force local administrators to send tax revenues to central government

PEASANT REVOLT AND THE FALL OF THE HAN

Yellow

Turban revolt in 184 C.E. broke out simultaneously in sixteen places

Four

factions within government sought dynastic power

Child

emperor Bureaucrats, advisors, palace guard, and regent Court eunuchs Women of the court

END OF THE HAN IN 220 CE BUT NOT THE END OF CHINA!

China

split into three governments suited to wheat; south to rice culture

North

Chinese

culture endured imperial division; people of the Han refers to culture Western dynasty became more Chinese over time

BUDDHISM REACHES CHINA

Entered

during Han Dynasty contributed to its success

Foreignness Anti-priestly

stance and presence in trading communities made it acceptable to merchants

Becomes

a unifying cultural element!

END OF HAN DYNASTY

Independent generals overthrow Han in 221 AD