THE SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ORDER: FROM ZHOU TO HAN CLASSICAL CHINA THE SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ORDER: FROM ZHOU TO HAN

CLASSICAL CHINA: Key concept Intro. Three differing philosophies emerge during Warring States Period: Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism. Qin Shi Huangdi unites China through strong centralized government, harsh rule and standardization of policies Long-lived Han dynasty conquers neighbors, promotes developments in agricultural, education, trade, technologies (silk/paper) Ultimately destroyed from within through unequal social stratification

Expansion of China The Yangzi valley (south) The longest river of China Two crops of rice per year Dependable and beneficial to farmers

Feudal states vie for power: Chu Emerged in the central Yangzi region Challenged the Zhou for supremacy Adopted Chinese ways

Confucius’ search for order Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.) A strong-willed man, from an aristocratic family Traveled for ten years searching (unsuccessfully) for an official post Educator with numerous disciples Sayings compiled in the Analects by disciples

Confucian ideas Goal: To create moral rulers to bring order and stability to China Stress ritual Restore political and social order through formation of junzi - "superior individuals" Well-educated and conscientious officials Acted on behalf of greater good High ethical standards Able to deliver wise and fair judgements Edited Zhou classics for his disciples to study

key Confucian concepts Ren - a sense of humanity Kind, courteous, respectful, loyal Li - a sense of propriety Behavior expectations change with situation Relationships: ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, elder to younger and friend to friend. Xiao - filial piety Preserves family and ancestral integrity 5 Relationships and Xiao as basis of society Confucian ideas adaptable and interpretive due to general ideas – no specific rules!

Later Confucians Mencius (372-289 B.C.E.) Principal spokesman for the Confucian school – spreads ideas! Believed in the goodness of human nature Rule thru ren - benevolence, peace, gentle Utopian, but impractical Xunzi (298-238 B.C.E.) Served as a governmental administrator Doubted goodness of human nature: people selfish, resistant to voluntarily supporting government Rule through li – strict rules of conduct, moral education and harsh social discipline to “straighten warped wood”

Critical reaction: Daoism Confucian focus on social activism impossible to attain Daoism promotes philosophical reflection and introspection Understand natural principles, live in harmony with them Retreat from political world Live simply as possible. Laozi (founder) wrote the Daodejing

Philosophical (original) Daoism Dao - The way of nature, the way of the cosmos Opposites in balance, complementary An eternal principle governing all workings of the world Passive, yielding, does nothing, accomplishes everything Tailor behavior to passive, yielding nature of dao Ambition, activism brought the world to chaos Return to natural existence to achieve balance

Popular Daoism A folk or religious form of Daoism; not philosophical Emerged at end of Han Dynasty Seek to master forces of natural, spiritual world Many deities including immortals, which people venerated Gods associated with natural cycles, agriculture Many saints were patrons of certain occupations Symbolized prosperity, happiness Daoist priests were shamans, performed exorcisms Popular Daoism

Doctrine of Wuwei Disengagement from worldly affairs Called for simple, unpretentious life Live in harmony with nature Advocated small state, self-sufficient community Political implications Served as a counterbalance to Confucian activism Individuals often both Confucians and Daoists Flourishes when society at peace, prosperous

LEGALISM The practical and ruthless solution to ruling.

LEGALISM The doctrine of statecraft (used by Qin) Practical and ruthlessly efficient No concern with ethics, morality, or the principles governing nature Shang Yang (ca. 390-338 B.C.E.) Chief minister of the Qin state Ruthless policies summarized in The Book of Lord Shang Executed by his political enemies after death of patron Han Feizi (ca. 280-233 B.C.E.) Student of Xunzi, he synthesized Legalist ideas/practices Forced to suicide by his political enemies

LEGALISM IN PRACTICE State strength through agriculture and military force Discouraged commerce, education, and the arts Sacrificed self-interest of people for needs of state Called for harsh penalties even for minor infractions Advocated collective responsibility before law Called “carrot and stick” approach in west Not popular with the people, but still doctrine common to China

UNIFICATION OF CHINA The Qin State and Dynasty Located in west China and adopted Legalist policies Encouraged agriculture, resulted in strong economy Organized powerful army equipped with iron weapons Conquered other states and unified China in 221 B.C.E. UNIFICATION OF CHINA

Qin Shi Huangdi King of Qin proclaimed himself First Emperor, 221 B.C.E. Established centralized imperial rule Held sons of nobles as hostages Demolished nobles’ castles / forts Connected and extended barriers to create Great Wall 700,000 people worked on project; 100,000 killed

QIN STATECRAFT Policies of centralization Standardization of laws, currencies, weights, measures Standardized scripts: creates a uniform writing system that supports various dialects Roads and bridges connect states Resistance to rule handled with brutality Bitterly opposed, especially by Confucian scholars Buried 460 scholars alive because of their criticism against the Qin Burned all books except few with utilitarian value QIN STATECRAFT

Qin Shihuangdi Tomb of the First Emperor The tomb was an underground palace Excavation of the tomb since 1974 Terracotta soldiers and army to protect tomb The collapse of the Qin dynasty Massive public works generated ill will among people Waves of rebels overwhelmed the Qin court in 207 B.C.E. A short-lived (14-year) dynasty, left deep marks in Chinese history

THE HAN DYNASTY (206BCE - 220CE) Liu Bang establishes Han dynasty 206BCE A general, persistent man, a methodical planner Han was long-lived dynasty Early Han policies: Sought middle way between Zhou and Qin Royal relatives proved unreliable Returned to centralized rule Martial Emperor (141-87 B.C.E.) Han Wudi ruled for 54 years Pursued centralization and expansion – control of Xiongnu and trade routes

Han statecraft Centralized government adopted Legalist policies Built enormous bureaucracy to rule the empire Continued to build roads and canals Levied taxes on agriculture, trade, and craft industries (inc. liquor) Imperial monopolies on production of iron and salt Established Confucian educational system for training bureaucrats Confucianism as the basis of the curriculum in imperial university Thirty thousand students enrolled in the university in Later Han

Han Imperial Expansion Invaded and colonized northern Vietnam and Korea Extended China into central Asia Han organized vast armies to invade Xiongnu territory Han enjoyed uncontested hegemony in east and central Asia

Han Social Structure Scholar bureaucrats: Confucian trained bureaucrats Officials selected through competitive testing Used to run the government in Early Han Scholar gentry Confucian bureaucrats intermarried with landed elite New class comes to dominate local, national offices Strongest in late Han Cultivators were the majority of the population Merchants held in low social esteem Women subordinated - Ban Zhao, Lessons for Women Promoted women’s education, but supported obedience and subservience Continued into 20th century to mold role of Chinese women

Commerce & Industry Iron metallurgy - tools, weapons Silk textiles Making of silk spread all over China during the Han High quality Chinese silk became a prized commodity Traded as far as India, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Rome State monopolies on liquor, salt and iron Paper production Likely invented before 100 C.E. Began to replace silk and bamboo as writing materials Population growth Increased from 20 to 60 million (220 BCE to 9 CE) Despite light taxation (early Han), state revenue was large Silk Road established: horses for silk

Han troubles – Social Tensions Social tensions - stratification between the poor and rich Problems of land distribution Early Han supported land redistribution Economic difficulties forced some small landowners to sell property or themselves/family into slavery Lands accumulated in the hands of a few No land reform, because Han needed cooperation of large landowners

Zhang Qian leaving on expedition Han troubles - Money Expeditions consumed the empire's surplus Raised taxes and confiscated land of wealthy individuals Taxes, land confiscations discouraged investment Much of defense consumed on defending against nomads Wang Mang usurps power from Han A powerful Han minister dethroned the baby emperor 9 C.E. Land reforms = the "socialist emperor“ (flawed execution) Overthrown by revolts 23 C.E Zhang Qian leaving on expedition

Loss of the Mandate The Later Han Dynasty (25-220 C.E.) Overthrow of Wang Mang restores Han New Han much weakened – chaos after land redistribution Rule often through large families, gentry Rise of eunuchs in government as new source of power The Yellow Turban Uprising (Daoist Revolt) 184-205CE Rulers restored order but did not address problem of landholding Yellow Turban uprising inflicted serious damage on the Han

Collapse of the Han Court factions paralyzed central government Han empire dissolved China was divided into regional kingdoms Period of Three Kingdoms (220-280CE) Local aristocrats divided empire Later fragmented further During period nomads invaded, Buddhism entered

Key concept Review Three differing philosophies emerge during Warring States Period: Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism. Qin Shi Huang di unites China through strong centralized government, harsh rule and standardization of policies Long-lived Han dynasty conquers neighbors, promotes developments in agricultural, education, trade, technologies (silk/paper) Ultimately destroyed from within through unequal social stratification

Wrap up On a sheet of paper, please list the following: The singular purpose of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. How Confucianism affected the development of Legalism. The fundamental differences between Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism.