Dynasties of China

East Asian Studies 2011

Zhou Dynasty• Around 1045 B.C.E Shang

overturned• Western Zhou 1045-771 B.C.E.• Eastern Zhou/Warring States 771-

256 B.C.E.• First evidence of the Mandate of

Heaven– “Son of Heaven” – ruler

• As cities grew, the Zhou built roads and canals to supply them, these turned into stimulated trade and agriculture.

• The Zhou dynasty introduced coin money, which further improved trade.

• Iron was used to create weapons and tools.

Zhou King

Relatives Trusted Subordinates

Zhou Dynasty

• Zhou kings were monarchs, but had no power to enforce obedience – Vassals would not be

loyal

War in the Zhou Period Two sides agree on

time and place Sacrifices before

battle Will not attack if the

ruler had died Ruling houses not

wiped out Honor as important as

winning

Warring States Period

• Qi, Qin and Chu most powerful states – Unhappy sons excluded from rule

would look for allies in other states

• Dukes started calling themselves kings to signal means to rule

Hundred Schools of Thought

• Chaos led to many ideas of how to bring stability – Confucius– Daoism– Legalism

Qin Dynasty 221-206 B.C.E.

• First empire of China– United many

states and regions

– Centralized bureaucratic government

Qin Dynasty Beginnings

• Lü Buwei – Rich merchant rose to

become regent for King Cheng (age 13)

– Recruited scholars to Qin

– Mixture of Daoist and Confucian rule

The First Emperor

• King Cheng becomes Shi Huangdi- “First Emperor”

• Sent Lü Buwei away, later committed suicide

• Li Si, a legalist, became chancellor, helps organize newly conquered states

Qin Reforms

• Nobles were forced to leave their states and move to the capital, Xianyang

• Officials appointed by the Emperor ruled the provinces – These men were

controlled by regulations, requirements and punishments

Qin Reforms

• Standardized writing, weights, measurements, coinage, and even cart axle widths – WHY?

• Not allowed to carry weapons

Qin Reforms

• Roads built for armies• Expanded canals to

connect rivers

Qin Legalism

• Shi Huangdi suspected intellectuals, burned thousands of ancient writings

• 3 assassination attempts

• Qin set up “neighborhood watch” programs to inform on criminals

Qin Punishments

• Hard labor • physical mutilation

(branding, cutting off body parts),

• Banishment• Slavery• Death (torn apart by

horse drawn chariots)

Threats to the North

• Xiongnu – Pastoral nomads in

steppes– Organized by

families/clans– Originally driven out by

Qin, but gain power as dynasty declines

– One of the reasons for building the Great Wall

Fall of Qin Dynasty

• Shi Huangdi died 210 BCE, younger son becomes emperor, executes brothers

• Executes Li Si (Legalist) in favor of chief eunuch

• Legalist institutions unravel, uprisings throughout empire

Han Dynasty

• 206 BCE – 220 CE• Liu Bang is victor of

rebellions and gains power– Came from a modest

family

• Takes name of Emperor Gao 高祖 (r. 202-195 BCE)

Han Dynasty

• Kept centralized government

• Eliminated some harsher laws

• Cut taxes• Gave out some fiefs

(land grants) to relatives and friends –which he later realized was a mistake

Han Dynasty

• Xiongnu remained a threat, eventually gave tributes (bribes) of silk, grain, etc.– Even princesses as

brides– Controversial policy

Han Government

• Emperor in theory all-powerful– Depended on chancellor and

other high officials

• Nine ministries for state ritual to public works

• Officials graded by rank and salary, appointed by merit

• Local officials—magistrates and grand administrators (governors)

Collected taxes, judged lawsuits, commanded troops, flood control

Han Government

• Main tax of 120 coins on adults – Children were less

• Adults also owed a month of labor each year– Could be public works

or military service

• Low land tax (one-thirtieth of harvest)

Empress  Lü

• Empress Dowager (widow of emperor) ruled for the next 15 years.– Her son, Emperor Hui,

was too weak to rule– Painted as cruel,

spiteful, vicious – After her fall her entire

family was wiped out

Emperor Wu (r. 141-87 BCE)

• Came to throne as a teenager

• Encouraged many developments in the Han Dynasty– Arts, culture,

government

• Expanded empire

Business in Han Dynasty

• Heavy taxes on merchants (which had always been mistrusted)– Shops, boats, carts all

taxed• Government monopolies

established for salt, iron and liquor

• Gov’t took over grain to stabilize prices

Chinese Society in Han

• Common Farmers– Bulk of population– Gov’t tried to keep

farmers independent and productive• Two-bladed plow

invented

– Many farmers fell into debt, become tenants

– Some sold wives and children as slaves to pay off debt

Chinese Society in Han

• Elite Groups– Merchants and

manufacturers • Gave loans• Still despised despite

their wealth

– Gentry or scholar class (shi)• Gov’t officials • Educated in

Confucianism

The Family in Han

• Patrilineal • Closely connected to

Confucian teachings• Bride join husbands

family• Filial piety

– Respect for elders and ancestors

221 - 581 (AD)

• Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t

• Non-Chinese nomads control much of China

• Buddhism becomes popular - Confucianism failed

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

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.

Civil Service Exam

1. According to Confucius, who are the second highest in society?

2. According to Confucius, who are the third highest in society?

Tang (618 - 907 AD)

• Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese history

Decline• Weak emperors, nomadic incursions,

economic difficulties• Warlords take control

Song (969 - 1279 AD)

• Large centralized bureaucracy (Neo-Confucian)

• Mercantile class grows, increased trade• Magnetic compass, growing sea power• Weak military

Yuan (1279 - 1368 AD)

• Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China• FIRST NON-CHINESE DYNASTY• 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