Chapter 2 – Classical Civilization: China

1. Chapter 2 – Classical Civilization: China

3. China generated the first of the great classical societies • Region remained rather isolated • Limited ability to learn from other cultures, but spared from frequent invasion • Distinct Chinese identity • Hwang He thinkers – stressed harmony of nature: every feature is balanced by an opposite, every yin by a yang • Dao

4. Patterns in Classical China • Of all societies in the world today, it is China that has maintained the clearest links to its classical past • Family of kings – “dynasty” • Developing strong political institutions and encouraging an active economy • As the ruling dynasty declined, another dynasty emerged

5. Three dynasties in classical China: the Zhou, the Qin, and the Han

6. Zhou dynasty • 1029 to 258 B.C.E. • Did not establish powerful government • Ruled through alliances with regional princes and noble families (similar to agricultural kingdoms) • China’s feudal period – rulers depending on a network of loyalties and obligations to and from their landlord (vassals) • Led to decline of Zhou dynasty

7. Contributed to development of Chinese politics and culture • Extended the territory of China by taking over the Yangtze River valley • “Middle Kingdom” • North – wheat; south – rice • Territorial expansion created conflict (communication and transportation) • Zhou relied heavily on loyalty of regional supporters

8. Mandate of Heaven

9. Worked to provide greater cultural unity: • Discouraged some primitive religious practices • Banning of human sacrifices • Promoted linguistic unity (Mandarin Chinese)

10. Zhou downfall happened when regional rulers formed independent armies, reducing the emperors to little more than figureheads • Between 402-201 B.C.E. – Warring States • One regional leader deposed the last Zhou emperor and made himself sole ruler of China

11. Qin Dynasty • Qin Shih Huangdi (First Emperor) • Brutal, but effective leader • Worked to centralize government • Formed provinces ruled by bureaucrats appointed by the emperor • Built Great Wall • legalism • Ordered national census • Standardized coinage, weights, measures • Sponsored new irrigation projects • Promoted manufacturing (silk cloth)

12. Dynasty was short-lived • Massive revolts organized by aggrieved peasants • Peasant formed third dynasty in classical China – Han Dynasty

13. Han Dynasty • Lasted over 400 years (202 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.) • Retained centralization; less brutal • Expanded territory – Korea, Indochina, and central Asia • Peace = great prosperity to china • “every person was well supplied and every family had enough to get along”

14. Wu Ti embraced Confucianism (Qin dynasty rejected) • Shrines established to worship ancient philosopher as a god (Confucius) • Quality of Han rule declined after two centuries – central control weakened, invasions from central Asia (nomadic people called the Huns) • 220 to 589 C.E. – China in state of chaos

15. Political institutions • Qin stressed central authority; Han expanded powers of bureaucracy • Chinese empire was indeed the largest political system in classical world • Tightly knit patriarchal families • Family authority was enhanced by practice of ancestor worship (wealthy landowning groups)

16. Shih Huangdi (Qin) not only attacked local rulers, he also provided a single law code for the entire empire and established a uniform tax system • He appointed governors to each district

17. Rulers of Han dynasty realized importance of creating large, highly skilled bureaucracy • 130,000 bureaucrats (0.2 percent of population) • Emperor Wu Ti established examinations for bureaucrats (civil service tests) • Some social mobility

18. China’s bureaucracy provided slight check on complete upper-class rule • Limited arbitrary power by emperor • Chinese were the most tightly governed people in any large society in the world

19. Government organized research in astronomy and maintained historical records • Han – promoted Confucian philosophy • Organized production of iron and salt • Standardized currency, weights, and measures • Public works (irrigation and canal systems) • Regulate agricultural supplies • Court system • Government taxation • Annual labor

20. Religion and Culture • Confucius (551 to 478 B.C.E.) • Preached ideas of political virtue and good government • Not a religious leader (secular) • Spokesman for Chinese tradition • Stressed respect for one’s social superiors • Leaders need to live modestly without excess • Filial piety

21. Han rulers saw the usefulness of Confucian ideals • Confucius standards for political service • Obedience and respect – people should know their place • Rulers should be humble/sincere

22. Legalism (during Qin and early Han) was an alternative system of political thought • Pragmatic • Authoritarian state ruled by force • Human nature evil; required restraint and discipline • Army would control; people would labor

23. Daoism – religious philosophy • Arose around same time as Confucianism • Embraced traditional Chinese beliefs in nature’s harmony • Lao-zi • Withdraw from the world • Dao – way of nature • Humility and frugal living • Political activity and learning were irrelevant to good life, general conditions in world were of little importance

24. Many embraced elements of both Daoism and Confucianism • Many emperors favored Daoism – Why?

25. Calligraphy became important art form • Chinese artists painted, worked in bronze and pottery, carved jade and ivory, and wove silk screens • Science – favored practical work over imaginative theory • Developed accurate calendar (365.5 days) • Calculated movement of planets • seismograph

26. Economy and society • Considerable gaps in wealth • Upper class (minority) – controlled large landed estates • Lower class (majority) – lived barely above subsistence level • Literacy symbolized wealth gap • Zhou – landowning gentry (2%) vs. peasants • Below peasantry - “mean people” • Limited social mobility

27. 3 main social classes • Landowning aristocracy/educated bureaucrats • Laboring masses, peasants, urban artisans • “mean people”

28. Trade became increasingly important (Zhou and Han dynasties) • Silk Road (Han) • Focus on luxury items for upper class • Copper coins facilitated trade

29. Technological advances: • Ox-drawn plows (improved agriculture) • New collar for draft animals (Han) • Iron mining improved • Iron tools • Water powered mills (Han) • Invention of paper (Han) • Still, classical China relied primary on agriculture

30. Families emphasized the importance of unity and the power of husbands and fathers • Parents could punish disobedient children freely • Strict control of one’s emotions • Clear hierarchical order (even for children)