Dynasties

By Ji Sup, Ryan, Catherine, Leslie, and Tommy

Mandate of Heaven

• The mandate of heaven was the right to rule granted from a divine source.

• Can be lost or gained by anyone.• If a rebellion fails, the people’s faith in the

ruler is restored• Natural disaster show that the current ruler is

not pleasing the gods, thus is in need of replacement.

Ancient China VS China TodayAncient China China Today

No more than one ruler Multiple people who help the president

All the decisions made by the king were right

The decisions made by the president is not always right.

Gave him supreme power. Does not have supreme power.

Power can be passed down through bloodline.

Cannot be passed down through bloodline.

When there is a natural disaster, it means the current leader had not pleased the dogs, and thus in need of replacement.

Natural disaster can be explained scientifically, therefore the president can stay in office.

Ruled based on the virtue of the leader. Citizens are not ruled based on the virtue of the leader

Dynastic Cycle

• The dynastic cycle is the belief that the rise and fall of dynasties are controlled by the Mandate of Heaven.

• According to Chinese political theory, every dynasty goes through a dynastic cycle.

Dynastic Cycle 2

• A new ruler: Unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the Mandate of Heaven (“Ancestors” p. 78).

Dynastic Cycle 3• 1. A new ruler unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the Mandate of

Heaven.• 2. China, under the new dynasty, achieves prosperity.• 3. The population increases.• 4. Corruption becomes rampant in the imperial court, and the empire begins to

enter decline and instability.• 5. A natural disaster wipes out farm land. The disaster normally would not have

been a problem; however, together with the corruption and overpopulation, it causes famine.

• 6. The famine causes the population to rebel and a civil war ensues.• 7. The ruler loses the Mandate of Heaven.• 8. The population decreases because of the violence.• 9. China goes through a warring states period.• 10. One state emerges victorious.• 11. The state starts a new empire.• 12. The empire gains the Mandate of Heaven.

Achievements of Dynasties

Shang• - earliest Chinese writing

written on oracle bones (used picture symbols to represent ideas)

• - worked with bronze and made huge structures like tombs

Zhou• - learned how to use iron,

introduced coins and use of chopsticks.

• -cities grew and farmers learned new techniques to increase the size of harvest

Achievements of Dynasties 2

Qin• - centralized government

and standardized things such as language, currency, measurement, built great wall

Han• - brought china's kingdoms

together as one empire• - the silk road

Achievements of Dynasties 3

Tang• - extended the eastern

portion of the silk road, trade flourished bringing Middle Eastern Influence to China

Song• - created and maintained a

navy, invented gunpowder, paper money began, began using coal to power iron and porcelain furnaces