dynasties of china
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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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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