Transcript The Zhou Dynasty and New Ideas The Big Idea The

The Zhou Dynasty and New Ideas
The Big Idea
The Zhou dynasty brought political
stability and new ways to deal with
social and political problems in
ancient China.
The Zhou Dynasty and New
Ideas
* Zhou Dynasty
Expands
*Confucius offers ideas
to bring order
*Daoism and Legalism
gain followers
The Zhou Political System
• The Zhou people worked with other tribes to
overthrow the Shang dynasty in the 1100s BC.
• Zhou leaders believed that their rulers were
mandated by heaven, and that heaven would find
another leader when necessary.
• A new political order was established: the king
granted plots of land to lords, who in turn provided
soldiers and paid taxes to the king. Poor farmers
were granted land as well, and remained under the
rule of the lords.
• The lords helped Zhou rulers keep control of the
dynasty.
The Zhou Dynasty
King Wu of
Zhou conquered
the Shang
around 1027
B.C.. The
dynasty lasted
until 222 B.C.,
making it the
longest lastingChinese dynasty.
The Zhou period was filled with
unrest. Attacks from surrounding
states weakened the dynasty until
by the 700s B.C., it had lost most of
its power.
The Warring States
Period
Thousands of armies
fought each other to
gain territory. The
armies used new
weapons and battle
techniques in the civil
wars that lasted more
than 200 years.
By 481 BC, China
had entered an
era called the
Warring States
period, a time of
many civil wars.
Armies grew.
Soldiers fought
for territory, not
honor
During the Warring
States period,
China lacked a
strong
government to
stop the power
struggles within
the ruling-class
families
The Zhou dynasty is called the
Classical Age of China because
of its many important
developments in religion,
literature, and government.
Decline of the Zhou Dynasty
• As the lords’ power grew, they became uninterested in
serving Zhou rulers. Many refused to fight against Zhou
enemies.
• In 771 BC, the Zhou suffered a loss to invaders. The
dynasty survived, but morale weakened, and the Zhou
began to fight among themselves.
• The Warring States Period marked power struggles
between the ruling-class families.
• Problems within the government paralleled problems
within large family systems, which were breaking
down. Bonds of loyalty weakened within even small
families, and disorder fell upon China.
Confucius Changes China
What effects did the teachings
of Confucius have on China?
Scholars began
to search for
ways to end the
unrest. One of
these scholars
was Confucius.
Confucius was a
scholar and teacher
who lived from 551
B.C. to 479 B.C.
Confucius suggested
ways to bring order,
peace, and traditional
values to China.
Confucianism
Moral Values
The Analects
Leading by
Example
Disgusted with the rude and insensitive
nature of the people around him,
Confucius pushed for a return to ethics, or
moral values.
This code of ethics was passed down and
written in a book. These stories focused
on morality, family, society, and
government.
One of the major ideas Confucius put forth
for the success of both family and
government was leading by example.
Confucius believed that when people
behaved well and acted morally, they were
carrying out what heaven expected of
them.
Confucius loved learning,
and mastered writing,
mathematics, history, and
archery. Confucius got a
job for the government ,
but later devoted his life to
teaching. Confucius’ ideas
were called,
Confucianism. Confucius
claimed that Chinese
culture had lost its
traditions, and that
ancient traditions had
once made society fair and
good.
Confucius taught
that men should
follow a tradition
of learning.
Through
education, people
from rulers to
farmers could
learn how to
become good
people once again.
Women were taught to support and
serve in the home, but they did not
receive the education available to
many men. Confucius felt that such
rules would lead to a good society.
A central idea of
Confucianism is filial
piety, or respect of
children toward their
parents. This idea
also applied to a
government- a
subject must respect
the ruler, who had a
duty to be wise and
good.
Confucius’s
thoughts were
recorded by
his students in
a book called
The Analects.
Analects are
selected
writings.
The Confucius School
Confucianism focuses on morality, family, society, and
government. Confucianism is a unique teaching that is
philosophical and religious.
Confucius supported:
* Education
* Loyalty and love of
others
* Filial Piety
* Men should follow
a tradition of
learning
* Women support and
serve the home
Daoism
• Daoism comes from Dao, meaning
“the way.”
• Daoists believed that people should
avoid interfering with nature or
each other.
• Laozi wrote The Way and Its
Power, a book teaching that power
and wealth are unnecessary.
Lao Zi is said to
have founded
Daoism.
Daoism became
a religion for
many, and it
influenced
Chinese poetry,
painting and
values.
Lao Tzu or Lao Zi
“Old Sage” or “Old Master”
 Born c. 604 bc
 Author of Tao te Ching or Taodejing:
The Way and Its Power
 Legendary life
Daoists believed that
the tao, or the way, to
truth could not be
found in everyday
concerns. Instead, it
was believed to be in
the force or energy
that is the source of all
that exists. Daoists
believed that
governments should
leave people alone.
Legalism
• Legalism is the political
philosophy that people need
to be controlled.
• It is unconcerned with
religion or individual thought,
and prepared always for war.
• Legalists put their ideas into
practice throughout China
Legalism is the belief that people are bad
by nature and need to be controlled.
Legalists feel society needed strict laws to
keep people in line and punishments
should fit the crimes.