THE UNIFICATION OF CHINA

1. THE UNIFICATION OF CHINA Andree FitzPatrick A.P. World History

2. CHINESE DYNASTIESA SONG • Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han • Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han • Sui, Tang, Song • Sui, Tang, Song • Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic • Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic • Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping

3. CHINESE DYNASTIESTHE BIG PICTURE • Dynastic Cycle – Mandate of Heaven • Confucian bureaucracy – scholar gentry • Patriarchal families • Buddhism major religion after Han • Agricultural Economic Base – no strong merchant class • Advanced Technology • Internal Focus • Constant threat of invasion from nomadic Central Asian groups/ new technology

4. CHINESE RIVER VALLEYS

5. Historical Origins • Writing for political purposes– recorded events of Shang royal court • Oracle bones – questions inscribed, and then cracks and splits resulted from heat interpreted as answer

6. EARLY DYNASTIES • SHANG (1750 – 1027 B.C.E.) • Shang dominated by controlling bronze production in Yellow River Valley – access to copper and tin ores; massive production efforts; known for casting • Decentralized rule -Kings ruled by decree and trusted army and political allies to enforce their will

7. EARLY DYNASTIES • ZHOU (1027– 221 B.C.E.) • Zhou defeated Shang in1027 B.C.E. • Justified by Mandate of Heaven – gave the right to govern to the just; Emperor took title “Son of Heaven” • Decentralized political structure – iron enabled local rulers to become powerful • 771 B.C.E. Nomadic invaders destroy capital

8. EARLY DYNASTIES • Warring States Period from 480-221 B.C.E. – Territorial princes fought to establish new dynasty, Qin state victorious

9. BELIEF SYSTEMS EMERGE DURING WARRING STATES PERIOD • Legalist Doctrine (4th century B.C.E.) • Keys to state’s strength were agricultural production and military forces • Control by clear and strict laws – harsh punishments for minor offenses serve to deter major offenses • Collective responsibility – obligation to report offenses or be punished • Methods ended Period of Warring States and unified China

10. BELIEF SYSTEMS EMERGE DURING WARRING STATES PERIOD • Confucianism (551-479 B.C.E.) • Kongzi served as an educator and political advisor – works were compiled in Analects by pupils • Order restored if live according to ethics in 5 relationships – ruler/subject; father/son; husband/wife; old/young and friend/friend • Principle of reciprocity • Believed in formation of junzi (superior individuals) to fill official positions • Well educated – studied literary works of Zhou • Broad view of political affairs • Not influenced by personal interests – code of moral conduct • Ren – benevolence, kindness • Li – propriety • Xiao – filial piety

11. BELIEF SYSTEMS EMERGE DURING WARRING STATES PERIOD • Daoism • Philosophy recorded in Dao De Jing based on teachings of Laozi in 6th century B.C.E. • Key principle is wuzei – disengagement from competitive exertions and active involvement in world affairs; live simply in harmony with nature • Dao – the way is passive and yielding • Envisioned world of small self-sufficient communities not centralized bureaucracies • Idea of yin and yang

12. THE FIRST EMPIRE:QIN DYNASTY • Qin state had leading Legalist thinkers oversee implementation of policies – quickly established centralized imperial rule throughout China • Land redistribution to boost production • Policy weakened economic position of aristocrats and opened door to centralized, bureaucratic rule • Agricultural profits used to build army equipped with best iron weapons available

13. THE FIRST EMPIRE:QIN DYNASTY • During 3rd century B.C.E., Qin gradually attacked one state after another until unified China under central rule • 221 B.C.E. King Qin Shi Huangdi proclaimed himself the First Emperor

14. THE FIRST EMPIRE:QIN DYNASTY • Qin Centralized Bureaucracy • Divided China into administrative provinces and districts governed by officers he selected – local military forces were disbanded and fortresses destroyed • Roads were built to facilitate communication and movement of his army • Laborers were drafted to build defensive walls (Great Wall of China in north/west)

15. THE FIRST EMPIRE:QIN DYNASTY • Criticized by Confucians, Daoists and other Scholars • Executed all political opponents • 460 scholars in capital of Xianyang buried alive • Burned all books of philosophy, ethics, literature • Medical, fortune-telling and agricultural books allowed

16. THE FIRST EMPIRE:QIN DYNASTY • Standardization enhanced unity • Laws • Currency • Weights and measures • Chinese script (spoken language varied) 221 B.C.E. Edict

17. THE FIRST EMPIRE:QIN DYNASTY • Qin Shi Huangdi died in 210 B.C.E. • Following death, revolts began and Qin court was destroyed by 206 B.C.E.

18. THE HAN DYNASTY(206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.) • Liu Bang, military commander established himself as head of new dynasty • Named dynasty after homeland, Han

19. THE HAN DYNASTY(206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.) • Han Wudi (the “Martial Emperor”) (140-87 B.C.E.) • Responsible for success of Han dynasty • Administrative centralization • Build large bureaucracy using both Legalist and Confucianist principles • Prime Minister and civil service director, ministers and local officials

20. EARLY HAN EMPIRE • Civil service examination • Problem was recruitment of educated individuals to run bureaucracy – established imperial university to prepare men for government service • Confucianism was basis for curriculum- benevolence of government, roles in a hierarchical society

21. EARLY HAN EMPIRE • Administrative centralization • Continued Qin policy of building roads and canals to facilitate trade and communication between China’s regions • Levied taxes on agriculture, trade and craft industries • Imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt

22. EARLY HAN EMPIRE • Imperial expansion • Invaded northern Vietnam and Korea – established Chinese-style government, colonies adopted Confucian values • Invasion of Xiongnu Empire • Federation of nomadic peoples from Aral Sea to Yellow Sea – superb horseman, disciplined army • Brought much of Xiongnu Empire under Chinese control, established colonies and controlled trade network

23. EARLY HAN EMPIRE Emperor Wudi bids farwell to Zhang Qian Sent in 139 B.C.E. on expedition to central Asia Learned of Roman Empire Expanded trade on Silk Road

24. EARLY HAN EMPIRE • Pax Sinica • Patriarchal families – values of filial piety and women’s subordination to men • High agricultural productivity • Expansion of iron production • Military implications – suits of armor, sharper weapons • Technological Innovations – crossbow, watermill and horsecollar, canals, roads for communication system • Expansion of silk/textile production – demand in India, Persia, Mesopotamia and Rome led to establishment of Silk Road trade routes • Invention of paper • Population explosion – from 20 million in 220 B.C.E. to 60 million in 9 B.C.E.

25. EARLY HAN EMPIRE • Economic and Social Problems Develop • Expansion into central Asia drained resources – taxes raised and land confiscated from wealthy individuals, reduced investment • Widening gap between wealthy and poor • Peasants lost land to wealthier surrounding neighbors to pay debts, had to work as slaves or tenant farmers • Resulted in peasant uprisings by 100 B.C.E.

26. REIGN OF WANG MANG • Han minister claimed “Mandate of Heaven” and seized control in 9 C.E. from child Han emperor

27. REIGN OF WANG MANG • Called “socialist emperor” • Land reform limited land holdings and required officials to break up and distribute large estates to landless peasants • Policy and poor harvests led to rebellion by disgruntled landlords • Wang Mang killed in 23 C.E. • Han Empire reestablished by 25 C.E.

28. DECLINE OF HAN EMPIRE • Factions within imperial court • Constant fighting weakened effectiveness of central government • Large landowners increased influence in government – shifted tax burdens to peasants, formed private armies to advance class interests • Disease epidemics

29. DECLINE OF HAN EMPIRE • Regional rule by Han army generals – warlords allied with landowners • Abolished Han dynasty in 220 C.E. and divided empire into three large kingdoms (Wei, Wu and Shu) • Opened door to large nomadic migration and disunity – wars and population decline • China reunified in late 6th century C.E. • Nomadic migrants became sinicized – adopted Chinese ways • Spread of Buddhism – support from nomadic migrants, appeal to native Chinese during chaos; decline of Confucianism