Schools of Thought
Name the 3 school of thought and their main beliefs
Confucianism: social order, ethics and morality, filial piety
Daoism: universal and natural harmony; don’t interfere with nature; improve yourself
Legalism: centralized rule, specific and strict laws; importance of ruling class
What are the famous works of art created during this dynasty?
Terra-cotta Warriors
What did Han Wudi do during his rule?
Expansion to the south (Vietnam), fight the Xiognu in the north, and 40 million population boost
Who were the main teachers of each school of thought?
Confucianism: Confucius - main teacher
Daoism: Laozi - main teacher
Legalism: Qin Shihuangdi - first leader
Who was the leader of the Qin Dynasty, what type of government did they have, and what school of thought did they use?
Qin Shihuangdi; Centralized; Legalism with punishment of execution
Who was the leader of the Han Dynasty, what type of government did they have, and what school of thought did they use?
Han Wudi
Centralized
Confucianism: basis of Han Dynasty
Still some Legalism: military, civil service, censorate; local governments
Civil Service Exam: Learn Confucian thought in school
What were the 5 major Legalist Principles?
Human nature is naturally selfish and evil.
Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged.
Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality.
The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand.
War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.
Who were the enemies of the Qin Dyansty and how did they defend against them?
Xiognu, nomadic group with horses in the north
Response: Build first part of the Great Wall of China
Smaller parts built previously by states
Few original parts of the Great Wall exists today; most rebuilt over time
What were some Han Dynasty advancements?
Start of Silk Road
Goods from China: silk, porcelain, rice, paper
Goods to China: horses, fruits, other religions
Great Wall protects trade routes
Water mills, iron casting, rudders for ships
Created paper, compasses, sundials
What were the 4 main beliefs in Daoism?
Dao [Tao] is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life -- The Way or The Way of Nature or the Cosmos
Introspection & Reflection: A believer’s goal is to understand the Dao and the principles that govern the world & live in harmony with those principles
This harmony, then, would spread to society as a whole
Wuwei: Chief moral virtue: doing without doing; cultivate your strengths
Active non-action: “disengagement from the competitive exertion in affairs of the world”
4. Act in harmony: Don’t interfere with natural order
Yin: Feminine * Passive * Darkness * Cold * Weak *
Yang: Masculine * Active * Light * Warmth * Strong * Heaven * Sun
What caused the decline of the Qin Dynasty and what did it lead to?
Decline: anger with harsh taxes, forced labor (Great Wall of China), censorship (book burning)
Post Qin’s death: short civil war → Han Dynasty
What was the economy like in the Han Dynasty?
Peasants: have to become tenant farmers (sharecroppers), military service and forced labor
Importance of family: basic economic and social unit
Trade and manufacturing: shipyards, weapons, mining, granaries
Trade with C., SE. Asia; Mediterranean, India
What were the 5 main beliefs of Confucianism?
1. To become a junzi/superior individual
2. Xiao or Filial Piety: Respect your elders
3. Ren: Humaneness, benevolence, humanity
Confucius believed this was a quality desperately needed in gov’t officials
4. Li: Ritual decorum or having good manners-- treat people with respect
5. Shu: Reciprocity, empathy, compassion and humanity
Civil division, military division, censorate division (inspectors checked on government officials);
Provinces and counties whose leaders were appointed/fired by the emperor
Centralized government: single monetary system, roads, direct taxation methods, military expansion to Vietnam
What led to the decline of the Han Dynasty?
Over last 200 years: corruption, 1% gets richer and peasants get poorer, Northern nomadic raids
By 220 AD: start of civil war