The document summarizes the emergence of political and philosophical traditions in China during the Zhou Dynasty and Warring States period. It discusses the rise of Confucianism under Confucius and Mencius, as well as Daoism under Laozi and Zhuangzi. It then describes the Qin unification of China under the Legalist philosophy using harsh policies. The short-lived Qin was replaced by the Han Dynasty, which established a bureaucracy and Confucian education while balancing centralization and local control.
The document summarizes the emergence of political and philosophical traditions in China during the Zhou Dynasty and Warring States period. It discusses the rise of Confucianism under Confucius and Mencius, as well as Daoism under Laozi and Zhuangzi. It then describes the Qin unification of China under the Legalist philosophy using harsh policies. The short-lived Qin was replaced by the Han Dynasty, which established a bureaucracy and Confucian education while balancing centralization and local control.
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The document summarizes the emergence of political and philosophical traditions in China during the Zhou Dynasty and Warring States period. It discusses the rise of Confucianism under Confucius and Mencius, as well as Daoism under Laozi and Zhuangzi. It then describes the Qin unification of China under the Legalist philosophy using harsh policies. The short-lived Qin was replaced by the Han Dynasty, which established a bureaucracy and Confucian education while balancing centralization and local control.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
In late Zhou brought confusion to China and led to Chaos of Warring States (403 – 221BCE). Politcal turmoil helped cultural creativity rise and to reflect on human society. • Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.) and his school o Confucius – first to address problem of political and social order, “Master of Philosopher Kong”, (551 – 479BCE), Came from aristocratic in state of Lu in N.China. Strong willed man and refused to compromise believes, and insisted on observing principles that frequently clashed with state, traveled around China and returned to Lu when he died 5 years later. Educator and political advisor – never realized dream to be minister Sayings were compiled in the Analects by his disciples Confucian ideas Fundamentally moral and ethical in character Thoroughly practical: how to restore political and social order, but didn’t deal with religion Concentrated on formation of junzi--"superior individuals" to fill government positions, those who did not let public influence judgments Edited and compiled the Zhou classics for his disciples to study due to lack of established school system Literary works became core text in China Key Confucian values Ren--a sense of humanity, kindness, benevolence Li--a sense of propriety, courtesy, respect, deference to elders Xiao--filial piety, familial obligation Cultivate personal morality and junzi for bringing order to China Very flexible text that’s why it survived so long Mencius (372-289 B.C.E.), spokesman for the Confucian school – most Believed in the goodness of human nature (ren) Travelled around China to consult rulers Advocated government by benevolence and humanity Critics said that it is too naïve of optimistic view Little practical effect in lifetime but deeply influenced Confucian over long term, 10th CE, considered most authoritative of Confucius’s Xunzi (298-238 B.C.E.) had a less positive view of human nature – like Mencius, was government admin Believed that humans selfishly pursue own interests no matter what effect to others Emphasised li to establish clear standards of conduct that set limits Compared to warp wood, can change bad men Preferred harsh social discipline to bring order to society Advocated moral education and good public behavior o Daoism featured prominent critics of Confucian activism Preferred philosophical reflection and introspection, a life in harmony with nature Laozi, founder of Daoism in 6th century BCE, allegedly wrote the Daodejing (Classic of the Way and of Virtue) Zhuangzi named after Zhuangzi (369 – 286BCE) (compendium of Daoist philosophy) The Dao--the way of nature, the way of the cosmos Elusive concept: an eternal principle governing all the workings of the world In Daodejing, dao figures as the original force of cosmos, eternal and unchanging Dao is passive and yielding, does nothing yet accomplishes everything Humans should tailor their behavior to the passive and yielding nature of the Dao Ambition and activism had only brought the world to chaos so as simple as possible Doctrine of wuwei: disengagement from worldly affairs, simple life Advocated small, self-sufficient communities Political implications: served as counterbalance to Confucian activism Confucious by day and Daoist by night o Legalism The doctrine of practical and efficient statecraft No concern with ethics and morality No concern with the principles governing nature Only concern is with state, expand at all cost Shang Yang (ca. 390-338 B.C.E.), chief minister of Qin and Legalist writer, served as Duke of Qin state in W. China. Policies survived in a book called The Book of Lord Shang. Feared and despised because of power and ruthlessness Han Feizi (ca. 280-233 B.C.E.) synthesized Legalist ideas in essays but killed by poison in Qin Legalist doctrine The state's strength was in agriculture and military force Discouraged commerce, education, and the arts Harnessing self-interest of the people for the needs of the state by means of clear and strict laws Called for harsh penalties even for minor infractions Advocated collective responsibility before the law Not popular among Chinese, but practical; put end to Period of Warring States The Unification of China – In Warring States, rulers adopted Legalist program and most enthusiastic was Qin • The Qin dynasty o Qin, Located in west China, adopted Legalist policies Encouraged agriculture, resulted in strong economy and agriculture surplus Organized a powerful army equipped with iron weapons Conquered other states and unified China in 221 B.C.E. o The first emperor was Qin Shihuangdi (221 B.C.E.) – short dynasty Established centralized imperial rule that became tradition Governed from Xianyang near XiAn, divided admin provinces and districts Disarmed local armies and destroyed fortress Project of connecting and extending the Great Wall Daoist and Confucian both criticized them Buried 460 scholars alive because of their criticism against the Qin and put rest into dangerous post in army Burned all books except some with utilitarian value o Policies of centralization Standardization of laws, currencies, weights, measures Standardization of scripts, so can communicate much better Qin Shihuangdi pointed China toward political and cultural unity o Tomb of the First Emperor, who died 210 B.C.E. Tomb was underground palace with army of life-size terra-cotta figures Excavation of the tomb since 1974 o The collapse of the Qin dynasty Massive public works generated tremendous ill will among the people Waves of rebels overwhelmed the Qin court in 207 B.C.E. Short-lived dynasty, but left deep marks in Chinese history • The early Han dynasty o Liu Bang; persistent and methodical; by 206 B.C.E. restored order and had lots of loyalty o Called dynasty Han in honor of native land Turned out to be longest and most influential in all Chinese history Lasted for 400 years form 206BCE to 220CE except for in 9-23CE where and usurper displaced Han rule So divided into early and later Han o Early Han policies Sought a middle way between Zhou decentralization and Qin overcentralization, as both have weakness Trusted family too much as an army from Xiongnu besieged him and family supported little Thus more centralization and bureaucracy Han Wudi, the Martial Emperor (reigned 141-87 B.C.E.), emphasized centralization and expansion o Han centralization; adopted Legalist policies Built an enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire Continued to build roads and canals Levied taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft industries Imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt Placed lucrative liquor industry under state supervision Established Confucian educational system for training bureaucrats in 124BCE Showed no intrest to learn himself • Liu Bang peed into hat Ensured survival of Confucianism, students risen from 3K to 30K o Han imperial expansion Invaded and colonized northern Vietnam and Korea Han organized vast armies to invade Xiongnu (Spoke Turkish) territory (nomads from steppes) Very mobile and could raid During Maodun (210-174BCE) large federation of nomadic people, brought strict military discipline Han tried to marry or tribute to Xiongnu Han enjoyed uncontested hegemony in east and central Asia From economic prosperity to social disorder: In Xia, Shang, and Zhou a agricultural economy supported development of complex society. In Han, experienced major social and economic problems as land became concentrated causing social tensions thus presiding over a weakened realm • Productivity and prosperity during the Former Han o Patriarchal social structure that average 5 person Women's subordination; Ban Zhao's Admonitions for Women Children obey and honor parents from Classic of Filial Piety o Vast majority of population were cultivators o Iron metallurgy: farming tools, utensils, and weapons o Silk textiles; sericulture spread all over China during the Han o Paper production; replaced silk and bamboo as writing material o Population growth: twenty million to sixty million from 220 B.C.E. to 9 C.E. • Economic and social difficulties o Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Taxes and land confiscations discouraged investment in manufacture and trade o Social tensions, caused by stratification between the poor and rich caused peasants to organize o Problems of land distribution as small landowners had to sell their property under unfavorable conditions o The reign of Wang Mang (9-23 C.E.) Land reforms by the "socialist emperor" Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E. • The later Han dynasty (25-220 C.E.) o Yellow Turban Uprising: revolt due to problems of land distribution o Collapse of the Han Factions at court paralyzed the central government Han empire dissolved; China was divided into regional kingdoms 18/09/2007 18:51:00 18/09/2007 18:51:00