Chinese Dynasty Overview

1. Chinese Dynasty Overview Zhou to Qing

3. Zhou (1027 - 250 BC) • Longest lasting Chinese Dynasty • Beginning of Mandate of Heaven • Early: Feudal system, lords had total authority • Later: City-states • Built roads, expanded trade, made agricultural advancements

5. Zhou (1027 - 250 BC) • Taoism and Confucianism introduced • Decline: Inefficient rulers can’t control fighting between city-states • Period of Warring States

6. Taoism (Daoism) • Lao Tzu (Old Master) • 6th century BC

7. What is Dao Dao = “the way,” “the way of nature” • “It’s what it’s not that makes it what it is” • Dao is like the cavity of a pot: this empty space makes the pot useful for cooking • Dao is like water: it runs through your hands in the sink, but can wash away mountains and cities Goal, then, is to live in harmony with the universe. To do this, one must observe…

8. Wuwei Live simply, unpretentiously, and in harmony with nature. • Ambition and activism have caused chaos in which we live • Government should be as small as possible • Abstain from advanced education and personal striving • No countries - just small, self-sufficient communities! • Reflect and think about how wonderful the Dao is

9. Confucius • Latin form of the title Kong Fuzi- (Master Philosopher Kong) • 551-479 BC • Analects - collection of Confucius’ sayings

10. Confucius • Junzi: “superior individuals” look at the big picture, don’t let personal interests influence judgement To be Junzi, you must possess: • Ren: kindness and benevolence for others (especially important that leaders have this) • Li: Treat all with courtesy and respect, (esp. elders and superiors) • Xiao: Filial piety (family respect): • Useless to speculate on spiritual questions: BE PRACTICAL to fix China!

11. Basic Relationships • Parent and Child • Husband and Wife • Older Sibling/Younger Sibling • Older Friend/Younger Friend • Ruler/Subject Health of society depended on the careful observations of these relationships

12. Qin (221 - 207 BC) • Qin She Huanshi - only emperor • Brutal ruler - executed dissenters, burned books • Many enemies, dynasty falls after his death

13. Qin (221 - 207 BC) • Adopted Legalism • Developed highly centralized gov’t with bureaucratic administration • Standardized currency, language, measurements, laws • Built first Great Wall

15. Legalism “School of Law” • Key founders/scholars: • Shang Yang (390-338 BCE) {statue} • Han Feizi (280-233 BCE) {sketch}

16. Legalism • All human beings were evil by nature • Only strong ruler could create an orderly society • Harsh laws and stiff punishments • Fine for littering: Amputation of hands or feet • People should be either farmers or soldiers- anything else is a waste of energy in a country • Did not garner long-lasting support, relatively unpopular

17. Basic Cultural Elements • Patriarchal Society (men in charge) • Family is extremely important • Will only prosper if ALL (living and dead) work together • Established Class System: -----> • The best and most honorable position in Chinese society is to be a farmer.

18. Part II Chinese Dynasty OVerview

19. Han (202 BCE - 221 CE) • Chinese people referred to as “people of the Han” • Legalism replaced by Confucianism • Introduced civil service examination (scholar gentry) • Silk Roads developed, opens trade

20. Han (202 BCE - 221 AD) • Buddhism introduced from India • Paper invented • Great increase in population, land holdings Decline • Nomadic raiders • Corruption, weak leaders • Collapse of bureaucracy

22. 221 - 581 (AD) • Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t • Non-Chinese nomads control much of China • Buddhism becomes popular - Confucianism failed

23. Tang (618 - 907 AD) • High point of Chinese culture • Rebuilt bureaucracy • Examination system • Confucian education • Limited social mobility • Buddhism supported, then oppressed • Invention of movable print, porcelain, gun powder

24. Civil Service Exam Highest are those who are born wise. Next are those who become wise by learning. After them come those who have to toil (work) painfully in order to acquire learning. Finally, to the lowest class of the common people belong those who toil painfully without ever managing to learn.

25. Civil Service Exam • According to Confucius, who are the second highest in society? 2. According to Confucius, who are the third highest in society?

27. Tang (618 - 907 AD) • Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese history Decline • Weak emperors, nomadic incursions, economic difficulties • Warlords take control

28. Song (969 - 1279 AD) • Large centralized bureaucracy (Neo-Confucian) • Mercantile class grows, increased trade • Magnetic compass, growing sea power • Weak military

31. Yuan (1279 - 1368 AD) • Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China • Economic stability and prosperity • China more open to trade and travel (Marco Polo) • Ignored Chinese traditions, replaced bureaucrats with non-Chinese • Unsuccessful attacks on Japan, corruption weakens dynasty • Peasant rebellion ends Yuan

33. Ming (1368 - 1644 AD) • Tried to erase all signs of Mongols • Reinstated civil service, Confucian scholars • Eunuchs play growing role (Zheng He) - resented by scholar gentry • Rebuilt and extended Great Wall • Collapsed after famines and riots

35. Qing (1644 - 1911 AD) • Manchus (from Manchuria) move south • Take Korea, Japan, then China • Manchus hold top posts, but relied upon scholar gentry • “Son of Heaven” concept emphasized • Would be final Chinese Dynasty • Eventually would be weakened by European / American interventions

37. Chinese Dynasty Song Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han shang, joe, chin, hahn Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Sui, Tang, Song sway, tang, soong Sui, Tang, Song Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic yooan, ming, ching, Republic Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic Mao Zedong mou dzu dong Mao Zedong