Upload
catherine-freeman
View
222
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
China200 BCE-900 CE
Qin Unifies China221 BCE Qin unified the empire
Conquered north China and defeated the Xiongnu Border tribes (related to Huns) in north/west
Massive public work projects Constructed Great Wall to keep out Xiongnu
First emperor was Qin Shi Huangdi Tomb held 7000+ terra cotta soldiers
Economy and AdministrationBuilt canals and river transport systems
Ruled through bureaucracy Chosen based on ability 40 administrative units called “commanderies”
Standardization Weights and measures Coinage Legal code Written Chinese language
Political and cultural unification of China
Ideologies of Empire Importance placed on philosophy
Three schools of thought emerged during late Zhou and Warring States Period Confucianism Daoism Legalism
ConfucianismKong Fuzi (Confucius) sought to reform China
by redefining Chinese political and ethical thought Felt government depended on good officials
Canonized five earliest historical texts Added The Analects
Ideas welcomed under the Han Dynasty Evolved over time
LegalismQin rejected Confucianism and favored
Legalism
Strict laws and strict enforcement for good government Rewards for those who follow laws, punishment for
those who don’t
Confucianism vs. LegalismCollided during Qin Dynasty
Prime minister Li Si (280-208 BCE) recommended the Confucian classics be collected and burned
Confucian backlash against Qin Qin Shi Huangdi had 460 scholars burned alive
Mandate of Heaven Enduring concept of Chinese imperialism An omnipotent heaven conferred the emperor’s
ability to rule Natural disasters show loss of mandate
DaoismFounder was Laozi
Key text was Daodejing (“The Way and its Power”)
Philosophy of spontaneity in the face of nature and the cosmos Mystical, not political
Believe in a natural order (Dao) Diminished view of government
Over time, the Chinese embraced both Confucianism and Daoism
Fall of Qin Dynasty Within 4 years Qin Shi Huangdi’s death, Qin empire
collapsed Oppressed 90% of the empire and sent hundreds of
thousands to fight the Xiongnu at the Great Walll
Fight over succession to the throne Between emperor’s son, Li Si, and the eunuch Zhao
Gao Internal conflict, murder, and suicide
Rebels broke into the capital at Xianyang and captured power In 206 BCE, the rebel leader Liu Bang established the
Han Dynasty
Han EmpireEmpire remained united under different ruling
families
Confucian-based Appeared in history, imperial academy
(established by Emperor Wu), law, and society Court historians appointed Confucian knowledge as basis of promotion Chinese legal system developed in 51 BCE Women urged to be self-sacrificing
Military PowerLarge standing army (300,000-1 mil)
Men between 20-56 were conscripted
Incessant battles with Xiongnu and other tribes along the Wall Forced open a corridor through Gansu to open
markets from the west
“Tributary System” Neighboring tributary group acknowledge Chinese
dominance and offer tribute to emperor
Economic PowerMilitary-agriculture colonies for military defense
and economic development Population in north declining and south increased
Immigration and natural growth along with flooding and wars
Earliest census taken in year 2 CE
Expansion of iron industry
Trade from the Gansu corridor Horses, silk
Began to nationalize industry under Emperor Wu
InterregnumThough no clear succession maintained under
the Han, it usually ran smoothly
In 1 BCE, Emperor Ping (8 years old) inherited the throne Regent, Wang Mang, appointed to run until Ping
died in 9 CE
Wang Mang continued to rule but alienated everyone Immense flooding of Yellow River, Xiongnu
invasion, rebellion of Han nobles, and revolt of Red Turbans brought down Wang Mang and reinstated the Han
Fall of HanLater Han dynasty did not have the old
strength Made alliances with barbarians
Led to sinicization of foreign peoples Moved capital south to Chang’an
Yellow Turban revolt led by Zhang Je broke out in 184 CE Triggered string of revolts
Four factions struggled for power Child emperor, bureaucrats, eunuchs, women of
the court
Last Han emperor, Xian abdicated in 220 CE
DisintegrationChina divided into three states after fall of Han (Wei, Wu,
and Shu) Briefly united under Jin (Chin) from 265-316 CE
Then China divided north and south by the Huai River Basin
Remained united culturally and ethically Assimilation characterized the north
Common cultured referred in “People of Han”
Most powerful of nomadic conquerors were most assimilated Northern Wei (Toba Wei) ruled from 386-534
Adopted Chinese bureaucracy, customs, and contributed their own administrative practices
Buddhism
Buddhism entered China from India during the Han dynasty Religion of compassion in midst of pain
Was opposed early by Confucian scholars and Daoists
Why accepted? Nomads began accepting the foreign religion Favored by the merchant class in India and spread to merchant
class in China Gained favor in regional courts and grew to millions of followers
Mixed Confucianism and Daoism bringing cultural innovations
Sui Dynasty Founded by Emperor Wen, a general from the north
Large, loyal standing army by raising status of militia Used crossbows and armor
Won popular loyalty by combining Confucian, Daoist, & Buddhist practice
Centralized authority with local power base Centralized legal code
Completed Grand Canal and rebuilt the capital Required labor of 5.5 million people with nearly 50,000 police Capital provided transportation of produce between north/south
Declined because of economic strain and military losses in Korea and Central Asia
Tang Dynasty Leading Sui General, Gaozu, established the Tang dynasty in 618
Extended China’s reign to Mongolia, Turkestan, central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran
Examination system for bureaucracy
Art and technology improvements First block printing Buddhist religious art Ceramics and porcelain Machinery and windmills Pharmacopoeia Poetry and meditation
Imperial China Within China, many tribal groups assimilated
Seen as mutually beneficial
Expanded to the west and northwest did not last long
In the south and southwest, many groups assimilated with the Chinese
Han dynasty conquered Annam (Vietnam) and incorporated it into China resulting in a love-hate relationship for years Adopted Confucian ideas and bureaucracy Adopted Mahayana Buddhism from China Revolts against Chinese customs
Trung sisters led revolt in 29 CE and evicted the Chinese, ruling for two years
Chinese Influence in KoreaAfter the fall of the Han in 220, Korea broke free
of direct Chinese control
Chinese hegemony influenced the Korean peninsula Adopted from early Chinese Shang Dynasty
Own written system called han’gul based on phonetics
Confucianism, law codes, administration, literature, art, and Mahayana Buddhism came to Korea via China
Capital of Kaesong modeled on Tang capital Chang’an
Chinese Influence in Japan Immigrants from China and Korea came to Japan between 200
BCE-500 CE
China never conquered Japan, but Japan accepted Chinese cultural hegemony Written language brought to Japan via Korean scribe Wani in
405 CE Japanese dynasty used Chinese characters, Confucianism
and Buddhism combined with Shinto Calendar, government, and “constitution” modeled from China
JapanPolitical infighting brought Fujiwara to power in 645
Adopted Chinese culture, religion, and government to unify Japan
Proclaimed Taika (great change) reforms in 646 Administration, roads, redistribution of land
Japanese ruler claimed divine right Cannot be revoked (unlike Mandate of Heaven)