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Chapter 8

The Unification of China. Chapter 8. Learning objectives for Chapter 8. Compare and contrast the emergence of belief systems designed to restore political and social order in China. Explain and discuss the unification of China through the efforts of the Qin dynasty.

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Chapter 8

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  1. The Unification of China Chapter 8

  2. Learning objectives for Chapter 8 • Compare and contrast the emergence of belief systems designed to restore political and social order in China. • Explain and discuss the unification of China through the efforts of the Qin dynasty. • Explain the rise and success of the early Han dynasty. • Discuss the reasons behind productivity and prosperity during the Former Han era. • Identify the social and economic difficulties that led to the decline of the Former Han dynasty. • Discuss important features of the Later Han dynasty.

  3. REVIEW: China before the arrival of the Qin Dynasty • ZHOU DYNASTY (1027-221BC) • Between 1100-1000 BC the Zhou people overthrew the Shang (1532-1027) and set up their own dynasty • They developed the Mandate of Heaven (power coming from Heaven); divine right • Zhou kings granted control of large areas of land to their supporters in a system called feudalism

  4. REVIEW: China before the arrival of the Qin Dynasty • Economy • Use of iron and irrigation projects to produce more food • Trade expanded along new roads and canals • Development of money spurred trade • Contributions • First books • Astronomy • Calendar • Pottery • Produced silk

  5. How did religion develop in ancient China? • DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF • Polytheistic:Early Chinese prayed to many gods and spirits • Greatest people only had the ear of the gods • Called on spirits of ancestors to bring good fortune to family

  6. Confucius • Kong Fuzi (551-479 BCE) • Master Philosopher Kong • Aristocratic roots • Unwilling to compromise principle • Decade of unemployment, wandering • Returned home a failure, died soon thereafter • Teachings: Analects

  7. How did Confucian teachings impact ancient China? • FIVE KEY RELATIONSHIPS:Harmony resulted when people accepted place in society and relationships were maintained • Ruler to subject • Parent to child • Husband to wife • Elder brother to younger brother • Friend to friend

  8. How did Confucian teachings impact ancient China? • Each individual has responsibilities and duties • Filial piety:Respect for parents was chief duty for the individual

  9. Confucian Ideas • Ethics and politics • Avoided religion, metaphysics • Junzi:“superior individuals” • Role ingovernment service • Emphasis on Zhou Dynastytexts • later formed core texts of Chinese education

  10. Confucian Values • Ren • Kindness, benevolence • Li • Propriety, courtesy • Xiao • Filial piety (respect for parentsmost important value) • Traits lead to development of junzi • Ideal leaders

  11. Mencius (372-289 BCE) • Principal Confucian scholar • Optimist, belief in power of ren • Not influential during lifetime • Considered prime exponent of Confucian thought since 10th century

  12. Xunzi (298-238 BCE) • Career as government administrator • Belief in fundamental selfishness of humanity • Compare with Mencius • Emphasis on li, rigid propriety • Discipline more important to preserve order

  13. Daoism • Critics of Confucianism • Passivism, rejection of active attempts to change the course of events • Founder: Laozi, 6th c. BCE • The Daodejing(Classic of Way and of Virtue) • Zhuangzi(named for author, 369-236 BCE)

  14. The Dao • “The Way” (of nature, of the cosmos) • Water:soft and yielding, but capable of eroding rock • Cavity of pots, wheels: nonexistent, but essential

  15. Doctrine of Wuwei • Attempt to control universe results in chaos • Restore order by disengagement • No advanced education • No ambition • Simple living in harmony with nature • Cultivate self-knowledge

  16. Political Implications of Daoism • Confucianism as public doctrine • Daoism as private pursuit • Ironic combination allowed intellectuals to pursue both

  17. Legalism • Emphasis on development of the state • Ruthless  the “end justifies the means” • Role of Law • Strict punishment for violators • Principle of collective responsibility • Shang Yang (390-338 BCE), The Book of the Lord Shang • Han Feizi (280-233 BCE) • Forced to commit suicide by political enemies

  18. Legalist Doctrine LEGALISM:The belief that the only way to achieve order was to pass strict laws and impose harsh punishments for crimes • Two strengths of the state • Agriculture • Military • Emphasized development of peasant, soldier classes • Distrust of pure intellectual, cultural pursuits • Historically, often imitated but rarely praised

  19. Unification of China • Qin dynasty develops between 4th-3rd centuries BCE • Generous land grants under Shang Yang • Private farmers decrease power of large landholders • Increasing centralization of power • Improved military technology

  20. The First Emperor • Qin Shihuangdi (or, Shi Huangdi, r. 221-210 BCE) founds new dynasty as “First Emperor” • Dynasty ends in 207, but sets dramatic precedent • Basis of rule: centralized bureaucracy • Massive public works begun • Includes precursor to Great Wall

  21. What led to the emergence of the Qin Dynasty? • EMERGENCE OF THE QIN DYNASTY (221 BCE – 206 BCE) • SHI HUANGDI (221 BCE – 210 BCE) • ZHENG: Rebel ruler from western state of Qin who overthrew Zhou Dynasty • 221 BCE: Ruler proclaims himself Shi Huangdi – “First Emperor” • Centralized power with help from Legalist advisors Note: Qin and Ch’in are the same - China got its name from this dynasty

  22. What led to the emergence of the Qin Dynasty? • Attempts to unify China during Shi’s reign • Abolished feudalism - created military districts with loyal officials • Standardized measurements • Uniform currency created • Created uniform writing system (script)  Previously:single language written in distinct scripts

  23. What led to the emergence of the Qin Dynasty? • Built and repaired roads and canals • Built the Great Wall to keep out invaders • Irrigation projects completed • Stopped wars and crushed invaders • Doubled China’s size

  24. China under the Qin dynasty, 221-207 B.C.E.

  25. Resistance to Qin Policies • Emperor orders execution of all critics • Orders burning of all ideological works • Some 460 scholars buried alive • Others exiled • Massive cultural losses

  26. Massive Tomb Projects • Built by 700,000 workers • Slaves, concubines, and craftsmen sacrificed and buried • Excavated in 1974, 15,000 terra cotta soldiers unearthed

  27. Tomb of the First Emperor

  28. The Han Dynasty • 207 BCE: Civil disorder brings down Qin dynasty • Liu Bang forms new dynasty after death of Shi Huangdi: the Han (206 BCE-220 CE) • Former Han(206 BCE-9 CE) • Interruption(9-23 CE) • Later Han(25-220 CE)

  29. Early Han Policies • Relaxed Qin tyranny without returning to Zhou anarchy • Continued direct control of people • However, friendly to nobility • Created large landholdings and granted nobility land • But maintained control over administrative regions • After failed rebellion, took more central control

  30. Han Centralization • The Martial Emperor: Han Wudi (141-87 BCE) • Engaged in wars with nomadic tribes • Increased taxes to fund more public works • But huge demand for government officials, decline since Qin persecution

  31. Confucian Educational System • 124 BCE: Han Wudi establishes an Imperial University • Not a lover of scholarship, but demanded educated class for bureaucracy • Established civil service system to staff government • Adopted Confucianism as official course of study  Confucianism governed everyday life • 3000 students by end of Former Han, 30,000 by end of Later Han

  32. Han Imperial Expansion • Invasions of Vietnam, Korea • Constant attacks from Xiongnu • Nomads from Central Asia • Horsemen • Brutal: Maodun(210-174 BCE), had soldiers murder his wife, father • Han Wudi briefly dominates Xiongnu

  33. Patriarchal Social Order • Classic of Filial Piety • Subordination to elder males • Admonitions (Lessons) for Women • Written by Ban Zhao (45-120 CE) • Female virtues • Humility • Obedience • Subservience • Loyalty • Education should be available to all women

  34. Iron Metallurgy • Expansion of iron manufacture • Iron tips on tools abandoned as tools entirely made from iron • Increased food production • Superior weaponry

  35. Other technological Developments • Cultivation of silkworms • Breeding • Diet control • Other silk-producing lands relied on wild worms • Development of paper • Bamboo, fabric abandoned in favor of wood and textile-based paper

  36. Population Growth in the Han Dynasty • General prosperity • Increased agricultural productivity • Taxes small part of overall income • Produce occasionally spoiling in state granaries

  37. Economic and Social Difficulties • Expenses of military expeditions, especially versus Xiongnu • Taxes increasing • Arbitrary property confiscations rise • Increasing gap between rich and poor • Slavery, tenant farming increase • Banditry, rebellion

  38. Reign of Wang Mang (9-23 CE) • Wang Mang: Regent for 2-year old Emperor, 6 CE • Takes power himself in 9 CE • Introduces massive reforms • The “socialist emperor” • Land redistribution, but poorly handled • Social chaos ends in his assassination in 23 CE

  39. Later Han Dynasty • Han Dynasty emperors manage, with difficulty, to reassert control • Yellow Turban uprising challenges land distribution problems • Internal court intrigue • Weakened Han Dynasty collapses by 220 CE

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