The Role of Women
What are the expected roles and behaviours for a woman?
A woman’s duties are domestic, including cooking, caring for her parents-in-law, educating children and making clothes.
What did Qin Shi Huang unite?
The warring states of China.
Did Qin Shi Huang follow Confucianism?
No
What is a ruler who holds absolute power and exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way, often ignoring laws, justice, and the welfare of the people called?
A tyrant.
The belief that a ruler’s right to govern comes from a divine source, and that the heavens would support a just and virtuous ruler, but withdraw their support from a corrupt or failing one is called what?
The Mandate of Heaven
In times of hardship women could be sold off, or girls killed to reduce the number of mouths to feed. Why?
Girls and women were seen as less economically valuable, especially in times of scarcity.
Did Qin Shi Huang appoint his ministers based on their family connection or their merit?
Their merit.
What did Li Si recommend Qin Shi Huang do to the followers of Confucianism?
That they be executed.
What is someone who has original and inspiring ideas about the future, often able to see possibilities and innovations others called?
A visionary
The rise and fall of Chinese dynasties, where a new dynasty gains the Mandate of Heaven, prospers, and eventually falls due to corruption or misrule, leading to the rise of a new dynasty is called what?
The dynastic cycle.
Who's reign as emperor demonstrates a rare case of female power and influence?
Empress Wu Zetian
During the reign of Qin Shi Huang, he linked existing sections of the Great Wall of China together creating one continuous wall. Why did he do this?
To defend China’s northern borders from invasions by nomadic tribes and to unify his empire under one strong defence system.
Why was Confucianism a threat to Qin Shi Huang?
Confucian ideals challenged his authoritarian rule and the suppression of intellectual freedom.
Using slaves to complete large building works causing many to live and die in harsh conditions is an example of which type of ruler?
A tyrant.
How can the Mandate of Heaven be lost? (There are three)
A ruler becomes corrupt, fails to govern justly, or faces disasters.
How did the belief that education was wasted on women affect their roles in ancient Chinese society?
Unable to read or write, this reinforced their primary roles as wives and mothers, with little opportunity to change this role in society.
What did Qin Shi Huang standardise throughout unified China which ensured the market could become economically stable?
Weights, money and writing.
What are the five relationships in Confucianism?
Ruler (Prince) and subject, Father and Son, Husband and Wife, Older Brother and Younger Brother and Friend and Friend.
A visionary.
How does the Dynastic Cycle demonstrate the importance of the Mandate of Heaven in Chinese history?
It is seen as a way to justify the transfer of power. If a dynasty's rule is unsuccessful or corrupt, it is believed that they lose the Mandate, and a new dynasty rises to restore order and prosperity.
A woman must submit to the 'three submissions'. What were the three submissions according to Confucious?
When young, her parents. After marriage, her husband. When widowed, her son.
What is a Chinese philosophical belief that emphasizes strict laws, harsh punishments, and centralized control as necessary to maintain order and strengthen the state. It prioritizes the rule of law over moral or ethical considerations.
Legalism
What is the role of women in Confucianism?
Fulfil the domestic roles and follow the "three submissions" to their father, husband, and son.
Centralising the government, appointing people based on merit and standardising measurements are all examples of what kind of leadership?
Visionary.
In what ways did the concept of the Mandate of Heaven influence the legitimacy of Chinese rulers?
It provided a divine justification for rulers to claim legitimacy. It held rulers accountable for their actions, as the loss of the Mandate due to poor governance or failure to protect the people would justify rebellion and the replacement of the ruling dynasty.