Chapter 2Classical Civilization: China

Ms. Sheets

University High School

Revised by Ms. Bennett

Chinese Dynasty Song• Using the tune Frere Jacques

• Shang, Zhou (“Joe”), Qin (“chin”), Han• Shang, Zhou (“Joe”), Qin (“chin”), Han• Sui (“swee”), Tang, Song• Sui (“swee”), Tang, Song• Yuan, Ming, Qing (“ching”), Republic• Yuan, Ming, Qing (“ching”), Republic• Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqHR1uAc_-Q

Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE)First documented rule in China after Xia dynasty

Classical China “Middle Kingdom”• China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system

in which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole

• Isolated• Couldn’t learn from other cultures• Rare invasions• Distinctive identity

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Patterns in Classical China• 3 dynasties: Zhou, Qin, Han• Dynasty Cycle

• When a dynasty begins, it usually emerges from a family of a successful general, or from a peasant rebellion

• Over time, dynasties grew weak:• tax revenues declined• social divisions increased• Internal rebellions• periodic invasions

• When one dynasty declines, another emerges

Zhou Dynasty

1029-258 BCE

• Displaced the Shang dynasty• Created the “Mandate of Heaven”

• Used to justify rule based on the idea that Heaven transferred power of the dynasties and legitimized the current dynasty

• Heaven would also be displeased with a poor leader and would cause that dynasty’s overthrow

Zhou Dynasty, cont.• Used feudalism to create alliances

• Rulers gave land to family members, other noble families, and regional princes

• In exchange, tax revenues and military troops were provided

• Feudalism is unstable; depends on loyalties and obligations

• Extended territory of China into the Yangtze River valley

• Promoted one standard language (Mandarin Chinese)

Zhou Dynasty, cont.

• Eventually, regional rulers formed independent armies

• Great thinkers tried to restore order and social harmony through education

• Zhou never established a powerful government and declined because of weak political infrastructure and nomadic invasions

• Zhou dynasty ended after the Era of the Warring States (402-201 BCE)

Zhou Dynasty

Zhou • Social

• Rise of a strong, landowning class; inherit social status • Patriarchal

• Political• Loose alliance of regional princes, depended on loyalty; relatively weak rulers• Exchange land for promise of taxes and military - Feudalism• Landowners become more powerful than rulers

• Interactions• Expanded the Middle Kingdom

• Cultural• Banned human sacrifice; formalized religious practices; Ancestor worship; focus on

harmony • Promoted use of one language for everyone • End of dynasty leads to development of new philosophies (Confucianism)• Tea ceremonies; chopsticks

• Economic• Agriculture dominated (N-wheat; S-rice)

Period of Warring States• 402 BCE - 201 BCE

• Competing interests of landowning class and ruling class cause political turmoil

• Landowners raise own military - origins of regional warlords• No political unity - China is exceptionally weak• Cultural innovations survive • Results in new philosophies

Religion and Culture in China• Religion

• Rulers in the Zhou dynasty maintained a belief in gods and stressed the importance of a harmonious earthly life

• Ancestor worship

• Philosophies/Ideologies• Confucianism• Legalism• Daoism/Taoism

Confucianism

• Confucius (K’ung Fu Tzu)• Period of Warring

States• Scholar - history,

music, ethics• Main Writing: The

Analects• Promoted by followers -

Mencius

Confucianism

• Chinese ethical and philosophical system based on relationships and personal virtue

• Developed from the teachings of Confucius (551-478 BCE) on the eve of the Era of the Warring States

• Based on Analects of Confucius

• Confucianism spread throughout Classical China; predominant philosophy

Confucian Beliefs• Education• Self regulation• The proper exercise of political

power by the rulers• Propriety and etiquette• Familial love and respect for parents• Righteousness• Honesty and trustworthiness• Loyalty to the state• Humaneness towards others

• Highest Confucian virtue

Main Ideas

• Restore social order, harmony and good government to China

• Ethical systems based on relationships and personal virtue

• Emphasized family• Filial piety - respect for parents and elders is necessary

for order

• Early Zhou Dynasty was seen as perfect society• Inferiors devoted to service• Superiors looked after dependents

Confucianism• Five Basic Relationships in Society

• Ruler/Subject• Father/Son• Husband/Wife• Older Brother/Younger Brother• Friend/Friend

• Chinese gentleman - education and moral standards; birth status not important

• Bureaucracy - those who help run government• Courteous, precise, generous, just/fair

Daoism/Taoism• Founded by Lao Tze (604-531 BCE)

• Main Writing: Tao-te-Ching (The Way of Virtue)

• Human actions are not important

• Most important part of society is natural order of things• The Tao (The Way) - guides

all things

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are needed to see this picture.

Daoism • Founded by Lao Tzu (5th c. BCE)• A more spiritual philosophy than Confucianism

• Promoted humility, frugal living, simplicity

• Harmony with nature, astrology• Secret rituals, ceremonies, mystery, magic

• People should follow personal paths to self-knowledge

• Little emphasis on formal education and learning

• Many emperors favored Daoism

Daoism/Taoism

• Search for knowledge and understanding of nature

• To understand nothing, it is best to do nothing, to observe nature• Nature is not jealous or power hungry• Does not argue about right or wrong, good

or bad

Legalism

• Practical, political reaction to Confucianism• Han Feizi - 3rd century BCE

• Powerful and efficient government is key to restoring order

• Laws will end civil war and restore harmony• Rewards to good subjects and punish disobedient• Rulers must control ideas and actions of people• Favored by Shi Huangdi during Qin dyansty

Legalism • Qin and early Han periods• Strict system of obedience to government and law

• Favors authoritarian state ruled by force (army to control people)

• Human nature is evil and requires constant discipline

• People’s responsibility to work for the government

• Not successful in China overall, but influenced some policies and ideologies Shi Huangdi admired

Legalist thinkers

Qin Dynasty (221-201 BCE)• Qin Shi Huangdi – only emperor of the Qin dynasty

• Took control of feudal estates: knew the problem with Zhou dynasty laid with feudal nobles who ruled lands

• Created non-aristocratic officials to oversee provinces

• Had powerful army who crushed uprisings; brutal ruler

• Goals were to unify and expand China and restore order

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Qin Emperor Qin Shih Huangdi standardizes all possible:

• The Great Wall• Weights & measures• Laws• Money• Thought

Qin Dynasty, cont.

• Great Wall of China was begun• Over 3,000 miles long• Built to protect from outside

invasion• Largest construction project in

human history• Built by forced labor, many

died• National census

• Calculate tax revenues and labor services more efficiently

• Standardized coinage, weights and measures

Qin Dynasty, cont.• Uniform Chinese written script• Government supports agriculture with new irrigation projects

• Shi Huangdi was very unpopular among Chinese citizens

• Burned books• Taxed heavily• Large military expansion and conscription

• After Shi Huangdi died, Qin dynasty ended

• Social• Primogeniture eliminated (practice of having eldest son inherit

all property and land)• Nobles must leave land and live in Emperor’s court

• Political• Emperor had complete control over all aspects of society• Use of brutality and force to accomplish goals• Bureaucracy (not of the nobility) expanded to help control all

regions• National census• Single law code

• Interactions• Army expanded to crush rivals and regional rebellions• Expanded territory of China, including Hong Kong• Influenced parts of Vietnam through conquest• Expanded infrastructure to increase interactions

• Cultural• Confucianism looked down upon and followers persecuted• Legalism promoted• Architectural: Initiates construction of Great Wall; Terracotta

Soldiers/Tomb of Shi Huangdi • Uniform written language • Banned books

• Economic• Introduced standard weights and measures• Eliminated the very rare practice of slavery• Forced labor necessary for construction projects• Extremely high taxes• Sponsored agricultural projects (irrigation) and manufacturing

of silk

Why did the Qin Dynasty Fall?

• Shi Huangdi• Extremely paranoid; killed off suspected enemies

(nobles, intellectuals, warlords)• Desire to control EVERYTHING

• High taxes, forced labor• Shi Huangdi dies in 210 BCE; followed by 8 years of peasant revolts to determine successor - winner establishes Han Dynasty

Terracotta Army• Created around 210 BCE • Purpose: defend Shi Huangdi’s tomb, help him rule in the afterlife

• Over 8,000 individual soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses buried in four pits around the tomb

• Terracotta: clay-based unglazed ceramic

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsUE-ZtcUFg&feature=related

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

Han Dynasty

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Peasant uprisings ended rule of Qin Dynasty• Civil war

• Two strong leaders• Xiang Yu (aristocratic general)• Liu Bang (peasant-class general under Xiang Yu)

• 202 BCE• Liu Bang beat Xiang Yu for good

Rise of the Han Dynasty• Liu Bang, a peasant fighting in a rebel army, became

emperor due to the Chinese belief in the mandate of heaven.

• He was the first emperor of the Han dynasty.

• Well liked by both warriors and peasants, Liu Bang released the country from strict Legalistic practices and focused on people’s immediate needs.

• Liu Bang lowered taxes, gave large plots of land to supporters, and set up a government that expanded on the ideas of the Qin.

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Han Dynasty (201 BCE-220 CE)• Developed examination system to prepare

civil servants to work in government – So that talented men would run the government – it would take years to take the exams• Emperor Wu Ti worked to enforce peace,

and required government to have formal training to emphasize Confucianism

• Extensive expansion of Chinese territory• Trade routes led to contact with India,

Parthian Empire, Roman Empire• Invasions by the Huns and a weak central

government ended the dynasty• Between 220-589 CE, China was in a state of

chaos

Han 202 BCE – 221 CE• The Han dynasty created a new form of government that valued family, art, and learning.

• Legalism was replaced by Confucianism• Han dynasty government was based on the ideas of

Confucius.• Centralized government

• Capital cities

• Introduced the civil service exam• Lowered taxes• Less harsh punishments• Silk Roads developed

• Opens trade

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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

Wudi’s New Government • lived 141-87 BCE• Consolidated central power (land, food supply)

• In 140 BCE, Emperor Wudi took the throne and shifted the country’s focus back to a strong central government.

•Confucianism became the official government philosophy.

•Wudi built a university that taught Confucian ideals, and awarded his officials with higher rank if they were familiar with Confucian principles.

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4 Social Classes under the Confucianism • Upper Class: The Emperor, his court, and his

scholars

• Second Class: The peasants, who made life work on a daily basis

• Third Class: The artisans, who produced items for daily life and some luxury goods

• Fourth Class: The merchants, who bought and sold what others made

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Agriculture under the Han• Population of 60,000,000 to be fed• Farming thought to be a pivotal and honored occupation• But in reality small farmers were burdened by government

taxes and became heavily indebted to the rich

Ancient Chinese wheelbarrow

Rich and Poor• Only about 10% of the population lived in the cities.

• Cities were neatly laid out with main streets and alleyways. • Each city was surrounded by a strong wall, made of earth and

stone.• As cities are today, the ancient Han cities were centers of

government, education, and trade Wealthy families lived in large estates.

• Hired laborers, private security, and entertainment.

• Wealthy families lived in large estates.• Hired laborers, private security, and entertainment.

• Peasants made up 90% of population.• Long hours, low pay, heavy taxes.• The poor lived in houses packed together. They had very little

food, and little to no sanitation. Many of the young males joined street gangs. Gangs wore distinctive clothes and armor, that identified their gang. Teen gangs roamed the cities, terrorizing people.

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Commerce and Trade under the Han

• Trade and commerce were not respected but were still very important

• Government had monopolies – Salt mining– Iron forging– Coin minting– Alcohol brewing

• Government engaged in industry– Silk weaving

• Growth of trade along the Silk Roads

Family Life• Social Classes and Wealth

• Social rank did not reflect prosperity.

• Hard work and heavy labor did not reflect prosperity.

• A strong family was stressed so that people would obey the emperor.

• Men

• Men were the head of the household.

• Rulers had to obey their elders too; it was a crime to disobey.

• Some men gained jobs based on the respect they showed to elders.

• Women

• Women were taught to obey their husbands.

• Girls were not valued as highly as boys.

• Women could influence their sons’ families

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• Buddhism was introduced• Literature

• Fu style: combination of prose and poetry• Shi style: short lines of verse that could be sun

• Confucian education system• University established 124 BCE

• Art• The Han created realistic scenes from everyday life,

advanced figure painting, and depictions of religious figures and Confucian scholars.

• Porcelain• Paper was invented

• 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.

• Great increase in population and land holdings – it doubled

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Roles of Women under the Han

Chinese inventions

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

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 music

Dying country=mournful & pensive

Dr Jessica Stowell OU Confucius Institute

Feng Shui

Chinese art of placement to establish balance

Geomancy—for grave placement

Propitious 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

Unification of the Han Empire

Decline• The Han dynasty fell after wars, rebellions, and plots

against the emperor. Civil war began, and nomads invaded the country before the government collapsed.

• Nomadic raiders – Huns• Corruption, weak leaders• Collapse of bureaucracy•Buddhism spread from India to China.

• Unrest in China helped Buddhism to spread• Buddhism helped people cope with the chaotic times

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Han 221 – 581 CE• Warlords control China – no centralized bureaucracy• Non-Chinese nomads control much of China• Buddhism becomes popular• Confucianism fails

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Political Institutions in China • Most tightly governed of any large society in the world• Belief in desirability of central government• Power of the emperor

• Shi Huangdi - single law code and uniform tax system• Qin and Han stressed central authority and strong

government• Development of a educated, professional bureaucracy

• Han create civil service tests• Expansion of state functions allowed government to reach

the common people (ex: regulation of agricultural production to control costs)

• Little emphasis on military since China did not depend on expansion to maintain its stability

Economy in China • Large gaps between the upper class and the majority of people

• Standardization of weights and measures by Qin facilitated trade

• Focused on agriculture; virtues of peasants• Yangtze River Valley • wheat in north, rice in south • population growth

Trade in China• Extensive and regular internal trade using copper coins

• Trade focused on luxury items: silk, jewelry, leather, furniture

• Traded food between wheat and rice growing regions

• Trade was not highly valued in Classical Chinese society (Confucian value of learning emphasized; merchants viewed poorly)

Technological Advances in China• Ox-drawn plows (300 BCE)

• Collar created that did not choke the animal

• Iron mining• Pulleys bring material to

surface• Improved tools and weapons

• Water-powered mills • Aided manufacturing

• Paper• Allows government to keep

records

Society in China• Social classes passed down through families

• Not permanent; could move up• 3 social classes (hierarchical)

1. Landowning aristocracy and educated bureaucrats2. Laboring masses: peasants and urban artisans

• Manual labor• Produced manufactured goods (crops, etc.)

3. Mean (average) people • People with unskilled jobs• Performing artists, merchants, household slaves• Punished more harshly than other groups

Families in China• Importance of unity and extended families

• Power of husbands and fathers (patriarchy)

• Power of parents• Children punished severely for disobedience

• Ancestor worship• Role of women: power through sons, and as mother-in-law

• Property rights: oldest male child inherited property

Science in China • Sundial• Accurate calendar (444 BCE)

• 365.25 days• Adept at astronomy

• Observed movements of Saturn and Jupiter

• Developed early seismograph• Measures earthquake strength

• Acupuncture• Medical research

• Principals of hygiene and anatomical knowledge

Technology in Ancient China• http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=351241

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Chinese Art• Highly decorative, often representing

nature

• Chinese calligraphy

• Artwork found on bronze, pottery, carved jade, ivory, woven silk screens

• No monumental buildings or large monuments

• Many palaces and tombs