1. Classical China: 221 B.C. – 220 A.D. – The Qin and Han Dynasties
Chapter 6
Classical China: 221 B.C. – 220 A.D. – The Qin and Han Dynasties

2. Part 1: Schools of Thought In Ancient China: Why It’s Important
Toward the end of the Zhou dynasty, three major schools of thought about the nature of human beings and the universe emerged in China— Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. Although Hindus and Buddhists focused on freeing the human soul from the cycle of rebirth, Chinese philosophers were more concerned about the material world and creating a stable society.

3. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
The Zhou Dynasty ruled from 1122 to 256 B.C., the longest in Chinese history
During the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, and the resulting chaos, one philosopher tried to restore order to society.
Confucius – “The First Teacher”

4. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Confucianism
A philosophy, not a religion
The system of political and ethical ideas formulated by the Chinese philosopher Confucius toward the end of the Zhou Dynasty; it was intended to help restore order to a society that was in a state of confusion

5. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
There are two central ideas to the Confucian view of the Dao (The Way, or The Path)
Duty
Humanity

6. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Duty meant that people needed to be subordinate to their own interests for the needs of the family and community
People should also be governed by Five Constant Relations
Parent and Child
Parents should be loving, and children should revere their parents
Husband and Wife
Husbands should fulfill their duties and wives should be obedient
Older Sibling and Younger Sibling
Elder siblings should be kind and younger siblings respectful
Older Friend and Younger Friend
Older friend should be considerate and younger friend deferential
Ruler and Subject
Rulers should be benevolent, and subjects loyal

7. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Confucian concept of duty was based on work ethic.
If each individual worked hard to fulfill their duties, then the affairs of society as a whole would prosper as well.
Confucius also taught that all humans are basically good, and that the ruler should set a good example.
Rulers should be compassionate
Subjects would respect the ruler and society would prosper

8. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
The second part of the Confucian view of the Dao was humanity
To have compassion and empathy for others
Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you

9. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Confucius also believed in rule by merit
Jobs should be given to people of superior talent not only to people of noble birth
Confucius’s ideas did not have much effect in his lifetime.
They eventually became the guiding principles for the Chinese Empire and fundamental ideas of Eastern civilization.

10. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Daoism was a system of ideas developed by Laozi – “the Old Master”, who lived around the same time as Confucius
Daoism is a philosophy, not a religion
The chief ideas are discussed in the work called Tao Te Ching, or the Way of the Dao
Followers do not concern themselves with the universe, but with proper forms of human behavior
They believe in not interfering with the natural order of things – the way to follow the will of Heaven is not through action but inaction

11. Lesson One – Schools of Thought in Ancient China
Legalism
A philosophy, not a religion
Taught that humans were evil by nature
Followers were referred to as the “School of Law”
They believed that only harsh laws and stiff punishments would make the common people serve their ruler
They believed that people were incapable of being good. Therefore, the ruler did not have to show compassion for the people

12. Part 2: The Qin Dynasty
After more than 200 years of civil war, order was restored to China when the first Qin emperor unified the Chinese world. Although his dynasty was short-lived, Qin Shihuangdi made many important changes to a unified China during his brief rule. The Han dynasty that followed lasted more than 400 years.

13. Lesson Two – The Qin Unify China
As the Zhou Dynasty collapsed, the states of China went into a civil war over would be in control.
Dynastic Cycle and the Mandate of Heaven

14. Dynastic Cycle and the Mandate of Heaven

15. Lesson Two – The Qin Unify China
When the Zhou Dynasty collapsed, China was in complete disorder
The Qin state defeated rival states and declared a new dynasty

16. Qin Shihuangdi – Domestic Affairs
Ruler of the Qin Dynasty – His name translates to “the First Qin Emperor”
He created a single monetary system
He had a system of roads built throughout the Empire
Power of other Chinese aristocrats was weakened when he divided their land up and gave it to peasants
The other aristocrats were his rivals, so this helped make him stronger
Peasants who received the land were now directly taxed by the state, creating revenue for a central government

17. Qin Shihuangdi – Foreign Affairs
He sent his armies to extend the borders of his empire, going as far south as present day Vietnam.
To supply his armies, he built the Grand Canal from the Chang Jiang River in Central China to the Guangzhou in Southern China

18. The Terracotta Army
Qin Shihuangdi left behind an artistic legacy as well, another sign of a classical civilization
In 1974 farmers discovered a pit in front of the Qin Emperor’s burial mound
Inside there were more than 6,000 unique terracotta soldiers, chariots, and horses
This terracotta army is believed to have recreated Qin’s imperial guard for the afterlife
The elaborate nature of the art reflected the strong central power of the empire.

23. The First Great Wall of China
The biggest threat to the Qin Dynasty was to the North.
A nomadic people called the Xiongnu (Shyung Noo)
They mastered the art of riding and fighting on horseback
Several Chinese states constructed walls to keep them out
Emperor Qin Shihuangdi strengthened and connected these walls.
His project became known as the Great Wall of China
Most of the walls he built were made of loose stone, sand, and piled rubble, and they disappeared long ago.

24. ***Disclaimer: The wall that we know from films and photographs was not built until 1,500 years later.***
The Great Wall We Know
Qin Dynasty Great Wall

25. Qin Dynasty - Politics
The Qin Dynasty adopted legalism as the official ideology of the government.
Those who opposed the regime were punished or executed
Books that represented opposing ideas were burned

26. Qin burning books and burying scholars alive

27. Qin Dynasty - Politics
The Qin created a highly centralized government with an effective bureaucracy
Bureaucracy – An administrative organization that relies on nonelected officials and regular procedures
Below the central government were two levels of administration
Provinces
Counties
People in charge of these areas were appointed by the emperor. The positions were not inherited like they were in previous dynasties
The Bureaucracy was divided into three divisions,
Civil division
Military division
Censorate
The Censorate included inspectors that checked on government officials to ensure they were doing their jobs
Officials found guilty of wrong doing were executed
This became the standard for future Chinese Dynasties

28. The End of the Qin Dynasty
Qin Shihuangdi would be the only Qin Emperor
Landed aristocrats and Confucian intellectuals, as well as the common people revolted against him
He angered many Chinese by his harsh laws, censorship, and forced labor projects
The emperor died in 210 B.C.
Dynasty was overthrown four years later
The fall of the Qin Dynasty was followed by a brief period of civil war
The Han Dynasty followed the Qin Dynasty

29. The Han Dynasty Why It’s Important
The fall of the Qin dynasty was followed by a period of civil war, but it did not last long. One of the greatest and most long-lasting dynasties in Chinese history—the Han dynasty— emerged in 202 B.C. The Han dynasty, and the Qin before it, made contributions to culture and technology that have endured to the present.

30. The Han Dynasty The Han Dynasty Founded by Liu Pang (Lyoo Bhang)
Peasant origin
Became known as Han Gaozu – the “Exalted Ruler of Han”

32. The Han Dynasty – Political Structure
The first Han emperor did away with the harsh policies of the Qin Dynasty.
Cruel and unusual punishment
Legalistic approach to law enforcement
Replaced them with Confucian principles
Some of the efficient government practices of the Qin Dynasty were kept
Division of the government into 3 parts
Civil
Military
Censorate
Kept the empire divided into provinces and counties
Chose government officials based on merit instead of birth

33. The Han Dynasty – Political Structure
Created the civil service examination to choose new government officials
Established a school to train them
Principles of Confucianism, Chinese history, and law
Influenced Chinese civilizations for the next 2,000 years.
The population of Han Dynasty grew rapidly and an efficient bureaucracy wo maintain order in the government.

34. The Han Dynasty – Political Structure
Han Wudi (Martial Emperor of Han) expanded China’s borders
Expanded China’s territory south of the Chang Jiang and west toward Central Asia
His armies also pushed back the Xiongnu (Nomads to the North)
After his death, China experienced almost 150 years of peace

35. Society in the Han Dynasty
Although the Han Dynasty was generally considered prosperous, free peasants suffered
Forced military service and forced labor (1 month per year)
Average farm size was reduced even though the population was increasing
Made it hard to produce enough food fro the family
Aristocrats became powerful by seizing land from peasants
Many people had to sell their land and become tenant farmers
Had to pay rent to the landowner
50% of the annual harvest

36. Society in the Han Dynasty
Increased the importance of the family in the Chinese system of life
Supported by the ideas of Confucianism
Basic economic unit
Basic social unit for education and training in morals

37. Trade in the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was generally prosperous with trade and manufacturing
Controlled by the government
The Silk Road helped to expand trade

38. Han Dynasty – Technological Achievements
New Technology added to the economic prosperity of Han China
Textile Manufacturing – Cloth making
Water mills
Grinding grain (feed a growing population)
Iron casting
Led to the invention of steel
Rudder and fore-and-aft rigging
Ships could sail into the wind – Led to the expansion of trade
Paper
Steel
Wheelbarrow

39. Han Dynasty – Cultural Achievements
The works of Confucian schools were made it into classic literature, which became required reading for Chinese school children
Introduced children to the forms of behavior they would need as adults
Writing history became the chief literary effort

40. Fall of the Han Dynasty Weak rulers amused themselves with court life
Government began to decline
Corruption of government officials and the concentration of land in the hands of the wealthy caused peasant unrest
Free farmers were forced to become tenants and peasants started revolting
Population Decline
At the height of the Han Dynasty in 2 A.D. the population was estimated at 60 million
Two hundred years later, the population had declined to less than 20 million
Hardships were inflicted on peasant farmers who grew food. People also died during uprisings and wars.
Invasions from nomads continued from the North
190 A.D. – Rebel armies attack the capital city
Final blow came in 220 A.D. when a general seized control
He was unable to keep control and China again fell into civil war
Invasions from the North continued
The Han Dynasty achieved the lasting greatness of a classical civilization
The next great Chinese dynasty would not arise for 400 years