Forms of Chinese Government

4/14/11

Forms of Chinese Government

What are the four government types used by China to select government officials?

Which one do you think was best? Why?

Make text-to-text connections

Identify the types of government and the way they worked

Warm-up: Peer edit your paragraph!

Chinese history is divided into periods ruled by dynasties, or ruling families.

The government of Imperial China took many

different forms Bureaucracy – an organized body of

workers with many levels of authority Meritocracy – rule through merit Aristocracy – rule by the wealthy Nepotism – rule by family and friendship ties Foreign Rule – Mongols ruled through social

levels

The Han Dynasty & Bureaucracy

This was a golden age of expansion & prosperity

Held power for 400 years As long as the bureaucrat was skilled,

honest and hard working, China prospered.

Corrupt government officials result in the collapse of this dynasty

Bureaucracy – Rule through an organized body of workers with different levels of authority

Aristocracy & the Tang Dynasty

Used a large bureaucracy Government jobs held by those with

experience The aristocrats are very wealthy, so

they are self-sufficient because they can afford to pay for own education

Use their education to do well on the civil service examinations based on Confucius teachings.

Characterized by:Characterized by:

Aristocracy Power is held

by a small privileged class!

Often using nepotism to fill important positions

Where does nepotism fit into Chinese Rule?

During the Tang Dynasty, many government officials were chosen for jobs based upon who their fathers or grandfathers were. Some where hired based on personal recommendations. Often, men would marry into the imperial family in order to gain a high position!

Under Nepotism Subjects would be very loyal because

they lose power if the Emperor loses power

They understand family ties Traditionally, these were the wealthy

who had been to university so they were seen as being very adaptable – can be trained to serve as government officials

Nepotism Government

where power is based on family relationships!

Meritocracy & the Song Dynasty

Motivated candidates Highly qualified for few

government positions Demonstrate

intelligence on difficult civil service exams

Characterized by:Characterized by:

How did people in the Song dynasty view the emperor?

Those who are in power will make sure that the Emperor is honored and respected throughout history because they want to feel that they serve a smart, strong and worthy leader.

Emperor of the Song Dynasty

Meritocracy Power is held

by the talented!

Foreign Rule – Yuan Dynasty

Mongols conquered almost all of Asia

Under Mongolian rule, Chinese society was divided into four

classes.

Mongols

Outside foreigners

Northern Chinese

Southern Chinese

Foreign Rule Foreign values prized higher than

traditional values Many important government jobs went

to those the Khan felt he could trust Family often used Fighting amount Mongol leaders,

greed, corrupt officials led the Chinese to rebel against Mongol rule

What do you think?Which form of government do you think

was most useful? Give a rational for your answer.

Bureaucracy Meritocracy Aristocracy Nepotism Foreign Rule

•Taught that people must act properly towards each other.

•Outlined five important relationships: ruler & subject, father & son, older & younger sibling, husband & wife, friend & friend. Except for the friends, all of the relationships have a superordinate and a subordinate.

Keeping this in mind, Confucius taught that peoplein relationships, there is one person below & oneabove. Those above should be kind to those below.Those below should respect and obey thoseabove.

In particular, subjects should be Loyal to rulers. Song emperors andScholars believed that….

believed that officials who had studied Confucius teachings would be:

•Rational

•Moral

•Able to maintain order

China’s Imperial DynastiesDynastyDynasty Time PeriodTime Period Known ForKnown For

Qin 221-206 BCE Unification under one emperor

Han 206BCE-220CE Golden age of a united China

Six 220-581 CE A period of chaos & division

Sui 589-618 CE Reunification of China

Tang 618-907 CE Economic development & growth; many inventions and discoveries

5 dynasties north;10 kingdoms south

907-960 CE

907-970 CEA period of chaos & division

Song 960-1279 CE Economic development & growth; many inventions & discoveries

Yuan 1279-1368 CE Control of China by foreigners

(Mongols)

Ming 1368-1644 CE Opening up China to foreign influences at the start of dynasty, closing them down by the end

Whole group check Get out your Reading Notes!

16.2 The government of Imperial China

1. People can overthrow an emperor when he rules badly.

2. A Bureaucracy is an organize group of gov. officials. When the bureaucracy became corrupt,people suffered from high taxes, forced labor and attacks by bandits!

3. When the Han dynasty fell, China broke into separate kingdoms. It was reunited by the Sui dynasty.

16.3 The Tang Dynasty1. Scholar-officials were scholars who

got government jobs through examinations.

2. The examination was primarily based on the teachings of Confucius.

3. Only the wealthy could afford the tutors, books and time to study needed to prepare for the exams.

16.4 The Song Dynasty1. Government officials who had

studied Confucius would be rational, moral & able to maintain order.

2. People from lower classes were allowed to become government officials.

3. People wanted these jobs because government officials were respected and were excused from taxes and military service.

16.5 Mongol Rule

1. Kublai Khan appointed relatives, other Mongols, and trusted foreigners.

2. Chinese scholars worked only as teachers and minor government officials.

16.6 Revival of Civil Service system

1. Hiring scholars emphasized moral behavior, justice, kindness, loyalty to the emperor, proper conduct and the importance of family. It insured that officials were trained and talented, and it allowed the ambitions and hard working from all classes the chance to succeed.

2. People who knew science, math, or engineering were kept out of gov. Because Confucian scholars had little respect for merchants, trade and business were not encouraged.