Dynastic Rule in China The basis for united Chinese government was established during the Han Dynasty, when people living in northern and southern China were unified. The Han called China “Zhao Guo”, or “The Middle Kingdom”, because they believed they were the center of the “civilized” world. The Chinese emperor was called the “Son of Heaven” because the Chinese believed that the gods chose the Emperor and his family to be the political and religious leaders of the Middle Kingdom. This divine choice was called “The mandate of Heaven.” Throughout Chinese history, dynasties of emperors ruled until factors such as invasions, economic difficulties, lack of concern for peasants’ well-being, and economically wasteful lifestyles made it appear that the royal family no longer had “Heaven’s Mandate.”

Han emperors governed according to Confucian political principles which stressed hard work, loyalty, and respect. Emperors oversaw a large bureaucracy staffed by scholarly civil servants, who were chosen according to the knowledge of Confucian thought, which they demonstrated on exams. Many Chinese today call themselves “the people of the Han” because they consider the Han period a golden age of unity when classical Chinese culture developed.

The Sui Dynasty: Re-establishing Unity in China The Sui dynasty was able to reunite much of the territory ruled by the Han dynasty by doing many public works projects, like the rebuilding of the Great Wall and by extending military control over large stretches of China.

The Tang Dynasty: Golden Age of the Chinese Culture Practiced Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism Had land reform that gave some land to peasants The Scholar class became the new ruling elite

The Song Dynasty: Rise of Meritocracy Mongolians & Manchurians attacked China’s northern borders Government officials were chosen according to scores they obtained on civil-service exams Zen Buddhism became popular Merchant class rose as trade thrived

The Yuan Dynasty: The Age of Foreign Rule (Mongols) Kublai Khan, grandson of Mongol leader Genghis Khan, ruled China They retained the civil service system, but staffed it with foreigners Allowed Chinese belief systems to coexist with Mongol shamanism

The Ming Dynasty: Exploration and Isolation Re-introduced civil service exam Brief period of overseas exploration, although later prohibited foreign trade Confucianism popular; but all three belief systems were also combined by many Chinese