2013 Chinese Dynasties

Pronunciations

• Huang He hwahng he • Shang shong • Zhou Joe• Loess less• Henan hey – nahn• Wei way• Qin chin

A Dynasty is a line of rulers that come from

the same family

An aristocrat is a noble, or upper class person, whose wealth comes from their land

Key Terms….

China’s history is usually divided into time periods based on the rule of different dynasties. A ‘dynasty’ is a ruling family that passes the power to rule down through the generations. These rulers were thought to be ‘divine’, or actual gods, and thus were obeyed without question.

Four Chinese Dynasties

Warring States Period

Period of the Warring States

Small States Fight

Result of rebellions was Warring States Period

• 403 BC to 221 BC, number of small states fought each other for land, power

• Zhou still nominally in charge, but power almost nonexistent by mid-200s BC

• Qin, new dynasty, arose to bring end to Warring States Period, Zhou dynasty

Warring States Period475B.C.-220 B.C.

After further political consolidation, seven prominent states remained by the end of 5th century B.C., and the years in which these few states battled each other are known as the Warring States Period.

Warring States Period

• China lacked a strong government to stop the power struggles within the ruling-class families

• Chinese society fell into a period of disorder.

• Fighting lasted for almost 200 years during the “Period of the Warring States.”

Things invented during this

conflict1. Saddle & Stirrup2. Crossbows

Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty

• Qin Dynasty (221-202 BCE)– Very short lived

• Qin Shi Huangdi assumed control of China– Declared himself as

China’s first Emperor

http://www.chinahighlights.com/image/map/ancient/qin-dynasty-map1.gif

Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, 221-206 B.C.E.

Established China’s first empire Shi Huangdi (221-206 B.C.E) Legalist rule

– Bureaucratic administration– Centralized control– Military expansion– Book burnings targeted

Confucianists• Buried protestors alive!

Built large section of the Great Wall

Qin Dynasty: Government

• Shi Huangdi created a strong centralized govt.– Power taken from feudal lords– Appointed bureaucrats to help maintain control– Brutal and unpopular ruler; placed the state above the

people

• Promoted Legalism– Authoritarian ruler– Use of force, strong military and discipline to maintain

order– System of rewards and punishments to shape behavior

Harsh system of rule: Legalism• The best way to control human behavior is through

written law rather than through rituals, customs, or ethics.

• laws maintain the stability of the state from the people who are selfish and ignorant.

• laws let the ruler govern efficiently and sometimes ruthlessly.

• Text apart from law books were considered useless (and were often destroyed along with other “arts”)

Belief Systems – China:Legalism in Practice

• Shi Huangdi, leader of the Qin Dynasty made Legalism the first “ruling ideology” in China’s history.

• Created an authoritarian system:

- non-Legalist political philosophies (including Confucianism) were banned

- books offering views contrary to Legalist principles were burned

- all disagreements with the government was made a capital crime

• The dynasty was overthrown because it was too oppressive

Belief Systems – China:Legalism in Practice

• People were conscripted for mandatory state projects:

Irrigation projects Construction of sections of the Great Wall

The Legalist Philosophy of the Qin conflicted with other political “philosophies” of the time…

– Confucianism• Good government

requires men of benevolence, virtue, and culture

• Governments should promote these traits; their absence leads to chaos

• all people have virtue and are educable

Kong FuziKong Fuzi - - “Confucious”“Confucious”

Qin Shi Huangdi: China’s first Emperorhttp://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/picts/firstemperor.gif

Qin Dynasty221B.C.-207 B.C.

When Qin Shi Huang Di (chin sure-hwang-dee). united China in 221 BC, he felt that his achievements had surpassed those of all the rulers who have gone before him. So he combined the ancient titles of Huang ( 皇 ) and Di (帝 ) to create a new title, Huangdi (皇帝 ), usually translated as Emperor.

He relied heavily on strict legal codes. To silence criticism of imperial rule, he banished or put to death many dissenting Confucian scholars and confiscated and burned their books.

A.Qin was a ruler of a local state during the Zhou dynasty. He gradually took over neighboring states and declared himself Qin Shihuangdi, or First Qin Emperor.

B. Qin’s rule was based on legalism.

C. Qin abolished the officials’ authority to pass their posts on to their sons. He became the only person authorized to fill empty posts.

D. Qin united China, created one type of currency, ordered the building of roads and buildings, and connected the Chang Jiang to central China by canal.

E. The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese from the Xiongnu, a nomadic people living north of China. Qin forced the farmers to build the wall.

F. Chinese people believed Qin Shihuangdi was a harsh ruler, and they overthrew his dynasty after his death.

Creating an Empire• Do you think Shihuangdi’s strategy of conquest

helped or hurt China?– Increased China’s size…helped– Cost many lives & used harsh measures to maintain

power… hurt

• How di Qin Shihuangdi end feudalism? Why did he do this?– Replaced feudalism with a government he controlled– So that powerful lords wouldn’t be a threat to him

Qin Dynasty: Government• Expansion into South, new territory• Held world’s first Census• High taxes to support military and construction

projects• Standardization of coins, weights, measures, roads• Outlawed slavery

– Increased free peasantry that could be taxed and conscripted for labor and military

• Construction on what would become the “Great Wall” to north– Protection from invasion

GovernmGovernment ent StructureStructureHe provided a single law He provided a single law code for the whole empirecode for the whole empire

(laws posted for all to see)(laws posted for all to see)

Established a uniform tax Established a uniform tax systemsystemAppointed governors to control (legal/military) Appointed governors to control (legal/military) each district. each district.

Standardized weights and measures Standardized weights and measures

Standardized written Chinese language! Standardized written Chinese language!

• Economic Power!– Public works intended

to improve economy• Canals• Irrigation• Acquisition of areas rich in

iron ore

– Mass mobilization of FORCED LABOR

for public works including Great Wall of China

– 700,000 workers used to create capital city

Standardizing the Culture

• Why did the Emperor of Qin standardize money, weights, & measures?– To make trade easier on the people

• How did Emperor Qin change the written language?– He simplified it by eliminating some of the characters

Qin Shi Huang Di standardized Chinese characters, as well as weights and measures.

• The Chinese worked on the Great Wall for over 1700 years. In turn, each emperor who came to power added pieces of the wall to protect their dynasties. But the wall was not a solid wall. It was a line of disconnected barricades.

• First Emperor Qin wanted a much better barricade to protect his people from the Mongol invaders to the north. He wanted a strong wall 30 feet wide and 50 feet high.

To fend off nomad invation, the fortification walls built by various Warring States were connected to make a 3,107 miles Great Wall.

The Great Wall is actually four great walls rebuilt or extended during the Western Han, Sui, Jin and Ming periods.

• Emperor Qin used peasants, captured enemies, criminals, scholars, and anyone else who irritated him, & put them all to work building the Great Wall. Laborers were not paid for their work. It was slave labor. About 3,000 people worked on the wall during the Qin Dynasty. Rocks fell on people & walls caved in. Workers died of exhaustion and disease. Laborers were fed only enough food to keep them alive. There’s an old Chinese saying, "Each stone in the wall represents a life lost in the wall's construction.

• This project continued long after Emperor Qin’s death. Building the wall was a project that continued for many hundreds of years until the wall was over 3700 miles long. Most emperors used the same system that Qin used, forced labor. Today, the Great Wall still stands. It can be seen from space, it’s that big!

Protecting the Northern Border• How did the emperor protect China’s northern border?

– Building the Great Wall

• What difficulties did workers who constructed the Great Wall face?– Wall was built across high mountains, deserts,

swamps, and quicksand– Cold winters & hot summers– Northern invaders attacking workers– Workers were forced to work and many died

Ending Opposition• Why was there a conflict between Confucian scholars

& the emperor?– Scholars believed in proper behavior & good

examples…not harsh laws• What did the emperor do to prevent people from

learning about Confucianism?– He ordered all Confucian books burned – Anyone who discussed Confucian teachings to

criticize the government would be put to death

• The exquisite terracotta army of the first Qin Dynasty ruler Shihuangdi represents the emperor’s ability to control the resources of the newly unified China, and his attempt to recreate and maintain that empire in the afterlife.

• The soldiers are part of Shihuangdi's tomb, located near the modern town of Xi'an, Shaanxi province in China. Close up of soldier in

Emperor Qin's terra cotta army, Qin Dynasty, China

The terra cotta army was discovered by accident in 1974 at Xian, when local farmers digging wells about a mile west of the mausoleum broke into a pit containing 6,000 life-size terracotta figures.

Altogether over 7,000 terra cotta soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits. It is believed that an army of more than 8,000 terra cotta soldiers were buried fifteen to twenty feet beneath the earth not far from the tomb where Emperor Qin is believed to be buried .

Terracotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

The workers who made the soldiers may have modeled after the real soldiers of Emperor’s army. Each soldier appears to have his own individual personality. Some are almost smiling; some look very stern. Some look like they are middle aged, and some are very young. Each has his own mustache and different hairstyles. The soldiers were set up in real battle formation. Each man held an actual weapon. They are as sharp today as they were twenty-two centuries ago.

The ancient Chinese had a very strong belief in the afterlife. The army was meant to protect Emperor Qin in death, that’s why there were such incredible efforts to be realistic. The more lifelike the soldiers looked, the more effective they would be in guarding the Emperor against his enemies in the afterlife. He was a ruthless leader who ordered people to work on his huge projects. Historians believe that during Qin’s rule, one out of every ten Chinese was put to work creating not only Qin’s terra-cotta army but also 270 magnificent palaces.

Archeologists are convinced that Qin is buried in a spectacular tomb located inside a tomb pyramid in the center of the field where the terra-cotta army was found. In ancient Chinese history books, the tomb is called Mount Li, and is said to contain fabulous jewels, miniature cities, and rivers of mercury that flow to a man-made sea.

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers

& Cavalrymen

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers

& Cavalrymen

CavalryCavalry

Qin Shi Huangdi’s Tomb

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/0e/e3/90/terra-cotta-soldiers.jpg http://www.ibiblio.org/chineseart/contents/ache/img/c02s01i01.jpg

http://images.china.cn/images1/200710/410654.jpg

Water Systems

• Massive government building projects gave jobs to many poor workers.

• New roads were built and maintained to provide easy access to and from these buildings.

• Canals were built to connect rivers and keep trade fast and efficient.

• Irrigation systems that are still in use today watered the fields and made more land good for farming.

Qin Achievements

Building Projects

End of the Qin Dynasty

• List three things that were buried in the Emperor of Qin’s tomb1. Huge terra-cotta army2. Tools3. Precious jewels

• What happened to the Qin dynasty after the death of Qin Shihuangdi?– It was overthrown shortly after the death of the

Emperor of Qin

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Qin (Chin) mistakes

• Burned books• Destroyed major fortifications of the states• Assassinated powerful leaders & scholars• Collected arms of the empire & melted

arrowheads & spears to make 12 statues• Failed to rule with humanity—lost the

Mandate of Heaven

Fall of the Qin Dynasty

• Qin Dynasty was unpopular among the people– Tight control and brutal rule

• After death of Shi Huangdi, the Dynasty soon fell– Huangdi was buried in an elaborate tomb

complete with an army of terracotta soldiers

• Replaced by the Han Dynasty

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Peasant uprisings ended rule of Qin Dynasty

• Han & Roman Empires were simultaneous• Traded through Silk Road• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=y4rmq7803pY&feature=related end of the emperor

Decline and Fall of the Qin Empire• Taxes are too high.• Peasants (farmers) have to

work for free one month of the year and must serve in the military.

• Legalism philosophy means harsh punishments.

• Government burns books that don’t teach legalism.

• Thousands of common people die building the Great Wall.

• What is the result?

Han Dynasty

After a short civil war, Liu Bang seized power and a new dynasty called Han emerged with its capital at Chang'an.

The Han rulers modified some of the harsher aspects of the previous dynasty. Technological advances also marked this period with two inventions, paper and porcelain.

At the end of Han Dynasty, riddled with corruption, by 220 A.D. the Han Empire collapsed.

Han Dynasty206 B.C. -220 A.D.

Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.

“People of the Han” original Chinese Paper invented [105 B.C.E.]

Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many Buddhism introduced into China Expanded into Central Asia

Han Dynasty• Following the death of

Huangdi, a power struggle began– The dynasty fell– Replaced by Han Dynasty

(202 BCE- 220 CE)• Han Dynasty established by

Liu Bang– Peasant who rose up and

assumed rule• Very important dynasty

– Most Chinese citizens today refer to themselves as ethnically “Han”

http://hausa.cri.cn/chinaabc/chapter17/images/liuban.jpg

A. Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty in 202 B.C.

B. Civil service examinations began when Han Wudi started testing potential government employees. Students prepared for many years to take the exams.

C. The population tripled during the Han dynasty. Farmers had to divide their land among more and more sons, which left them with very little land. Farmers sold their land to aristocrats and became tenant farmers to survive.

http://www.chinatownconnection.com/images/handynastymap.gif

The Han Dynasty (206 bce – The Han Dynasty (206 bce – 220 ce)220 ce)

Liu Bang, first Han, commoner who Liu Bang, first Han, commoner who chose educated men with Confucian chose educated men with Confucian

principlesprinciples History became more History became more importantimportant

Established elite academy Established elite academy to teach Confucianism as to teach Confucianism as part of requirement that part of requirement that knowledge of Confucius is knowledge of Confucius is necessary for promotion in necessary for promotion in bureaucracybureaucracy

Consolidated legal systemConsolidated legal system Established principles for Established principles for

the conduct of women the conduct of women

The Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty Military Power and DiplomacyMilitary Power and Diplomacy

– Han as militaristic as Qin had Han as militaristic as Qin had beenbeen

– Army of 300,000 to one millionArmy of 300,000 to one million

– Campaigns to the west for silk Campaigns to the west for silk markets and access to horsesmarkets and access to horses

Han Dynasty: Government

• Continued centralized control started under the Qin– Regional bureaucrats to maintain order– Increased expansion

• Han rulers promoted peace within their dynasty– Moderated Legalism by promoting Confucianism

Emperor Wudi, 141-87 B.C.E.

Started public schools.

Colonized Manchuria, Korea, & Vietnam.

Civil service system – bureaucrats– Confucian scholar-gentry

Revival of Chinese landscape painting.

The Civil Service Exam• First given in 165 BCE during the Han dynasty, it was a way to provide well educated and

well trained government bureaucrats.

• Civil Service Exams under the Han were based on Confucian political & social ethics.

• Theoretically, most males were eligible to take the exams except criminals and merchants.

-During the Sung Dynasty, relatives of nobles serving in the imperial court and eunuchs were also not allowed to take the exam. Still, most that took it were landed nobles.

- In reality, most poor males could not afford to sacrifice work time to study in the academy.

• Academies were opened under the Han to prepare students for the exams.

Han Dynasty: Government

– Han established civil service exams to promote merit in the government

– Possible for peasants to become part of the ruling class (if they could pass exams)

– Taxation and regulation of the economy

http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln471/Images471/exam.jpg

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Han Organizing Principles

• Heaven, earth, man form eternal trinity• Economic welfare is basis of popular morality• Government must provide peace &

prosperity, & education– Moral education through rites, music & literature

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Concept of Imperial Power

• Emperor is a moral agent– Rep. of hierarchical order of mankind– A reflection of the order of the universe– Responsible for keeping mankind in harmony

• Does this through moral suasion• Sets a moral example

– Goodness & virtue given embodiment in rites & music

The Han Dynasty

• Economic PowerEconomic Power– Developed ironworking techniquesDeveloped ironworking techniques

– Spread trade routes to the west (utilized “Silk Road”)Spread trade routes to the west (utilized “Silk Road”)

– Raised land revenues and nationalized private Raised land revenues and nationalized private enterpriseenterprise

– Confucianists opposed these policies but also Confucianists opposed these policies but also opposed business activity in generalopposed business activity in general

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Symbols of Han Dynasty

• Inventions– Paper– Porcelain

• Confucian education system– University established 124 BCE

Han Dynasty: Society/Culture

• Emperor was center of society– Claimed Mandate of Heaven

• Family main social unit– Govt. replicated family model

• patriarchy

• Large peasant class• Strong influence of Confucianism

– Daoism also achieved greater popularity

D. The Chinese invented many new products during the Han dynasty, such as the waterwheel, the rudder, drill bits, steel, and paper.

E. Chinese doctors began practicing acupuncture, the practice of easing pain by sticking needles into patients’ skin.

Chinese doctors began practicing acupuncture, the practice of easing pain by sticking needles into patients’ skin.

Warfare• How far did the Han

empire extend?– The empire reached west

into central Asia, east to present-day Korea, & south to present-day Vietnam

• What weapons made the Han army strong?– Improved armor, swords,

crossbows, and kites

• What is a bureaucracy?– A form of government

where a few people in charge at the top and many at the bottom that follow the orders

• How did Han emperors decide who would receive government jobs?– Civil service exams

Government

• The Chinese invented many new products during the Han dynasty, such as the waterwheel, the rudder, drill bits, steel, and paper.

• With the invention of the rudder, the Chinese could move ships' sails differently. Ships could now sail into the wind rather than with it.

• This meant Chinese ships could travel to the islands of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Agriculture• What problems did farmers face

during the Han period?– Had to grow food, make their

clothing, build their homes– Pay one month unpaid labor to

government– Floods & drought often

destroyed crops• How did the tools that were

developed during the Han period helpful to the farmers?– Chain pump moved water from

irrigation ditches & canals to fields

– Iron plow made it easier to prepare & plant crops

– Wheelbarrow allowed famers to move heavy loads

• Who was the production of silk made easier during the Han period?– Foot-powered machine

that wound fibers onto large reels

• How did the Chinese make it easier to get salt during the Han period?– Iron-tipped bamboo drills

helped get brine from underground…then evaporated leaving salt

Industry

Art• What type of writing

materials did the Chinese use before the invention of paper?– They wrote with brush &

ink on bamboo & silk

• Why was paper an improvement over other writing materials?– It was inexpensive and

easier to bind together– Absorbed ink well

• What is moxibustion?– Placing a cone of powder

on the skin & lighting it to relieve pain & promote healing

• What did the Chinese discover about blood?– It circulates from the heart

through the body and back to the heart

Medicine

Literature

The Han created realistic scenes from everyday life, advanced figure painting, and depictions of religious figures and Confucian scholars.

Fu style: combination of prose and poetryShi style: short lines of verse that could be sung

The Han Chinese made paper by grinding plant fibers into a paste and then setting the paste out to dry in sheets. Later they rolled the dried pulp into scrolls.

Han Achievements

Invention of Paper

Art

Seismograph

A device for telling time, the sundial uses the position of the shadows cast by the sun to tell the time of day.

This device measures the strength of an earthquake. Chinese scientists believed that the movement of the earth was a sign of evil times.

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into the skin to cure disease or relieve pain. This practice is still widely used today.

Han Achievements

Acupuncture

Sundial

Farming

• Iron plow could till more land and raise more food

• Wheelbarrow able to haul more products

Technological Advances during the Han Dynasty

Manufacturing

• Iron swords

• Iron armor

• Silk: a soft, light, highly valued fabric

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Music

Produced by tones based upon response of human heart to external things

Music & gov’t directly relatedContentment=broad & slowJoy=ebullient & free

Music of well run state is peaceful & joyousCountry in confusion full of resentment &

anger=protest musicDying country=mournful & pensive

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Music comes from within Rites comes from without

Great music must be easyGreat rites simpleMusic induces an end to angerRites an end to strifehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYv3K5SNC0k

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Feng ShuiChinese art of placement to

establish balanceGeomancy—for grave

placementPropitious sites are on south

facing slope with water at the base

Capitalizes on energy of the earth--qi

Belief that qi can be directed to benefit man

Science

• What did Chinese astronomers discover?– They discovered that the moon shines because it

reflects the light of the sun– Solar eclipses happen when the moon blocks the

view of the sun

• For what purpose were the first compasses used?– Determine where to build temples, graves, and

homes

Han Dynasty Inventions

Paper about 105A.D., greatly expanded education and government.

Rudder- allowed boats to sail into the wind

Wheel barrow

• Horse collar – allowed horses to pull a much larger load.

• Perfected iron tools and plows

(Do you see any pattern here?)

The Silk Road

• Silk was the most valuable trade product.

• The Silk Road was an overland trade route extended from western China to southwest Asia.

Trade Routes of the Ancient World

Trade Routes of the Ancient World

Decline and Fall of the Han Empire• Taxes are too high.• Peasants (farmers) have to

work for free one month of the year and must serve in the military.

• Peasants forced to sell land and become tenant farmers.

• China attacked by nomads from the north.

• Government corruption.• What is the result?

Fall of the Han

• Huge Taxes to run government

• Gap between rich and poor grew

• Poor lost farms and homes

• Could not pay taxes• Less taxes weakened the

military• (Where have we seen this before?)

Chinese Dynasties and Their Achievements

Dynasties NotableRulers Achievements

Xia Dynasty 2100-1800 B.C.E.

Aryans • Migrated into the area and conquered the local peoples

• Developed superior weaponry and technology

Shang Dynasty 1500-1100 B.C.E.

Thirty separate kings

• Ruled from a succession of seven different capitals.

• Invention of writing

Zhou Dynasty1122-256 B.C.E.

Kings +Noblemen

• Expansion• Regional rulers

Qin Dynasty221-206 B.C.E.

Qin • Centralization of authority• Written laws• Building projects (Great Wall of China)

Han Dynasty HanWudi

• 400 year rule• Exploration (Zhang Qian)• Expansion of trade• Silk Road• Pax Sinica • Food reserves• Merit-based appointments