Transcript File - Yip the Great

Shang Dynasty
- First verifiable dynasty
- harsh, brutal rule
- demanded human sacrifice!
- Created several key ideas that
has lasted in China
- ancestor worship  idea that
we pray to our ancestors to get
their help
Great bronze workers!!!
- Ruled China from about 1700 BCE to
1027 BCE
Shang & Zhou Dynasties
Shang was verified because of
Oracle Bones
- Tortoise shells or cattle
bones
- Shang kings were listed on
them with their deeds
- Shang falls to Zhou dynasty due to
corruption & ineptitude
- Zhou creates 2 long lasting ideas
- Mandate of Heaven
- idea that kings rule because the
gods favor them
Dynastic Cycle
New dynasty claims the Mandate of Heaven
New Dynasty: restores peace, appoints new officials, redistributes
land to peasants, builds infrastructure
 After several generations, new dynasty becomes an aging dynasty
 Aging dynasty: neglects gov’t duties,
ignores corrupt officials, loses control of provinces, impose heavy
taxes, defenses crumble
Aging dynasty begin losing the Mandate of Heaven
Problems: floods, invasions, crime, revolts
Aging dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven
 New dynasty claims the Mandate of Heaven
Era of Warring States
- Zhou was time of disunity
- many different states formed
& fought each other for control
- known as Era of Warring
States
- Period of great unrest
- people began to look for
solutions to political problems
Chinese Philosophies
- Three main schools:
Confucius
1. Confucianism – founded by
Confucius
2. Daoism – founded by Lao-Tzu
3. Legalism – main proponent was Han
Fei-Tzu
← Lao-Tzu
Han Fei-Tzu 
Confucianism
b. 551 BCE, d. 479 BCE
- born into noble family (father was a
warrior), but would grow up in poverty
after father died
- worked at various jobs as adult, until
becoming a government minister
- worked for many different kingdoms and
explained his philosophy, but ideas never
implemented
- became a teacher and viewed his life
as a failure
- would become most influential
person in history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Confucianism - Five Social Relationships
- looked back at earlier time – found ancient times were better
because people respected their ELDERS!!
- must return to those principles – Social Relationships
(a) father and son (loving / reverential)
(b) ruler and subject (benevolent / loyal)
(c) husband and wife (good / listening)
(d) elder brother and younger brother (gentle /
respectful)
(e) older friend and younger friend (considerate /
deferential)
Confucianism - Five Social Relationships
- there is a superior and inferior person
in each relationship
- superior is role model
- inferior must be obedient
- understand your place
- order comes from knowing and
maintaining your role
- did not care about individual rights or
salvation
- emphasized virtues - courtesy,
selflessness, obedience, respect,
diligence, communal obligation,
working for a common good, social
harmony, and empathy
- filial piety  respect for family &
parents
Confucianism
- conformity to rules are important
- stresses group over the individual
- return to these beliefs would bring
order
- meritocracy  people rise in status
through good work
- Middle Way  look for balance in
life
- Golden Rule  do not treat others
in ways you do not want to be treated
- Civil Service
Nature
of
People
People are
Confucianism good but
can be
ignorant
Government
Ruled by
emperor
who
provides a
good role
model for
the people
Laws
Many rules
with just
and fair
punishments
Society
Nature
of Evil
Hierarchy
Ignorance
with
superior &
inferior
people;
People know
their roles;
can rise up
in status
with
education
Daoism (Taoism)
- founded by Lao-Tzu (Laozi)
- may have been mythical figure
- legend holds he left village because no
one was listening
- stopped by village guard and he had
him write down his beliefs  becomes
known as the Dao De Jing (Tao Te
Ching)
- believed society was chaotic because of
the rules
- NO RULES  NO RULE
BREAKERS!!!!
Daoism
- man in his natural state was
good
- nature provides everything
- artificial ideas – wealth,
possession, laws, etc. – causes evil
- leave men alone, order will
follow
- “Do by not doing.”  wuwei
- “Those who say, do not know;
those who know, do not say.”
Yin and yang - “The Dao that can be known is
not Dao.
The substance of the World is
only a name for Dao.
Dao is all that exists and may
exist”
Nature
of
People
Daoism
Government
People are No
naturally Government;
good
government is
artificial and
therefore evil
Laws
No laws;
laws are
the cause
of crime –
no laws
there can
be no
crime
Society
Nature
of Evil
People do
what comes
naturally to
them – since
they are
naturally
good, people
will not take
advantage of
others
Artificial
rules and
regulations;
creation of
artificial
concepts
such as
ownership
Legalism – School of Law
- goal was to strengthen government
& reinforce adherence to the law
- all people are fundamentally
flawed
- all humans are selfish and evil
- harsh laws & punishments
required to keep them in order
-create meritocracy
- strong military needed to control
people
- all people must subordinate self to
state
Legalism
Han Fei Tzu (Han Feizi) – wanted
strong ruler obeyed by all
- must not be kind  harshness over
benevolence
- cannot “spoil” people or it
threatens order
- Qin dynasty
- ruled by Shi Huang Di  first
emperor of China (221-207 BCE)
Nature
of
People
Legalism
Evil,
selfish,
lazy
Government
Laws
Strong king
(or
emperor)
that
everybody
obeys
Few laws but
with severe &
harsh
punishment;
Laws are
applied
equally to all
and always
enforced
equally with
no
consideration
for degrees
Society
Nature
of Evil
King at top
People in
with gov’t
natural
officials for
state
enforcement;
upward
mobility;
Rewards for
good
behavior and
severe
punishment
for breaking
laws