Download The Unification of China

The Unification of China
Section 4
The social disorder of the warring
states contributes to the
development of three Chinese
ethical systems
Confucius and the Social Order
Zhou Dynasty
Lasted 1027 to
256 BC; ancient
values decline
near end of
dynasty
CONFUCIUS
Influencial scholar, 551 BC, desired to
restore order and moral living in
China
Confucius Orders Harmony
• End of Zhou Dynasty is time of
disorder
• Scholar Confucius wants to
restore order, harmony, and
good government
• Stresses developing good
relationships including family
• Promotes filial piety- respect
for parents and ancestors
• Hopes to reform society by
promoting good government
Confucius and the Social
Order
• Confucian ideas about government
– Thinks education can transform people
– Teachings become foundation of
bureaucracy, a trained civil service, those
who run government
– Confucianism is an ethical system of right
and wrong, not a religion
– Chinese government and social order is
based on Confucianism
Other Ethical Systems
• Daoists seek harmony
– Laozi teaches that people should follow
the natural order of life
– Believes the universal force called Dao
guides all things
– Daoism philosophy is to understand
nature and be free of desire
– Influence science of alchemy, astronomy,
and medicine
Other Ethical Systems
• Legalists urge harsh rule
–Legalism emphasizes use of law to
restore order; stifles criticism
–Teaches that obedience should be
rewarded, disobedience should be
punished
Other Ethical Systems
•
What is the I
I Ching and Yin andCHING?
Yang
Book of
oracles
– I Ching offers good
advice,
used to solve
sense
problems
common
– Concept of yin and yang- two powers
is the Yin and yang?
represent rhythm ofWhat
universe
Two powers that
represented the natural
– Yin: cold, dark, soft rhythms
mysterious;
yang:
of life. Yin (cold
dark mysterious) Yang
warm, bright, hard, clear
(warm bright)
– I Ching and yin and yang explain how
people fit into the world
• Understanding the Balance of Yin and Yang
• There was an old farmer who had worked his crops for
many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the
news, his neighbors came to visit.
"Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.
"Maybe," the farmer replied.
The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it
three other wild horses.
"How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.
"Maybe," replied the old man.
The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed
horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again
came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.
"Maybe," answered the farmer.
The day after, military officials came to the village to
draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg
was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors
congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned
out.
"Maybe," said the farmer.
Moral: misfortune and fortune tend to cancel/balance
each other in a person’s life, and you never can tell
what really is bad or good. It’s all relative.
The Qin Dynasty Unifies China
Replaces Zhou in third century BC
A New Emperor takes control
– Shi Huangdi unifies China, ends
fighting, conquers new land
– 36 administrative districts
controlled by Qin officials
– Murders Confucian scholars,
burns books
– Establish autocracy, govt. with
unlimited power
Qin Dynasty
Replaced Zhou Dynasty, third century BC.
Short-lived dynasty, began building the
Great wall
Shi Huangdi
Qin ruler worked to unify China
The Qin Dynasty Unifies China
• Program of Centralization
– Shi Huangdi builds highways,
irrigation projects, and increase
trade
– Set standards for writing, law,
and currency, and weights and
measures
– Harsh rule includes high taxes
and repressive government


After ruling for 37 years Shi Huangdi suddenly
died of illness. He was in constant terror of being
assassinated, and took great pains to thwart any
attempt. He did like to tour his empire, though, and
it was on one of his tours that he “succumbed” to
illness.
Before his death, Shi Huangdi began having his
royal tomb built. He knew how to go out in style.
Archaeologists have discovered his famous terracotta soldier tomb. More that seven-thousand
terra-cotta soldiers modeled on the elite-guard
were buried along with Shi huangdi to offer him
protection in the afterlife
Great Wall of China
•Emperor forces peasants to
build Great Wall to keep out
invaders
Qin unifies China

The fall of Qin
 Shi
Huangdi’s son loses throne to rebel
leader; Han Dynasty begins