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What is the Dynastic Circle?

• Important political theory in Chinese history

What does every dynasty go through?

A culture cycle

What is the process of the dynastic circle?

A new ruler unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the mandate of heaven

What did the Mandate of Heaven serve as?

An explanation for the success and failure of empires

What was the Mandate of Heaven originally used for?

Used by the Zhou to justify their overthrow of the Shang

Individual vs. Family Desires

Confucianism emphasizes the importance of showing love, or respect and obedience to one's parents.

Injustice vs. Social Harmony

Confucianism values social harmony, and individuals are encouraged to prioritize the well-being of the community over personal grievances.

Hierarchical Roles vs. Individual Morality

Confucianism emphasizes the importance of hierarchical relationships, such as those between rulers and subjects or parents and children

Individual Desires vs. Family/Societal Roles

Confucian ethics stress the importance of individuals fulfilling their roles within the family and society.

Merit vs. Family

Confucianism advocates for a merit-based society where individuals are recognized and rewarded based on their abilities and virtues.

Individual Desires vs. Traditional Expectations

Confucianism places a high value on tradition and maintaining social order.

When did the Ming dynasty end?

1433

Why did the Ming dynasty end?

Failed to invest in new technology or exploration and a new emperor destroys the fleet and all records.

When was the age of exploration?

1500s

What were the effects of European exploration?

Led to opportunities for trade with China and Japan

When did the Qing (Manchus) dynasty begin?

1644 CE

What is opium?

Highly addictive narcotic

What are the goals of socialism?

• Social justice (equality)

• Government should plan economy

• The end of poverty

Who must start a revolution in order to start a communist state?

Proletariats must start a revolution and overthrow the goverment

What is the name of the temporary government formed during the creation of a communist state?

dictatorship of the proletariat

What does the temporary goverment do?

Seize all property, and redistribute it equally, ensuring economic equality for everyone

When does the temporary dictatorship disband?

Once all of its citizens are properly educated and have developed a culture of cooperation

What is the Marriage Reform Law?

For the first time, both genders were equal in marriage, women were able to choose their own spouse or file for divorce

After Mao instated the Marriage Reform Law, who did Mao gain support from?

Women, who were ignored previously by the nationalists

Why did Mao face opposition for the Marriage Reform Law?

Because China has historically been a patriarchal society

What was the Agarian Reform Law?

A law aimed to redistribute all the land in China

What did Mao promise in the Agarian Reform Law?

Promised granting of land land to poor peasents.

What happened ot landlords that commited crimes against peasents?

They had “struggle meetings” and later beat to death.

What was the Antis Movement?

A movement to target intellectuals to prevent counterrevolutionary’s

What intellectuals were targeted in the Antis movement?

Teachers, journalists, lawyers, writers, artists, etc and others more likeley to speak out against Maoist ideas.

What was the downside of the Antis movement?

By taking out the intellectuals of society, the government struggled to make meaningful progress towards change

What is a Danwei?

Communes or work units in urban areas

What did Danwei’s do for the people living in them?

It organized, regulated, policed, trained, educated, and protected them.

What was the primary goal of the Great Leap Forward?

To have a massive increase in steel production

What were setup to increase steel production?

Backyard Furnaces

During the Great Leap Forward what technique was used to produce super crops?

Deep ploughing

How many starved to death during the Great Leap Forward?

Estimated 50 Millon

What happened to Mao after the Great Leap Forward?

Mao stepped down as head of the state

How did the Cultural Revolution start?

Students rebel at Beijing University, put up wall posters criticizing education system.

What was The Little Red Book?

A book that contained MAO’s writings and thoughts on a variety of subjects.

What were the names of Mao’s strongest believers?

Red Guard

How did Mao shape the Red Guards to act as?

loyal, willing, & brutal force:

How did the Red Guards Terror Tactics method work?

Used youthful idealism, peer-group conformity, & brutality to stoke hatred of traditions or Western capitalist decadence

What was the Red Guards method “Attacks on the Four Olds?”

Mao urged the young Red Guards to attack Old culture, Old thoughts, Old customs, Old habits

What did Mao do to intellectuals?

saw the bureaucrats & intellectuals as privileged, soft, and in need of “re-education”

Who replaced the Red Guard?

The Chinese Army

What happened to the Red Guards after being laid off?

sent to live in countryside to experience “dignity of labor”

What year did Mao die?

1976

What were the results of the Cultural Revolution?

• Some say China almost went bankrupt

• Damaged CPC in the eyes of the population

• Agriculture and industry suffered

• Education disrupted and research slowed

• Mao’s legacy seriously tarnished, blamed in 1981 by the CPC for causing the CR

What modernizations did Deng Xiaoping focus on?

agriculture, industry, science and technology, military

Dynastic Cycle

Theory in Chinese history where dynasties rise, rule, and fall in a cyclical pattern.

Dynasties gain power, but corruption and mismanagement lead to their decline and eventual overthrow.

Confucianism

Philosophical system emphasizing moral values, social harmony, and respect for authority.

Stresses familial duty, righteousness, and proper conduct.

Daoism/Taoism

Philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing harmony with nature and simplicity.

Advocates for non-action and acceptance of the natural flow of life.

Mandate of Heaven

Ancient Chinese belief that rulers had the divine right to govern, granted by heaven.

If a ruler failed to govern justly, they would lose the mandate and be overthrown.

Middle Kingdom

Term used by Chinese to refer to themselves as the center of the world or civilization.

Summarizes China's perceived cultural and political superiority.

The Ming Voyages

Series of naval expeditions led by Admiral Zheng He during the Ming Dynasty.

Aimed to assert Chinese power, establish trade, and showcase Chinese wealth.

Decline under the Qing Dynasty

Period of decline characterized by corruption, internal strife, and foreign encroachment.

Qing rulers faced challenges from Western imperialism and internal rebellions.

Opium Wars

Conflicts between China and Britain over the opium trade in the mid-19th century.

Resulted in China's defeat and forced concessions to Western powers.

Treaty of Nanjing

A document in 1842 ending the First Opium War between China and Britain.

Forced China to give up Hong Kong, open several ports to British trade, and pay reparations.

Communism

a type of government as well as an economic system (a way of creating and sharing wealth)

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and on the investment of money in business ventures in order to make a profit

What is the core value of capitalism?

the government should stay out of business as much as possible

Socialism

An economic system in which the means of production are owned by the public (the government) and operate for the welfare of all

Bourgeoise

Capitalists who own the means of production and are employees of wage-based labor

Proletariat

The class of wage-laborers who, having no means of production on their own, are forced to sell their labor power as a means to live

Marxist Communism

Means of production are owned by all the people

Private property ceases to exist

All goods and services are shared equally (no more social structure)

Religion is used to control people. Only atheism is acceptable.

Cult of Mao

Personality cult around Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese Communist Party.

Emphasized Mao's life and idolized him as a revolutionary hero

The Communist Manifesto

Political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848.

Outlines the principles and goals of communism, advocating for proletarian revolution.

Chinese Civil War

Conflict between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party (KMT).

Ended in CCP victory and establishment of the People's Republic of China

Initial Chinese Reforms

Economic and social reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s.

Marked the beginning of China's transition from a planned to a market economy.

Five Year Plan

Economic development strategy used by China to set targets for growth and development.

Outlines goals for industrial and agricultural production over a five-year period.

Collectivization

Policy under Mao Zedong aimed at consolidating agricultural production into collective farms.

Led to widespread famine and economic hardship during the Great Leap Forward.

The Great Leap Forward

Economic and social campaign led by Mao Zedong in the late 1950s.

Aimed to rapidly industrialize and collectivize agriculture, resulting in widespread famine and economic disaster.

The Cultural Revolution

Socio-political movement initiated by Mao Zedong in the 1960s.

Aimed to reassert Maoist ideology and purge perceived enemies within the party and society.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

Violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Resulted in numerous deaths and crackdown on dissent by the Chinese government.

Taiping Rebellion

A massive civil war in 19th-century China led by Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ.

What was the purpose of the Taiping Rebellion?

it sought to overthrow the ruling Qing Dynasty and establish a utopian Christian society.

Sino - Japanese War

A conflict fought between China and Japan from 1894 to 1895. It resulted from tensions over control of Korea and ended with China's defeat, marking a significant shift in power dynamics in East Asia.

Boxer Rebellion

A violent uprising in China from 1899 to 1901, where a secret society called the Boxers rebelled against foreign influence and Christian missionaries. They targeted foreigners and Chinese Christians, but were ultimately defeated by an international interference of foreign powers.