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China
In the Beginning
• Most of China’s rulers were from
dynasties, or a series of rulers from the
same family.
• China’s ancient values of social order,
harmony, and respect for authority
were put aside toward the end of the
Zhou Dynasty.
• Confucius seeks to organize Chinese
society around five basic relationships.
The Teachings of Confucius
• Confucius seeks to organize Chinese society
around five basic relationships.
1. subject to ruler
2. husband to wife
3. older brother to younger brother
4. father to son
5. friend to friend
• Confucian ideas lay the groundwork for a
civil service staffed by gentlemen scholars.
• He stressed that children should practice
filial piety.
• He was not only wise, but he wanted to show
leaders how to govern effectively.
Famous Quotes
• By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice,
they get to be wide apart.
• Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees
it.
• The superior man is modest in his speech, but
exceeds in his actions.
• I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do
and I understand.
• Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's
ignorance.
Daoism
• Daoists seek accord with nature.
• Daoism was founded by Laozi.
• The “Dao” or way, is universal force that
guides all things.
• He states that nothing in nature strives for
fame, or even wisdom.
• Of all the creatures in nature, humans fail to
follow the Dao.
• Daoists made contributions to the sciences
of alchemy, astronomy, and medicine.
Legalism
• Legalists urge strong, harsh rule and strict
censorship.
• They believed that a highly efficient and powerful
government was the key to restoring order.
• They taught a ruler should provide rich rewards for
people who carried out their duties well.
• Ideas and actions should be controlled.
• Rulers should destroy things that encourage the
criticism of government.
“ Anyone caught outside his own village without a
travel permit should have his ears or nose chopped
off.”
Yin & Yang
• Ordinary Chinese consult
fold wisdom in books like
the I Ching (Book of
Changes) and in ideas
like yin and yang.
• Yin and Yang represent
the natural rhythms of life.
• Yang represents the
masculine in the
universe, and Yin
represents the feminine.
Daoism
Confucianism
B.
A.
C.
E.
D.
F.
G.
Legalism
1. A highly efficient and powerful government is the key to social order. _____
2. Human beings should live simply and in harmony with nature. ________
3. Respect for parents and elders is important to a well-ordered society. _______
4. Chinese ethical system. _______
5. This ethical system did not use harshness. _______
6. Taught that a ruler should provide rich rewards for people who carried out their
duties. _______
7. Stressed the importance of government and a well-ordered society. _______
8. Ethical system that seems the most moderate and balanced. _______
Shi Huangdi
• Shi Huangdi, the first Qin
emperor, uses military
power to unite China and
crush dissent.
• He creates a road network
and standardizes currency,
writing weights and
measures, and laws.
• He has the Great Wall built
to fend off invaders from the
north.
• The Chinese overthrow the
Qin Dynasty almost
immediately after Shi
Huangdi’s death.
How is the Great Wall of China an example of Shi’ Huangdi’s power?
A terra-cotta warrior from the
tomb. Each soldier’s body was
made from a mold but the head was
individualized. The soldiers were
also painted in vivid colors.
What is your impression of these
warriors?
Shi Huangdi rules as a Legalist
• In order to destroy the power of his rivals, Shi
Huangdi introduced a policy called
“strengthening the trunk and weakening the
branches.”
• He commanded all noble families to live in the
capital under his gaze.
• He and his prime minister, Li Su, murdered
hundreds of Confucian scholars.
• They burned any books they deemed useless.
• He was hated by the poor because they were
forced to work on the Great Wall.
The Han Dynasty
• Ruled China for more than 400 years.
• Xiang Yu and Liu Bang emerged as powerful leaders.
Yu gave his warlords, including Bang, territories in order
to acknowledge him as feudal lord.
• Liu Bang turned against Xiang Yu in their final battle in
202, Lui Bang declared himself emperor.
• Bang followed Shi Huangdi policy of centralized
government. Unlike Huangdi, Bang departed from
legalism, lowered taxes and softened harsh
punishments.
• People appreciated the peace and stability the Han
dynasty brought.
• Liu Bang dies n 195 B.C.
Timeline of the Han Dynasty
• 195: Lui Bang dies, his wife Empress Lü rules.
She outlives her son and has powerful friends at
court to help her gain power.
• 180: Empress Lü dies, people remain loyal to
Lui Bang and executes the empress’s relatives.
• 141-87: Lui Bang’s Grandson Wudi rules. He
held the throne longer than any other Han ruler.
Referred to as the Martial Emperor because he
expanded his empire through war.
Rulers- Strengthening Government
• Liu Bang: relied on Confucius policy rather
than the harsh legalist ideals of Qin
dynasty
• Emperor Wudi: Most important emperor
– Relied on Confucianism
– Improved canals and roads
– Imposed a government monopoly
(complete control of a product or
business) on iron and salt
Silk Road
• Trade Route linking China with the Middle
East
• Brought a lot of wonderful goods into
China and helped China expand.
Han Society
• Scholar-Officials: well-educated
philosophers (Confucianism) to run the
bureaucracy
• A scholar official was expected to match
the Confucian ideal of a gentle man. He
would be courteous and dignified and
possess a thorough knowledge of history,
music, poetry, and Confucian teachings.
• Known for the development of paper
3 Dynasties
The Zhou Dynasty
Zhou rulers believed in the idea of the Mandate of
Heaven. During this rule there was civil unrest which
caused the dynasty to fall. Due to internal fighting and
attacks by outsiders, the Zhou’s power fell to the Qin
dynasty.
Qin Dynasty
The Qin dynasty came to power ending the trouble of the
warring states. Used ideas of Legalism to unite China.
Under the Qin dynasty, the Great Wall was erected.
Han Dynasty
Han dynasty reestablished the civil service system.
During this period trade prospered and China expanded
its borders to its largest size in the Classical period. The
Hans dynasty was one of the longest in Chinese History.