The Unification of China By: Colette Spencer

Chaos in China Last centuries of the Zhou where chaotic (Period of Warring States) Growing violence and disharmony Territorial princes fighting with each other Chinese thinkers wanted a return to tranquility Began creating new philosophies that became Chinese traditions

Confucianism Kong Fuzi (551BCE-479BCE) born to aristocratic family Educated and ambitious mid-level bureaucrat in gov’t Believed that the key to restoring order was to have superiors with morals and ethics They would lead by example and the people would follow them

Society consisted of unequal relationships: King to subject Husband to wife Father to son Friend to friend Older brother to younger brother If the superior (junzi) of these relationships acted with benevolence and genuine concern for others; then the inferior would act with deference and obedience Harmony would prevail

These virtues would be gained by a liberal arts education These virtues and education could also be applied to the government Government should be filled with men who were educated and conscientious

Emperors should keep taxes low, administer justice, and provide for the material needs of the people Emperors who did not do that, risked losing the Mandate of Heaven Confucius didn’t deny that gods and spirits existed He was more concerned with practical things: human relationships, good government and social harmony

Confucian teachings emphasize: Ren – kindness and benevolence Li – a sense of propriety, behave appropriately, treat all with respect Xiao – filial piety – devotion of children to their parents (obey while young, support while old) Also devotion of subjects to the emperor All of Confucius’ teachings were compiled by his students into The Analects

Daoism Associated with a legendary 6th century man named Laozi Believed to have written the Daodejing (Classic of the Way and Virtue) – spelled out Daoist beliefs Daoists were critics of Confucianism They believe education, moral improvement, and good government were useless

They were not worried about human relationships In the face of all the disorder in China, they urged withdrawal into the world of nature They were not worried about human relationships They believed the best government was no government The central concept is dao “the way” of nature It isn’t good or bad…it just is Its compared to water – it can be soft and pliant yet can erode mountains

Chief value was wuwei – disengagement from the world, living in harmony with nature People should live in small, self-sufficient communities and search for the meaning of life Some people believed it was possible to be Confucian by day and Daoist by night

Legalism Completely opposite of Confucianism & Daoism Most prominent Legalist was Han Feizi Worked under Qin Shihuangdi Believed the answer to China’s problems lay in clear rules and laws Enforced through rewards and harsh punishments Believed most people were stupid and needed to be controlled

Farmers and soldiers were the only two essential groups in society Suppressed artisans, merchants, aristocrats, scholars Personal freedom sacrificed for the good of the state It was Legalism that brought an end to the Period of Warring States with the rise of the Qin Dynasty

The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty

Where Were They? Small state in western China Developed during Period of Warring States Aggressive expansionists Adopted ideas of Legalism

Who Were They? They were repressive, autocratic and often cruel Also brilliant politicians and reformers Only lasted from 221BCE – 207BCE – 14 yrs.

Qin Shihuangdi Qin state most powerful in China He unified all northern states – became emperor Created model of gov’t that would serve all later dynasties

Centralized gov’t Replaced nobles with a bureaucracy Took noble land and redistributed to peasants Taxes taken directly from peasants

His Accomplishments Built roads Built & connected defensive walls including first part of Great Wall Standardized money, weights & measures Unified laws – strict punishments killed Confucianists and Daoists that opposed him Burned all books on philosophy, education, history, literature Standardized common writing Restricted trade and mercantilism

Fall of Qin He died in 210BCE Empire fell within four years Reasons: Overtaxed & overworked peasants on edge of revolt Territorial uprisings of the nobles Rebels took over gov’t, killed officials

The Han Dynasty Chapter 8

Early Han Liu Bang restored order after fall of Qin Had good advisors & loyal army Got rid of the most harsh laws – kept some other legalist policies. Got the support of Confucian intellectuals

The Government Former Han 206BCE – 9CE Later Han 25CE – 220CE Used royal family members as governors Divided empire into districts

Used civil service exams to hire bureaucrats Tested their knowledge of Confucian teachings Hired people based on ability Known as civil gentry – they would run gov’t until early 1900’s This allowed many middle class into the gov’t

Han Wudi “martial emperor” – ruled 54 yrs. Pursued expansion Built huge bureaucracy More roads and canals Taxes on agriculture, trades and crafts Monopoly on salt and iron Est. imperial university to prepare men for gov’t service

Invaded and controlled N. Vietnam and Korea Nomadic Xiongnu (excellent archers) kept raiding into empire and retreating Han Wudi invaded – brought them under his control Sent cultivators to live there to make it Chinese

Life During the Han Emphasized filial piety and female subordination Gained iron tools to farm with Led to increased production….population …specialized labor Textile production grew – esp. sericulture

Trade routes to west were established – Silk Roads Goods could reach Rome Invented paper

The Problems Military expansion was expensive Taxes raised – land taken Not much investment in manufacturing and trade 1st cent. BCE – peasants organized rebellions Bad harvests, high taxes, huge debt, slavery

Wang Mang 6CE – Wang Mang served as regent for 2 yr. old Claimed Mandate of Heaven in 9CE Started reforms Called Socialist Emperor

Redistributed noble land to peasants Limit amount of land a family could own Famine brought revolts 23CE – group of landlords and peasants killed him

Later Han Within 2 yrs. Han returned weakened Regained control of gov’t Reorganized state bureaucracy Kept Xiongnu in submission Controlled silk roads Didn’t do anything with land distribution so revolts continued

Yellow Turban Uprising Big gap between the rich and poor Group of rebels revolted off and on in 2nd & 3rd cent. CE Peasants were desperate to improve lives Greatly weakened the Han

Fall of the Han Different groups tried to influence gov’t and destroy rivals: royal family, Confucian scholars, bureaucrats Sometimes they went to war against each other Gov’t finally fell Next four centuries – China remained divided into several large kingdoms