Chinese History an overview…

Basic facts • Where: Eastern Asia

• When: 2100 B.C. ~ present

• What: … o Dynasties

o Emperors

o Philosophers

o Poets

o Great cities and projects

o Massive warfare

o Traditions

o Agriculture

o Technology

o Chinese cultures

o Chinese languages

o Fusion of ethnics

o …

What is China? • By geography?

• By politics?(Mainland China, HK, Macau, Taiwan)

• By culture?(Greater China, Korea, Vietnam,

Mongolia, Japan?)

• By ethnics? (Han, Mongols, Manchus, Tibetans,

Muslims, other minorities)

• By language? (Mandarin has many dialects –

Beijing, Sichuan, Northeast, Shanxi, etc; other

languages spoken by Han Chinese – Wu, Hakka,

Min, Cantonese, etc; other languages spoken by

non-Han Chinese – Tibetans, Mongols, Korean,

Russians, Kirgis, etc.)

Early civilizations • Great Rivers

• Yellow River (North)

• Yangtze River (South)

Legends or history? • Ancient sages

• Three emperors and five sovereigns

• The Yellow Emperor

• The Yan Emperor

• Yao, Shun, Yu the Great (hand over crowns)

• Xia dynasty

The Yellow Emperor • The Yellow Emperor,

whose surname is

Xuanyuan, is widely

considered as the

common ancestor of

Chinese people.

• He defeated Chi You,

the chief of barbarians,

and unified the Yellow

River valley.

Yu the Great • Yu the Great is a

legendary ancient leader who successfully saved communities from a massive flood.

• He was selected to be the national leader to succeed the crown from Shun.

• His son, Qi, established the legendary Xia dynasty.

Dynasty? • A period of time ruled by the same family clan

• Cycle of dynasties

• How many? o Major: Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Jin, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing

o Many more…

Early dynasties • Xia dynasty: 2070 B.C. – 1600 B.C.

• Shang dynasty: 1600 B.C. – 1046 B.C.

• Zhou dynasty: o Western Zhou dynasty: 1046 B.C. – 771 B.C.

o Eastern Zhou dynasty:

• Spring and Autumn period: 771 B.C. – 475 B.C.

• Warring States period: 475 B.C. – 256 B.C.

Xia dynasty • 2070 B.C. – 1600 B.C. (approx.)

• Also spelled as Tsia dynasty

• Established by Qi, the son of Yu the Great

• With records in ancient books

• Few archaeological evidences

• Believed to be a major civilization in Neolithic Age

of China

Shang dynasty

Shang dynasty • 1600 B.C. – 1046 B.C.

• Also known as Yin dynasty, named after its capital city “Yin” near modern Anyang, Henan province

• Controlled most lower Yellow River valley and the modern North China Plain

• Bronze age of China

• First texts (inscriptions on tortoise shells)

• The founder, Tang, was considered as a brilliant ruler.

• The last king, King Zhou, is one of well-known tyrants in Chinese history.

• The idea of Mandate of Heaven was developed.

Shang dynasty

Zhou dynasty

Master Jiang Ziya

Zhou dynasty • 1046 B.C. – 256 B.C. (also spelled as Chou dynasty)

• Longest dynasty of China

• Booming of Chinese civilization

• About 200 vassal states in the beginning

• Western Zhou vs. Eastern Zhou? o The locations of capital city

o Zhou court shifted the capital city to the east after a severe barbarian

invasion in 771 B.C.

o Zhou, Han, Jin, Song

• Great philosophers and military strategists

• Hundred schools of thoughts

• Martial and social reforms

W & E Zhou dynasty

King You of Zhou and Bao Si War flames of drama

W & E Zhou dynasty Western Zhou Eastern Zhou

• Earlier (before 771 B.C.)

• Capital in Hao, near

modern Xi’an

• Kings had real authority

• Kings had control on

vassal states

• Unified and peaceful

• Later (after 771 B.C.)

• Capital in Luo, near

modern Luoyang

• Kings had no authority

• Vassal states fought

against each other

• Dissolved and chaotic

Eastern Zhou dynasty Spring and Autumn Warring States

• Major vassal states

allied with smaller ones

to be more powerful

and gain more respect.

• Five Hegemons: o Duke Huan of State Qi

o Duke Wen of State Jin

o King Zhuang of State Chu

o Duke Xiang of State Song

o King Gou Jian of State Yue

• Stronger vassal states

attacked and annexed

smaller ones to gain

more land.

• Seven strongest states: o Qin

o Yan

o Han

o Zhao

o Chu

o Wei

o Qi

Zhou dynasty Western Zhou Eastern Zhou

Confucius • The greatest

philosopher in ancient

China

• Real name: Kong Qiu

• Born in the vassal state

of Lu in 551 B.C.

• The master that

established the

Confucianism school

• Viewed as a sage in

later dynasties

Other great philosophers • Mencius (Meng Zi or Menci) – Confucianism

• Lao Tzu (Lao Zi) – Taoism

• Zhuang Zi – Taoism

• Mo Tse – Mohism

• Shi Zi – Eclectic

• Zou Yan – School of Yin and Yang

• Sun Tzu (Sun Zi) – Military Strategist

• Zhang Yi – Political Strategist

• Su Qin – Political Strategist

• Han Feizi – Legalism

Hundred Schools of Thoughts

Early Imperial China • Qin dynasty: 221 B.C. – 206 B.C.

• Han dynasty: o Western Han dynasty: 204 B.C. – 9 A.D.

o Xin dynasty

o Eastern Han dynasty: 25 A.D. – 220 A.D.

Qin dynasty

Qin dynasty • 221 B.C. – 206 B.C. (also spelled as Ch’in dynasty)

• Capital city: Xianyang (near modern Xi’an)

• Qin Shi Huang being the first emperor in China

• First imperial Chinese dynasty

• Reunified China after hundreds years of war

• Standardized writing system, measurement units, size of vehicles, currency and so on…

• Built the Great Wall, ancient highways and Canal Lingqu

• Terra Cotta Warriors

• Harsh rule, heavy taxes

• Fought against Xiongnu and southern barbarians

• Overthrown by uprisings quickly after the death of Qin Shi Huang

Qin dynasty

Qin Shi Huang • Shi Huang = first emperor

• Real name: Ying Zheng

• Succeeded to the throne as the King of State Qin in 247 B.C.

• Defeated other six major vassal states from 230 B.C. to 221 B.C.

• Claimed to be the emperor in 221 B.C.

• An emperor with remarkable contributions

• Also a tyrant

Han dynasty

Han dynasty • 204 B.C. – 220 A.D.

• Capital: Chang’an (Xi’an) Luoyang

• The name of ethnic Han

• First peak of Chinese empire

• Strong in military, culture and economy

• Expanded territory (into Central Asia, Vietnam and

Korean Peninsula)

• Rivalry between Han and Xiongnu

• Interrupted by the short-lived Xin dynasty (9 – 23)

Han dynasty

Notable emperors • Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang)

o 202 B.C. – 195 B.C.

o Originally a lower-ranked officer

o Established the dynasty and defeated Xiang Yu in a 4-year contention

• Emperor Wen of Han (Liu Heng) o 180 B.C. – 157 B.C.

o A brilliant leader who developed the economy and enhanced people’s life standard

• Emperor Jing of Han (Liu Qi) o 157 B.C. – 141 B.C.

o Another brilliant leader

• Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) o 141 B.C. – 87 B.C.

o Conquered lots of land

o Defeated Xiongnu for the first time

• Emperor Guangwu of Han (Liu Xiu) o 25 A.D. – 57 A.D.

o Restored Han dynasty after the Xin dynasty

What else? • Sima Qian Shi Ji

• Who were Xiongnu?

• The open of Silk Road

• Tributary states

• Paper-making technology

• Tofu

• Agricultural development and new technologies

• Confucianism became the only official school of thought

• Yellow Turban Uprising

• Taoism spreading

Xiongnu • A powerful nomadic ethnic

from the northern steppe

• Long time rival of Qin and Han dynasties

• Leaders are called Chanyu

• Defeated by Han dynasty, and then moved west

• The general chronological order of dominant nomadic people in northern steppe: o Xiongnu – Xianbei – Rouran – Turks (Tujue) –

Uighers (Uyghurs) – Kirgis (Kyrgyz) – Khitan – Mongols

Shi Ji • Written by Sima Qian

• A.k.a. Records of the Grand Historian

• Covers the era from ancient sages till Emperor Wu of Han

• Records of kings, dukes, emperors, notable people, major events, culture, geography, policies, etc.

• First of 24 official historic records in Chinese history

Era of Fragmentation • Three Kingdoms period: 220 – 280

• Jin dynasty: o Western Jin dynasty: 256 – 315

o Eastern Jin dynasty: 315 – 420

• Northern and Southern dynasties: 386 – 589

Era of Fragmentation

Three Kingdoms • Wei, Han (Shu), Wu (Eastern Wu)

• Wei, founded by Cao Pi (the son of Cao Cao), occupied

most northern China

• Han, commonly known as Shu or Shu-Han, was founded

by Liu Bei, a distant relative of Han dynasty’s royal clan. It

occupied the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China.

• Wu was founded by Sun Quan and occupied the

southeastern China.

• They reached an equilibrium and none of them was

able to swallow anyone else.

• Popular classic fiction Romance of Three Kingdoms is based

on this period.

Three Kingdoms

Popular historic figures • Lyu Bu

o One of greatest warriors in ancient China

• Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei o The founder of Shu-Han Kingdom and his two sworn brothers

o Symbol of friendship

• Zhuge Liang (a.k.a. Kongming) o Liu Bei’s advisor

o Symbol of smart and loyalty

• Cao Cao, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi o Cao Cao is the real founder of Wei but never claimed to be an emperor

o Cao Pi and Cao Zhi are his sons, and they are all known for their poems

• Sun Quan o Founder of Wu Kingdom

o Showed great leadership in a young age

• Zhou Yu and Lu Su o Sun Quan’s advisors

Jin dynasty

Jin dynasty • A forgotten major dynasty

• Western Jin barbarian invasion Eastern Jin

• Capital: Chang’an (Xi’an) Jiankang (Nanjing)

• Lost about half territory to nomads after 317

• Corrupted government

• Noble families control the empire but they did

nothing

• Talented people from humble families had no

chance to make contributions to the empire

• Great poets, philosophers, artists and calligraphers

• Open-minded society

Ethnic fusion • Minorities founded 16

smaller kingdoms in the

north and northwest

• Xiongnu, Xianbei, Jie, Di and Qiang the five

barbarians

• They occupied

previously-Han

territories in Yellow River

valley

Great artists and poets • Wang Xizhi

o The greatest calligrapher in ancient China

• Tao Yuanming o A popular pastoral poet (Chinese idyllist)

• Seven Sages in the Bamboo Grove o Seven people who did not want to be governors. They refused to stay in

human communities and lived in a bamboo grove

o Symbols of free

North & South rivalry

North & South rivalry Northern dynasties Southern dynasties

• 386 – 581

• Northern Wei dynasty, E & W Wei dynasties, Northern Zhou dynasty, Northern Qi dynasty

• Established by Xianbei ethnic group

• Later emperors respect Han cultures and adapted to Han’s ways

• Ruled the Yellow River valley and North China Plain

• Capitals: Ping (Datong), Luoyang, Ye and Chang’an (Xi’an)

• 420 – 589

• Four successive dynasties: Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang and Chen

• Established by Han ethnic group

• Traditionally considered as orthodox dynasties

• Ruled the Yangtze River valley and southern territories

• Buddhism spreading

• Capital: Jinling (Nanjing)

Buddhism spreading • Emperor Wu of Liang

• Emperor Xiaowen of

Northern Wei

• Great Buddhism

grottoes in China: o Mogao Grottoes in Gansu

o Longmen Grottoes in Henan

o Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi

o Dazu Grottoes in Chongqing

Buddhism spreading

Longmen Grottoes

Peak of Chinese culture • Sui dynasty: 581 – 618

• Tang dynasty: 618 – 907

• Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: 907 – 960

• Song dynasty: o Northern Song dynasty: 960 – 1127

o Southern Song dynasty: 1127 – 1279

Sui dynasty

Sui dynasty • 581 – 618, only two emperors

• Capital: Daxing City (Xi’an)

• Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian) o Founder of Sui

o Brilliant Ruler

• Emperor Yang of Sui (Yang Guang) o Talented ruler: defeated surrounding tribes, built the Grand Canal, rebuilt the

Great Wall

o Tyrant: Heavy taxes, harsh laws, endless wars, dissolute

• Reunification of China in 589

• First imperial exam o Became the official way to select mayors and governors

o Lasted for 1400 years

o Last imperial exam was held in 1905 (Qing dynasty)

• Destroyed by peasant uprisings o Wagang Army

o Dou Jiande

o Du Fuwei

Grand Canal

Tang dynasty

Tang dynasty • 618 – 907

• Capital: Chang’an (Xi’an)

• Founded by Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu of Tang)

• Brilliant emperors and chancellors in early half

• Three Departments and Six Ministries

• Peak of the civilization

• Strong in military, economy and cultural influences

• Great poets

• Weakened by An Lushan’s rebellion

Tang dynasty

The Three Departments and Six Ministries

• Three departments o Zhongshu policy-making and legislation

o Shangshu execution of policies

o Menxia evaluation of policy proposals

• Six ministries o Ministry of Military

o Ministry of Civil Registration

o Ministry of Justice

o Ministry of Constructions

o Ministry of Rites

o Ministry of Personnel

• 24 Boards under ministries

Emperor Taizong of Tang • Real name: Li Shimin

• Son of Li Yuan

• Played a major role in overthrowing Sui dynasty

• Took the throne after the Xuanwu Gate Incident

• One of most brilliant emperors in Chinese history

• Regarded as Khan of Heaven by neighboring nomadic tribes

• Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui

• Wei Zheng

Wu Zetian • The only empress in Chinese

history

• Originally the Queen

• Changed Tang into Zhou

• Handed the throne back to Tang court before she died

• Controversial historical figure

• Contributions o Defeated nomadic tribes

o Development of economy

o Buddhism

• Negative effects o Cruel officials

o Killed her own sons and daughtors

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

• Real name: Li Longji

• A.k.a. Emperor Ming of

Tang

• Tang dynasty reached

its peak during his reign

• Overally a brilliant ruler

• Romantic story of

Emperor Xuanzong and

Lady Yang

• An Lushan’s rebellion

Great poets Li Bai Du Fu

Surrounding tribes and kingdoms

• Turks (Tujue)

• Tuyuhun

• Gaochang Kingdom

• Khitan

• Uighurs

• Kirgiz

• Turgesh

• Pohai Kingdom

• Nanzhao Kingdom

• Tibetan Empire

• Korean kingdoms o Koguryo

o Paekche

o Silla

Decline and fall of Tang • An Lushan’s rebellion: 755 – 765

• Factional Struggles between Niu Party and Li Party

• Sweet Dew Incident in 835: eunuchs gained power

• Huang Chao's uprising: 881 – 884

• Zhu Wen established Later Liang dynasty in 907

Transition era • Five successive short-

lived dynasties ruled the north o Later Liang, Later Tang, Later

Jin, Later Han and Later Zhou

o 907 – 960

• Ten smaller kingdoms and many other de-facto independent states in the south and frontier zones

• Khitan rose in the northeast

Song dynasty

Song dynasty

Song dynasty • Also spelled as Sung dynasty

• Great era in culture and economy

• Relatively weak in military

• Technology developments o Compass

o Typography

o Gunpowder

o Calendar

o New type of waterwheel

• Great artists, literateurs and poets o Wang Anshi, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Lu You, Xin Qiji, Li Qingzhao

• Lost almost half territory in 1127

• Capitals: Bian (Kaifeng) Lin’an (Hangzhou)

Barbarians knocking the door

Concurrent dynasties and major kingdoms founded

by minority groups in Song dynasty:

• Liao dynasty (Khitan people): 907 – 1123

• Jurchen Jin dynasty (Jurchen people): 1115 – 1234

• Western Xia dynasty (Tangut people): 1038 – 1227

• Dali kingdom (Bai people): 1096 – 1253

• Mongol Khanate (Mongols): est. 1206 later the

Mongol Empire, and then Yuan dynasty

Song dynasty

Yue Fei • 1103 – 1142

• One of most popular

military heroes in Chinese

history

• Defended the Song court

against the invasion of

Jurchen Jin dynasty

• Army of Yue Family

• Framed up by Qin Hui

• Executed by Emperor

Gaozong of Song

• Memorial in Hangzhou

Last great dynasties • Yuan dynasty: 1271 – 1368

• Ming dynasty: 1368 – 1644

• Qing dynasty: 1644 – 1911

Yuan dynasty • Great Yuan ruled by Mongol ethnic

• Mongol Khanate Mongol Empire Yuan dynasty

• Founded by Genghis Khan

• Conquered a huge portion of Eurasia continent

• Dissolved into four khanates and Yuan dynasty

• Defeated Song dynasty during the reign of Kublai

Khan

• Capital: Dadu (Beijing)

• Adapted to Chinese ways to rule

• Invented the province system

Mongol Empire

Yuan dynasty

Four classes of citizens • Mongols

o Ruling class

o Nobles

• Semu people (literally: colored-eye people) o Other former nomadic people, Muslims, people from Central Asia

o Higher social status

• Han people o Citizens of former Jurchen Jin dynasty and Western Xia dynasty

o Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans

o Intermediate social status

• Southern people o Citizens of former Song dynasty

o Han ethnic and southern barbarians

o Lowest social status

o Even keeping kitchen knifes was not allowed

Ming dynasty

Ming dynasty • Capitals: Nanjing Beijing

• Established by Zhu Yuanzhang

• Relatively strong in economy

• Most emperors were tyrants

• Cruel officials and secret polices

• Great sailings of Zheng He

• Rebuilt the Great Wall (the wall you can see today)

• Constructed the Forbidden City

• Threatened by Mongols, Manchus and Japanese

pirates

Ming dynasty

Hongwu Emperor • Real name: Zhu

Yuanzhang

• Originally a poor monk

and begger

• Joined the Red Turban

Uprising

• Established Ming

dynasty in 1368

• Cruel rules

• Anti-corruption

Yongle Emperor • Real name: Zhu Di

• Son of Zhu Yuanzhang

• Originally the Prince of Yan

• Rebelled against his nephew, Zhu Yunwen (the Jianwen Emperor) and gained the throne

• Moved the capital to Beijing

• Zheng He’s voyages

• The Yongle Canon

Voyages of Zheng He

Qi Jiguang • Great military strategist

• Invented many

weapons and

strategies

• Master in martial arts

• Popular military hero

• Fought against

Japanese pirates in the

southeastern coastal

area

Qing dynasty

Qing dynasty • Also spelled as Ching dynasty or Tsing dynasty

• Capital: Beijing

• Who are Manchus?

• Descendants of Jurchens

• From the northeast

• Established the Second Jin in 1611 by Nurhachi

• Entered the Shanhai Pass after Ming dynasty was

overthrown by Li Zicheng’s uprising

• Influence on Chinese culture? disputed o Another peak of the civilization? Heavenly empire

o Literary inquisition? Wutai Poem Case

Qing dynasty

Qing dynasty • Extremely powerful and wealthy during reigns of the

“brilliant emperors trio” o Kangxi Emperor

o Yongzheng Emperor

o Qianlong Emperor

• Declined in the later half of Qianlong Emperor’s reign due to over-arrogant and self-seclusion

• Missed the chance of industrial revolution

• Lost the Opium War to Britain in 1840s

• Invaded by many western powers and ceded huge amount of territories, mostly to Russia

• Struggled a lot to reform and self-strengthen but failed (in late 19th century)

• Collapsed during the Revolution of 1911

Kangxi Emperor • Most brilliant emperor in

Qing dynasty

• Re-occupied the

Xinjiang region

• Suppressed massive

rebellions of Ming

dynasty’s remnants

• Developed the

economy

• Open-minded

• Always learning

Major events in later half of Qing dynasty Wars Reforms

• 1840s: Opium War against Britain

• 1850s: Taiping Rebellion

• 1856 – 1860: Second Opium War against Britain and France

• 1894: War of Jiawu against Japan

• 1900: Invasion of Allied 8 Powers

• 1890s: Self-strengthen

movement (learn from

western powers)

• 1898: Hundred-Day

Reform (failed)

• 1911: Xinhai Revolution

led by Sun Yat-sen

Modern China • Republic of China: 1911 – present

o Abbr. ROC

o Moved to Taiwan after 1949

o Originally ran by National Party (Kuomingtang, KMT)

• People’s Republic of China: 1949 – present o Abbr. PRC

o Currently running the mainland China (including Hong Kong and Macau)

o Established by Communist Party (CCP)

Sun Yat-sen • A.k.a.: Sun Zhongshan

• 1866 – 1925

• Founding father of

modern China

• Based on Hawaii

• Led the Revolution of

1911 and established

the Republic of China

• First president of

Republic of China

Republic of China

Current capital: Taipei

Major events of ROC • 1912: established

• 1919: May 4th Movement

• 1922 – 1935: wars among warlords

• 1926: the central government launched Northern

Expeditions against major warlords

• 1931: Sept. 18th Incident Japan occupied Manchuria

• 1934 – 1936: Long March of Red Army led by

Communists

• 1937 – 1945: Total war between China and Japan (part

of WW-2)

• 1948 – 1949: Chinese Civil War between KMT and CCP

• Post 1949: ROC remained on Taiwan Island

Chiang Kai-shek • A.k.a.: Jiang Jieshi and

Jiang Zhongzheng

• Born in Zhejiang province

• Professional soldier

• Graduated from a

military academy

• The leader of China

during WW-2

• The leader of KMT during

Chinese Civil War

• Anti-communists

People’s Republic of China

Current capital: Beijing

Major events of PRC • 1921: Communist Party of China was established

• 1927 – 1937: rivalry between CCP and KMT

• 1949: PRC was established by CCP after winning the civil war, and Mao Zedong became the first chairman (president)

• 1956: Three Great Remould banned private companies

• 1958 – 1960: Great Leap Forward resulted in disasters and tragedies

• 1964: China started to own nuclear bombs

• 1966 – 1976: Cultural Revolution

• 1971: Replaced ROC as the political entity to represent China in the United Nations

• 1978: Reform and Open Up Led by Deng Xiaoping

• 1989: Tian’anmen Square Incident

• 1997: Hong Kong was handed back to China • 2003: First Chinese astronaut

• 2008: Beijing Olympics

Chinese Civil War • 1947 – 1949

• Between KMT and CCP

• Three major battles o Battle of Liaoning-Shenyang

o Battle of Huai-Hai

o Battle of Peking-Tianjin

• Yangtze-River-Crossing campaign

• KMT lost the war and shifted to Taiwan

• The blasting fuse of the current Taiwan issue

Mao Zedong • “Chairman Mao”

• The founding father and

first president of PRC

• Born in Hunan province

• Only took primary school

courses

• Great self-educated

military strategist and

politician

• Saved CCP during the

Long March

• Established PRC in 1949

Deng Xiaoping • The second important

leader of PRC

• Born in Sichuan province

• An early member of

Communist Party

• Turned China back from

Cultural Revolution

• Reform and Open-up

• Greatly enhanced

China’s economy and

people’s life-standard

• On the cover-page of

TIMES magazine

Mainland China & Taiwan • Technically, Taiwan = ROC while mainland = PRC

• Officially: o They both agree that there is only one China

o They both claimed to be the only China

o They claim all territories of each other

• Consensus of 1992

• Actually: o Taiwan is de-facto independent

o In the mainland:

• Almost everyone believes that Taiwan should be a part of China

• Educated in school

o In Taiwan:

• Some people think mainland and Taiwan should be one country Pan-Blue camp

• Many others think Taiwan should be an independent country Pan-Green camp

• Still, some people don’t really care

Future? • World leading powers:

o United States

o Europe

o Russia

o China

o Japan

o India

o …