1 / 17

Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

Explore the belief in the Mandate of Heaven, its importance in maintaining power, and the Dynastic Cycle in ancient Chinese society. Learn about Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism, key philosophies shaping Chinese civilization.

gmerry
Download Presentation

Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

  2. Mandate of Heaven • The belief that heaven granted a ruler a mandate or ‘divine right to rule’ • Linked Power and Responsibility • In exchange for loyalty, the ruler must maintain order • Rulers need Mandate of Heaven to rule • If lost, the people were allowed to rebel.

  3. Accomplishments • Est. a strong, central government • Bring peace and order • Give land to peasants • Build roads, defensive walls and irrigation systems • Support education and arts

  4. Failures & Losing the Mandate • Allow Corruption • Lose military power • Raise taxes • Spend $ on luxuries • Fail to reinforce walls, and irrigation • Harsh ruler

  5. Problems: Sign the Mandate is Lost • Chaos • Floods • Invasions • Peasant rebellions • Poor harvests

  6. Dynastic Cycle • A strong leader emerges and establishes a new dynasty • Claims mandate • Cycle begins again

  7. During times of Chaos, Chinese philosophers tried to find ways to guide human behavior and ensure order in society • 3 Philosophies Developed in China • Confucianism • Daoism (Taoism) • Legalism

  8. Confucianism • Founder: Confucius • (Master Kong) • Dates: 551 B.C • Writings: The Analects • Teachings: • 5 Relationships must govern society “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do”

  9. 5 Relationships • Ruler and Ruled • Father and Son • Older Brother and Younger Brother • Husband and Wife • Friend and Friend • Superior sets example and cares for inferior • Inferior shows respect to superior

  10. Confucius • Filial piety: the duty and respect that children owed their parents • Education and Morality • Society more important than individual I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

  11. Daoism • Founder: Lao Zi • Dates: 551 B.C • Writings: “The Way of Virtue” • Teachings: • Stressed the link between Nature and People • People should do nothing contrary to nature, live according to the Dao “the Way”

  12. Daoism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-zD-RohzNY

  13. Yin and Yang: Forces in Nature are to balance each other • Yin: female, passive, earthy • Yang: male, active, heavenly

  14. Daoism • Water as symbol of Tao • Govt. should have fewer rules • “Reveal thyself, embrace original nature, do not be selfish, curtail desire”

  15. Legalism • Founder: Han Feizi • Writings: Han Feizi • 300-200 B.C. • Teachings: • People acted out of self interest • People only respond to rewards and punishments, not good examples

  16. Legalism • Harsh Laws and Strict Rulers are necessary to get things done • Laws more important than rulers • Example: Shi Huangdi used Legalism to unite China and create the Great Wall

More Related