Forms of Chinese Government 4/14/11
Forms of Chinese Government What are the four government types used by China to select government officials? Which one do you think was best? Why? Make text-to-text connections Identify the types of government and the way they worked Warm-up: Peer edit your paragraph!
Chinese history is divided into periods ruled by dynasties, or ruling families.
The government of Imperial China took many different forms BBureaucracy – an organized body of workers with many levels of authority MMeritocracy – rule through merit AAristocracy – rule by the wealthy NNepotism – rule by family and friendship ties FForeign Rule – Mongols ruled through social levels
The Han Dynasty & Bureaucracy This was a golden age of expansion & prosperity Held power for 400 years As long as the bureaucrat was skilled, honest and hard working, China prospered. Corrupt government officials result in the collapse of this dynasty
Bureaucracy – Rule through an organized body of workers with different levels of authority
Aristocracy & the Tang Dynasty Used a large bureaucracy Government jobs held by those with experience The aristocrats are very wealthy, so they are self-sufficient because they can afford to pay for own education Use their education to do well on the civil service examinations based on Confucius teachings. Characterized by:
Aristocracy Power is held by a small privileged class! Often using nepotism to fill important positions
Where does nepotism fit into Chinese Rule? During the Tang Dynasty, many government officials were chosen for jobs based upon who their fathers or grandfathers were. Some where hired based on personal recommendations. Often, men would marry into the imperial family in order to gain a high position!
Under Nepotism Subjects would be very loyal because they lose power if the Emperor loses power They understand family ties Traditionally, these were the wealthy who had been to university so they were seen as being very adaptable – can be trained to serve as government officials
Nepotism Government where power is based on family relationships!
Meritocracy & the Song Dynasty Motivated candidates Highly qualified for few government positions Demonstrate intelligence on difficult civil service exams Characterized by:
How did people in the Song dynasty view the emperor? Those who are in power will make sure that the Emperor is honored and respected throughout history because they want to feel that they serve a smart, strong and worthy leader. Emperor of the Song Dynasty
Meritocracy Power is held by the talented!
Foreign Rule – Yuan Dynasty Mongols conquered almost all of Asia
Under Mongolian rule, Chinese society was divided into four classes. Mongols Outside foreigners Northern Chinese Southern Chinese
Foreign Rule Foreign values prized higher than traditional values Many important government jobs went to those the Khan felt he could trust Family often used Fighting amount Mongol leaders, greed, corrupt officials led the Chinese to rebel against Mongol rule
What do you think? Which form of government do you think was most useful? Give a rational for your answer. Bureaucracy Meritocracy Aristocracy Nepotism Foreign Rule
Taught that people must act properly towards each other. Outlined five important relationships: ruler & subject, father & son, older & younger sibling, husband & wife, friend & friend. Except for the friends, all of the relationships have a superordinate and a subordinate.
Keeping this in mind, Confucius taught that people in relationships, there is one person below & one above. Those above should be kind to those below. Those below should respect and obey those above. In particular, subjects should be Loyal to rulers. Song emperors and Scholars believed that….
believed that officials who had studied Confucius teachings would be: Rational Moral Able to maintain order
China’s Imperial Dynasties Dynasty Time Period Known For Qin BCE Unification under one emperor Han 206BCE-220CE Golden age of a united China Six CE A period of chaos & division Sui CE Reunification of China Tang CE Economic development & growth; many inventions and discoveries 5 dynasties north;10 kingdoms south CE CE A period of chaos & division Song CE Economic development & growth; many inventions & discoveries Yuan CE Control of China by foreigners (Mongols) Ming CE Opening up China to foreign influences at the start of dynasty, closing them down by the end
Whole group check Get out your Reading Notes!
16.2 The government of Imperial China 1. People can overthrow an emperor when he rules badly. 2. A Bureaucracy is an organize group of gov. officials. When the bureaucracy became corrupt,people suffered from high taxes, forced labor and attacks by bandits! 3. When the Han dynasty fell, China broke into separate kingdoms. It was reunited by the Sui dynasty.
16.3 The Tang Dynasty 1. Scholar-officials were scholars who got government jobs through examinations. 2. The examination was primarily based on the teachings of Confucius. 3. Only the wealthy could afford the tutors, books and time to study needed to prepare for the exams.
16.4 The Song Dynasty 1. Government officials who had studied Confucius would be rational, moral & able to maintain order. 2. People from lower classes were allowed to become government officials. 3. People wanted these jobs because government officials were respected and were excused from taxes and military service.
16.5 Mongol Rule 1. Kublai Khan appointed relatives, other Mongols, and trusted foreigners. 2. Chinese scholars worked only as teachers and minor government officials.
16.6 Revival of Civil Service system 1. Hiring scholars emphasized moral behavior, justice, kindness, loyalty to the emperor, proper conduct and the importance of family. It insured that officials were trained and talented, and it allowed the ambitions and hard working from all classes the chance to succeed. 2. People who knew science, math, or engineering were kept out of gov. Because Confucian scholars had little respect for merchants, trade and business were not encouraged.