China – Birth of an EmpireChina – Birth of an Empire

General InfoGeneral Info

221 B.C. - 206 B.C.221 B.C. - 206 B.C.

Han Han DynastyDynasty

Qin Qin DynastyDynasty

206 B.C. – 220 A.D.206 B.C. – 220 A.D.

Qin Shih HuangdiQin Shih Huangdi

First EmperorFirst Emperor

It was It was short-livedshort-lived..

DynastyDynasty DynastyDynastyIt lasted over 400 It lasted over 400

years.years.

The Most The Most Famous RulerFamous Ruler

Wu TiWu Ti

When we last checked in …When we last checked in …

The Zhou was a The Zhou was a bronze age dynasty bronze age dynasty that had pushed out that had pushed out the previous Shang the previous Shang rulers.rulers.

By 256 bce, the Zhou By 256 bce, the Zhou had lost the “Mandate had lost the “Mandate of Heaven” and China of Heaven” and China entered the “Warring entered the “Warring States” periodStates” period

Zhou Wuwang Zhou Wuwang

The Legalist Philosophy of the Qin The Legalist Philosophy of the Qin conflicted with other political conflicted with other political “philosophies” of the time…“philosophies” of the time…

– ConfucianismConfucianism Good government Good government

requires men of requires men of benevolence, virtue, benevolence, virtue, and cultureand culture

Governments should Governments should promote these traits; promote these traits; their absence leads to their absence leads to chaoschaos

all people have virtue all people have virtue and are educableand are educableKong FuziKong Fuzi - -

“Confucious”“Confucious”

The AnalectsThe Analects• Never kiss a fool, or be fooled by a kiss.Never kiss a fool, or be fooled by a kiss.

• Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. it.

• Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

• Respect yourself and others will respect you.Respect yourself and others will respect you.

• Study the past if you would define the Study the past if you would define the future. future.

• Making a mistake and not correcting it, is Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake. making another mistake.

• He who exercises government by means of He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it. stars turn towards it.

1.1. Ruler Ruler

SubjectSubject

2.2. Father Father

SonSon

3.3. Husband Husband

WifeWife

4.4. Older Older Brother Brother

YoungerYoungerBrotherBrother

5.5. Older Older Friend Friend

YoungerYoungerFriendFriend

Daoism (Taoism)Daoism (Taoism) The Dao is “The Way” The way is to become one with nature Nature should take its course with no

human interference People should go with the flow – a rock

in the stream letting the water (life) flow around you

"Wei Wu Wei" = "action without action".

Man is unhappy because he lives acc. toMan is unhappy because he lives acc. to man-made laws, customs, & traditions man-made laws, customs, & traditions that are contrary to the ways of nature.that are contrary to the ways of nature.

DaoismDaoismRejected Confucianism but Rejected Confucianism but

was often tied to itwas often tied to it Confucianism = the public Confucianism = the public philosophyphilosophy

Daoism = solace in private livesDaoism = solace in private lives

Members of a Taoist spiritual group cheer colleagues backstage during an annual prayer ceremony in Taipei. BBC 2008

The Qin DynastyThe Qin Dynasty The Qin defeated The Qin defeated

regional states and regional states and unified the kingdoms of unified the kingdoms of China by 221 B.C.E.China by 221 B.C.E.

– The First Emperor of The First Emperor of

China – China – Shi Shi Huangdi (r Huangdi (r 221-206 bce)221-206 bce)

Economic Power!Economic Power!– Public works intended Public works intended

to improve economyto improve economy CanalsCanals IrrigationIrrigation Acquisition of areas rich in iron Acquisition of areas rich in iron

oreore

– Mass mobilization of Mass mobilization of FORCED FORCED LABORLABOR

for public works including for public works including Great Wall of ChinaGreat Wall of China

– 700,000 workers used to 700,000 workers used to create capital citycreate capital city

Beginning in 220 B.C., Shi Huandi began restoring and linking separate sections of the Great Wall which had been built years before

GovernmeGovernment nt StructureStructureHe provided a single law He provided a single law code for the whole empirecode for the whole empire

(laws posted for all to see)(laws posted for all to see)

Established a uniform tax Established a uniform tax systemsystemAppointed governors to control (legal/military) Appointed governors to control (legal/military) each district. each district.

Standardized weights and measures Standardized weights and measures

Standardized written Chinese language! Standardized written Chinese language!

Harsh system of rule: Harsh system of rule: LegalismLegalism

The best way to control human behavior is through written law rather than through rituals, customs, or ethics.

laws maintain the stability of the state from the people who are selfish and ignorant.

laws let the ruler govern efficiently and sometimes ruthlessly.

Text apart from law books were considered useless (and were often destroyed along with other “arts”)

NO ROOM FOR CONFUCIANISM?!

NO WAY!!

The Qin DynastyThe Qin Dynasty

–Confucianism was rejected due to its Confucianism was rejected due to its great respect for the past and its great respect for the past and its emphasis on personal tiesemphasis on personal ties

–On the other hand, Daoism helped On the other hand, Daoism helped rulers explain certain things as out of rulers explain certain things as out of their control but not very practical as their control but not very practical as a guide to rule bya guide to rule by

– Legalism is the way of the Qin!Legalism is the way of the Qin!

Dynasty collapsed with death of Qin Shi Dynasty collapsed with death of Qin Shi Huangdi in 210 B.C.E. Huangdi in 210 B.C.E.

His oppression brought backlashHis oppression brought backlash

Rebellions in regional capitalsRebellions in regional capitals

The Qin had lost the Mandate of HeavenThe Qin had lost the Mandate of Heaven

The Fall of the Qin DynastyThe Fall of the Qin Dynasty

Qin Shi Huangdi tomb included Qin Shi Huangdi tomb included 7,000 life-size figures of 7,000 life-size figures of

soldierssoldiers

An Entire Terra Cotta Army

An Entire Terra Cotta Army

An Entire Terra Cotta Army

An Entire Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers

& Cavalrymen

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Soldiers

& Cavalrymen

CavalryCavalry

Individual SoldiersIndividual Soldiers

The Han Dynasty One of the

longest lasting and most influential of all dynasties

Rose to power at nearly the same time as Rome

The Han Dynasty (206 bce – 220 The Han Dynasty (206 bce – 220 ce)ce)

Liu Bang, first Han, commoner who Liu Bang, first Han, commoner who chose educated men with Confucian chose educated men with Confucian

principlesprinciples History became more History became more importantimportant

Established elite Established elite academy to teach academy to teach Confucianism as part Confucianism as part of requirement that of requirement that knowledge of knowledge of Confucius is necessary Confucius is necessary for promotion in for promotion in bureaucracybureaucracy

Consolidated legal Consolidated legal systemsystem

Established principles Established principles for the conduct of for the conduct of women women

The Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty Military Power and Military Power and

DiplomacyDiplomacy– Han as militaristic as Qin Han as militaristic as Qin

had beenhad been

– Army of 300,000 to one Army of 300,000 to one millionmillion

– Campaigns to the west Campaigns to the west for silk markets and for silk markets and access to horsesaccess to horses

– Foreign relations by “tribute system”Payments and obedience to Chinese

government in return for gifts from emperor to tribal leaders

The Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty Economic PowerEconomic Power

– Developed ironworking techniquesDeveloped ironworking techniques

– Spread trade routes to the west (utilized Spread trade routes to the west (utilized “Silk Road”)“Silk Road”)

– Raised land revenues and nationalized Raised land revenues and nationalized private enterpriseprivate enterprise

– Confucianists opposed these policies but Confucianists opposed these policies but also opposed business activity in generalalso opposed business activity in general

A Weakened Han Dynasty [23-A Weakened Han Dynasty [23-220 C.E.]220 C.E.]

Han weakness enabled Han weakness enabled barbarians to live inside the barbarians to live inside the Great Wall, serve in army, and Great Wall, serve in army, and intermarry with Chineseintermarry with Chinese

Led to Led to sinicizationsinicization of barbarians of barbarians

Han failed to force local Han failed to force local administrators to send tax revenues administrators to send tax revenues to central government to central government

Peasant Peasant Revolt and the Revolt and the Fall of the HanFall of the Han

Yellow Turban revolt in 184 C.E. Yellow Turban revolt in 184 C.E. broke out simultaneously in sixteen broke out simultaneously in sixteen placesplaces Four factions within Four factions within

government sought government sought dynastic powerdynastic power

– Child emperorChild emperor– Bureaucrats, advisors, Bureaucrats, advisors,

palace guard, and palace guard, and regentregent

– Court eunuchsCourt eunuchs– Women of the courtWomen of the court

End of the Han in 220 ceEnd of the Han in 220 ce…but not the end of China!…but not the end of China!

– China divided into 2 to 3 various China divided into 2 to 3 various kingdoms for the next 361 years!kingdoms for the next 361 years!

– North suited to wheat; south to rice North suited to wheat; south to rice cultureculture

– Chinese culture endured imperial Chinese culture endured imperial divisiondivision; “people of the Han” refers to ; “people of the Han” refers to cultureculture

– Western dynasty became more Western dynasty became more “Chinese” over time“Chinese” over time

Buddhism Reaches ChinaBuddhism Reaches China

– Entered during Han DynastyEntered during Han Dynasty

– Foreignness contributed to its Foreignness contributed to its successsuccess

– Anti-priestly stance and presence Anti-priestly stance and presence in trading communities made it in trading communities made it acceptable to merchantsacceptable to merchants

– Becomes a unifying cultural Becomes a unifying cultural element!element!

Reunification under Sui and Reunification under Sui and Tang DynastiesTang Dynasties

– The Short-lived Sui The Short-lived Sui Dynasty [581-618 C.E.] Dynasty [581-618 C.E.] (sway)(sway)

Used Confucian, Used Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist Daoist, and Buddhist beliefs to win popular beliefs to win popular supportsupport

Centralized Centralized government; rotated government; rotated officialsofficials

Completed Grand Canal Completed Grand Canal but efforts helped but efforts helped deplete Sui treasurydeplete Sui treasury

Successor (Tang, 618-Successor (Tang, 618-907 C.E.) dynasty 907 C.E.) dynasty

continued expansion to continued expansion to “Outer China”“Outer China” Block printing and Buddhist religious Block printing and Buddhist religious

artart

Tang Dynasty

Development of Development of fine porcelainfine porcelain

Tang poetry on Tang poetry on meditation, meditation, nature, and nature, and sufferingsuffering

China essentially unified from China essentially unified from this era forward!this era forward!

Imperial China – so what?Imperial China – so what?

– Chinese pursuit of Chinese pursuit of assimilation was regarded as assimilation was regarded as mutually beneficial to mutually beneficial to Chinese and “barbarians”Chinese and “barbarians”

– Danger in the threat of civil Danger in the threat of civil war when members of an war when members of an ethnic group rejected ethnic group rejected assimilationassimilation

Imperial China - VietnamImperial China - Vietnam

VietnamVietnam– Part of Chinese empire (111 Part of Chinese empire (111 B.C.E.-939 C.E.)B.C.E.-939 C.E.)

– Gained Buddhism and some Gained Buddhism and some agricultural practices agricultural practices adopted from Chinaadopted from China

– Intense desire for Intense desire for independenceindependence

Imperial ChinaImperial China

KoreaKorea– Cultural influence high; political Cultural influence high; political

control briefcontrol brief– Adopted much Chinese cultureAdopted much Chinese culture– Free of direct control after 220 C.E.Free of direct control after 220 C.E.– Resisted Chinese attempts to retake Resisted Chinese attempts to retake

peninsulapeninsula– Confucianism, legal codes, Confucianism, legal codes,

bureaucracy, literature, and Buddhism bureaucracy, literature, and Buddhism were borrowed from Chinawere borrowed from China

Imperial China - JapanImperial China - Japan

– Japanese adopted rice culture from Japanese adopted rice culture from ChinaChina

– One-third of Japanese nobility One-third of Japanese nobility claimed Chinese or Korean ancestry claimed Chinese or Korean ancestry (by 500 C.E.) (by 500 C.E.)

– Chinese script from Korean scribe Chinese script from Korean scribe (405 C.E.)(405 C.E.)

– Japanese visit China to learn Chinese Japanese visit China to learn Chinese modelsmodels

Imperial China - JapanImperial China - Japan

Taika (“great change”) in 646 C.E. Taika (“great change”) in 646 C.E. centralized state and abolished centralized state and abolished private ownership of landprivate ownership of land

710 C.E.--new capital at Nara and 710 C.E.--new capital at Nara and emperor regarded as divine but no emperor regarded as divine but no adoption of “Mandate of Heaven”adoption of “Mandate of Heaven”

Reliance on Chinese models Reliance on Chinese models declined over later centuriesdeclined over later centuries

– SimilaritiesSimilarities Significance of imperial armiesSignificance of imperial armies Relations with barbariansRelations with barbarians Gender relations and the familyGender relations and the family Role of the emperorRole of the emperor Religious policies Religious policies OverextensionOverextension Public works projectsPublic works projects The concentration of wealthThe concentration of wealth RevoltsRevolts

Comparison of China and Comparison of China and RomeRome

Comparison of China and Comparison of China and RomeRome– DifferencesDifferences

IdeologicalIdeological Influence on neighborsInfluence on neighborsPolicy and powers of Policy and powers of assimilationassimilation

Longevity and persistence Longevity and persistence Language policyLanguage policy

Han – Roman Empire Connection

Han – Roman Empire Connection