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Chinese Dynasties

Chinese Dynasties. Dynasty. Family of rulers whose right to rule is hereditary. Mandate of Heaven. If rulers were “just” and “effective,” they received a “ mandate of heaven ” or authority to rule from heaven

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Chinese Dynasties

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  1. Chinese Dynasties

  2. Dynasty • Family of rulers whose right to rule is hereditary

  3. Mandate of Heaven • If rulers were “just” and “effective,” they received a “mandate of heaven” or authority to rule from heaven • If rulers did not govern properly – as indicated by poor crops or losses in battle – they lost the mandate of heaven to the next dynasty

  4. Zhong Guo - “Middle Kingdom” • Lack of contact with foreigners gave the Chinese a strong sense of identity and superiority • They believed they were the center of the world and the “only civilized land”

  5. Shang Dynasty - Founding • 1700 BC – 1100 BC • Conquered 1800 city-states • Hereditary king gave land to followers who pledged their loyalty = nobility • Used war chariots and bronze weapons to maintain power

  6. Shang Dynasty - Power • Organized simple irrigation and flood control for the first time • Learned to raise silkworms, to spin thread from cocoons & weave silk cloth from thread • Artisans – ceramic art; bronze objects • Accurate lunar calendar • 1st dynasty with written records

  7. Religion • Animism – belief that spirits inhabit all things • Ancestor worship – believed all members of family (living & dead) were united forever • Used oracle bones to predict future (divination) Priests wrote questions on oracle bones, then applied intense heat. Priests interpreted cracks in bone as answers from ancestors

  8. Shang - Decline • Tried to expand the boundaries to the South • Failed to guard the NW frontier

  9. Shang - Collapse • A tribe of soldier-farmers called the Zhou (Joh) led a rebellion • Zhou conquered the Shang, claiming the last Shang king had lost the Mandate of Heaven because he was a monster of corrupt wickedness and cruelty

  10. Zhou Dynasty- Founding • 1000BC – 200’s BC • 1st to claim mandate of heaven • Called themselves “sons of heaven” • Established a system of landholding & military obligation (feudalism)

  11. Zhou - Power • Longest dynasty • Trade expanded, copper coins came into use • Invented iron plow • Built canals, dikes and reservoirs – Grand Canal irrigated 1,000 sq miles • Population grew • Developed the cavalry (group of mounted warriors) and crossbow

  12. Zhou - Decline • Frivolous King You& his false alarms -Nobles ignored warning fires – nomads killed King You & ransacked capital • City –state war lords grew rebellious – began to fight among selves to expand their territories • Philosophers Confucius & Laotze taught during this time

  13. Zhou - Collapse • Zhou rulers lost power • State on the western border ruled by the Qin wiped out the Zhou and conquered the rest of northern China.

  14. Chinese Philosophies & Doctrines Confucianism, Daoism & Legalism

  15. Negative Dark Night Cold Moon Wet Female passive Positive Light Day Hot Sun Dry Male dominant 2 opposing forces present in all natureYin & Yang “Naturalism”

  16. Confucianism • Originated in China in 6th century BC • Founder Kongfuzi...Confucius • Major Writings: • Analects: Collection of Confucius’ teachings after his death…these ethics provided the basis for the civil service system in China • 5 Classics – thought to carry solutions to most problems

  17. Main Beliefs • Focus on Harmony in Society through the 5 Basic Relationships • Law of Shu: • “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you” Sound Familiar?

  18. Husband Father Older brother Older friend Ruler Wife Son Younger brother Younger friend Subject 5 Basic Relationships Honor and obey superiors Set a good example Show self-control

  19. 5 Basic Relationships • authority of one person over another • Power and the right to rule belong to superiors over subordinates • Each person has to give obedience and respect to "superiors“ • The "superior," however, owes loving responsibility to the inferior and must set a good example & show self control

  20. Daoism (Taoism) • Originated in 6th century BC, during the Zhou Dynasty • Founder: Laozi (a scholar) • Major Writing: Dao De Jing… a Chinese classic • Goal: Inner peace

  21. Major Beliefs • People should renounce worldly ambitions and turn to nature and the Dao (Tao), the universal force that guides all things (the Way)- the harmonious balance of yin/yang • Emphasize harmony with nature • Wu Wei – principle of inaction: do nothing unnatural – meaning do nothing selfish • Focus on inner peace…don’t compete; don’t seek learning, riches or power; withdraw from public affairs

  22. Legalism • Emphasized strict laws and harsh punishments • Developed from the teachings of Hanfeizi • Believed humans were evil by natureand required a strong forceful gov’t to make them obey

  23. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • Heaven is long lasting and earth is enduring. The reason why heaven and earth can live long and endure is that they do not live only for themselves. Daoist

  24. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • To govern is to set things right. If you begin by setting yourself right, who will dare to deviate from the right? Confucianist

  25. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • China without a recognizable leader is preferable to foreigners with all their leaders. Confucianist

  26. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • When the people are subjected to overmuch government, the land is thrown into confusion. Daoist

  27. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things generously and is without strife. Daoist

  28. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • Leave all things to take their natural course and do not interfere…what is contrary to the Way soon perishes. Daoist

  29. Who Said It? Confucianist or Daoist? • Sometimes I have gone a whole day without food and a whole night without sleep, giving myself to thought. It was no use. It is better to learn. • Confucianist

  30. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • Let the sole worry of your parents be that you might become ill. Confucianist

  31. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • Do not worry about NOT holding high positions; worry rather about playing your proper role. • Confucianist

  32. Who Said It? Confucianism or Daoism? • If the Way prevails on earth, horses will be used for purposes of agriculture. If the Way does not prevail, war-horses will be bred. • Daoist

  33. Qin (Chin)- Founding • 221BC-207BC • Founded by Qin Shihuangdi • First ruler to add title Shihuandi to name, meaning “First Emperor” • Unified China under a strong central gov’t • But was the shortest dynasty

  34. Qin - Power • Standardized coins • Instituted a uniform writing system • Uniform weights/measures • Code of Qin – uniform system of laws • Uniform single tax system • Connected/built Great Wall of China with forced labor…

  35. Great Wall of China • 300,000 peasants, criminals, & scholars worked (and died) building the wall • Extended nearly 1500 miles, 25 ft high and 15 ft wide • Road along top enabled soldiers to travel quickly to any threatened area of the frontier

  36. Qin - Decline • Harsh rule(Legalism) & military districts lead to resentment • Heavy taxation • Censorship –persecuted Confucian scholars • Nobles mad b/c aristocracy was destroyed • Scholars mad b/c of book burning • Peasants mad b/c of forced labor

  37. Qin Shihuangdi’s Great Tomb • 700,000 workers labored for 34 years. • discovered in the mid-1970s • sprawling underground palace designed as a miniaturized replica of the Qin kingdom, with scaled-down cities, rivers of flowing mercury, jewel-bedecked heavens above the emperor's stately bier • an army of 7,000 terra-cotta warriors Qin - Collapse • Qin’s subjects saw him as a cruel tyrant who lost mandate of heaven • Peasant General Lui Bang overthrew the Qin government and declared himself emperor

  38. Han (Hahn) Dynasty - Founding • 207 BC – 220 AD • Took name from Han River • Used same forms of centralized power as the Qin, but without the harshness • Restored the teachings of Confucius

  39. Han - Power • Dynasty reached its peak under reign of Wudi • Extended empire north into Manchuria & Korea, south into Indo China & west into central Asia • Established Chinese civil service – candidates had to pass tests to enter gov’t service • Pax Sinica – 400 years of peace • Leveling of prices – more stable

  40. The Silk Road • Expanded trade routes to West (Med Sea) on Silk Road • Long camel caravan carried silk, jade & other Chinese goods to be sold to wealthy Greeks & Romans • They returned with glass, amber asbestos, and wool & linen textiles

  41. Scenes from the Silk Road

  42. Han - Decline • None of Wudi’s successors in the Han matched his leadership • Empire weakened

  43. Han - Collapse • A revolt overthrew the last Han emperor • For hundreds of years, countless nomadic tribes (the Huns) swept across China (around the same time that Huns were also attack the Roman Empire!) • Not until AD 589 did a Chinese general unify China once again

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