1. Confucius Changes China
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2. Objectives
Describe characteristics of Confucius that made him a teacher
Identify some of his teachings and describe their impact on China
Evaluate the achievements of the Han dynasty

3. Shihaungdi’s Dynasty was Overthrown…
Rebel armies were led by a farmer-turned- general called Han Gaozu (gow-zoo)
Family began the Han dynasty in 206 B.C. and would rule China for 400 years
During the Han dynasty, China expanded to what is now Korea and Vietnam

4. The Han Dynasty

5. Shihaungdi’s Ideals
Lived by the idea that a ruler should be able to do whatever he chooses
Han rulers had different ideas about the government
Their thoughts were based on the teachers of a man named Confucius

6. Confucius
Like the Buddha, Confucius lived through an age of warfare and conflict
Confucius suggested a different, more peaceful way of living
Like the Buddha, he won many followers during and after his lifetime
UNLIKE the Buddha, Confucius’s ideas would not start a new religion

7. Confucius Parents died when he was young
Had a passion for learning – this helped Confucius to get a job in government

8. The Followers of Confucius
Confucius’s ideas were later called Confucianism
Taught that Chinese culture had lost its traditions
According to Confucius, ancient traditions had once made society just and good
Through education, Confucius said, people from rulers to farmers could learn how to become good people once again

9. Confucianism Central idea: have respect within the family
Idea is also applied to the government
Just as a child must respect his or her parent, so must a subject respect his or her ruler
Believed emperors received the right to rule from the gods (the Mandate of Heaven)

10. The Mandate of Heaven
This command echoed the Shang belief that the gods spoke to kings through oracle bones
Confucius’s thoughts were recorded by his students in a book called The Analects
The Analects are selected writings

11. Read Excerpt of the Analects on page 175

12. Think: How does God look at a man like confucius?

13. Rise of the Han Dyansty
Confucianism was accepted (it was not under Shihuangdi – it challenged his power!)
Han emperors wanted a way to rule more fairly
They also wanted to lessen the power of the nobles

14. Han Dynasty Kept the Qin dynasty’s system of government
Gave government jobs to educated people (rather than to just nobles)
Wudi (woo-dee) was the first emperor of the Han dynasty

15. Emperor Wudi
Created schools to prepare students for government service
Schools were run by Confucian teachers

16. The Grand School
Under Wudi’s government, schools were set up in each province (or state)
Very good students were sent to the empire’s best school, the Grand School
Only 50 students were allowed at the Grand School under Wudi’s rule, but after Wudi as many as 30,000 were at the school

17. The Grand School
For one year children learned about China’s poetry, history, proper behavior, and folk songs
These had all been preserved by Confucius
At the end of the year, students at this school took a long test
If they passed, they earned jobs as government workers or teachers in province schools

18. Paper
Confucian emphasis on education brought increased knowledge and discovery in the Han dynasty
Han craftworkers invented paper!
Made paper by pounding bark of mulberry trees

19. Seismograph
Han inventors created the Seismograph – a machine used to detect earthquakes
The Han could learn about an earthquake as soon as it happened
They could immediately send supplies to the damaged area

20. Sum it Up
Confucian ideas about duty and education influenced life during the Han dynasty
The Han emperor Wudi started Confucian schools in order to educate government workers
The Han dynasty produced many great achievements in science, mathematics, the arts, and trade
As in earlier dynasties, farmers during the Han dynasty produced the food and goods that brought China great wealth

21. Think About It
What did Confucius believe was the duty of a ruler? What are three ways Confucius defined the goodness in people? How did Confucianism affect life during the Han dynasty?