Chinese Dynasty Overview
Zhou to Qing
Zhou (1027 - 250 BC)
• Longest lasting Chinese Dynasty• Beginning of Mandate of Heaven• Early: Feudal system, lords had total
authority• Later: City-states• Built roads, expanded trade, made
agricultural advancements
Zhou (1027 - 250 BC)• Taoism and
Confucianism introduced
• Decline: Inefficient rulers can’t control fighting between city-states
• Period of Warring States
Taoism (Daoism)
• Lao Tzu (Old Master)
• 6th century BC
What is DaoDao = “the way,” “the way of nature”• “It’s what it’s not that makes it what it is”
– Dao is like the cavity of a pot: this empty space makes the pot useful for cooking
– Dao is like water: it runs through your hands in the sink, but can wash away mountains and cities
Goal, then, is to live in harmony with the universe. To do this, one must observe…
Wuwei Live simply, unpretentiously, and in harmony
with nature.• Ambition and activism have caused chaos
in which we live• Government should be as small as possible• Abstain from advanced education and
personal striving• No countries - just small, self-sufficient
communities!• Reflect and think about how wonderful the
Dao is
Confucius
• Latin form of the title Kong Fuzi- (Master Philosopher Kong)
• 551-479 BC• Analects - collection
of Confucius’ sayings
Confucius • Junzi: “superior individuals” look at the big
picture, don’t let personal interests influence judgement
To be Junzi, you must possess:– Ren: kindness and benevolence for others
(especially important that leaders have this)– Li: Treat all with courtesy and respect, (esp. elders
and superiors)– Xiao: Filial piety (family respect):
• Useless to speculate on spiritual questions: BE PRACTICAL to fix China!
Basic Relationships • Parent and Child• Husband and Wife• Older Sibling/Younger
Sibling• Older Friend/Younger
Friend• Ruler/Subject
Health of society depended on the careful observations of these relationships
Qin (221 - 207 BC)
• Qin She Huanshi - only emperor
• Brutal ruler - executed dissenters, burned books
• Many enemies, dynasty falls after his death
Qin (221 - 207 BC)• Adopted Legalism• Developed highly
centralized gov’t with bureaucratic administration
• Standardized currency, language, measurements, laws
• Built first Great Wall
Legalism “School of Law”
• Key founders/scholars:– Shang Yang
(390-338 BCE) {statue}
– Han Feizi (280-233 BCE) {sketch}
Legalism • All human beings were evil by nature• Only strong ruler could create an orderly
society• Harsh laws and stiff punishments
– Fine for littering: Amputation of hands or feet• People should be either farmers or soldiers-
anything else is a waste of energy in a country
• Did not garner long-lasting support, relatively unpopular
Basic Cultural Elements• Patriarchal Society (men
in charge)• Family is extremely
important– Will only prosper if ALL
(living and dead) work together
• Established Class System: ----->
• The best and most honorable position in Chinese society is to be a farmer.
Landed Elite
Merchants and
Traders
Peasants
Slaves
CHINESE DYNASTY OVERVIEW
Part II
Han (202 BCE - 221 CE)• Chinese people referred to as “people
of the Han” • Legalism replaced by Confucianism• Introduced civil service examination
(scholar gentry)• Silk Roads
developed, opens trade
Han (202 BCE - 221 AD)
• Buddhism introduced from India • Paper invented• Great increase in population, land
holdingsDecline• Nomadic raiders• Corruption, weak leaders• Collapse of bureaucracy
221 - 581 (AD)
• Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t
• Non-Chinese nomads control much of China
• Buddhism becomes popular - Confucianism failed
Tang (618 - 907 AD)
• High point of Chinese culture• Rebuilt bureaucracy
– Examination system– Confucian education– Limited social mobility
• Buddhism supported, then oppressed• Invention of movable print, porcelain,
gun powder
Civil Service Exam Highest are those who are born wise.
Next are those who become wise by learning. After them come those who have to toil (work) painfully in order to acquire learning. Finally, to the lowest class of the common people belong those who toil painfully without ever managing to learn.
Civil Service Exam
1. According to Confucius, who are the second highest in society?
2. According to Confucius, who are the third highest in society?
Tang (618 - 907 AD)
• Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese history
Decline• Weak emperors, nomadic incursions,
economic difficulties• Warlords take control
Song (969 - 1279 AD)
• Large centralized bureaucracy (Neo-Confucian)
• Mercantile class grows, increased trade• Magnetic compass, growing sea power• Weak military
Yuan (1279 - 1368 AD)• Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China• Economic stability and prosperity• China more open to trade and travel (Marco
Polo)• Ignored Chinese traditions, replaced
bureaucrats with non-Chinese• Unsuccessful attacks on Japan, corruption
weakens dynasty• Peasant rebellion ends Yuan
Ming (1368 - 1644 AD)
• Tried to erase all signs of Mongols• Reinstated civil service, Confucian
scholars• Eunuchs play growing role (Zheng He) -
resented by scholar gentry• Rebuilt and extended Great Wall• Collapsed after famines and riots
Qing (1644 - 1911 AD)
• Manchus (from Manchuria) move south• Take Korea, Japan, then China• Manchus hold top posts, but relied upon
scholar gentry• “Son of Heaven” concept emphasized• Would be final Chinese Dynasty• Eventually would be weakened by
European / American interventions
Chinese Dynasty SongShang, Zhou, Qin, Han shang, joe, chin, hahnShang, Zhou, Qin, Han
Sui, Tang, Song sway, tang, soongSui, Tang, Song
Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic yooan, ming, ching, RepublicYuan, Ming, Qing, Republic
Mao Zedong mou dzu dongMao Zedong