Traditional China Common Thread of East Asia & Dynastic Rule

China is one of the original world civilizations!

Common Threads of East Asia Most common threads relate to the development of civilization of Asia & geography & topography & climate of the region.

Group welfare over the individual! West is the individual, base unit of society in East Asia it is family or group. (certainly concern over individuals in family and love) Energy is spent on wealth of family, village etc… Excellent student in Asia see’s it as village, extended family all helped the student to succeed.

Common Threads of East Asia In the 7th & 8th centuries A.D., China’s beliefs, writing system, philosophies, religions and technology spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam defining the area known as East Asia.

Chinese writing system is called calligraphy.

Subjugation of Women Women were restricted from most education (maybe knowledge of arts). Women’s role was to produce sons! Three growing seasons! Son’s carry on the name Daughters were expensive to marry off- dowry goes to new family. Son’s bring wife's and dowry into the family!

Middle Kingdom- Dynastic China For years, until the late 1800s, the Chinese considered themselves the only truly civilized people on earth- the Middle Kingdom. They felt they needed nothing from the outside world and had nothing to learn from it.

Middle Kingdom China’s location helps to explain why the Chinese thought they lived at the center of the Earth. Long ago distance and physical barriers limited contact between China and other centers of civilizations. (until the Silk Road) Physical barriers that kept China isolated: Gobi Desert, Mongolian and Tibetan plateaus, Himalaya Mountains and rainforest separated China from S. E. Asia. To the east lies the Pacific Ocean

Dynastic Rule in China Dynasties, or ruling families, ruled over China from 2200 B.C. until 1911 A.D. Chinese Emperor was considered to be the Son of heaven. The Dynastic rulers were top of the social structure.

Levels of Society Emperor and the Dynastic family. Gentry- about 5-10% of population. The gentry were the scholar elite; they held highest position in society. Peasants/Farmers- majority of population: very important to society because they produce food- agriculture, not educated. Artisans and merchants- people who sell goods. Slave girls are the last level of the social structure. Typically they are young girls sold as servant’s etc.

Gentry Class

Farmers & Peasants

Rigid Class System Rigid hierarchical society- Stratified into rigid layers - class society- some movement- based on education Family Ties- kinship groups- extended family- villages. Importance attached to learning-important virtue Veneration of age- respect to elders & wisdom of elders

Mandate of Heaven The Chinese believed that heaven granted a ruler the mandate, or right to rule. The people in return owed the ruler complete loyalty and obedience.

Han Dynasty

Good Earth For a majority of the people, peasants, life in China for thousands of years was very difficult. Throughout Chinese history, they were plagued by famine. In traditional China, there was an average of a famine per year. In more modern times, such as , one famine killed three to six million people.