Transcript Chapter 6: Ancient China

Chapter 6: Ancient
China
Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Who was Confucius?
551-479 BC
Known as the First Teacher
Desire was to be political adviser
Found little favor from those in politics
Wanted to use his knowledge of politics to change China
Spent his life travelling China to challenge political and moral decay of society
Chinese society was full of violence
His message provided guidelines to a new society
Confucianism
Lacked a spiritual message. Completely based off of politics and morals
Spiritual questions were useless
Assume there is order and purpose in universe
Follow it to achieve harmony and success
Two elements of Dao: Duty and Humanity
Duty: be subordinate to own interest for greater good
5 Relationships to be governed by
1. Parent-Child (Parents be loving. Child be reverent)
2. Husband-Wife (Husband fulfill duties. Wife be obedient)
3. Older Sibling-Younger Sibling (Older be kind. Younger be respectful)
4. Older Friend-Younger Friend (Older be considerate. Younger be deferential
5. Ruler-Subject (Ruler be benevolent. Subject be Loyal)
Confucianism
Two elements of Dao: Duty and Humanity
Humanity
Compassion and empathy for others
“What you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others”
Preached that we are all brothers and should be treated as such
Forward thinking ideas:
Government should be run by anyone with superior talent. Not just the rich
Rule by merit, not by birth
Became a guiding principle for the future
Stressed a return to the Golden Age of China
Happens during Zhou Dynasty
Saw it as an age of perfection
Daoism
Dao: The Way
Ideas of Laozi (The Old Master)
No one knows if Laozi existed
Tao Te Ching: The Way of Dao
Maps out the philosophy
Does not focus on meaning of universe
Proper forms of human behavior
The best way to act in harmony with the universe is not to disrupt the natural
order
Legalism
Referred to as the “School of Law”
Proposed that human beings were evil by nature
Wanted a system of impersonal laws
Needed a strong ruler to maintain order in society
Necessity for strict rules and harsh punishments for the commoners
This would get them to be subordinate
People not capable of being good
Ruler did not need to show compassion
Chapter 6: Ancient
China
The Qin Unify China
The Qin Dynasty (221-206BC)
Qin Shihuangdi
Became ruler of the Qin at age 13 in 246BC
Over next 25 years, defeated all rivals to establish his dynasty in China
Influence of Qin Shihuangdi
Created single monetary system
Built road system throughout the empire
Divided Aristocratic lands and gave them to the peasants
Established taxes on aristocrats as well
Foreign Affairs
Armies moved to the South and expanded empire into present day Vietnam
The Emperor’s Army
The Terra Cotta Army
A recreation of Qin Shihuangdi’s imperial guard
6,000 soliders
7,000 bronze weapons
10 different shapes of heads used and everything finished by hand
Gave them a more lifelike form and individuality
Estimated that it cost one-third of the national income at the time.
Thought to have been used to accompany the emperor into the afterlife
Great Wall of China
What was the purpose of the Great Wall?
Protection from:
Xiongnu (horse back riding nomadic people from south of Gobi)
Moved with the seasons for survival
Challenged Chinese communities in North
They built walls to protect themselves from warriors
Qin Shihuangdi used the pre-existing walls and fortified them
Known then as the Wall of Ten Thousand Li
The Great Wall of today was built in the last 700 years.
Original wall can still be found in small pieces
Said to have the bodies of the workers who died within it
Politics of Qin Dynasty
Followed the beliefs of Legalism
3 parts of the government:
1. Civil Division
2. Military Division
3. Censorate: Made sure the government was functioning properly
Under Central government was provinces and counties
Leaders of the provinces and counties were appointed and not based on birth
Anyone found guilty of wrongdoing was executed
Politics angered many and when Qin died in 210, his dynasty was overthrown in 206 BC
Chapter 6: Ancient
China
The Han Dynasty
Political Structure of Han Dynasty
Confucianism in political beliefs
They did not believe in the cruel and unusual punishments of Qin Dynasty
Things kept over from Qin Dynasty
The 3 part system of the central government (military, civil, and censorate)
The provinces and counties were kept
Appointments based on merit and not birth
Established the civil service system
A system to train and find future leaders of the civilization
Studied the teachings of Confucius to ensure a line of rulers that society ran properly
Population ranged from 20-60 million people
Political Structure of Han Dynasty
Expansion of Empire
Han Wudi
Martial Emperor of Han
Took over land along South China Sea
Expanded West into Central Asia
Expelled the nomadic tribes and left China with 150 years of peace
Society in Han Empire
Family
Basic economic unit
Basic educational unit
Basic morality unit
Was emphasized after its attempted destruction in Qin Dynasty
Peasants suffered greatly after tax increases caused many to lose land and become
tenant farmers
Economy
Shipyards, weapons manufacturing, and operating granaries
Foreign trade only with local nations only
Some trade with nations via Silk Road and southern ports
Technology and Culture in Han Dynasty
Iron-Casting
Led to invention of steel
Powered by water mills
Paper
Over next 900 years, spreads to India and rest of Asia
Eventually shipped to rest of world
Shipping
Invention of rudder as well as fore-and-aft rigging
Allowed ships to sail into wind