Chinese Dynasties

River Valley Dynasties

• Archeological discovery of the Xia is still in its preliminary stage

• Established about 2200 B.C.E. • Legendary King Yu, the dynasty

founder, a hero of flood control • Erlitou: possibly the capital city of

the Xia• Chinese scholars believe it existed

XIA DYNASTY

Arose in the southern, eastern areas Many records, material remains discovered Bronze metallurgy, monopolized by elite Agricultural surpluses supported large troops Vast network of walled towns Shang-kings were warriors Constant struggle with nobles for power The Shang capital moved six times Lavish tombs of Shang kings

Contained chariots, weapons, bronze goods Sacrificial human victims, dogs, horses

THE SHANG DYNASTY: 1766-1122 B.C.E.

The right to rule granted by heaven Zhou justified their overthrow of Shang Ruler called "the son of heaven" Only given to virtuous, strong rulers To lose mandate = someone else should rule Replacement of dynasties = Dynastic Cycle

Signs one had lost mandate Corruption, heavy taxes Lazy officials and rulers Revolts, invasions, civil wars, crime Natural disasters Society develops bad morals, habits

MANDATE OF HEAVEN

The rise of the Zhou The last Shang king was a bad ruler The Zhou forces toppled the Shang

Political organization Adopted decentralized administration Used princes and relatives to rule regions Consequences

Weak central government with ceremonial functions Rise of regional powers; often called feudalism Constant rivalry between warring families, nobles

THE ZHOU DYNASTY: 1122-256 B.C.E.

Iron metallurgy Iron technology spread; 1st millennium B.C.E. Iron weapons helped regional authorities to

resist the central power Qin mastered iron technology, weapons

Nomadic invasion sacked capital Other Troubles

Territorial princes became more independent Warring States (403-221 B.C.E.) Rise of Qin state Last king abdicated his position in 256 B.C.E.

THE FALL OF THE ZHOU

The Classical Dynasties600 BCE to 600 CE

Suppressing the resistance Bitterly opposed, was opposed by Confucian scholars Buried 460 scholars alive because of their criticism

against the Qin Burned all books except some with utilitarian value

Policies of centralization Standardization of laws, currencies, weights, measures Standardized scripts: tried to create uniform language Creates a uniform writing system but not language

Tomb of the First Emperor The tomb was an underground palace Excavation of the tomb since 1974 Terracotta soldiers and army to protect tomb

The collapse of the Qin dynasty Massive public works generated ill will among people Waves of rebels overwhelmed the Qin court in 207 B.C.E. A short-lived dynasty, left deep marks in Chinese history

QIN STATECRAFT

Liu Bang A general, persistent man, a methodical planner Restored order, established dynasty, 206 B.C.E.

Han was long-lived dynasty Early Han policies

Sought middle way between Zhou and Qin Royal relatives were not reliable, returned to

centralized rule Martial Emperor (141-87 B.C.E.)

Han Wudi ruled for 54 years Pursued centralization and expansion

THE EARLY HAN DYNASTY

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

Established Confucian educational system for training bureaucrats

Confucianism as the basis of the curriculum in imperial university

Thirty thousand students enrolled in the university in Later Han Han imperial expansion

Invaded and colonized northern Vietnam and Korea Extended China into central Asia

Han organized vast armies to invade Xiongnu territory Han enjoyed uncontested hegemony in east and central Asia

HAN STATECRAFT

• Patriarchal, patrilocal households averaged five inhabitants

• Large, multigenerational compound families also developed

• Women's subordination (Ban Zhao Admonitions for Women)

• Cultivators were the majority of the population• Differences apparent between noble, lower class women• Scholar bureaucrats: Confucian trained bureaucrats

• Officials selected through competitive testing• Used to run the government in Early Han

• Scholar Gentry• Confucian bureaucrats intermarried with landed elite• New class comes to dominate local, national offices• Strongest in late Han

• Merchants held in low social esteem

HAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Raised taxes and confiscated land of some wealthy individuals Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads

Social tensions, stratification between the poor and rich Problems of land distribution

Early Han supported land redistribution Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property Some sold themselves or their families into slavery Lands accumulated in the hands of a few No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large

landowners The reign of Wang Mang

A powerful Han minister Dethroned the baby emperor, claimed imperial title himself, 9 C.E. Land reforms - the "socialist emperor" Overthrown by revolts, 23 C.E.

HAN TROUBLES

Post Classical Dynasties600-1450

After fall of the Han, turmoil lasted for more than 350 years Three major states contended for rule; further fragmentation Nomads constantly invaded, created their own states, dynasties

The rule of the Sui Reunification by Yang Jian in 589 Constructions of palaces and granaries, repairing the Great Wall Military expeditions in central Asia and Korea High taxes and compulsory labor services

The Grand Canal One of the world's largest waterworks before modern times Purpose: bring abundant food supplies of the south to the north Linked the Yangtze and the Huang-Hi The canal integrated the economies of the south and north

The fall of the Sui High taxes and forced labor generated hostility among the people Military reverses in Korea Rebellions broke out in north China beginning in 610 Sui Yangdi was assassinated in 618, the end of the dynasty

SUI DYNASTY

IMAGES OF SUI CHINA

Founding of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE) A rebel leader seized Chang'an, proclaimed a new dynasty, the Tang Tang Taizong

2nd Tang emperor, a ruthless but extremely competent ruler China enjoyed an era of unusual stability and prosperity

Extensive networks of transportation and communications Adopted the equal-field system Bureaucracy of merit

Recruited government officials through civil service examinations Career bureaucrats relied on central government, loyal to the dynasty Restored Confucianism as state ideology, training for bureaucrats

Foreign relations Political theory: China was the Middle Kingdom, or the center of

civilization Tributary system became diplomatic policy

Tang decline Casual and careless leadership led to dynastic crisis Rebellion of An Lushan in 755, weakened the dynasty The Uighurs became de facto rulers The equal-field system deteriorated A large scale peasant rebellion led by Huang Chao lasted from 875 to 884 Regional commanders gained power, beyond control of the emperor The last Tang emperor abdicated his throne in 907

THE TANG DYNASTY

TANG CHINA

TANG ART

Song Taizu Reigned 960-976 C.E. Founder of the Song dynasty

Song weaknesses Song never had military, diplomatic strength of Sui,

Tang Financial problems

Enormous bureaucracy with high salary devoured surplus Forced to pay large tribute to nomads to avoid war

Military problems Civil bureaucrats in charge of military forces Military was largely foot soldiers at war with cavalry

nomads External pressures

Semi-nomadic Khitan, nomadic Jurchen attacked in north

Constant drain on treasury to pay tribute to nomads The Song moved to the south, ruled south China until

1279Nomads invaded, overran northern Song landsSong retreated to the South along Yangtze, moved

capitalAfter defeat, constantly forced to pay tribute

SONG DYNASTY (960-1279 C.E.)

THE SONG WORLDNORTHERN AND SOUTHERN

DYNASTIES

THE SONG ARTISTIC WORLD

Developments reinforced patriarchal society Chinese reaction to foreign ideas

Reaction to Buddhist’s gender equality Neo-Confucianism emphasized patriarchy Ancestor worship revived

Preserving of family Family wealth became paramount

Results Tightening of patriarchal structure Reinforcing of male domination

Foot binding gained popularity during the Song Emphasized dependence of women on men, home

Wealthy, aristocrats could afford practice, hire servants to do work Feet of women broken, reformed around stilts Women could not walk without pain but had to shuffle Forced women to remain at home, dependent on others

Male sense of beauty at women’s expense Poor, peasant women not subject to footbinding

Women had to work with men to support family Men could not afford to have women at home, idle

PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

Porcelain High quality porcelain since the Tang, known as chinaware Technology diffused to other societies, especially to Abbasid Arabia Exported vast quantities to southeast Asia, India, Persia, and Africa

Metallurgy Improvement: used coke instead of coal in furnaces to make iron, steel Iron production increased tenfold between the early 9th and 12th

century Gunpowder

Discovered by Daoist alchemists during the Tang Bamboo "fire lances," a kind of flame thrower, and primitive bombs Gunpowder chemistry diffused throughout Eurasia

Printing Became common during the Tang From block-printing to movable type Books became widespread

Naval technology "South-pointing needle" - the magnetic compass Double hulled junks with rudder, water-tight compartments

TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY

SONG LIFE

Khubilai Khan rules Yuan Dynasty in China Chinggis Khan's grandson, consolidated Mongol rule in China Conquest of southern China

Song Dynasty fell in 1276, Yuan Dynasty founded in 1279 Unsuccessful conquests of Vietnam, Burma, Java, and Japan

Mongol rule in China New hierarchy: Mongol and allies; northern Chinese; Southern

Chinese Central administration reserved for Mongols, allies Brought foreign administrators into China and put them in

charge Dismissed Confucian scholars; dismantled civil service

examination Favored merchants, cities, peasants over Chinese elites

Mongol Social Policies Would not allow Mongols to settle in China nor Chinese in

Mongolia Outlawed intermarriage between Mongols and Chinese Promoted Buddhism, supported Daoists, Muslims, and

Christians Forbade Chinese from learning the Mongol language Mongol ruling elite adopted Lamaist Buddhism of Tibet Mongol women refused to adopt Chinese customs, retained

influential status Mongol armies may also have transmitted the plague infection

Yuan Dynasty

Dynasties from 1750 thru 1900’s

Ming government (1368-1644) Drove the Mongols out of China

Constantly faced threats of new nomad invasions Rebuilt Great Wall to prevent northern invasions

Centralized government control Restored Chinese cultural traditions Restored Confucian bureaucracy, civil service examinations Eunuchs given impressive role in Forbidden City as bureaucrats

Ming attempted to recreate the past, not improve upon it Moved capital to Beijing

Built Forbidden City for emperor, bureaucrats City was closer to danger of north Extended Grand Canal to the north to bring food to city

Ming decline Centralized government ran poorly under weak emperors Weak emperors isolated by eunuchs, advisors Public works fell into disrepair Coastal cities, trade disrupted by pirates, 1520 – 1560 Government corruption and inefficiency

Caused by powerful eunuchs Overshadowed by inability of bureaucrats to reform, innovate

Famines and peasant rebellions: 1630s and 1640s Rebellion by army units opens door to nomadic invasion Nomadic Manchu invaders led to final Ming collapse, 1644

THE MING DYANSTY

Manchus (1644-1911) Nomadic invaders

Originated in Manchuria Last of the steppe invaders, dynasties Overwhelmed Chinese forces Proclaimed Qing dynasty Originally pastoral nomads Military force called banner armies Captured Mongolia first, then China

Remained an isolated ethnic elite Forbade intermarriage with Chinese Forbade Chinese immigration to Manchuria, Mongolia Permitted Confucian scholars to run government Maintained Confucian system

Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) Confucian scholar; effective, enlightened ruler Conquered Taiwan Extended control to Central Asia, Tibet, Sinkjiang

Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) A sophisticated and learned ruler, poet, and artist Vietnam, Burma, Nepal made vassal states of China China was peaceful, prosperous, and powerful

THE QING DYANSTY

Ming restored social system; Qing maintained traditions Basic unit of Chinese society

Remained the family Highest value, filial piety Family mirrored state-individual relations Confucian duties of loyalty, reciprocity

Children to parents Subjects to the emperor Wife to husband (women to men) Younger to elder

Important functions of clan, extended families Justice, government administered through extended families Reward, punishment effected all

Gender relations Strict patriarchal control over all females Parents preferred boys over girls Marriage was to continue male line Female infanticide; widows encouraged to commit suicide Footbinding of young girls increased Lowest status person in family was a young bride

THE PATRIARCHAL SYSTEM

Neo-Confucianism Confucianism

Education, traditions supported by Min and Qing emperors Hanlin Academy in Beijing, provincial schools Prepared students for civil service exams Blended with Buddhism, Daoism to produce a Chinese synthesis

Christianity comes to China Nestorian Christians not unknown in China, but had little influence Portuguese brought Catholicism to China, courts

Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), an Italian Jesuit in the Ming court A learned man who mastered written and oral Chinese Impressed Chinese with European science and mathematics Popular mechanical devices: glass prisms, harpsichords, clocks

Confucianism and Christianity Jesuits respectful of Chinese tradition, but won few converts Chinese had problems with exclusivity of Christianity Franciscan, Dominican missionaries criticized Jesuits' tolerance When pope upheld critics, Emperor Kangxi denounced Christianity Jesuits

An important bridge between Chinese and western cultures Introducing each to the achievements of the other

TRADITION & NEW CULTURAL INFLUENCES