The Unification of Classical China Kong Fuzi ( B.C.E.) Master philosopher Kong Aristocratic roots Unwilling to compromise principle Decade of unemployment, wandering Returned home a failure, died soon thereafter 2 Confucius developed his philosophy during the Zhou period. Concerned with worldly goals, he considered filial piety, respect for parents, the highest principle. His teaching reflected Chinese belief in yin and yang, balance between two forces. 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 4 Ren Kindness, benevolence Li Propriety Xiao Filial piety Traits lead to development of junzi Ideal leaders 5 Critics of Confucianism Passivism, rejection of active attempts to change the course of events Founder: Laozi, sixth century B.C.E. 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 6 Confucianism as public doctrine Daoism as private pursuit Ironic combination allowed intellectuals to pursue both 7 Zheng proclaimed himself Shi Huangdi, First Emperor. Ending feudalism, he unified China using a harsh system called Legalism to impose order. Standardized weights and measures Built roads Basis of rule: centralized bureaucracy He also: Emphasis on development of the state Ruthless, end justifies the means Role of law Strict punishment for violators Principle of collective responsibility 9 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 One of Shi Huangdis greatest accomplishments was to link existing feudal walls into the Great Wall. Emperor orders execution of all critics Orders burning of all ideological works Some 460 scholars buried alive Others exiled Massive cultural losses Built by 700,000 workers Slaves, concubines, and craftsmen sacrificed and buried Excavated in 1974, 15,000 terra-cotta sculptures of soldiers, horses, and weapons unearthed 12 Civil disorder brings down Qin dynasty in 207 B.C.E. Liu Bang forms new dynasty: the Han (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) Former Han (206 B.C.E.- 9 C.E.) Interruption 9-23 C.E. Later Han ( C.E.) 14 Relaxed Qin tyranny without returning to Zhou anarchy Created large landholdings But maintained control over administrative regions After failed rebellion, took more central control 15 QUINHAN Employed cruel Legalist policies to maintain control. It also collected heavy taxes and used forced labor. Eased Legalist polices and lowered taxes. Emperor Gao Zu appointed Confucian scholars as advisers. The Martial Emperor: Han Wudi ( B.C.E.) Increased taxes to fund more public works Huge demand for government officials, decline since Qin persecution 16 He linked China to the West with the creation of the Silk Road trade route. Wudi pursued expansionism, fighting battles to extend Chinas borders. Invasions of Vietnam, Korea Constant attacks from Xiongnu Nomads from central Asia Horsemen Brutal: Maodun ( B.C.E.), had soldiers murder his wife, father Han Wudi briefly dominates Xiongnu 18 The Han emperors made Confucianism the official belief system of the state. Under this system, a man would start in a clerical job. He could then take tests to advance to higher levels in the civil service. They also held that civil servants should get their jobs by merit. Not a lover of scholarship, but demanded educated class for bureaucracy The Han period was a golden age of tremendous achievements in Chinaprosperous, increased food production via innovation Science and medicine Han astronomers measured movements of stars and improved calendars. Doctors promoted acupuncture. Technology and engineering Artisans learned how to make paper, build better ships/cross bow/horse collar/rudder The artsBronze casting and silk making improved, and artists produced fine jade carvings. The Han dynasty eventually weakened and could no longer control warlords. Peasants paid heavy taxes and, burdened by debt, abandoned their villages and joined groups of bandits. Warlords overthrew the Han emperor in A.D. 220 and China broke up into several kingdoms. Invaders moved in from the north and set up their own states. Shi Huangdi and the Han rulers united China and its civilization flourished. China would break up and be united many times through the centuries. After centuries of disunity, the Sui dynasty appeared in A.D. 581.