1. The Unification of China
By: Colette Spencer

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty

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

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

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. The Han Dynasty
Chapter 8

21. 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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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

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

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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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