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CC,LTL=U'C[U.S c[t/+[tu,H CHL[r/r Focus Activity READ TO LEARN What effects did the teachings of Confucius READ ALOUD "When a prince's personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. lf his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they wiII not be followed." These words were spoken by Confucius, an important Chinese philosopher, teacher, and scholar. THE BIG PICTURE have on China? In 206 e.c. Shihuangdi's Qin dynasty was overthrown by VOCABULARY rebel armies. These armies were led by a farmer-turnedgeneral called Han Gaozu (HAHN GOW ZOO). His family began the mighty Han dynasty, which would rule China for over 400 years. During the Han dynasty, China expanded north to what are today North and South Korea and south to the country of Vietnam. Shihuangdi had lived by the idea that a ruler should be able to do whatever he chooses. Later, Han rulers developed different ideas about government. Their thoughts were based on the teachings of a man named Confucius, who lived between 551 e.c. and 479 e.c. Like the Buddha, who was teaching in India during this time, Confucius lived through an age of warfare and conflict. In this time of conflict, Confucius suggested a different, more peaceful way of living. Also like the Buddha, he won many followers during and after his lifetime. Unlike the Buddha, Confucius's ideas would not start a new religion. However, Confucius's ideas would reshape entire civilizations. Confucianism Mandate of Heaven Grand School seismograph PEOPLE Han Gaozu Confucius Wudi 174 CONFUCIUS Both of his parents died when he was young, so Confucius had to make his own way in life. He had a passion for learning. He mastered subjects such as writing, mathematics, history, and archery. This helped Confucius to get a job in government. In later years, though, he devoted his life to teachins. The Followers of Confucius Confucius's ideas, later called Confucianism, taught that Chinese culture had lost its traditions. According to Confucius, ancient traditions had once made society just and good. Through education, Confucius said, people from rulers to farmers could learn how to become good people once again. Good people would make a good civilization. A central idea of Confucianism was to have respect within the family. This idea also applied to government. Just as a child must respect a parent, a subject must respect the ruler. However, I the ruler had a duty to be wise and good. Some followers of Confucius said that emperors did not have the right to rule just because they came from a certain family. Rather, each emperor received a right to rule from the gods, called the Mandate of Heaven. This mandate, or command, echoed the Shang belief that the gods spoke to kings through oracle bones. Confucius's thoughts were recorded by his students in a book called The Analecfs. Analects are selected writings. What does a good person do. according to Confucius? Excerpt from The Analects of Confucius, c. 400 g.c. Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do to you. If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake. Be cluliful at home, brotherly in public; be discreet and trustvvorthy, Iove all people, and draw near to humanity. lf you have extra enerry as you clo that, then study literature. If leaders are courteous, their people will not dare to be disrespectful. If leaders are just, people will not dare to be [ungovernable]. If leaders are trustworthy, people wiII not dare to be dishonesf. A certain pupil asked Confucius about government: "What qualifies one to participate in government?" Confucius said, "Honor five refinemenfs. . . . Then you can participate in government." The pupil asked, "What are the tive refinements?" Confucius said, "Good people are generous without being wasteful; they are hardworking without being resentful; they desire without being greedy; they are at ease without being fproud]; they are dignified without being fierce." ref inements: improvements participate: take part in 175 This man is participating in a ceremony to honor Confucius. The ceremony is taking place at a temple in Qufu, located in China's Shandong province. ,,d . .{ p*ctrtc OCEAN RISE OF THE HAN DYNASTY The powerful Han army expanded the borders of the empire. Look at the Han dynasty lands on the map on this page. Controlling the huge empire was a difficult job. During the Qin dynasty Shihuangdi had many people who disagreed with him killed. Some of them were Confucianists. He did not want anyone to question his right to rule. During the Han dynasty, however, Confucianism became accepted again. Han emperors wanted to find ways to rule more fairly. They also wanted to Iessen the power of the nobles. Han rulers kept the Qin dynasty's system of government. However, they gave government jobs to educated people, rather than just to nobles. Wudi (WOO DEE), was the first strong emperor of the Han dynasty. His rule 176 Han rulers expanded their empire into central China. l. What two cities were located on the Huang River? 2. Which city was farther west? lasted from 140 B.c. to 87 e.c. Wudi created schools to prepare students for government service. These schools were run by Confucian teachers. The Grand School Under Wudi's government, schools were set up in each province, or state. The schools taught Chinese literature to students who would serve in local government. Very good students sometimes were sent to the empire's best school, the Grand School. During Wudi's rule only 50 students were allowed to study at the Grand School. By a.o. 200 it had more than 30,000 students. For one year they learned about ancient China's poetry, history, proper behavior, and folk songs. These had all been preserved by Confucius. The teachers were China's most brilliant Confucian scholars. At the end of the year, students at the Grand School took a long test. If they passed, they earned jobs as government workers or as teachers in province schools. They also won great respect in society because they were so well educated. During the Han dynasty, learning of many different kinds blossomed throughout the empire. Like the ancient Eg.yptians, Chinese scientists and mathematicians learned to predict eclipses of the sun. Doctors discovered new kinds of medicines, and poets wrote about the beauty of the land. In fact, during the course of the Han dynasty, the Chinese language grew from 3,000 to 9,000 characters. In e.o. 100 scholars wrote the first Chinese dictionary. The Invention of Paper Confucian emphasis on education brought increased knowledge and This is a model of the seismograph invented by Zhang Heng. The original detected an earthquake hundreds of miles away. discovery in the Han dynasty. This can be seen in the many inventions that appeared during this time. For example, Han craftworkers invented paper. Like Egyptian papyrus, paper provided a way to keep written records. The Chinese made paper by pounding bark of mulberry trees. These are the same trees that feed China's silkworms. An Amazing Instrument One of the most remarkable achievements of Han inventors was the seismograph (SIZ muh graf). This is a machine used to detect earthquakes. Although this ancient seismograph looks like a bronze vase covered with dragons and toads, it is actually a compiicated scientific instrument. Inside the vase swung a long metal pendulum. When the ground shook ever so slightly, the pendulum would swing in the direction in which the earthquake occurred. The pendulum would hit a rod inside the vase. This rod, in turn, would knock a ball out of a dragon's mouth. The ball came out in the direction in which the earthquake had occumed. In this way Han rulers could learn about an earthquake as soon as it happened. They could immediately send food and suppiies to the damaged area. t77 LIFE DURING THE HAN DYNASTY As you have read, the Han empire stretched across thousands of miles and achieved many things. Still, farming continued to be the center of China's economy and society. Most people lived on farms and in small villages. China's farmers grew food for the entire empire. The economy was based on customs handed down for generations. This is an example of a traditional economic system. The lives of farmers during the Han dynasty centered around their families and the endless work in the fields. This has remained relatively unchanged through much of China's long history. TYHY IT MATTERS Confucius wanted China to become a civilization of good and dutiful people. He believed it had once been that way. During the Han dynasty China's government adopted some of Confucius's This model of a house came from a Han dynasty tomb. ideas. Despite this, however, conflict and hardship remained part of life in ancient China. The Han dynasty ended around a.o. 220. It broke down under the strain of failed military campaigns beyond China and fights among its leaders. In the centuries to come, many Chinese looked to the teachings of Confucius to renew their civilization. The legacy of Confucian ideas of fairness and learning continues in China today. SUM IT UP o Confucian ideas about duty and education influenced life during the Han dynasty. o The Han emperor Wudi started Confucian schools in order to educate government workers. o The Han dynasty produced many great achievements in science, mathematics, the arts, and trade. o As in earlier dynasties, farmers during the Han dynasty produced the food and goods that brought China great wealth. THINK ABOUT IT l. What did Confucius believe was the duty of a ruler? 2. What are three ways Confucius defined goodness in people? 3. Focus How did Confucianism affect Iife during the Han dynasty? Imagine that you are Emperor Wudi. Decide which aspects of Confucianism you can use to help you govern the empire. Explain how you made your choices. 5. GEoGRAPHY Compare the maps on pages 165, 1.69, and 176. How did China's empire change in the Shang, the Qin, and the Han dynasties? 4. THINKING SKILL