Transcript The Unification of China

The Unification of China
Setting the Stage… p. 104
Shang- 1532-1017 BC
first family of rulers to leave a written
record
Mandate of Heaven led to the Zhou
Dynasty
The “warring states period” led to the
decline of the Zhou Dynasty
China moved away from its ancient values
of social order, harmony, and respect
How can ancient values be
restored in China?
3 ideas:
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Confucius
Born 551 B.C.
Chinese most influential
scholar
Teacher
Founder of Confucianism:
ethical system
Longed to show political
leaders to govern wisely
Served as minister of
justice in hometown, but
resigns b/c disillusioned
Teachings are written in
the Analects
Confucius’ Teachings
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Social order will be restored if
society were organized around the 5
basic relationships:
Ruler to subject
Father to son
Husband to wife
Older brother to younger brother
Friend to friend
Taught “filial piety”
Respect for parents and ancestors
Devote oneself to them in life and
death
Ideas about government
Education transform a humble person
Laid foundation for a bureaucracy
Education important
Civil Service
Legacy and Traditions
Gov’t should not be limited to those of
noble birth, but open to those of
superior talents
People in E. Asia celebrate
Confucius’ birthday on Sept. 28
Wise sayings of Confucius
“Love like a cough cannot be hid.”
“The cautious seldom err.”
“The superior man thinks of what he may
give, the inferior man, of what he may
receive.”
“He who gets only his feet wet never knows
the joys of swimming.”
“No man is a good doctor who has never
been sick.”
“What you do not want done to yourself, do
not do unto others.”
More sayings by Confucius
“A man who boasts will have great
difficulty in living up to his boasting.”
“A noble man must practice what he
preaches before he can preach to
others about his practices.”
Daoism
Based on
teachings of Laozi
He may not have
existed
Contemporary of
Confucius
Beliefs
Follow the natural order of life
The “Dao” guides all things
Understand nature and be free of
desire
Influence sciences, alchemy,
astronomy, medicine (search for
knowledge)
Government should do as little as
possible; leave people alone
Legalism
Emphasize the use of law to
restore order
Obedience should be rewarded
Disobedience is punished
Efficient and powerful government
Control ideas and thinking
I Ching and Yin and Yang
I Ching: offers advice,
common sense (book
of oracles)
Yin and Yang:
Represent rhythms of
universe
Yin: cold, dark, soft,
Yang: warm, bright,
hard, clear
Acupuncture helps
restore balance
The Qin Dynasty
221-206 B.C.
Ruler: Shi Huangdi
Replaces the Zhou dynasty
“He killed men as though he were afraid he
could never finish, he punished men as
though he were afraid he would never get
around to them all, and the whole world
revolted against him.”
Changes Under the Qin
The regime adopted
“Legalism”
Establishes an autocracy (ruler
as unlimited power)
Banned books were publicly
burned-Confucius
Sets standards for writing,
law, currency, weights &
measure
Built system of roads
throughout empire
Harsh rule
Expanded empire to modern day
Vietnam
Divided area into 36 districts
Trade blossomed
Unified empire
Banned books were publicly burned-Confucius
The Great Wall
Protection from nomads from north
Rode on horseback
Threatened the northern frontier
Built the Great Wall for protection
from them
The Great Wall cont.’
Many died working on it & buried w/in
Watch towers every 200-300 yards
Walls 20-25 ft. high
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) built
most of the wall we see today
Qin Shi Huangdi’s Tomb
Found in 1974
Contained vast army of terra-cotta warriors
4 pits
6,000 figures in first pit w/ horses, chariots, 7,000 bronze weapons
This was written about where he is buried and has yet to be
uncovered: ''The tomb was filled with reproductions of palaces,
pavilions and administrative buildings as well as beautiful vessels,
precious stones and other rare items. Craftsmen were ordered to
install a refined system of loaded crossbows that would kill anybody
who approaches the grave in an attempt to rob it. The rivers of the
empire, the Yellow River and the Yangtse, were reproduced in
quicksilver and moved by a mechanical system which made them
run into a miniature ocean. The ceiling was painted with the
constellations and the regions of the country were painted at the
bottom. The oil lamps were lit with whale-oil so that they would burn
for as long as possible."
http://www.planetware.com/xian/mausoleum-of-qin-shi-huangdi-chn-sn-mq.htm
Shi Huangdi
Died in 210 BCE
Drafted 700,000 laborers
to construct permanent
tomb
Laid to rest in
underground palace line
w/ traps & crossbows
rigged to fire intruders
Terra-cotta soldiers
buried in vicinity of tomb
Since 1974, 15,000
sculptures found
including weapons,
horses
Qin Dynasty lasted only a short time.
Shi Huangdi’s son proved less able as
a ruler.
Son overthrown and established the
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty
Ruled by Confucian principles (Liu
Bang-first emperor of the Han Dynasty)
Introduced civil service exams to
choose gov’t officials based on merit
Vast empire w/ large population
Great prosperity
New technology
Lowered taxes and softened harsh
punishments
Technology
Iron casting led to
invention of steel
Paper (invented in 105 AD)
Water mills
Wheel barrow
Crossbow
Horse collar that didn’t
restrict breathing
Early seismometer to
register earthquakes &
indicate direction it took
place
Silk Roads
From Rome to China
Spanned 4,000 miles
Merchants travel in camel caravans
along segments to obtain precious
goods
1 lb. gold for 1lb. of silk
Brought cultural diffusion