Download Change and Continuity Over Time Essay

Change and Continuity Over Time Essay
Topic: Describe continuities and changes in the social, political, and economic role of Confucianism played in both the Ming and Qing
Empires of China from 1450 until 1750.
Beginning (Ming begins)
- Emperor Hongwu uses Confucianism to
strengthen his position in the Ming dynasty
- Confucianism revived (since the Song
Dynasty) after a period of neglect during the
Mongol-ruled Yuan dynasty
- Political systems gave power to Confucian
scholar-officials who gained their positions
through classical examination systems based
off of Confucian texts
- Domestic practice of Confucian rituals and
Confucian virtues unified and strengthened
the Chinese home
- Agricultural revolution, maritime
expansion, and the establishment of
Confucian schools lead to a large and
educated gentry class of scholar-officials
(Ming ends) Middle (Qing begins)
- Scroll paintings, architecture, and artisanwork flourish in the culturally rich Ming
- Confucianism spreads outward from
China to other East Asian countries like
Korea, Japan, and Vietnam through
economic interactions
- Political instability and revolution lead to
the downfall of the Ming dynasty, which
allows the Manchus to invade and rule
China under the Qing dynasty
- Emperor Kangxi, like Hongwu about 300
years before him, maintains central power
by supporting Confucian ideals
- Neo-Confucian scholars branch off into
differing approaches to Confucianism
- Early competent emperors bring success
End (Qing ends)
- The traditional focus of Confucianism,
combined with the political power of the
Confucian scholar-official class, leads to
unhealthy conservatism in foreign policy
- Conservative policies drag the Qing into
technological, cultural, and economic
backwardness relative to Western societies
- The Canton system arises as a result of the
Confucian gentry taking a conservative
approach to foreign markets
- British merchants become angered by the
imbalance of trade that the Canton system
creates, leading to opium wars and
humiliating defeats/treaties for the Chinese
- Confucian scholar-officials are accused of
corruption; the Qing decentralizes
Changes: Radical ideological shifts during Neo-Confucian movements, especially during the early Qing dynasty; positive, nationstrengthening effects of Confucianism in the Ming dynasty contrast with the negative, crippling effect of Confucianism in the Qing dynasty;
Confucianism becomes increasingly conservative in its attitude towards foreign markets and liberal practices
Continuities: Confucian subject-ruler relationship was used to strengthen central governments in both dynasties; Confucian scholar-officials
held high political power; education and political systems revolved around Confucian studies and virtues; Confucian traditions dominated
philosophy and domestic tradition; filial piety and other Confucian virtues strengthen homes during periods of economic and cultural success
THESIS: The social and political role of Confucianism (scholar-official power, domestic tradition, educational systems, etc.) remained
consistently dominant throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, whereas the economic, ideological, and national role of Confucianism varied a
great deal (expansion of trade during the Ming dynasty, rigid Canton system of the Qing dynasty, Neo-Confucian divergences from traditional
Confucian virtues, growing conservatism, unification during the Ming, backwardness and decentralization during the Qing dynasty, etc.).