Chapter 8

1Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Chapter 8

The Unification of China

Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display.

Learning objectives for Chapter 8 Compare and contrast the emergence of belief

systems designed to restore political and social order in China.

Explain and discuss the unification of China through the efforts of the Qin dynasty.

Explain the rise and success of the early Han dynasty.

Discuss the reasons behind productivity and prosperity during the Former Han era.

Identify the social and economic difficulties that led to the decline of the Former Han dynasty.

Discuss important features of the Later Han dynasty.2

Copyright © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Permission Required for Reproduction or Display. 3

REVIEW: China before the arrival of the Qin Dynasty

ZHOU DYNASTY (1027-221BC)

Between 1100-1000 BC the Zhou people overthrew the Shang (1532-1027) and set up their own dynasty

They developed the Mandate of Heaven (power coming from Heaven); divine right

Zhou kings granted control of large areas of land to their supporters in a system called feudalism



REVIEW: China before the arrival of the Qin Dynasty Economy

Use of iron and irrigation projects to produce more food

Trade expanded along new roads and canals Development of money spurred trade

Contributions First books Astronomy Calendar Pottery Produced silk


How did religion develop in ancient China? DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS

BELIEF Polytheistic: Early Chinese prayed

to many gods and spirits Greatest people only had the ear of

the gods Called on spirits of ancestors to

bring good fortune to family


Confucius Kong Fuzi (551-479 BCE)

Master Philosopher Kong Aristocratic roots Unwilling to compromise

principle Decade of unemployment,

wandering Returned home a failure,

died soon thereafter Teachings: Analects


Confucius


How did Confucian teachings impact ancient China? FIVE KEY

RELATIONSHIPS: Harmony resulted when people accepted place in society and relationships were maintained

Ruler to subject Parent to child Husband to wife Elder brother to younger

brother Friend to friend


How did Confucian teachings impact ancient China? Each individual

has responsibilities and duties

Filial piety: Respect for parents was chief duty for the individual


Confucian Ideas

Ethics and politics Avoided religion,

metaphysics Junzi: “superior

individuals” Role in government

service Emphasis on Zhou

Dynasty texts later formed core texts of

Chinese education


Confucian Values

Ren Kindness, benevolence

Li Propriety, courtesy

Xiao Filial piety (respect for parents most

important value) Traits lead to development of junzi

Ideal leaders


Mencius (372-289 BCE)Principal Confucian

scholarOptimist, belief in power

of renNot influential during

lifetime Considered prime

exponent of Confucian thought since 10th century


Xunzi (298-238 BCE)Career as government

administratorBelief in fundamental

selfishness of humanity Compare with Mencius

Emphasis on li, rigid propriety

Discipline more important to preserve order


Daoism

Critics of Confucianism Passivism, rejection of active

attempts to change the course of events

Founder: Laozi, 6th c. BCEThe Daodejing (Classic of Way

and of Virtue)Zhuangzi (named for author, 369-

236 BCE)


The Dao

“The Way” (of nature, of the cosmos) Water: soft and

yielding, but capable of eroding rock

Cavity of pots, wheels: nonexistent, but essential


Doctrine of Wuwei Attempt to control

universe results in chaos Restore order by

disengagement No advanced education No ambition

Simple living in harmony with nature

Cultivate self-knowledge


Political Implications of DaoismConfucianism as public doctrine

Daoism as private pursuitIronic combination allowed intellectuals to pursue both


Legalism Emphasis on development of the state

Ruthless the “end justifies the means” Role of Law

Strict punishment for violators Principle of collective responsibility

Shang Yang (390-338 BCE), The Book of the Lord Shang

Han Feizi (280-233 BCE) Forced to commit suicide by political enemies


Legalist Doctrine

Two strengths of the state Agriculture Military

Emphasized development of peasant, soldier classes

Distrust of pure intellectual, cultural pursuits

Historically, often imitated but rarely praised

LEGALISM:The belief that the only way to achieve order was to pass strict laws and impose harsh punishments for crimes


Unification of China

Qin dynasty develops between 4th-3rd centuries BCE

Generous land grants under Shang Yang Private farmers decrease power of

large landholders Increasing centralization of power

Improved military technology


The First Emperor Qin Shihuangdi (or, Shi

Huangdi, r. 221-210 BCE) founds new dynasty as “First Emperor” YING ZHENG: Rebel ruler

from western state of Qin who overthrew Zhou Dynasty

221 BCE: Ruler proclaims himself Shi Huangdi – “First Emperor”

Centralized power with help from Legalist advisors


The First Emperor Dynasty ends in 207,

but sets dramatic precedent

Basis of rule:centralized bureaucracy

Massive public works begun Includes precursor to

Great WallNote: Qin and Ch’in are the same - China got its name from this dynasty


The First Emperor Attempts to unify China

during Shi’s reignAbolished feudalism - created military districts with loyal officialsStandardized measurementsUniform currency createdCreated uniform writing system (script) Previously: single language written in distinct scripts


The First EmperorBuilt and repaired roads and canalsBuilt the Great Wall to keep out invadersIrrigation projects completedStopped wars and crushed invadersDoubled China’s size


China under the Qin dynasty, 221-207 B.C.E.


Resistance to Qin PoliciesEmperor orders execution of all

criticsOrders burning of all

ideological worksSome 460 scholars buried aliveOthers exiledMassive cultural losses


Massive Tomb Projects

Built by 700,000 workersSlaves, concubines, and craftsmen sacrificed and buried

Excavated in 1974, 15,000 terra cotta soldiers unearthed


Tomb of the First Emperor


Tomb of the First Emperor


The Han Dynasty207 BCE: Civil

disorder brings down Qin dynasty

Liu Bang forms new dynasty after death of Shi Huangdi: the Han (206 BCE-220 CE) Former Han (206

BCE-9 CE) Interruption (9-23

CE) Later Han (25-220

CE)


Early Han Policies Relaxed Qin tyranny without returning to

Zhou anarchy Continued direct control of people However, friendly to nobility

Created large landholdings and granted nobility land

But maintained control over administrative regions

After failed rebellion, took more central control


Han CentralizationThe Martial Emperor:

Han Wudi (141-87 BCE) Engaged in wars with nomadic

tribesIncreased taxes to fund

more public worksBut huge demand for

government officials, decline since Qin persecution


Confucian Educational System 124 BCE: Han Wudi establishes an Imperial

University Not a lover of scholarship, but demanded

educated class for bureaucracy Established civil service system to staff

government Adopted Confucianism as official course of

study Confucianism governed everyday life 3000 students by end of Former Han, 30,000

by end of Later Han


Han Imperial Expansion Invasions of Vietnam,

Korea Constant attacks from

Xiongnu Nomads from Central Asia Horsemen Brutal: Maodun (210-174

BCE), had soldiers murder his wife, father

Han Wudi briefly dominates Xiongnu


Patriarchal Social Order Classic of Filial Piety

Subordination to elder males Admonitions (Lessons) for Women

Written by Ban Zhao (45-120 CE) Female virtues▪ Humility▪ Obedience▪ Subservience▪ Loyalty

Education should be available to all women


Iron Metallurgy

Expansion of iron manufacture Iron tips on tools abandoned as tools entirely made from iron

Increased food productionSuperior weaponry


Other technological Developments

Cultivation of silkworms Breeding Diet control▪ Other silk-producing lands relied on wild worms

Development of paper Bamboo, fabric abandoned in favor

of wood and textile-based paper

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Population Growth in the Han Dynasty

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

220 BCE 9 CE

Population (millions)

General prosperity Increased

agricultural productivity

Taxes small part of overall income

Produce occasionally spoiling in state granaries


Economic and Social DifficultiesExpenses of military expeditions,

especially versus XiongnuTaxes increasingArbitrary property confiscations rise Increasing gap between rich and poor

Slavery, tenant farming increase

Banditry, rebellion


Reign of Wang Mang (9-23 CE)

Wang Mang: Regent for 2-year old Emperor, 6 CE

Takes power himself in 9 CE Introduces massive reforms

The “socialist emperor” Land redistribution, but

poorly handled Social chaos ends in his

assassination in 23 CE


Later Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty emperors manage, with difficulty, to reassert control

Yellow Turban uprising challenges land distribution problems

Internal court intrigueWeakened Han Dynasty collapses

by 220 CE

Chapter 8

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