Classical+China

=Classical China:=

001 Leader Analysis: Shi Huangdi of Qin
-Confucius, of kingdom Lu, was a scholar-bureaucrat, who sought the ideal leader, who would recognize his talents, which ultimately ended in failure. He advocated philosophy and accumulated his wisdom in the Analects. -Post Confucius’ death, war erupted between states, as social and political disintegration intensified. -Zhou displaced the Shang rulers. -Zhou kingdom was rivaled by surrounding states, comprised of nomadic people. War between households with imperial pretensions were frequent, banditry was often, and commerce was threatened. -8th century B.C.E., as the Zhou dynasty’s control of vassals disintegrated, political conflict resulted. In the Yellow and Yangtze river basins, states fell and emerged, seeking to replace the Zhou dynasty in East Asia. -Regional rulers formed in dependent armies, reducing power of emperors, between 402 and 201 B.C.E., the Era of Warring States, Zhou dynasty ended. || -Zhou dynasty operated through alliances with regional princes and noble families. -Zhou dynasty lasted from 1029 to 258 B.C.E., featuring decentralized politics and cultural innovations. - Expansion to south contributed to instability, as many local people strived to defend themselves. -Internal conflicts rendered China vulnerable to outside invasions. Between 3rd and 8th centuries B.C.E., nomadic people raided farming areas of the north China plain. - Many nomads settled down and developed distinct cultures in the region, while others established new dynasties, further intensifying the struggle for supremacy. -Zhou believed in giving large properties to supporters, in exchange for loyalty, troops, and tax revenues; loyalties and obligations to the vassal landlord. -extended territory of China to Yangtze River Valley -Middle Kingdom provided wheat-growing in North, rice-growing in South. -Used Mandate of Heaven as justification for Chinese imperial rule. -established Mandarin as official form on language/ dialect. - feudal system, political rule was distributed via marriage/ provided in stablity. || -Tyrannical- wanted to remain in power forever and consumed mercury: by 221 B.C.E., Huangdi banished all rivals and founded new imperial dynasty that promised to end centuries of political strife. He ordered nobles to leave regions and appear in his court, claiming power over feudal estates. -organized China into large provinces ruled by emperor appointed bureaucrats. -selected no aristocratic officials, so loyalty was ensured. Huangdi crushed regional resistance. -motivated to unite China, and expand his role to most of known Chinese world. ||  || -centralized government -Extended Chinese territory and political control into the South, reaching Hong Kong on South China Sea. -North; to fortify China from invasions, Great Wall was built, using forced labor from peasant class. -ordered national census, providing data for the calculation of tax revenues and labor service. -standardized coinage, weights and measures. Length of axles were regulated to promote road planning. -uniformed Chinese writing script. -furthered agriculture, sponsoring irrigation projects and promoted manufacturing, esp. silk cloth. -Attacked formal culture, burned many books. || - built Terra Cotta Army -reconstructed parts of government, promoted new ideas of selecting officials to help guide him. || -210 B.C.E., after Huangdi’s death, resistance broke out to rule over his less despotic and incapable son. In 207 B.C.E., two peasants subjugated the Qin dynasty, and began the Han. -high taxes used for military expansion and construction of Great Wall made Huangdi unpopular. || Long-Term Effects: -Han era lasted for 400 years, with unity established in the old core regions. -Han rulers found the largest, most effective bureaucracy in pre-industrial world. -Philosophies of Dao emerged, advocating harmony, yin/ yang. -Han dynasty extended Chinese borders, pushing into Korea, Indochina, and central Asia, allowing China to have contact with Parthian Empire in Middle East, and trade with Roman Empire. -Han emperor Wu Ti enforced peace throughout continent. He emphasized Confucian teachings and established shrines to worship him. -Han rule was jeopardized by the Huns from 220 and 589 B.C.E. ||
 * Name of Leader: Shi Huangdi of Qin ||  ||
 * Lifespan: 246 BC–221 BC || Title: The First Emperor ||
 * Country/region: China || Years in Power: 3rd century B.C.E. - 210 B.C.E. ||
 * Political, Social, & Economic Conditions Prior to Leaders Gaining Power:
 * Ideology, Motivation, Goals:
 * Significant Actions & events During Term of Power:
 * Short-Term effects:

002 Confucianism Summary + Main Idea:
The Confucianism philosophy is accumulated in the Analects. The Analects discuss filial peity, propriety, ideal government, and how to be a superior man, through kindness, respect, righteousness, and shame. One should remain obedient to their parents. To receive support from their parents, one must honor their opinions and ideas. Even if a son disputes with his parents, he will realize that his parents will not listen to him, and gradually, he will show them more respect. If he does not abandon his negligent ways, the son should be punished. One should treat their parents, in life, and death, with conformity to good/ proper manners. Respectfulness, without conforming to good manners, will become arduous, fearful, and disobedient. In an ideal government, people who are governed by laws and uniformity intended to distribute punishment, people will avoid punishment and be unruly. Instead, people should be lead by virtue and uniformity, and they will feel unsupressed and less likely to rebel. If government is led by one who practices virtue, the government will work in unison and prosper. The wicked should be disregarded, and the competent should be advanced. This way, he will be kind to all, and they will reverence him. If good men led the country, a succession of good men for a hundred years will eventually result in a ruler who will reform the bad and rid capital punishment. One should live according to the Heavens, be amazed and influenced by great men, and heed the words of elders. If a man is to act, he must have justification for his actions. Men should properly obtain what they desire. If there is no proper was to obtain it, it was not meant to be held. Men are born alike by nature, but it is what they do that defines them. One should understand life, before questioning death.

One should respect his/ her parents, for they are the ones who will provide support. Filial peity is to serve parents according to propriety, which is also required in government. With virtue, propriety, and uniformity, people are more inclined to do good, because they have a sense of shame. The good and compotent should be placed above the wicked, because an influx of good will constitute to reformation of bad and abolishing of capital punishment. Man is also responsible for his actions, and therefore, should have justification for what he has done. If a man abandons virtue, he can not uphold his own name. One must understand the virtues of life before questioning death.

The Confucianism philosophy is ideal for the period following the Era of the Warring States, because it advocates righteousness, and is based on logic. People are not governed by rules or punishment, but rather, virtues and proprity that guide them. One must respect his/ her parents, which is important, because it strays away from the feudal system of the Zhou era, which is based on power dispersed by marriage. It is important to maintain a good relationship at home, before one can venture out and stabilize society. Confucianism also adheres to the idea that the good and compotent should be promoted, while the wicked and evil are disregarded. This will aid society towards progress, because one who exercises government by the virtues will have the command of the people. This type of leader would have the interests of the greater good, and is "upright," so they have the favor of the people. Propriety is important, because if a ruler governs a certain way, possibly the right way, his successors will follow his methods and be able to "transform the violently bad, and dispense with capital punishments." This way, rebellions are less likely to occur, because the people are unanimous in decision, and properity is ensured. Through propriety, peace is sustained.

003 Han Dynasty ESPIRIT Chart
- government sponsered public works, such as complex irrigation, and canal systems. -Han rulers tried to regulate agricultural supplies by storing grain and rice in good times to control price increases. - central government taxed its subjects and required some annual labor on the part of every male peasant, which was source of physical works, such as canals and roads.-Farmer-peasants produced a little more than subsistenc. Landlords enjoyed wealth. Peasants provided dues and and services to landlords, while also controlling some of their own land.-Trade focused on luxury itemsfor the upper class, produced by artisans, such as silks, jewelry, leather goods, and furniture. Food exchange existed between rice and wheat growing regions.-Copper coin circulation contributed to trade, and sponsered visits to India. || -A group of "mean" people were the lowest possible social status. - Social status was passed on from one generation to the next, through inheritance.-The social classes went from the lanowning aristocracy, educated bureaucrats at the top, to laboring masses, such as peasants and artisans, and finally, the mean people. Mean people were punished for crime more harshly and were required to wear a green scarf.-Household slaves existed in society, but they played such a meager role in production and were relatively few. -Chinese emphasized a patriarchy, where the father was head and children and wives who disobeyed could/ would be punished. Family was viewed as the center of one's emotions. || -Chinese bureaucracy limited arbitrary power by emperor -Depended on tightly knit patriarchial families, where individual families were linked to other relatives in extended family networks that included brothers, uncles, etc. Family authority was enhanced by ancestor worship. -Warrior- landlords were still existant. -For ordinary people, village authority surpassed family ties. Village leaders helped farming families regulate property, coordinate planting and harvest work. -Land nobles provided courts of justice and organized military troops.-Development of centralized codes and appointment of officials directed by a central authority made reliance on arrangements with numerous local governments obsolete.-Believed in corporal punishment, when gangs of criminals would rebel and disrupt social scene. Systems of law enforced torture and execution.-government regulated public works, sciences, and agriculture || - Wu Ti encouraged many to worship and follow philosophies of Confucius, where many shrines were built to commemorate him. Confucius advocated moderation in behavior, veneration of custom and ritual, and a love of wisdom should characterize leaders of all society. He emphasized virtuous behavior. Men were urged to demonstrate proper family values, and subordinates needed to remain obedient and respectful; benevolence and self-control. Confucianism contributed to the Five Classics, which included historical treaties, speeches, and other political materials. -Legalism- believed that humans were evil by nature and required restrain. Legalists prided themselves in their pragmatism.-elements of Confucianism alonf with ritual, self-control, and polite manners spread to lower classes. Polytheistic worship emerged among peasant class, which focused on spirits. Many strove to attract blessing of conciliatory blessings by crafting statues, emblems, to honor spirits. Belief that dragons posessed symbolic powers also emerged.-Daoism embraced Chinese belief's in nature's harmony and mystery. Daoist harmony with nature resulted through humility and frgual living. Confucian scholars often clashed with Daoist ideas, opposing their emphasis on mysteries and magic. -Spread of Buddhism from India led to cultural diffusionand changed Chinese religion || -by 444 B.C.E., Chinese astronomers developed a calendar based on a year of 365.6 days. Astronomers also calculated the movement of planets Saturn and Jupiter, and observed sunspots.-scientists invented seismograph to register earthquakes-active in medical research, developing anatomical knowledge and studying principles of hygeine. -Chinese scholars studied mathematics of music. || - ox-drawn plows were introduced in 300 B.C.E., increasing productivity.-under Han, new collar was invented for animals, which reduced risk of choking while allowing them to pull wagons/ plows.-Chinese iron mining was advanced, with the development of pulleys and winding gear. Production methods in textiles and pottery were also highly developed. -Paper was invented, which emphasized the bureaucracy. ||
 * E || - goverment funded research, such as economy, and maintenance of historical records.
 * S || Gaps existed between classes, where upper class commanded large landed estates, and masses, the farmer-peasants, produced a little more than subsistence.
 * P || - Han expanded powers of the bureaucracy, where civil service tests/ examinations, established by Wu Ti, would test the abilities of bureaucrats. Chinese literature and law were prerequisites to becoming a scholar- bureaucrat. Usually, bureaucrats were of upperclass, but there have been occurences where a peasant was able to advance to such position. By the end of the Han dynasty, there were about 130,000 bureaucrats. Trained and experienced bureaucrats would refer to themselves as "Son of Heaven"
 * I || - Copper coin circulation contributed to trade, and sponsered visits to India.- Many trade route opened up between China, to the Middle East, and India, but Chinese did not feel necessity to offer save the periodic threat of invasion.-Spread of Buddhism from India led to cultural diffusionand changed Chinese religion.-Silk Road made silk materials high valued in places, such as Rome, Middle East, and India. Silk Road also encouraged trade of jewelry. ||
 * R || - Upper-class cultural views revolved around the idea of a good life on earth and the virtues of obedience to state.
 * I || - In literature, poetry comanded attention, because Chinese language featured melodic speech.
 * T || - Copper coins were minted, bronze and iron tools were forged. Lamps became prominent in the home.

004 Classical China Vocab:
Classical China Terms – Feel free to add images
 * Shi Huangdi || (221- 210 B.C.E.) Known as the First Emperor, Huangdi came to prominence after the fall of the Zhou dynasty. Huangdi emerged as the new and first emperor of the Qin dynasty. He ruled with an iron fist, banishing all his rivals by 221 B.C.E. In realization that China's problem was a result of the regional power of the aristocrats, Huangdi ordered all nobles to abandon their positions and arrive at his court, assuming control of the feudal estates. He centralized government and appointed bureaucrats from non-aristocratic groups. ||
 * Qin || Started by Shi Huangdi in 221 and lasted until 207 B.C.E. This dynasty emerged out of the strife of the Era of the Warring States, and is accountable for a number of innovations in Chinese culture. Huangdi ordered a national census, which provided data for calculation of tax revenues and labor service. The government standardized coinage, which provided data for calculation of tax revenues and labor service. Coinage, weights and measures were also standardized. Qin dynasty, under Huangdi made Chinese written script uniform setting the official language for all Chinese to communicate. Government supported agriculture, irrigation projects, manufacturing, and esp. silk. Books were burned by activist culture. The empire spread political and territorial control to Hong Kong and even influenced Vietnam. After Huangdi's death in 210 B.C.E., control was given to his son, which proved to be less prosperous, with revolts emerging almost immediately. ||
 * Han || Successor to the Qin, the Han governed China from 207 B.C.E. to 220 B.C.E. After Huangdi's death, revolts against his government erupted, with one peasant defeating another to being the Han dynasty. Early Han rulers expanded Chinese territory into Korea, Indochina, and central Asia, giving contact to Parthian Empire in Middle East. Wu Ti enforced peace, harmony, and adoption of Confucianism. Workings of state bureaucracy improved under the Han. During the Han dynasty, the Huns invaded China, leaving a state of chaos between 220 and 589 B.C.E. ||
 * Zhou || Dynasty from 1122 to 256 B.C.E., gaining power after the Shang dynasty. This dynasty controlled vassals in 8th century B.C.E., leading to a long period of period of political and social turmoil throughout China. The Zhou ruled through alliances with regional princes and noble families. Alliance systems used by the Zhou were standard in agricultural kingdoms. Rulers lacked means to control their territories directly and so gave large regional estates to members of their family and other supports, hoping to gain loyalty. Their supporters provided central government with troops and tax revenues. The Zhou also encouraged its inhabitants to migrate to the Yangtze River valley, where the Middle Kingdom was ideal for agriculture. ||
 * Great Wall || Built by Shi Huangdi, in the north, to protect outside invasions and expansionist drives. The Wall extends over 3,000 miles and is the product of forced peasant labor at the hands of the bureaucracy. ||
 * Daoism || Began by Laozi in 5th century B.C.E., the Daoist philosophy revolves around the values of nature's harmony and mystery. Daoism emerged during the waning centuries of the Zhou dynasty. The philosophy promoted its own ethics, and believed that harmony with nature best resulted through humility and frugal living. Political activity and learning were irrelevant to a good life and general conditions in the world were of little importance. Daoism often clashed with Confucianism, which denounced its emphasis on mysteries and magic. ||
 * Confucianism || The philosophy of Confucius, it emphasized personal virtue, with a reverence for tradition, a solid political life would result naturally. The philosophy also encouraged moderation of behavior, esp. as a ruler and ruled. One must also have filial piety and respect parents. Confucian philosophies were captured in the Analects, which emphasized political virtue and social order. One must also act accordingly to their class and treat others with virtue; system of ethics. ||
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Legalism || <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Emerged during the Qin and Han dynasties, Legalists prided themselves on their pragmatism. Legalists believed that humans were evil by nature and needed restraint and discipline. According to legalists, a proper state would have an army in control of the people, who would labor. ||
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bureaucracy || <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Was a way of govern. In the Qin dynasty, Huangdi would appoint bureaucrats, who would then preside over different areas. In the Han dynasty, the bureaucracy was improved, with examinations, civil service tests created by Wu Ti that determined whether one was capable of being a bureaucrat. This position commanded high class and power. Most bureaucrats were drawn from upper classes, but under the civil service tests, some lower classmen were occasionally recruited. China's bureaucracy provided a slight check on upper class rule, and limited exercise of arbitrary power by the emperor ||

Intellectual and Religious Aspects of Han China:
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005 Summary of Classical China
Chinese civilization began with the **Shang Dynasty**, then **Zhou**, **Qin**, and **Han**. These dynasties, for the most part, revolved around the Huanghe river basin, and expanded. Throughout the course of these dynasties, China's political, geographical, economic, and intellectual structure progressed.

The successors of the **Shang Dynasty**, the **Zhou**, 1029-258 B.C.E., had relied on a feudal system, with many family ties and political power exchange through marriage. This system exchanged land in return for loyalty from lords, as well as troops and taxes. The Zhou believed in a **Mandate of Heaven**, that designated one to rule. This dynasty began in the Huanghe River Basin and eventually discovered the **Middle Kingdom** in the Yangtze River Valley. This migration enabled the Zhou to produce ample wheat and rice production, and trade spurred between the wheat-growing north and rice-growing south. The Zhou set the precedence for Mandarin to become the offical language in the Qin Dynasty.

Following the Zhou dynasty, was the **Qin** dynasty. As a result of unstable government, and a struggle for political power, known as the **Era of Warring States**, the tyrannical ruler, Shi Huangdi emerged. Huangdi stripped all aristocrats of their power, and even established a centralized **bureacracy**, from what was the unstable feudal system of the Zhous. Shi Huangdi is responsible for the beginning of the Great Wall, constructed with peasant labor, censuses, expanding Chinese influence south into Hong Kong, and influencing Vietnam. The Qin Empire also standarized coins, weights, and measures, and established Mandarin Chinese as the offical language of China.

In 210 B.C.E., Shi Huangdi died, and was succeeded by his son, a weak and incompotent ruler. As a result of the hatred accumulated during Huangdi's rule, peasants rebelled against the Qin dynasty and Huangdi's son. A peasant emerged victorious, and thus began the Han dynasty, 201- 220 B.C.E. The bureaucratic system was strengthened and improved upon in this dynasty. Philosophies, rather than religion emerged, the three being **Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism**. **Confucianism** advocated the idea of reverence and filial piety, where **Daoism** preached of nature and harmony, and **Legalism** revolved around the belief that everyone is evil by nature and required government to restrain them. One of the most notable rulers of the Han Dynasty, was Wu Ti, 140-87 B.C.E., who encouraged many to practice Confucianism. He also established many examinations for bureacracies. The Han Dynasty spread influence into Korea and central China. The Han Dynasty supported a patriarchal approach to life. The empire also encouraged trade, and through the **Silk Road**, many textiles, and even culture(Buddhism) spread. The Chinese, under the Han, were able to progress in mathematics, art, literature/ calligraphy.