Chapter 08
- 1. The Unification of ChinaChapter 9 Overview
- 2. SimaQianDisgraced Chinese historianWrote accounts of early imperial China
- 3. In Search of Political and Social OrderZhou Dynasty brings political confusionPeriod of Warring StatesLegalists, Daoists, Confucians
- 4. ConfuciusChinese thinker who addressed problem of political and social orderAristocratic familyEducator and political advisorAnalects
- 5. Confucian IdeasMoral, ethical, political and practicalFocused on proper ordering of human relationshipsEducated and conscientious rulers – junziEmphasis on Zhou Dynasty texts
- 6. Confucian ValuesStrong moral integrityRen– kindness and humanityLi – propriety, appropriate behaviorXiao – filial piety, respect in the familyTraits lead to development of junzi – ideal leadersSelf controlJunzicould bring order to China
- 7. Mencius (372-289 B.C.E.)Confucian scholarHuman nature basically goodEncouraged support of education, avoid wars, light taxes, harmony and cooperationNot influential at the timeAuthority since 10th century C.E.
- 8. Xunzi (298 – 238 B.C.E.)Career as government administratorBelief in fundamental selfishness of humanityCompare with MenciusEmphasis on li, rigid proprietyDiscipline, standards of conduct
- 9. DaosimCritics of Confucian activismPointless to waste time and energy on problemsFocus on understanding fundamental nature of the worldBelieved this approach would bring harmony
- 10. Laozi and the DaodejingFounder in 6th century B.C.E.The Daodejing(Classic of Way and of Virtue)Zhuangzi (named for author, 369-236 BCE)
- 11. The DaoThe way (of nature, cosmos)It is nothing, yet accomplishes everythingWater: soft and yielding, but capable of eroding rockCavity of pots, wheels: nonexistent, but essential
- 12. The Doctrine of WuweiAttempt to control universe results in chaosRestore order by disengagementNo advanced educationNo ambitionSimple living in harmony with natureCultivate self-knowledge
- 13. Political Implications of DaosimLess government Tiny communities instead of expansive empiresNeither Confucianism nor Daoism exclusive faithsConfucianism as public doctrineDaoism as private pursuitIronic combination allowed intellectuals to pursue both
- 14. LegalismProblems persisted during Warring States Period3rd school of thoughtEmphasis on development of the stateRuthless approach to state buildingUnconcerned with ethics and morals, natural laws
- 15. Shang Yang (390-338 B.C.E.)Chief minister to the duke of the Qin stateFeared for his power and ruthlessnessEnemies executed him, mutilated body, annihilated family
- 16. Han Feizi (280-233 B.C.E.)Student of XunziCollection of essays on legalist ideasForced to commit suicide by legalist opponents.
- 17. Legalist DoctrineState strengths: agriculture and militaryChanneled people into military or cultivationAdhere to clear, strict lawsSevere punishment for minor infractions– deterrence
- 18. Impact of LegalismPracticalPut an end to the Period of the Warring StatesEnds justifies the meansInfluenced Qin stateBrought about unification of China
- 20. The Kingdom of Qin
- 21. Kingdom of QinQin dynasty develops, 4th-3rd centuries BCEGenerous land grants under Shang YangPrivate farmers decrease power of large landholdersIncreasing centralization of powerImproved military technologyQin state attacked one state after anotherEventually brought China under control of one single state for the first time.
- 22. The First EmperorQin Shihuangdi proclaims himself emperor in 221 B.C.E.Dynasty ends in 207, but sets dramatic precedentBasis of rule: centralized bureaucracyLong term influence
- 23. First EmperorChina divided into administrative provinces and districtsDisarmed regional militariesBuilt roads – communication and controlBuild defensive walls with drafted laborMassive public worksBrought political stability
- 25. Resistance to Qin PoliciesCriticized by Confucians and DaosistsCritics were executedBurned books on philosophy, ethics, literature and some history
- 26. Burning of Books460 scholars who criticized Qin were buried aliveOther critics sentenced to the army to fight in dangerous regionsSome scholars hid textsMany works disappeared
- 27. Qin CentralizationStandardized:LawsCurrenciesWeights and measuresBuilding of roads, bridges Leads to tight knit society
- 28. Standardized ScriptScriptPreviously: single language written in distinct scriptsMaintained different spoken languages
- 29. Tomb of the First EmperorQin died in 210 B.C.E.Tom built by 700,000 draft laborers15,000 Terra cota soldiersSlaves, concubines and craftsmen sacrificed
- 31. The Early Han DynastyQin dynasty quickly dissolved after his deathRevolts began in 207 B.C.E.Ill will of laborers
- 32. Liu BangCommander – restores order in 206 B.C.EFounder of new dynasty – HanFormer Han (206 BCE-9 CE)Interruption 9-23 CELater Han (25-220 CE)Consolidated the tradition of centralized ruleRuled from Chang’an
- 33. Early Han PoliciesLiu Bang mixed Zhou and Qin policiesRelaxed Qin tyranny without returning to Zhou anarchyCreated large landholdings; maintained control over administrative regionsAfter failed rebellion, took more central control
- 34. The Martial Emperor, Han WudiGreatest, most energetic Han ruler141-87 B.C.E.Centralization and imperial expansionIncrease authority and prestige of central government
- 35. Han CentralizationBuilt enormous bureaucracy to administer empireLegalist idealsImperial officers sent to administer provincesBuild roads, canalsTaxed agriculture, trade and craftsMonopolized iron and saltEnormous bureaucracy required educated individuals
- 36. The Confucian Education System124 B.C.E. – Han Wudi establishes imperial universityPrepare men for gov’tConfucian curriculumEnsured survival of ConfucianismEnrolled over 3,00030,000 by Later Han
- 37. Han Imperial ExpansionInvaded northern Vietnam and KoreaRuled with Chinese-style government, Confucian valuesConfucianism influences education in Korea and Vietnam
- 38. The XiongnuNomadic peopleCentral Asian steppesRaided villages and trade postsMaodun- greatest Xiongnu leaderHan Wudi briefly dominates Xiongnu
- 40. Han Expansion into Central AsiaHan Wudi invades Central Asia with vast army100,000 troopsXiongnu empire brought under military controlPacified area all the way to BactriaXiongnu empire falls as a result of Han policies
- 42. From Economic Prosperity to Social Disorder
- 43. Productivity and ProsperityHigh agricultural productionCraft industriesIronSilk
- 44. Patriarchal Social OrderFilial piety – family firstHan moralist enhance male authority – believed it was fundamental to stable societyClassic of Filial Piety – subordination of womenAdmonitions of Women – Ban Zhao Emphasized humility, obedience, subservience, devotion to husbands
- 45. Iron MetallurgyIron industry grows under HanCultivators used iron shovels, picks, hoes, sickles and spadesCraftsmen – iron utensils, pots, stoves, knives, needles, axes, hammer, sawsIron armor, sharper swords, spears and arrowheads
- 46. Silk TextilesSericulture expands beyond Yellow RiverChinese silk becomes prized commodity – leads to network of trade known as Silk RoadsCultivation of silkwormsBreedingDiet controlOther silk-producing lands relied on wild worms
- 47. PaperDevelopment of paperBamboo, fabric abandoned in favor of wood and textile-based paperLess expensive
- 48. Population GrowthAgricultural prosperity = demographic growthTaxes claimed small portion of productionSurplus grain in state granaries often spoiled
- 49. Economic Social DifficultiesHan Wudi’s expansion into Central Asia caused economic strainXiongnu expeditionsAgricultural coloniesHan Wudi raises taxes, confiscates land from wealthyActions discouraged investment
- 50. Social TensionsGap between rich and poor growsLived very different lifestylesDifferences led to tensionsPeasant organize rebellions
- 51. Land DistributionPoor harvest, taxes led to land loss for someIncrease in slavery and tenant farmersLand holdings of wealthy growBanditry rebellionGovernment on side of wealthy
- 52. The reign of Wang Mang (9-23 C.E.)Wang Mang regent for 2-year old Emperor, 6 CETakes power himself 9 CEIntroduces massive reformsThe “socialist emperor”Land redistribution, but poorly handledSocial chaos ends in his assassination 23 CE
- 53. The Later Han DynastyHan Dynasty emperors manage, with difficulty, to reassert controlCentralized power regained Reorganized bureaucracyControlled Xiongnu and Silk Roads
- 54. The Yellow Turban UprisingSocial tensions not addressed in Later Han DynastySerious revolt throughout China in late second century C.E.Rebellions weakened the Han state
- 55. The Collapse of the Han DynastyImperial court developed factionsRivalries to protect self interests, influenceInternal conflicts weakened central governmentEarly 3rd century B.C.E. – central government disintegratesFor 4 centuries, China divided into several large regional empires
- 56. SummaryQin – 14 years, opened new era in Chinese HistoryUnification of ruleCreated a Chinese societyHan Dynasty – over 400 yearsCentralized bureaucracyTechnological innovationSpread Chinese culture