hist 220 midterm 1. How did the Shang rulers communicate with their ancestors and Shangdi/Shang-ti? Give some examples of the questions they posted to the ancestors or Shangdi.

PART I Q1 How did the Shang rulers communicate with their ancestors and Shangdi/Shang-ti? Give some examples of the questions they posted to the ancestors or Shangdi.

• Communicated through oral bone divination with questions inscribed into turtle shells and then heat applied to produce cracks that showed answers

• They would ask about the fate/health of the king, questions of agriculture and settlement, as well as regarding wars with rivals like the Fang

PART 1 Q2 How did the Chou/Zhou rulers justify their overthrow of the Shang dynasty? In what ways would you regard this method of rationalization a precursor of Confucian idea of political legitimacy?

• Justified through mandate of heaven (granted by heaven, ruler must be just, if he isn’t he loses it) and portraying the existing shang court as decadent and evil, but the zhou rulers would retain order

• Precursor to confucian ideals as it shares the same ideals of order and moral authority

PART I Q3 Compare and contrast the political organizations of the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou periods. How did central authority and regional power dynamics differ between the two periods?

• Both had some aspects of decentralization, but western zhou was stronger 

• Western zhou controlled through quasi feudal system where zhou king held power w mandate of heaven, and local lords had power but all reported to him

• Eastern zhou had no real central authority and fell into the warring states period with many small states forming with their own authority 

PART 1 Q4 What were the primary objectives of government for the Confucians?  Did these objectives align with those pursued by other states during the late Spring and Autumn period?

• Believed feudal order was a crisis, wanted to restore order and centralize power and focus on issues of food and education, not expanding territory

• Key was governing by virtues like humanity, filial piety, integrity, loyalty, and more

• Differed greatly from other states during the spring and autumn period that were focused on warring and territorial expansion and more legalist mindset

PART II Q1 In what ways were Lao-tzu/Laozi and Chuang-tzu/Zhuangzi reacting against the increasing intrusion of politics into the life of the individual as a result of political centralization during the Eastern Zhou (Chou) period? What values did they promote and defend? Do their teachings fit perfectly what we call individualism in European culture? How?

• The eastern zhou was a decentralized time where warring states competed w one another and trying to dictate individual lives

• Amid this chaos, Daoism rose as a response- Both Laozi and Zhuangzi were founding thinkers of Daoism which promoted a hands off government and celebrates natural order

• These don’t exactly fit w individualism as it is in European culture, even though both value individual freedom Daoism tells people to go w the flow, Europe thinking is ambition and capitalistic in nature

PART II Q2 The question of human nature became a major issue of contention among thinkers in the Eastern Zhou period. In what ways is this issue relevant to government? Please discuss the positions of at least two thinkers on human nature in relation to their respective view of government.

• Mencius believed human nature inherently good and the government should be benevolent and win over the people bc of this, as well as a right to rebel

• Xunzi believed humans are born selfish, and the government needs to confront this with education to restore morality.

• Shows conflicting opinion on forcefulness of rule, showing that even within confucianism interpretation can reflect on governance differently

 

SR, Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty: On Warfare

SR, Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty

SR, Oracle Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang Dynasty: On Childbearing

• No known author as inscriptions were anonymous from diviners of king

• Shang dynasty around 1200 BCE

SR, Selections from the Confucian Analects: On Humaneness

SR, Selections from the Confucian Analects: On Government

• Recorded by followers generation after Confucius death in Eastern zhou

• Around 479 BC

SR, Selections from the Mencius: On Human Nature

• Mencius, follower of Confucius believed in innate goodness

• 4th century BCE

SR, Selections from the Xunzi: "Human Nature Is Evil"

• Xunzi, follower of Confucius believed humans born selfish

• 3rd century BCE

SR, Selections from the Laozi (Daodejing)

• Laozi, founding Daoist thinker who established the concept of Dao/the way

• From around 300 BCE

SR, Selections from the Zhuangzi: Chapter 3, “The Secret of Caring for Life”

• Zhuangzi, founding Daoist thinker 

• Late 4th century BCE

SR, Selection from the Han Feizi: Chapter 49, "The Five Vermin"

• Han Feizi was a Qin official and student of Xunzi that abandoned Confucianism for Legalism

• 3rd century BCE

SR, Memorial on Annexation of Feudal States and Memorial on the Burning of Books, by Li Si (as recorded by Sima Qian)

• Memorials from Li Si, compatriot of Han Feizi and prime minister in Qin empire, however recorded by later Han historian Sima Qian

• Based on events from 3rd century, recorded around 2nd