Download China`s Zhou Dynasty

China’s Zhou Dynasty
1045 BC to 256 BC
Zhou Territory
Pearcy, Thomas, PhD. And Dickson, Mary. (1997). Retrieved July 17, 2006 from Ralph’s World Civilizations
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/resource/zhoudyna.htm
Characteristics of the Zhou Dynasty
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Zhou Kings
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Feudal System
Zhou Society
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Mandate of Heaven
Bureaucracy
Social Ladder
Filial Piety
Veneration of Ancestors
Zhou Advances
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Agricultural
Manufacturing
Language
Philosophy
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First of all, the Zhou dynasty is the
longest reigning dynasty ever in the
history of China.
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A dynasty is when a line of rulers come from
the same family.
The Zhou dynasty lasted almost 800 years.
Secondly, China wasn’t named China yet,
that comes during the next dynasty, the
Qin.
Zhou Kings
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Mandate of Heaven
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A mandate is an order. It was believed by this
time that god or heaven gave Zhou kings the
power to rule. In other words, the individual
who called himself king was the one that
heaven placed in that position.
It was also believed that the Zhou king had a
special role as a link between heaven and his
people here on earth. Part of his kingly duty
was to perform rituals to keep heaven pleased.
That is why the king, by this time, was
referred to as the “son of heaven.”
Dynastic cycle
New
dynasty
est. power
Rebellion or
invasion
Ruled
successfully
Collapse
Decline/rise
begins
Zhou Kings
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Bureaucracy
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Zhou kings developed a system of rulership, a
system of administration.
Much of the king’s administrative powers were
placed into the hands of others who were loyal
to the king.
Zhou land was divided into smaller, more
manageable territories. These territories were
then managed by those who would serve the
king well and protect the land.
Feudal System
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The king gave land to those loyal to him and in return he
expected the land to be protected.
Add family loyalties or tribal ties on top of that, and the
feudal system gets very complex.
The problem with the feudal system was that over time,
territorial leaders were given an incentive (more land) in
trying to control the neighboring land as well.
Over time this type of warfare increased, territorial army
against territorial army, and the latter part of Zhou rule
became known as the “Period of Warring States” beginning
in 403 BC.
As territorial administrators are fighting amongst
themselves, needless to say, the power of the king himself
is diminishing.
Zhou Society
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Social Ladder
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The king and his family were at the very top of the
social system.
Next were those the king appointed to administer his
land.
Government officials also ranked fairly high.
Artisans and merchants were not highly regarded in
Chinese society and were usually under the control of
the feudal lord.
So were the peasants, who were expected to work the
land for the lord, but was also given a small parcel to
work for themselves.
There were slaves as well in the social structure of Zhou
China.
Zhou Society
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Filial Piety
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This is the concept that developed prior to
Zhou rule, and still exists today.
This is subordination to older members in
one’s family, respect given to them.
One should not shame his/her family and
should act in a manner that makes one’s
family look favorable.
Zhou Society
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Veneration of Ancestors
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This belief is based in the idea that those who
die still can have an effect on those still alive.
In other words, those who pass into the
afterlife can bless a person or place curses
upon him/her according to how that individual
has acted and continues to live.
Do you understand why it would serve a
person well to be kind to those who are older
than him/her?
Zhou Advances
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Agricultural
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By the 500s BC, many farming improvements
had taken place.
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Irrigation (controlling flood waters, providing water in drought)
Iron (plows that were more effective, could make more land arable)
Manufacturing
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Iron (not only plows, also weapons like crossbow)
Silk (its production kept a secret)
Zhou Advances
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Language
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Chinese script had begun earlier under the Shang
dynasty, instead of it being replaced by another
language or writing system, the educated in the
time of the Zhou kept it and added pictographs and
ideographs.
Written Chinese language is the oldest
continuing language in the world. It is not
exactly the same as the original; all languages
change over time. But it is very close.
Written in columns, read from top to bottom.
Zhou Advances
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Philosophy
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Confucianism
 Born
in 551 BC, Confucius was
frustrated by the constant warfare of
the time.
 His main question was, “How does the
order in China get restored?”
 He believed that people should act in
harmony with each other and if they
did, they themselves would do well.
 He also believed that people should
focus on caring for others.
Confucianism
 Confucius’
focus was on reworking society
so that people would get along better.
 He also had the idea of “civil service”, where
government positions are given based on
ability, not politics and preference. He
believed that people who wanted to work for
the government take a test to prove his
abilities. We call this today a “civil service
test.”
 He died in 479 BC, never really seeing his
ideas implemented. They were much later.
He had some disciples that recorded his
wisdom in the Analects. Civil service was
instituted in China many years later.
Confucius
He was born in 551 BC.
 He was known as “Master Kung.”
 He was born poor, but wanted to become
a government administrator.
 He was known for being a teacher.
 His sayings were recorded in the
Analects.
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Dao
This refers to “the way.”
 It is comprised of the “duty” of all people
to subordinate their interests to the
broader needs of family and community.
 It also recognizes “humanity”, the idea of
compassion and empathy toward others.
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Confucianism
Duty= “work ethic”
Humanity = compassion and empathy
toward others
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The Five Relationships
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Father-Son
Older brother-Younger brother
Husband-Wife
Friend-Friend
Ruler-Ruled
Confucius Quote about the “perfect government”
Cheung, William. The Commonwealth State. Retrieved July 17, 2006
from Confucius Publishing Co., Ltd.
http://www.confucius.org/lunyu/edcommon.htm
Zhou Advances
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Philosophy
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Daoism
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This philosophy was based upon the ideas of Laozi (“Old
Master”) who lived about the time of Confucius.
Like Confucianism, Laozi focused on human behavior here
on earth.
But, his philosophy was very different in that Laozi believed
that instead of action, humans should be inactive. In
other words, humans should live in harmony with nature.
Instead of making society better, Laozi believed that
people should live apart from society and live in
harmony with nature.
He opposed war and believed that victory in battle should
be a moment for mourning instead of celebrating.
New Philosophy
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Legalism
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Means “School of Law.”
Believed that humans were evil by nature.
Rejected Confucianism’s idea that the
“superior man” could solve society’s problems.
Advocated rule by harsh punishment, fear,
not compassion.
Had a goal to create an orderly society through
fear.
With your group and another group
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Come up with a venn diagram and
compare and contrast
Dynastic cycle
New
dynasty
est. power
Rebellion or
invasion
Ruled
successfully
Collapse
Decline/rise
begins
Zhou Dynasty Collapse
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The dynastic cycle ran its course. The initial
able kings gave way to the mediocre kings
who lost power to weaker kings. In this case
the Zhou had lost its ultimate authority in China
and the territorial rulers had real authority.
These territorial rulers fought amongst
themselves until finally a strong and strict ruler
came in and united China under one rule
This is the same ruler who began the Great Wall
of China and built the terra cotta soldiers to
protect his tomb (which, by the way is said to
have rivers of mercury surrounding it), the
powerful Shihuangdi, founder of the Qin Dynasty.
Source not yet mentioned. . .
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Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2003). World History. New York:
Glencoe McGraw-Hill.
3 philosophies
Philosophy
read and answer essential and review question
for your philosophy
Get into a group of 4-5
make sure that you have at least one person who
represents each philosophy in your group.
How would you react
how would you react to each situation according
to one of the 3 philosophies.
Confucianism
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What actions did Confucius believe would
bring order to China?
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Respect necessary for harmony
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Correct behavior would bring peace to society
How did Confucius think rulers should
behave?
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Should live right and respect people
Taoism
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What did Taoists believe about society?
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Humans must learn to live in harmony with
nature and inner feelings
Why did Daoism teach that each human
had to find an individual way to follow in
life
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Every person is different and needed to find
their own way to be happy
Legalism
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How did Legalism suggest that society be
controlled?
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Government must pass strict laws to control
peoples behavior
Why did Legalist want a strong
government?
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Only a strong government could enforce the
harsh punishment needed to keep society in
order
1.
Confucianism - Inform parents. Apologize
for not living up to standards expected;
promise to try and do better
Taoist - Not worry about it and hope the
problem will go away.
1.
Taoists more probably would try to recognize
why they are failing, and do something to
change their behavior if it would make them
happier
Legalist -Inform parents, expect and
accept punishment
2.
Confucianism - Inform whoever was
smoking that their behavior was wrong,
report this action to the principal, avoid
these people until they corrected their
wrong doing
Tao - Announce pleasantly that smoking
would make them unhappy because its
bad for your health
Legalist - Inform the principal
7.
Confucianism - Would not take it. It’s
against the rules
Taoist - Would not take it, they would have
feelings about it that might complicate
their life
Legalist - Would not take it, it’s against the
law.