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The Nature of the Qing Dynasty: late 1700s onwards

The Nature of the Qing Dynasty: late 1700s onwards. Emperor centre of all universe Centre-piece of a civilisation superior to any other in the world More books published in China than in all other languages of the world put together Ruled over 300 million subjects

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The Nature of the Qing Dynasty: late 1700s onwards

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  1. The Nature of the Qing Dynasty: late 1700s onwards • Emperor centre of all universe • Centre-piece of a civilisation superior to any other in the world • More books published in China than in all other languages of the world put together • Ruled over 300 million subjects • Worlds largest producer of manufactured goods(33%. Britain 4%) • Produced more iron at 1066 than England did 700 years later • Britain completed its first canal in 1769. China had had built the 1000 mile Grand Canal in the 7th century • Education richly prized The Grand Canal

  2. Emperor Qianlong 1736 - 99 • China’s longest ruling Emperor • Reign of great prosperity and achievement • Time of rapidly rising population and conquest of neighbouring territories • “As your ambassador can see for himself, we posses all things strnge or ingenious, and have no use for your country’s manufactures” to King George III in 1793.

  3. Empire • Empire governed by scholar civil servants • Complex examinations system based on Confucianism and over 1000 years old. • Complex and efficient postal service carried the Emperors orders and official reports • Chains of horse posts carried mail 250 miles a day • By 1792 Empire extended into Tibet and Xianjiang: the borders of modern China

  4. Confucianism • Confucius was a scholar and philosopher (470-391BC) • A rough cotemporary of Socrates and Buddha • Compelled to write about peace, righteousness and harmony during time of great chaos and upheaval in China • Legacy moral, social and intellectual legacy that has endured 2500 years • Ideas expanded on by Mencius ((372-289BC) • Their texts became philosophy and approach to live underpinning the Chinese state and civilisation

  5. Confucianism • Harmony and decorum • Correct behaviour achieved by reason • Respect of legitimate authority ie parent, older brother or government enjoying Mandate of Heaven was crucial • Courtesy paramount • War and chaos an abomination • Dynasties gained power by showing humanity and righteousness. They lost power when they failed to show these qualities ie becoming tyrants • “Reform yourself, then arrange your family and so pacify the world” • No afterlife connotations. Concerned with the here and now. • Harmony and balance. Yin and Yang. Feng Shui. Music and ritual. The ordering of society. • Religious philosophies, which concerned the afterlife and the supernatural like Daoism and later, Buddhism flourished but never really threatened the strict moral Confucian code.

  6. The Qing Dynasty • Like many dynasties before them, the Qing or Manchus adopted many of the ways of the conquered • Confucian law • Civil service • Male dominated society • court ritual • Banned footbinding • All males were to shave the front of their heads and wear hair in a pigtail • A reviled form of servitude which lasted until 1911 • Kowtow: bow before the emperor Pu Yi’s pigtail

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