Ancient & Classical China#Qinning

A political & social construct.

Legalism: antithesis of Confucianism

• Education for the people is

positively harmful; teach the

peasants only to grow food and fight.

Procure wealth, secure military power, control the population!

Standardized weights & measuresStandardized coinage & Chinese scriptMade China a police state!

Downfall of the Han

• Decline of the Han began towards the end of the 1st century.• Land barons began controlling segments of the population• Daoist cults became more popular, undermining Confucianism• Han royal court was in turmoil, family fighting family for

control• The Han civil service began accepting men based on cash

payments, favor, and personal connections rather than merit• Two epidemics: 173 & 179 CE, floods, & locust infestations

were seen as the Han losing the Mandate of Heaven.

• Left China in political chaos that lasted for over 350 years until the Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE) reunified China.