The Unification of China

1. The Unification of China Ch. 8

2. I. In Search of Political and Social Order • Confucius • Confucius • Educator and political advisor • Sayings were compiled in the “Analects” by his disciples 2. Confucian Ideas a. Fundamentally moral and ethical in character b. thoroughly practical: how to restore political and social order c. concentrated on the formation of junzi- “superior individuals” d. Edited and compiled the Zhou classics for his disciples to study

3. I. In Search of Political and Social Order cont’d 3. Confucian Values a. Ren-sense of humanity, kindness, benevolence b. Li-sense of propriety, courtesy, respect, deference to elder c. Xiao-filial piety, family obligation d. Cultivate personal morality and junzi for bringing order to China 4. Mencius (372-289bce) a. spokesman for the Confucian school b. believed in goodness of human nature c. advocated gov’t by benevolence and humanity

4. I. In Search of Political and Social Order cont’d 5. Xunzi (298-238bce) a. had less positive view of human nature b. believed humans selfishly pursue own interests c. preferred harsh social discipline to bring order to society d. Advocated moral education and good public behavior B. Daoism • Featured prominent critics of Confucian activism • Preferred philosophical reflection and introspection • A life in harmony with nature 1. Laozi a. founder of Daoism b. allegedly wrote the Daodejing (Classic of the Way and Virtue) c. Zhuangzi- compendium of Daoist philosophy

5. I. In Search of Political and Social Order cont’d 2. The Dao a. the way of nature the way of the cosmos b. elusive concept: an eternal principle governing all workings of the world c. Dao is passive and yielding, does nothing yet accomplishes everything, humans should tailor their behavior as such d. ambition and activism had only brought the world to chaos e. doctrine of wuwei-disengagement from worldly affairs, simple life f. advocated small self sufficient communities 3. Political implications a. served as counterbalance to Confucianism activism C. Legalism • The doctrine of practical and efficient statecraft • No concern with ethics or morality • No concern with principles governing nature

6. I. In Search of Political and Social Order cont’d 1. Shang Yang (ca 390-338bce) a. chief minister of Qin and Legalist writer 2. Han Feizi (ca. 280-233bce) a. synthesized Legalist ideas in essays 3. Legalist Doctrine a. state’s strength in agriculture and military b. discouraged commerce, education and arts c. harnessing self interest of the people for the needs of the state d. called for harsh penalties even for minor infractions e. advocated collective responsibility before the law f. not popular amongst Chinese, but it was practical, put an end to the period of Warring States

7. II. The Unification of China • The Qin Dynasty 1. Kingdom of Qin a. Located in W China b. adopted Legalist doctrine c. encourage agriculture, resulted in strong economy d. organized powerful military equipped with iron weapons e. conquered other states and unified China in 221 bce 2. Qin Shihuangdhi (first emperor 221bce) a. est. centralized imperial rule b. project of connecting and extending the Great Wall c. buried 460 scholars alive because of their criticism against the Qin d. burned all books except some with utilitarian value 3. Qin Centralization a. standardization of laws, currencies, weights and measures b. standardization of scripts

8. II. The Unification of China cont’d 4. Tomb of the First Emperor ( died 210 bce) a. tomb was underground palace of life size terra cotta figures b. excavation of the tomb since 1974 c. massive public works generated tremendous ill will among the people d. waves of rebels overwhelmed the Qin court e. short-lived dynasty, but left deep marks in Chinese history. B. The Early Han Dynasty 1. Liu Bang a. persistent and methodical b. by early 206 bce restored order 2. Early Han Policies a. Sought middle way between Zhou decentralization and Qin over- centralization 3. Han Wudi (reigned 141-87bce) a. Martial Emperor b. emphasized centralization and expansion

9. II. The Unification of China cont’d 4. Han Centralization a. adopted Legalist policies b. built an enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire c. continued to build roads and canals d. levied taxes on agriculture, trade and craft industries e. imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt 5. Confucian Educational System a. system for training bureaucrats b. used Confucian curriculum 6. Han Imperial Expansion a. invaded and colonized N Vietnam and Korea b. Han organized vast armies to invade 7. Xiongnu a. nomads from the steppes of C Asia b. Han enjoyed uncontested hegemony in E and C Asia

10. III. From Economic Prosperity to Social Order • Productivity and Prosperity during the Former Han 1. Patriarchal Social Structure a. man in charge b. women subordinate to man c. children know their place 2. Ban Zhao a. women’s subordination b. but also called for education c. vast majority were cultivators 3. Iron Metallurgy a. farming tools, utensils, and knives 4. Silk Textiles a. sericulture spread all over China during the Han 5. Paper a. replaced silk and bamboo as writing materials

11. III. From Economic Prosperity to Social Order cont’d B. Economic and Social Difficulties • Expeditions consumed the empire’s surplus • Raised taxes and confiscated the land of some of the wealthy • Discouraged investment in manufacture and trade 1. Social Tensions a. caused by stratification of rich and poor 2. Problems of Land Distribution 3. The Reign of Wang Mang (9-23ce) a. land reforms by the “socialist emperor” b. overthrown by revolts, 23ce C. The Later Han Dynasty (25-220ce) 1. Yellow Turban Uprising a. revolt due to problems of land distribution 2. Collapse of the Han a. factions at court paralyzed the central gov’t b. Han empire dissolved; China divided into regional kingdoms