CLASSICAL CHINA

250 B.C.E.- 600A.C.E.

MANDATE OF HEAVENMANDATE OF HEAVEN The right to rule granted by heavenThe right to rule granted by heaven

Zhou justified their overthrow of Shang Zhou justified their overthrow of Shang Ruler called "the son of heaven" Ruler called "the son of heaven" Only given to virtuous, strong rulersOnly given to virtuous, strong rulers To lose mandate = someone else should ruleTo lose mandate = someone else should rule Replacement of dynasties = Dynastic CycleReplacement of dynasties = Dynastic Cycle

Signs one had lost mandateSigns one had lost mandate Corruption, heavy taxesCorruption, heavy taxes Lazy officials and rulersLazy officials and rulers Revolts, invasions, civil wars, crime Revolts, invasions, civil wars, crime Natural disastersNatural disasters Society develops bad morals, habitsSociety develops bad morals, habits

THE THE ZHOUZHOU DYNASTY: 1122-256 B.C.E. DYNASTY: 1122-256 B.C.E.

The rise of the Zhou The rise of the Zhou The last Shang king was a bad ruler The last Shang king was a bad ruler The Zhou forces toppled the ShangThe Zhou forces toppled the Shang

Political organization Political organization Adopted Adopted decentralizeddecentralized administration administration Used princes and relatives to rule regions Used princes and relatives to rule regions ConsequencesConsequences

Weak central government with ceremonial functionsWeak central government with ceremonial functions Rise of regional powers; often called Rise of regional powers; often called feudalismfeudalism Constant rivalry between warring families, noblesConstant rivalry between warring families, nobles

THE FALL OF THE ZHOU THE FALL OF THE ZHOU Iron metallurgy Iron metallurgy

Iron technology spread; 1st millennium B.C.E. Iron technology spread; 1st millennium B.C.E. Iron weapons were cheaper to produce than bronzeIron weapons were cheaper to produce than bronze Helped regional aristocrats to resist the central powerHelped regional aristocrats to resist the central power Feudal state of Qin mastered iron technology, weapons Feudal state of Qin mastered iron technology, weapons

Nomadic invasion sacked capitalNomadic invasion sacked capital Prior period called Western ZhouPrior period called Western Zhou Capital moved to Loyang beginning Eastern ZhouCapital moved to Loyang beginning Eastern Zhou

Warring StatesWarring States Period Period (403-221 B.C.E.) (403-221 B.C.E.) Territorial princes became more independent Territorial princes became more independent

States warred one with anotherStates warred one with another Rise of Sun Tzu as military strategistRise of Sun Tzu as military strategist

Rise of Qin state Rise of Qin state Qin began conquering rivalsQin began conquering rivals Created vast army, no one able to stop Qin kingsCreated vast army, no one able to stop Qin kings

Last Zhou king abdicated his position in 256 B.C.E. Last Zhou king abdicated his position in 256 B.C.E.

FAMILYFAMILY Central to Chinese culture: kinshipCentral to Chinese culture: kinship Veneration of ancestorsVeneration of ancestors

Belief in ancestors' presence, continuing influence Belief in ancestors' presence, continuing influence Burial of material goods with the dead Burial of material goods with the dead Offering sacrifices at the graves Offering sacrifices at the graves Eldest males presided over rites honoring ancestorsEldest males presided over rites honoring ancestors Only males could perform religious duties Only males could perform religious duties

Filial PietyFilial Piety Young must respect elders without questionYoung must respect elders without question Elders always right, make decisionsElders always right, make decisions

Patriarchal society Patriarchal society During Neolithic times, Chinese society = matrilineal During Neolithic times, Chinese society = matrilineal Rise of states, war due to men's contribution sRise of states, war due to men's contribution s After Shang, not even queens merited temples After Shang, not even queens merited temples

CONFUCIUS’ SEARCH FOR ORDERCONFUCIUS’ SEARCH FOR ORDER ConfuciusConfucius (551-479 B.C.E.) (551-479 B.C.E.)

A strong-willed man, from an aristocratic family A strong-willed man, from an aristocratic family Traveled ten years searching for an official post Traveled ten years searching for an official post Educator with numerous disciples Educator with numerous disciples Sayings compiled in the Sayings compiled in the Analects Analects by disciples by disciples

Confucian ideas Confucian ideas Fundamentally moral and ethical in character Fundamentally moral and ethical in character Restore political and social order; stress ritual Restore political and social order; stress ritual Formation of Formation of junzijunzi - "superior individuals" - "superior individuals" Edited Zhou classics for his disciples to studyEdited Zhou classics for his disciples to study

The key Confucian concepts The key Confucian concepts RenRen - a sense of humanity - a sense of humanity LiLi - a sense of propriety - a sense of propriety XiaoXiao - filial piety - filial piety Cultivating of Cultivating of junzijunzi for bringing order to China for bringing order to China 5 Relationships and filial piety as basis of5 Relationships and filial piety as basis of societysociety

CONFUCIAN SOCIAL HIERARCHYCONFUCIAN SOCIAL HIERARCHY

Confucian Scholar Official

LEGALISM Legalism Legalism

The doctrine of statecraft The doctrine of statecraft Promoted a practical and ruthlessly efficient approach Promoted a practical and ruthlessly efficient approach No concern with ethics and morality No concern with ethics and morality No concern with the principles governing natureNo concern with the principles governing nature

Doctrine used by Qin dynasty Doctrine used by Qin dynasty Shang YangShang Yang (ca. 390-338 B.C.E.) (ca. 390-338 B.C.E.)

A chief minister of the Qin state A chief minister of the Qin state His policies summarized in His policies summarized in The Book of Lord ShangThe Book of Lord Shang Was executed by his political enemies Was executed by his political enemies

Han FeiziHan Feizi (ca. 280-233 B.C.E.) (ca. 280-233 B.C.E.) Student of Xunzi, became the most articulate Legalist Student of Xunzi, became the most articulate Legalist A synthesizer of Legalist ideasA synthesizer of Legalist ideas Forced to suicide by his political enemies Forced to suicide by his political enemies

LEGALISM IN PRACTICE The state's strength The state's strength

Agriculture Agriculture Military force Military force Discouraged commerce, education, and the arts Discouraged commerce, education, and the arts

How to treat peopleHow to treat people Harnessing self-interest of people for needs of stateHarnessing self-interest of people for needs of state Called “carrot and stick” approach in west Called “carrot and stick” approach in west Called for harsh penalties even for minor infractions Called for harsh penalties even for minor infractions Advocated collective responsibility before law Advocated collective responsibility before law

Not popular among the Chinese, Not popular among the Chinese, Chinese used legalism if state threatenedChinese used legalism if state threatened Legalism still doctrine common to ChinaLegalism still doctrine common to China

SECULAR CULTURAL TRADITIONSECULAR CULTURAL TRADITION No organized religion, priestly classNo organized religion, priestly class

Impersonal heavenly power - Impersonal heavenly power - tiantian Males performed few dutiesMales performed few duties

Fathers took care of family dutiesFathers took care of family duties Rulers took care of the public duties Rulers took care of the public duties

Oracle bonesOracle bones Rulers, people question tian for directionRulers, people question tian for direction Primary instruments of fortune-tellers Primary instruments of fortune-tellers

Discovery of the "dragon bones" in 1890s Discovery of the "dragon bones" in 1890s Bones recorded day-to-day concerns Bones recorded day-to-day concerns

Early Chinese writing Early Chinese writing Earliest form was the pictograph Earliest form was the pictograph From pictograph to ideograph From pictograph to ideograph Absence of alphabetic or phonetic component Absence of alphabetic or phonetic component More than two thousand characters More than two thousand characters Modern Chinese writing is direct descendantModern Chinese writing is direct descendant

THOUGHT, LITERATURETHOUGHT, LITERATURE Zhou literature Zhou literature

The Book of ChangeThe Book of Change, a manual of diviners , a manual of diviners The Book of HistoryThe Book of History, the history of the Zhou , the history of the Zhou The Book of RitesThe Book of Rites

The rules of etiquette and rituals for aristocrats The rules of etiquette and rituals for aristocrats The Book of SongsThe Book of Songs

The most notable of the classic works The most notable of the classic works Verses on themes both light and serious Verses on themes both light and serious Reflected social conditions of the early Zhou Reflected social conditions of the early Zhou

Destruction of early literature Destruction of early literature Most Zhou writings have perished Most Zhou writings have perished 1st emperor destroyed most writings1st emperor destroyed most writings

UNIFICATION OF UNIFICATION OF CHINACHINA

The Qin State and DynastyThe Qin State and Dynasty Partially sinified pastoralists, perhaps even TurkishPartially sinified pastoralists, perhaps even Turkish Located in west China and adopted Legalist policies Located in west China and adopted Legalist policies Encouraged agriculture, resulted in strong economy Encouraged agriculture, resulted in strong economy Organized a powerful army equipped with iron weapons Organized a powerful army equipped with iron weapons Conquered other states and unified China in 221 B.C.E.Conquered other states and unified China in 221 B.C.E.

Qin Shi Huang diQin Shi Huang di King of Qin proclaimed himself First Emperor, 221 B.C.E. King of Qin proclaimed himself First Emperor, 221 B.C.E. Established centralized imperial ruleEstablished centralized imperial rule Held sons of nobles as hostagesHeld sons of nobles as hostages Demolished nobles castles Demolished nobles castles Project of connecting and extending the Great WallProject of connecting and extending the Great Wall 700,000 people worked on project; 100,000 killed700,000 people worked on project; 100,000 killed

QIN STATECRAFTQIN STATECRAFT Suppressing the resistance Suppressing the resistance

Bitterly opposed, was opposed by Confucian scholarsBitterly opposed, was opposed by Confucian scholars Buried 460 scholars alive because of their criticism against the Qin Buried 460 scholars alive because of their criticism against the Qin Burned all books except some with utilitarian value Burned all books except some with utilitarian value

Policies of centralization Policies of centralization Standardization of laws, currencies, weights, measures Standardization of laws, currencies, weights, measures Standardized scripts: tried to create uniform languageStandardized scripts: tried to create uniform language Creates a uniform writing system but not language Creates a uniform writing system but not language

Tomb of the First Emperor Tomb of the First Emperor The tomb was an underground palace The tomb was an underground palace Excavation of the tomb since 1974 Excavation of the tomb since 1974 Terracotta soldiers and army to protect tombTerracotta soldiers and army to protect tomb

The collapse of the Qin dynasty The collapse of the Qin dynasty Massive public works generated ill will among people Massive public works generated ill will among people Waves of rebels overwhelmed the Qin court in 207 B.C.E. Waves of rebels overwhelmed the Qin court in 207 B.C.E. A short-lived dynasty, left deep marks in Chinese historyA short-lived dynasty, left deep marks in Chinese history

THE EARLY HAN DYNASTYTHE EARLY HAN DYNASTY Liu Bang Liu Bang

A general, persistent man, a methodical A general, persistent man, a methodical planner planner Restored order, established dynasty, 206 B.C.E. Restored order, established dynasty, 206 B.C.E.

Han was long-lived dynastyHan was long-lived dynasty Early Han policies Early Han policies

Sought middle way between Zhou and Sought middle way between Zhou and QinQin Royal relatives were not reliableRoyal relatives were not reliable Returned to centralized rule Returned to centralized rule

Martial Emperor (141-87 B.C.E.) Martial Emperor (141-87 B.C.E.) Han Wudi ruled for 54 years Han Wudi ruled for 54 years Pursued centralization and expansionPursued centralization and expansion

HAN SOCIAL STRUCTUREHAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE• Patriarchal, patrilocal households averaged five inhabitantsPatriarchal, patrilocal households averaged five inhabitants• Large, multigenerational compound families also developed Large, multigenerational compound families also developed • Women's subordination (Ban Zhao Women's subordination (Ban Zhao Admonitions for Women)Admonitions for Women) • Cultivators were the majority of the populationCultivators were the majority of the population• Differences apparent between noble, lower class womenDifferences apparent between noble, lower class women• Scholar bureaucrats: Confucian trained bureaucratsScholar bureaucrats: Confucian trained bureaucrats

• Officials selected through competitive testingOfficials selected through competitive testing• Used to run the government in Early HanUsed to run the government in Early Han

• Scholar GentryScholar Gentry• Confucian bureaucrats intermarried with landed eliteConfucian bureaucrats intermarried with landed elite• New class comes to dominate local, national officesNew class comes to dominate local, national offices• Strongest in late HanStrongest in late Han

• Merchants held in low social esteemMerchants held in low social esteem

COMMERCE, COMMERCE, INDUSTRYINDUSTRY

Iron metallurgyIron metallurgy Farming tools, utensilsFarming tools, utensils WeaponsWeapons

Silk textiles Silk textiles Sericulture spread all over China during the Han Sericulture spread all over China during the Han High quality Chinese silk became a prized commodityHigh quality Chinese silk became a prized commodity Traded as far as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Rome Traded as far as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Rome

State monopolies on liquor, salt and iron State monopolies on liquor, salt and iron Paper production Paper production

Invented probably before 100 C.E. Invented probably before 100 C.E. Began to replace silk and bamboo as writing Began to replace silk and bamboo as writing materials materials

Population growth Population growth Increased from 20 to 60 million (220 BCE to 9 CE) Increased from 20 to 60 million (220 BCE to 9 CE) Despite light taxation, state revenue was largeDespite light taxation, state revenue was large

Silk Road established: horses for silkSilk Road established: horses for silk

HAN TROUBLESHAN TROUBLES Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus

Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads

Social tensions, stratification between the poor and rich Social tensions, stratification between the poor and rich Problems of land distribution Problems of land distribution

Early Han supported land redistributionEarly Han supported land redistribution Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Lands accumulated in the hands of a few Lands accumulated in the hands of a few No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landowners No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landowners

The reign of Wang Mang The reign of Wang Mang A powerful Han minister dethroned the baby emperorA powerful Han minister dethroned the baby emperor Claimed imperial title himself, Claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. Land reforms - the "socialist emperor“ 9 C.E. Land reforms - the "socialist emperor“ Overthrown by revolts 23 C.EOverthrown by revolts 23 C.E

LOSS OF THE MANDATELOSS OF THE MANDATE The Later Han Dynasty (25-220 C.E.) The Later Han Dynasty (25-220 C.E.)

Overthrown of Wang Mang restores HanOverthrown of Wang Mang restores Han New Han much weakenedNew Han much weakened Rule often through large families, gentryRule often through large families, gentry Rise of Eunuchs in government as new source of powerRise of Eunuchs in government as new source of power The Yellow Turban Uprising (Daoist Revolt)The Yellow Turban Uprising (Daoist Revolt)

Rulers restored order but did not address problem of landholding Rulers restored order but did not address problem of landholding Yellow Turban uprising inflicted serious damage on the Han Yellow Turban uprising inflicted serious damage on the Han

Collapse of the Han Collapse of the Han Court factions paralyzed central government Court factions paralyzed central government Han empire dissolvedHan empire dissolved China was divided into regional kingdomsChina was divided into regional kingdoms

Period of 3 KingdomsPeriod of 3 Kingdoms Local aristocrats divided empireLocal aristocrats divided empire Later fragmented furtherLater fragmented further During period nomads invaded, Buddhism enteredDuring period nomads invaded, Buddhism entered