The Unification of China

1. The Unification of China

2. Key Ideas from this chapter • Understand the achievements of the short Qin dynasty and how the Han dynasty continues them.

3. Search for Political and Social Order in China • Period of Warring States – 403 – 221 BCE • Started with the decay of the Zhou Dynasty • Included a period of political chaos • Notable cultural developments came out of it, especially in the area of philosophy with Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism.

4. Confucianism • Sixth century BCE • Kong Fuxi (Confucius) • Philosophy had moral, social and political dimensions • His disciples recorded his teachings in the ANALECTS. • Philosophy was practical and focused on ethical and moral behavior of individuals. • Did not deal with religion or abstract philosophy.

5. Confucianism • 3 Important Qualities in a superior individual (Junzi) • Courtesy (Ren) • Propriety (Li) – Know and respect your social role. Superiors should not abuse power, subjects should not rebel. Applies to both social and familial relationships. • Filial Piety (Xiao) – Everyone should be treated with respectful reverence.

6. Confucianism • Said it was the presence of highly moral individuals that produces an effective society and government. • Encouraged people to study the classic works of the Zhou Dynasty • Teachings were initially put in very general terms, so they allowed from input from Confucius’s later disciples.

7. Daoism • Looked at the period of Warring States and said there was no solution to society’s problems, and, as a result, people should withdrawal from society. • Advocated learning to live in passive harmony with the world. • If everyone worked on following the dao, or “the way of the cosmos,” society would fix itself.

8. Daoism • Ideal citizen practiced wuwei – complete withdrawal from the active world, and emphasized pursuit of self-knowledge. • Believed diet and meditation would restore balance and harmony. • Founder Laozi (and some others)

9. Daoism • People often merged Confucianism and Daoism • Confucianism in public life, Daoism in private life.

10. Legalism • Neither Confucianism nor Daoism solved the problems of the Warring States. • Legalism unified and calmed China. • Legalists – Representatives of the Qin Dynasty who believed that the only answer to chaos was harsh governance.

11. Legalism • Basis of an orderly society is agriculture and military, so they emphasized soldiers and peasants. • Harsh penalties were imposed on criminals and dissenters and even entire families could be punished along with the offender. • This idea conflicted with Confucianism • Legalism was effective, but Confucianism was influential throughout Chinese history.

12. Qin Dynasty • The harsh policies of Legalism allow the Qin State to unify China • Lasted only a short time • Government structure persisted into the twentieth century and cultural unity continues to this day. • Short, but very important.

13. The Qin Dynasty • Built loyalty of common citizens with land reform and produced a powerful army with the profits of agriculture. • Used army to conquer surrounding states • 221 BCE – Qin Shihuangdi pronounced himself the first emperor of the new Qin Dynasty. • Had centralized government • Divided China into provinces but kept strict central control over them. • Built roads to facilitate transportation, communication and governance

14. Qin Dynasty • Standardization of China • Weights and measurements • Coinage • Laws • Written Language • Other Empires such as Rome would eventually standardize in the same way.

15. Qin Dynasty • Harsh Rule • Drew a lot of criticism from Confucians and Daosists • Eventually fell because of it • Constructed large parts of great wall by conscription of citizen works • Elaborate tomb of Qin • Terra-cotta soldiers

16. Han Dynasty • Liu Bang – One of the peasant rebel commanders who overthrew the Qin Dynasty. • Consolidated power through persistence and military loyalty • Declared himself the first emperor of the Han Dynasty in 206 BCE • At first let provinces operate independently, but eventually brought all provinces under centralized control • Dynasty lasted over 400 years (206 BCE – 200 CE) • Chinese people refer to themselves as the “people of the Han” out of reverence and respect or the Han Dynasty.

17. The Han Dynasty • Han Wudi –Most successful Han Emperor. • Relied on Legalism to sustain the Han empire, but emphasized and valued Confucianism as well. • Implemented elaborate bureaucracy, roads and canals, and a university. • Had fairly persistent conflict with Turkish nomads of central Asia.

18. Han Dynasty Social Characteristics • Filial Piety – Obedience to Elders • Admonitions for Women – Women should be humble, obedient, and subservient

19. The Han Economy • Iron Metallurgy • Silk Production • Invention of paper • Economic problems: • Unequal distribution of wealth and land led to many problems, which in turn led to rebellion and banditry, which in turn led to the demise of the Han Empire.