Transcript File

Classical India and China
Learning Goal 2: Describe the major
political, religious/philosophical, and
cultural influences of Classical India and
China including the origins and central ideas
of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism
Classical China
Political Influences
• Chinese Dynastic cycle began
• Zhou dynasty(1122BC-256BC) was based on feudal rule
• Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) oversaw the unification of China
under a legalist philosophy and rejection of Confucianism
• Qin Shihuangdi a harsh yet skillful ruler created a strong
central bureaucracy in China
• Mandate of Heaven = g-ds favored and legitimized the
emperor’s power
• Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) oversaw expansion of the
empire and the revival of Confucian teachings
• Continued strong centralized imperial rule and introduced
civil service exams as entry tests for government jobs
• Silk road trade flourished
Early China: The Shang Dynasty. The first organized urban society
in China came under the rule of the Shang Dynasty (c.1600-1100 B.C.).
Trade and commerce began to develop, a system of writing was
invented, and craftsmen achieved a high standard of workmanship
in bronze.
Spouted ritual wine vessel (guang),
Shang dynasty, early Anyang period
(ca. 1300– 1050 B.C.), 13th century B.C.
Possibly Anyang, Henan Province, China
Bronze; W. 13 in. (33 cm)
The Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100-221 B.C.). The Chou rulers, who replaced
the Shang Dynasty around 1100 B.C., served as the coordinators of a
series of regional kingdoms rather than as a central governing
authority. In a system that somewhat resembles the feudal system
of Medieval Europe, the Zhou ruler relied on the support and military
resources of the nobles who ruled the local kingdoms.
Over time this support fluctuated eventually collapsed:
the end of Zhou rule is known as
the "Period of the Warring States" (403-221 B.C.).
Hawk-shaped gold hat ornament
Eastern Zhou Dynasty
(Hsiung-nu)
(8th - 3rd century B.C.)
Religious/Philosophical Ideas
• Adoption of Confucian principles especially
promotion of filial piety - respect for elders
and duty to family
• Development of Chinese philosophies of
Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism as social
controls and basis for bureaucratic system
Cultural Influences
• Written language
• Terra-cotta soldiers buried with Qin
Shihuangdi
• Ancestor worship blended with Confucian
practices
• Stressed duty and honor
Classical India
The Indus Valley People. The earliest culture to develop in the
subcontinent of India appeared in the Indus Valley around 3000 B.C.
Its people supported themselves by farming, growing grain and rice,
and cotton. The two main centers were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro,
which became large urban settlements with imposing public buildings
and elaborate drainage systems. They mass-produced pottery and
invented a hieroglyphic script (still undeciphered) which they carved
on seal-stones. Around 1700 B.C., their civilization went into decline,
in part as the result of the arrival of a new people, the Aryans.
Mohenjo-daro, 950
Early Indus Valley Settlement, 3000 B.C.
Torso, Mohenjo-daro,
third millemium B.C.
Political Influences
• Generally India divided into small regional
political units, but for two periods during the
Classical Era India was unified by imperial powers
• First period of imperial unity was under the rule
of the Mauryan Dynasty (324BC-183BC)
• Divided territory into provinces and use of a
strong military
• Largest under Ashoka
• After the death of Ashoka decline, disunity and
collapse of the empire
King Ashoka. The spread of Buddhism owed much to Ashoka,
the third-century-B.C. Indian ruler, who abandoned his early military
campaigns, supposedly horrified at the human suffering they caused,
gave up traditional Hindu beliefs, and converted to Buddhism.
Under his rule, Buddhism became the predominant religion in India,
although, like Buddha himself, Ashoka encouraged religious tolerance.
The Lions of Sarnath,
Pillar/column
c. 242 - 232 B.C
memorializes
Ashoka’s visit
Ashoka's reign strengthened the influence of Buddhism in two
important ways: he established a standard edition of Buddhist
texts-the Canon-and encouraged Buddhist missionaries to spread
the master's teachings outside India. As a result, Buddhism
became widespread throughout southeast Asia,
most notably in China
The Spread of Buddhism
See Text, p. 127.
The Gupta Empire. After the collapse of Ashoka's empire, India split
into a series of local states, until it became united again in A.D. 320
under the rule of Gupta emperors. Hinduism regained its position as
the dominating religion in India, and art, literature, and science
flourished. The Gupta court became a center of learning and culture,
and commerce developed with China and other parts of southeast
Asia. Shortly before A.D. 500, the invasion of the White Huns from
Central Asia caused the collapse of Gupta power, however, and India
once again fragmented into separate local kingdoms.
Golden Age of Indian Culture
Sacred Gupta Cave Painting, 4th century A.D.
More Political Influences
• The second period of imperial unity was under
Gupta rule (320AD- circa 500AD)
• Gupta rulers controlled less territory than
Mauryan rulers
• Nomadic invasions during the 5th century
brought an end to the Gupta empire
• Became crossroads in trade network
Religious/Philosophical Influences
• Growth of Hinduism and Buddhism in India
provided means for social control
• Conversion of Ashoka to Buddhism influenced
his policies
• Social stratification intensified by the caste
system
Cultural Influences
• Architectural creations of pillars, stupas and
rock chambers
• Use of zero, decimal system and numerals
• Use of Sanskrit
• Work in geometry and algebra
• Calculation of the circumference of the earth
• Concept of zero, decimal system and number
system used today
Major Religions
Hinduism - Origin
• Evolved in India over hundreds of years starting
with the Aryan migrations to the region; ideas
appeared in written form in the Vedas around
1500BC
• Began to take shape after 900 BC with writing of
the Upanishads, which outlined basic Hindu
concepts in essay and poems
• Later writings such as the Law of Manu,
Ramayana and the Mahabharata including the
Bhagavad-Gita emerged
Hinduism – Central Ideas
• One supreme force Brahma, the creator, is in all living things
• Additionally hundreds of g-ds and g-ddesses are manifestations of
Brahma-notably Vishnu and Shiva (polytheism)
• Life goal it to be in union with the Brahma, which may take several
life cycles
• Spiritual perfection is attained by the process of reincarnation
• Deeds in this life will determine one’s karma and fate in a future
life, which gives justification to the caste system
• A rigid social stratification system or caste system made up of Four
Main castes
–
–
–
–
Brahmins (Priests)
Kshatriyas (Warriors/political rulers)
Vaishyas (commoners, farmers, artisans)
Shudras (servants, serfs)
• Additionally an “untouchable” class developed
• Males superior to females
Hinduism - Spread
• Mainly is confined to the Indian subcontinent, but spread to Southeast Asia along
trade routes
Confucianism - Origin
• Developed in China during the 6th century BC by and
aristocrat named Confucius
• In response to the social upheaval of the “Warring States
Period” Confucius began to explore how to restore peace
and social order
• Confucius’ followers recorded his thoughts in the Analects,
which became the basis for study to enter the Chinese
bureaucracy
• Mencius became a second Confucian theorist and spread
Confucian teachings
• Mencius taught that rulers have a Mandate of Heaven, or
moral justification for authority, those who rule unjustly
lose the Mandate of Heaven
Confucianism – Central Ideas
• Order and harmony in society are paramount
• Society is structured around Five Key Relationships which each
show mutual respect
–
–
–
–
–
ruler/subject
parent/child
husband/wife
older brother/younger brother
friend/friend
• Filial Piety - Society operates like a family with younger members
paying respect to their elders
• Females are subservient to males
• Moral behavior is about harmony in this life and not about gaining
salvation
• Government should be made of the most qualified to govern
Confucianism - Spread
• Han support of Confucian teachings gave
government sanction to the ideas
• Study of Confucian teachers became integral
in passing civil service exams for government
jobs
Buddhism - Origin
• Originated in India during the 6th century BC with ideas of
Siddhartha Gautama
• Gautama of noble birth was shocked at the pain and
suffering he witnessed outside of the palace
• Abandoned his noble life and went in search of an answer
to human suffering
• Initially tried fasting and self-deprivation to find answers
and eventually adopted the “middle way” of moderation
and peace
• After meditating under a sacred bodhi tree became the
Buddha, or Enlightened One
• His followers spread his teachings after his death and split
into two larger movements, Theravada and Mahayana
Buddhism – Central Ideas
• No supreme being and Buddha did not claim divinity
• Four Noble Truths exist
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–
–
–
All life is suffering.
Suffering is caused by desire.
One can be freed of this desire.
One is freed by following the Eightfold Path.
• Like Hinduism- the soul reincarnates toward spiritual
perfection
• Ultimate goal is to achieve nirvana- a state of perfect
peace and harmony
• Rejected the caste system
Buddhism - Spread
• Conversion by Ashoka helped spread the
religion initially in India
• In Post-classical period spread throughout
China, Southeast Asia and Japan via trade
routes