Lecture Notes Chapter 8
“The master said,’ He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place, while all the stars turn towards it…’”
How could states be unified and organized?
What principles should be used to create government?
During the Period of the Warring States (403-221 BCE) questions came to light as to how imperial governments should govern
Three schools of thought carried the greatest influence
1)
2)
3)
Who was Confucius? Kong Fuzi 551-479 BCE
He was the first to consider openly the problems of social and political order
Analects
Simple theory
Junzi (superior individuals)
“Morality and ethical behavior more important than education”
Additional qualities: Xiao (filial piety) Ren (benevolence)
The general teaching of secular Confucianism may be applied to a variety of problems
Mencius (371-289) BCE
Xunzi (289-238 BCE)
Emphasis on Li ( a sense of propriety)
Dao-The Way
“Dao does nothing ,and yet it does everything”
Why critical of Confucianism?
Laozi and Daodejing
Doctrine of Wuwei
Daoism supported the concept of small self- sufficient communities
Neither Daoism not Confucianism could do the job…
Legalism
Shang Yang
Han Feizi
The Qin Empire development in the 3rd and 4th centuries BCE
1)
2)
3)
4) Capital city Xianyang
Qin Shihuangdi- The First Emperor (221-210 BCE)
Ignored nobility and ruled empire with centralized bureaucracy
1)Disarmed military forces. Why?
2)Made roads to facilitate communication and trade
3)Drafted laborers to complete public projects
Who were the Xiongnu and what did Qin Shihuangdi do to help build their confederation?
The Burning of Books
Qin Civilization
1) Uniform______
2) Roads and bridges lead to______
3) Common______
The Tomb of Qin Shihuangdi
Revolts
Here come the Han- for almost 400 years
Heading into another period of Warring States, but by 206 BCE Liu Bang ( Gaozu)
The Middle Way ( but not really)
Early policies
Former Han 206 BCE -9 CE Capital City- Chang’an
Later Han 25-220 CE capital city Luoyang
“The Martial Emperor” Han Wudi or Wu 141 BCE – 87 BCE
How do we know so much about him? SimaQian
The WU Two
1)Centralization
2)Expansion
Additionally,
Raised taxes
State control of lucrative liquor business
Imperial University
Established Confucian thought as imperial ideology
Xiongnu, again!
Advantages of the Chinese
1)
2)
Advantages of the Xiongnu
1)
2)
3)
Social Situations in the Former Han
Previous agricultural base provided for a complex society
What happened to destroy it?
Patriarchy and Ban Zhao (45-120 BCE)
Lessons for Women
1)
2)
3)
Iron
Cast Iron
1) 2) 3)
Silk
Chinese best
Silk Roads
Paper
Silk
Bamboo
Weaponry
Trigger system
Rudders for ships
Horse collars
Warfare
Agriculture
Expeditions:
Establishment of
Property of wealthy/lack of investments and new social tensions
Bandits and rebels
The rise of crime reflects the economy
Wang Many 1st century CE the “Socialist Emperor”
6 CE
9 CE
1)Limited amount of ______one family could own
2)Broke up huge estates to redistribute land to the ______
23 CE the Former Han Dynasty ended as did the life of Wang Mang
The Later Han Dynasty
Within two years the new and not improved Han Dynasty reappears
1)Central government
2)Reorganized state bureaucracy
3)Maintain Chinese in Central Asia
4)Xiongnu in submission
5)Control Silk Road
Yellow Turban Uprising
Collapse of the Han as imperial family members, Confucian scholars and court eunuchs all vied for power