Classical China

Confucius Quotations “Everything has its beauty but not

everyone sees it” “Study the past if you would define the

future” “To see what is right and not do it is

want of courage”

Zhou (1029-258 BCE) Came in from the north displacing the

Shang rulers Dynasty flourished only until 700 BCE No powerful government. Ruled through

alliances Feudal period of China with rulers

dependent on regional network of loyalties

Greatest Impacts Extended the territory of China by taking over

the Yangtze River valley- “Middle Kingdom” Heightened the role of the central government-

Mandate of Heaven rule Greater cultural unity, including language Confucius (551-478 BCE) Era of Warring States (402-201 BCE) Regional rulers formed ind. armies and reducing

the emperor’s power

Qin (221 – 202 BCE) Qin Shi Huangdi (First Emperor)- brutal ruler

but effective in recreating order Powerful armies crushed regional rulers Extended China’s territory south (to present-day

Hong Kong and northern Vietnam Built the Great Wall in the north to protect

against invasions (extended over 3,000 miles)

Qin Greatest Impacts  Regulations, national

census, made Chinese written script uniform, terra cotta warriors (picture), Great Wall

Problems- very unpopular, high taxes

Qin Shi Huangdi Died in 210 BCE and empire collapsed

    Han (202 BCE – 220 CE)

Retained the centralized administration but reduced the brutal repression

Expanded Chinese territory pushing into Korea Indochina, and central Asia

Contact with India, Middle East

Wu Ti (140-87 BCE) most famous Han ruler promoted peace Improved workings of the state

bureaucracy Urged support for Confucianism Huns in the north increased invasions and

central authority weakened 220-589 CE- China in a state of chaos

Political Institutions Qin stressed central authority and Han built successful

bureaucracy Strong local units- relied on tightly knit patriarchal

families, ancestor worship Shi Huangdi provided a single law code and uniform tax

system Wu Ti- training academy for soldiers Trained scholar- bureaucrats Military and judicial systems Intellectual life o    Active economy helped trade

Economy and Society Agricultural society with typical features of huge gap

between landed gentry and the peasants, esp. in terms of access to culture and language

In general, social status was inherited Trade became increasingly important, esp. luxury items

for the upper classes such as silks, jewelry and leather Technological advances- paper, ox-drawn plows, iron

mining and tools, production methods in textiles Expansion of cities and agriculture Tight family organization helped economic and social

views of political life

Confucius (Kung Fuzi) 551-478

He taught that if people could be taught to emphasize personal virtue a solid political life would naturally result

Respect for one’s superiors Primarily a system of ethics Mencius- promoted Confucius’s teachings and

slightly modified them Wrote The Analects Emphasis on individual virtuous behavior both

by the ruler and the ruled

Daoism Religious philosophy that arose about the same

time as Confucianism during the Zhou dynasty Laozi (Lao-tsu)- furthered Daoism Daoism embraced traditional Chinese beliefs in

nature’s harmony and added a sense of nature’s mystery

General conditions of the world unimportant; harmony with nature is more important

Han rulers persuaded Daoist priests to stress loyalty to the emperor

Legalism Political thought based on pragmatism;

viewed people as evil Favored a state based on law and the strict

enforcement of the law Disdained Confucian values in favor of an

authoritarian state ruled by force