Download Chinese Empires, Confucianism, Taoism

• After almost 800 years in
power, the Zhou declined.
• As they declined, China broke
into many smaller countries
governed by warlords.
• The last few hundred years of
the Zhou was characterized by
turmoil.
• Born in 551 BC
• Lived during the turmoil of the
decline of the Zhou
• Believed that society could be
ordered if rulers and subjects
adhered to some basic relationships
• Ruler- subject
• Father-children
• Husband-Wife
Generally, he taught:
• Respect for elders, parents
• Politeness
• Education
 NOT a religion
 A code of how to live and how to govern
 Ruler should practice kindness and wisdom, subjects
should be loyal and law abiding
 Lays foundation for Chinese bureaucracy.
Government workers must be educated in
Confucianism and good governance.
• Laozi taught that natural
rhythms are important
• Things in nature follow “the
Dao” or “the Way.”
• They do not seek glory or
to stand out, they are in
harmony without it
• Circle represents unity
of earth and heaven
• Light side is yin (earth,
feminine, passive)
• Dark side is yang
(heaven, masculine,
active)
 Shi Huangdi builds Qin Dynasty
 He centralizes government
 Forced labor
 High taxes
 Oppressive
 Built Great Wall
 Only lasted 15 years
• Built to keep
nomadic invaders
from the North
and West out of
China
• Expanded to
current size in
1500’s AD
 After the Qin Dynasty fell, China erupted into civil war
 The Han emerged as the most powerful and expanded
the empire
 Instituted civil service exams based on Confucius’
teachings
 Highly organized
Bureaucracy (Mandarin)
 This civil service system
was used until 1911!
 Correction: The Chinese invented the first paper made
from pulp
 The papyrus of the Egyptians, was not technically
paper because it was not made of pulp, it was thin
strips of a plant, not mashed up plants that were then
flattened out and dried.
 Silk is made from the silk worm. It was an incredibly
labor intensive process. But, it was strong,
lightweight, and beautiful. People all over the world
traded for Chinese silk fabrics
 Porcelain is a ceramic material made from
clay and fired at a very high temperature.
This makes porcelain very strong and
usually glassy in appearance. Porcelain
is often called “China” because it originated there.