Transcript China_Stabillity_2015

China
The Longest Story
of Stability
By Ms. Gluskin
The Great Wall
Themes
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Geography and Stability
Chinese history began in the north. The fertile northern plain was fed
by the Yellow River that flooded and gave life to the land, though it
could also bring catastrophic flooding causing death. Later, settlement
grew along the Yangtze River. Geographic features that promoted
isolation included mountains, the Gobi desert, steppes of Central Asia,
and the vast Pacific Ocean. Isolation supported continuity. There were
also internal boundaries, such as mountains and rivers, that served to
promote regional rivalries, sometimes leading to change as new
powers took over and united other states. Though the land seems
productive, in actual fact a low percentage of land is arable. Chinese
have literally carved out new places to farm, such as along the
terraced slopes of mountains, showing great ingenuity and
inventiveness, an adaptation and form of change.
Expansion
Map of Modern China
China today
Topography
Mountains
and deserts
were
isolating
factors.
Columbia University, East Asia in Geographic
Perspective, N.d.,
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/geography/eleme
nt_a/ea1.html (Nov. 15, 2011)
Topography, con’t
3-steps of
elevation
from east to
west
showing
regional
differences.
365Saturdays. Summary History of China. 2012. http://365saturdays.org/blog/?p=9083 (April 27, 2012).
Yellow River
Yellow River really is
yellow in some parts
due to loesse (clay)
soil it picks up. The
land is fertile.
Facts and Details, Land and Geography of China, 2010,
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=400&catid=10&subcatid=64#01 (Nov. 15, 2011).
Steppes
Inner
Mongolian
grasslands
provided
some
isolation.
University of Washington, Visual Sourcebook of
Chinese Civilization, Outer China, N.d.,
http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/geo/outer.htm
(Nov. 15, 2011).
Difficult Terrain
Terracing is a
way of getting
more farm land
where there is
little arable land.
Asia for Educators, Columbia University. Chinese Geography: Readings and
Maps. 2009. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/china/geog/maps.htm (April 27,
2012).
Historical Stability
Even before the “first emperor,” China had emperors,
though they only ruled small regional areas. Shi
Huangdi united, by force – a major change – many
warring states to create China’s first official empire
and his short-lived dynasty, the Qin. Though his
dynasty didn’t last long, many of the first emperor’s
achievements did outlive him – signifying continuity –
including the Great Wall, unity, centralization and
standardization. These became the hallmarks of the
Han, Song, Tang and Ming dynasties.
The First Emperor
Shi Huangdi, viewed by
some as a hero and by
some as a tyrannical
villain, was the first to
unite the Chinese states
into one empire.
Terra Cotta Warriors
The First Emperor wanted to be well
protected in his tomb so he had thousands
of clay soldiers built to preserve his safety.
Foreign Rule - Mongols
The Mongol invasion was
traumatic because foreign rulers
took over and overran the
Chinese with their skilled
horsemanship – as seen in the
skills of this mounted archer, and
brutal methods of warfare. The
Ming dynasty overthrew them
and gave the Chinese confidence
in their own abilities and fear of
foreigners.
Economic Stability
Farming was always the basis of Chinese life,
demonstrating a major continuity: wheat in the north,
rice in the south. China was mostly self-sufficient
because of its agricultural production and its trade. It
traded in East Asia (Japan, Korea) and along the Silk
Road. Most of its trade was exports, including silk,
copper, and porcelain. China only imported luxuries.
Though trade was also a continuity, because it was
present throughout most of Chinese history, it was
more prominent during certain dynasties, such as the
Song, which specialized in porcelain exports,
demonstrating a change.
Traded Items
Ming dynasty
porcelain jar,
1426-1435.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Tmeline of Art History: Ming Dynasty. 2000.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ming/hd_ming.htm (April 27, 2012).
China As A Sea Power
Maritime expeditions in the
Ming dynasty went to
Southeast Asia, and through
the Indian Ocean to the
African coast and Arabia,
led by Zheng He, as shown
in this drawing of one of his
expeditions.
Evan Hadingham. PBS. Nova: Ancient Chinese Explorers. 2001.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/ancient-chinese-explorers.html
(Nov. 9, 2011).
Silk Road
Traders from Rome
and the Middle East
came to China for
jade, gold, spices,
horses, precious gems
and silk along “the silk
road” beginning in the
Han dynasty.
The China Project. 2003. http://www.globaled.org/chinaproject/ (April 27, 2012).
Stability of Beliefs
In China there has long been a crossover between religion and
philosophy. From the earliest times Chinese people practiced ancestor
veneration, respect for the spirits of dead ancestors, and this continues
even to this day. Tian means heaven, and it is an old concept: not a
god, but a force guarding China and the imperial family. Nature was
also central to many beliefs, as seen through the concepts of yin and
yang and the practice of Taoism. Confucianism became a major
philosophy strengthening social and family relations. Buddhism from
India came into China in the first century CE. Even though new beliefs
were added to the mix, Chinese people always continued to believe in
and practice naturalism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism all at
the same time.
Dynastic Cycle
Emperors, known as Sons of Heaven, ruled with
the blessing of Heaven, called the Mandate of
Heaven. Natural omens would warn an emperor
he was doing something wrong; if he ignored it,
Heaven would see that the people rose up and got
rid of that emperor.
Confucianism
During a time of
internal disorder (5th
century BCE), a
bureaucrat and teacher
named Kong Fuzi
created a philosophy
based on ORDER.
HistoryWhiz, Confucius, 2008,
http://www.historywiz.com/historymakers/confucius.htm
(Nov. 15, 2011).
Yin-Yang
Forces of nature called
Yin-Yang are
symbolized on the Taiji
or great pivot. Together
yin and yang are
complementary.
Taoism
“Humans
model
themselves
on earth,
Earth on
heaven,
Heaven on
the Way,
And the way
on that
which is
naturally
so.”
Taoism incorporated
the idea of Yin-Yang
into the philosophy of
being one with nature,
with the idea that one
should follow the way,
the tao.
Buddhism
Buddhism, as
represented here by
this Buddha, was
appealing because it
brought the idea of
salvation and an end to
suffering during a
difficult time for
Chinese people.
Social Structures of
Stability
Like most ancient societies, Chinese life was hierarchical. Also like other civs,
the imperial family, nobles and landowners were highly placed. Unique to
China was the high status of scholar officials because of their key role in
learning the Confucian classics (books). Their education allowed them to serve
as advisors to emperors. The characteristics of the top ranks of the hierarchy
were relatively consistent throughout most of Chinese history. While the bottom
ranks of peasants and farmers were also consistent, it should be noted that
merchants, who were usually at the bottom because of the general dislike of
business-oriented things, rose higher in more business friendly dynasties such as
the Song. This change would foreshadow modern China’s dynamic role as the
world’s business leader. Another aspect of continuity throughout China’s history
has been the patriarchal domination of males, whether seen through the fact that
only males could perform the rituals of ancestor veneration or through the
painful process of girls having their feet bound to please men and keep them
immobile.
The Hierarchy
Classes
GENTRY:
Imperial Family
Scholar Officials
Nobles
Landowners
COMMONERS:
Peasants, Farmers, Artisans
Merchants
Servants and Entertainers
Gender
Foot binding for
women and
children made
the shape of the
foot resemble a
lotus flower. The
tiny objects are
known as lotus
shoes.
Stability Through
Record Keeping
Throughout history, Chinese people placed
high value on education and thus written
over spoken language. Writing evolved over
time, from picture-based pictographs to
idea-driven ideographs. Chinese writing
used difficult-to-learn characters rather than
a simplified alphabet, once again
highlighting the importance of education.
Paper and printing, two important Chinese
innovations, enabled the spread of learning.
Chinese
Characters
Chinese
characters
began as
pictograms.
Adapting Through Technology
& Infrastructure
China is well known for its many innovations,
including technology, architecture, and inventions.
Throughout history Chinese people continued the
trend of creating practical things to assist them in
their living. Each innovation was also evidence of
change, something new. The Great Wall,
renovated over time by each dynasty, was built to
keep northern invaders out. Paper money was
invented to make trade easier. The porcelainmaking process was perfected so that China had
the world’s most desirable trade goods.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall, first made
out of tamped earth, began
as a defense against
invasion. It was built up in
sections over time. The
brick wall recognized today
was a renovation by the
Ming dynasty.
Technology: What China
Gave the West
tea
gun powder
porcelain
paper
wheelbarrow
paper money
block printing
compass
seismograph (simple)
chopsticks
wok
lacquerware
efficient iron
production
silk
acupuncture, Chi
inoculation
Before the West
Making silk
Paper
money
The first book, 868 CE
China...
the oldest continuous
civilization
Some would say the most
stable?