Early Imperial ChinaThe Chinese canon. Five Classics wujing. 五經 “warp” (Classics) jing. 經....

Early Imperial China

1. Huang-Lao2. Correlative cosmology3. Confucian reforms of Emperor Wu of Han4. The Chinese canon

Classical Periodca. 600-200 BCE

Early Imperial Periodca. 200 BC-AD 600

Warring States periodZhanguo 戰國, 403-221 BCE

Qin dynasty 秦221-206 BCE

Han dynasty 漢206 BCE-220 CE

Period of Disunity魏晉南北朝 220-581 CE

Kingdoms and Commanderies of early Han dynasty

primogeniture vs.

eldest son inherits rights to property of father exclusively

partible inheritancerights to property split among all male children

Huang-Lao 黃老

Yellow EmperorHuang Di 黃帝

Laozi 老子

1. Huang-Lao2. Correlative cosmology3. Confucian reforms of Emperor Wu of Han4. The Chinese canon

qi 氣 (vaporvital energy)yin yang 陰陽wu xing 五行 (five phases)

Qi-riding immortals (?) depicted on lacquered casket found in Mawangdui Tomb No. 1, Western Han, early 2nd c. BCE, Changsha, Hunan province.

qi 氣vapor, vital energy

yin陰

yang陽

lightheaven springsummermaleruler

darknessearth autumnwinterfemaleminister

yin-yang dualism

five phaseswu xing 五行

fire (huo 火)water (shui 水)earth/soil (tu 土)wood (mu 木)metal (jin 金)

Correlative cosmology

HeavenEarthMan

"Monthly Ordinances"yue ling 月令

Record of RitualLiji 禮記

This month is the calendrical initiation of spring. Three days prior to the date set for spring, the Grand Scribe shall report to the Son of Heaven, saying: “On such and such a day spring will begin. The prevailing force will lie with Wood.”

The Son of Heaven shall thereupon fast and purify himself. On the first day of spring he shall personally lead the three chief ministers, nine bureau chiefs, the lords of domains, and the court grandees to the eastern suburbs to greet the spring.

Orders will be given for offerings to the spirits of the mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes. No female creature may be offered in these. It shall be forbidden to cut down trees, to overturn nests, to kill young animals.

In this month it is forbidden to mobilize troops. He who mobilizes troops will surely be met with destruction from Heaven.

Dong Zhongshu 董仲舒ca. 179 to ca. 116 BCE

Luxuriant Gems of the Spring & Autumn AnnalsChunqiu fanlu 春秋繁露

王king (wang)

王king (wang)

HeavenEarthMan

HeavenEarthMan

RulerMinisterPeople

stimulus-response

portents

1. Huang-Lao2. Correlative cosmology3. Confucian reforms of Emperor Wu of Han4. The Chinese canon

Emperor Wu of the Han DynastyHan Wudi 漢武帝r. 140-87 BCE

136 BCE: Appointment of Erudites of the Five Classicswu Jing boshi 五經博士

124 BCE: Establishment of Imperial Universitytaixue 太學

inner courtouter courteunuch

1. Huang-Lao2. Correlative cosmology3. Confucian reforms of Emperor Wu of Han4. The Chinese canon

Five Classicswujing 五經

“warp” (Classics)jing 經

The Five Classics (wujing 五經)•The Classic of Documents (aka The Classic of History)Shujing 書經 or Shangshu 尚書

•The Classic of Poetry (aka …Songs or …Odes)Shijing 詩經

•The Spring and Autumn AnnalsChunqiu 春秋

•The Record of Ritual Liji 禮記

•The Classic of Changes Yijing 易經

Canonized in 136 BCE during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (Han Wudi 漢武帝, r. 140-85 BCE)

The Changes (Yi 易)The Book of ChangesThe Classic of Changes (Yijing 易經)

64 hexagrams of The Classic of Changes

Jian 漸 (#53)

Hexagram statement: The woman returns: auspicious; beneficial to divine.

1 The wild goose advances to the mountain stream

the little child has difficulties danger; no harm.

2 The wild goose advances to the large rock

drinking and eating happily auspicious.

3 The wild goose advances to the land

the husband is on campaign but dos not return, the wife is pregnant but does not give birth

inauspicious; beneficial to ward off robbers.

4 The wild goose advances to the tree

and now gains its perch no harm.

5 The wild goose advances to the hillock

the wife for three years is not pregnant, in the end nothing succeeds

auspicious.

6 The wild goose advances to the hill

its feathers can be used as [dance] insignia

auspicious.

Spring and Autumn AnnalsChunqiu 春秋Chronicle of the State of Lu, 722-481

Gongyang CommentaryGongyang zhuan 公羊傳

Zuo CommentaryZuo zhuan 左傳

Spring and Autumn Annals Gong Yishi died.

Gongyang CommentaryWhy did Confucius not record the date?

Because [the event] was in the distant [past]. He used different writing conventions for what he had seen, what he had heard, and what had been transmitted to him.

Spring and Autumn AnnalsEntry for Duke Yin, 1nt year

classic commentary

Records of the HistorianShiji 史記compiled by Sima Qian 司馬遷 (145-86 BCE)

standard (dynastic) historyzhengshi 正史

History of the [Former] HanHanshu 漢書submitted to throne in 92 CEcompiled by Ban Gu 班固 (32-92 CE)completed by Ban Zhao 班昭 (?48-?116 CE)

History of the Later HanHou Hanshu 後漢書submitted to throne in 445 CEcompiled by Fan Ye 范曄 (398-445 CE)

Standard Histories of the Han Dynasty