Download Ancient China – During and After the Zhou Dynasty

Ancient China – During and
After the Zhou Dynasty
The Decline of the Zhou
• Dynasty falls into chaos as warrior lords
begin fighting each other for power
– Ancient values of social harmony, respect
and good government begin to fall apart
• New people and ideas arise to help
China
– Confucius
– Laozi and Daoism (Taoism)
– Legalism and Shi Huangdi
The Ideas of Confucius
• Lived during 551-479 BCE
• Believed social harmony, respect & good
gov’t could be restored w/ 5 relationships
– Thought people were naturally good, not bad
Ruler and
Subject
Husband and
Wife
Father and
Son
5
Relationships
Older and
Younger Bro
Friend and
Friend
The Ideas of Confucius
• 5 relationships were based on proper
conduct (ex. Rulers kind, subjects loyal)
• Believed in filial piety- respect for ones
parents and elders
– Code of politeness still used today
• Believed in bureaucracy & education
– Education was a way to advance yourself
– Became the way of the gov’t for years
• Book written of his ideas- “The Analects”
• Confucianism never a religion; only an
ethical system
Laozi and the Daoists
• Laozi- another leader in China
– Believed in the ‘natural order’ of the world
– A simple life with inner peace/ harmony
– Called ‘the Dao’- or the way (Daoism)
• Daoism- following the way in life
• Believed everything in nature follows
the Dao except humans
– Humans argue and question
• Daoists study the sciences
– Leads to advancements in alchemy,
astronomy and medicine
The Legalists
• Believed in highly efficient and powerful
gov’t was the way to restore order
– Use law to end civil disorder
– Would restore social harmony
• Believed rulers should give rich rewards
and harsh punishments for actions
• Believed any books or people challenging
gov’t should be destroyed
– Later these thoughts will become actions
Other New Ideas for China
• Some people did not like the new ideas
• Used old ideas or oracles for guidance
• I Ching- throwing coins and referring to
oracle readings for answers
– Comparable to oracle bones or Yatzee
• Yin and Yang- balance of masculine and
feminine in the world for Confucianism
and Daoism
– Yang (masculine), yin (feminine)
• Both ideas used to help explain the world
The Qin Dynasty Arises
• Qin dynasty takes power from the Zhou
• Shi Huangdi comes to power
– Name means 1st Emperor
– Practices Legalism to run China
• Ends internal fighting and defeats
outside invaders of China
– Expands empire to its largest size
• Worked to unify all of China under his
power
Achievements of Shi Huangdi
• Creates an autocracy- one leader holds all the
power of an area
• Creates a centralized gov’t- gov’t run from a
central or internal location
– He ran gov’t from his city, took all lands
– Moved all nobles in the city to watch them
• Murdered Confucian thinkers, burned books
• Built highways for trade
• Set standards for money, writing and law
• Style was unpopular, but he unified China
The Great Wall of China
• Built from the walls of the past
• Shi Huangdi responsible for their
construction
– Used peasants to build the walls
– Many died and were buried in the walls
• Great Wall can be seen from space
The Han Dynasty is Born
• Huangdi dies and the Han dynasty comes to
power
– Liu Bang is victorious over other leaders
• Han dynasty also uses centralized gov’t
– People paid taxes and 1 month of labor
– People tested for civil service jobs
• Tested on Confucian knowledge
• Major Han Achievements
– Paper (105 AD), collar harness, 2-blade plow,
wheelbarrow, keeping silk secret hidden, porcelain
• Han dynasty will fall due to uneven
distribution of wealth b/w rich and poor
The Map of the Silk Roads
• The Silk Roads were one of the most
important trade routes in the world
– Connected China to the rest of the world
– Sold numerous products including silk, porcelain,
and spread ideas on government and Buddhism