China

In the Beginning

• Most of China’s rulers were from dynasties, or a series of rulers from the same family.

• China’s ancient values of social order, harmony, and respect for authority were put aside toward the end of the Zhou Dynasty.

• Confucius seeks to organize Chinese society around five basic relationships.

The Teachings of Confucius• Confucius seeks to organize Chinese society

around five basic relationships.1. subject to ruler2. husband to wife3. older brother to younger

brother4. father to son5. friend to friend

• Confucian ideas lay the groundwork for a civil service staffed by gentlemen scholars.

• He stressed that children should practice filial piety.

• He was not only wise, but he wanted to show leaders how to govern effectively.

Famous Quotes

• By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.

• Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.

• The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

• I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

• Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

Daoism• Daoists seek accord with nature.• Daoism was founded by Laozi.• The “Dao” or way, is universal force that

guides all things.• He states that nothing in nature strives for

fame, or even wisdom.• Of all the creatures in nature, humans fail to

follow the Dao.• Daoists made contributions to the sciences

of alchemy, astronomy, and medicine.

Legalism• Legalists urge strong, harsh rule and strict

censorship.• They believed that a highly efficient and powerful

government was the key to restoring order.• They taught a ruler should provide rich rewards for

people who carried out their duties well.• Ideas and actions should be controlled.• Rulers should destroy things that encourage the

criticism of government.

“ Anyone caught outside his own village without a travel permit should have his ears or nose chopped

off.”

Yin & Yang• Ordinary Chinese consult

fold wisdom in books like the I Ching (Book of Changes) and in ideas like yin and yang.

• Yin and Yang represent the natural rhythms of life.

• Yang represents the masculine in the universe, and Yin represents the feminine.

A.

B.C.

D.E.

F.

G.

Confucianism Daoism

Legalism

1. A highly efficient and powerful government is the key to social order. _____

2. Human beings should live simply and in harmony with nature. ________

3. Respect for parents and elders is important to a well-ordered society. _______

4. Chinese ethical system. _______

5. This ethical system did not use harshness. _______

6. Taught that a ruler should provide rich rewards for people who carried out their duties. _______

7. Stressed the importance of government and a well-ordered society. _______

8. Ethical system that seems the most moderate and balanced. _______

Shi Huangdi• Shi Huangdi, the first Qin

emperor, uses military power to unite China and crush dissent.

• He creates a road network and standardizes currency, writing weights and measures, and laws.

• He has the Great Wall built to fend off invaders from the north.

• The Chinese overthrow the Qin Dynasty almost immediately after Shi Huangdi’s death.

How is the Great Wall of China an example of Shi’ Huangdi’s power?

A terra-cotta warrior from the tomb. Each soldier’s body was made from a mold but the head was individualized. The soldiers were also painted in vivid colors.

What is your impression of these warriors?

Shi Huangdi rules as a Legalist

• In order to destroy the power of his rivals, Shi Huangdi introduced a policy called “strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches.”

• He commanded all noble families to live in the capital under his gaze.

• He and his prime minister, Li Su, murdered hundreds of Confucian scholars.

• They burned any books they deemed useless.• He was hated by the poor because they were

forced to work on the Great Wall.

The Han Dynasty• Ruled China for more than 400 years.• Xiang Yu and Liu Bang emerged as powerful leaders.

Yu gave his warlords, including Bang, territories in order to acknowledge him as feudal lord.

• Liu Bang turned against Xiang Yu in their final battle in 202, Lui Bang declared himself emperor.

• Bang followed Shi Huangdi policy of centralized government. Unlike Huangdi, Bang departed from legalism, lowered taxes and softened harsh punishments.

• People appreciated the peace and stability the Han dynasty brought.

• Liu Bang dies n 195 B.C.

Timeline of the Han Dynasty

• 195: Lui Bang dies, his wife Empress Lü rules. She outlives her son and has powerful friends at court to help her gain power.

• 180: Empress Lü dies, people remain loyal to Lui Bang and executes the empress’s relatives.

• 141-87: Lui Bang’s Grandson Wudi rules. He held the throne longer than any other Han ruler. Referred to as the Martial Emperor because he expanded his empire through war.

Rulers- Strengthening Government

• Liu Bang: relied on Confucius policy rather than the harsh legalist ideals of Qin dynasty

• Emperor Wudi: Most important emperor – Relied on Confucianism– Improved canals and roads– Imposed a government monopoly

(complete control of a product or business) on iron and salt

Silk Road

• Trade Route linking China with the Middle East

• Brought a lot of wonderful goods into China and helped China expand.

Han Society

• Scholar-Officials: well-educated philosophers (Confucianism) to run the bureaucracy

• A scholar official was expected to match the Confucian ideal of a gentle man. He would be courteous and dignified and possess a thorough knowledge of history, music, poetry, and Confucian teachings.

• Known for the development of paper

3 DynastiesThe Zhou Dynasty Zhou rulers believed in the idea of the Mandate of

Heaven. During this rule there was civil unrest which caused the dynasty to fall. Due to internal fighting and attacks by outsiders, the Zhou’s power fell to the Qin dynasty.

Qin Dynasty The Qin dynasty came to power ending the trouble of the

warring states. Used ideas of Legalism to unite China. Under the Qin dynasty, the Great Wall was erected.

Han DynastyHan dynasty reestablished the civil service system. During this period trade prospered and China expanded its borders to its largest size in the Classical period. The Hans dynasty was one of the longest in Chinese History.