Chapter 2 - Classical Civilization: China

Introduction – longest-lived civilization in history

• Isolated

• Couldn’t learn from other cultures

• Rare invasions

• Distinctive identity

• Relatively little internal chaos w/ decline of Shang dynasty

  • Greatest links to classical society

• Intellectual theory

  • Harmony of nature – yin and yang – balance
  • Seek Dao – the way
  • Avoid excess
  • Appreciate balance of opposites
  • Humans part of world, not on outside – like Mediterranean

• Thesis: China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system in which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole.

Patterns In Classical China

Pattern of Rule

1. Dynasty, family of kings – create strong politics, economy
2. Dynasty grew weak, taxes declined
3. Social divisions increased
4. Invasion or internal rebellion
5. Another dynasty emerged – general, invader, peasant rebel

Zhou Dynasty

1. Started decline in 700 BCE

2. Ruled w/ local princes – alliance system

   1. Successful in agricultural communities – ie manor system Europe
   2. Princes received land for troops/tax

3. Eventually local leaders ignored central gov’t

4. Contributions

   1. Extended territory to “Middle Kingdom” – wheat north, rice south

      1. Transportation/communication difficult – hard to govern

   2. Mandate of Heaven – Sons of Heaven – emperors live affluent life

   3. Greater cultural unity

      1. Banned human sacrifice
      2. Standardized language – Mandarin – most people speaking same

   4. Confucius – wrote on political ethics

5. 402-201 BCE Era of the Warring States

Qin Dynasty – China’s namesake

1. Xin Shi Huangdi – first emperor – brutal leader

   1. Undid power of regional leaders
   2. Nobles brought to emperor’s home
   3. Officials selected from nonaristocratic groups – allegiance
   4. Extended territory south
   5. Built Great Wall – 3000 miles
   6. Burned books, attacked culture – hurts his autocratic rule

2. Innovations

   1. National census – tax and labor service
   2. Standardized coins, weights, measures
   3. Uniform written language
   4. Irrigation projects
   5. Promoted manufacturing – silk

3. Downfall – unpopular

   1. high taxes, attacks on intellectuals
   2. killed men, punished brutally
   3. Died in 210 BCE – revolts broke out

Han Dynasty – 202 BCE-220 CE

1. Kept centralized power of Qin, but reduced repression

2. Extended borders – opened trade to India, Mediterranean

3. Wu Ti – period of peace – like Pax Romana

4. Advancements

   1. Formal training

   2. Supported Confucianism

      1. Shrines built to worship Confucius as god

5. Invasions – Huns – led to decline

6. 220 – 589 CE China in chaos

Political Institutions

1. Strong central government

   1. Qin stressed the unquestioned central authority
   2. Han – expanded bureaucracy

2. Political framework

   1. Strong local units remained, but power diminished

      1. Relied on patriarchal families
      2. Ancestor worship linked families
      3. Village leaders helped coordinate farming/harvesting

   2. Single law code

   3. Universal tax system

   4. Central authority appointments – not based on local government nominations

   5. Delegation done to emperor’s ministers

3. Huge bureaucracy – 130,000 bureaucrats

   1. Civil Service tests
   2. Scholar bureaucrat
   3. Not exclusively upper class rule - occasionally lower class recruited
   4. Rulers often could be controlled by bureaucrats – didn’t do crazy stuff of Rome

4. Most tightly governed people

   1. Rules administered by trained scholars
   2. Father unquestioned power – passed down from ancestors
   3. Harsh punishments to put down rebellion

5. Government traditions

   1. Not heavily militaristic – not huge need

   2. Promoted intellectual life – not Qin

   3. Active in economy

      1. Organized production of iron/salt
      2. Han tried storing grain for bad harvests
      3. Sponsored public works – canals/irrigation

6. Technology made it difficult to control, but…

   1. Torture and execution used to keep obedience
   2. Taxed
   3. Annual labor

7. Invaders – Huns – couldn’t create a better system for governing – kept bureaucrats

Religion and Culture – people not united by religion – no political threat

1. Religion – relation to politics

   1. earthly life/obedience more important than speculating about God

   2. harmonious earthly life – prevent excess

   3. traditions

      1. Ancestor ceremonies
      2. Special meals
      3. Politeness at meals – tea ceremonies/chopsticks

2. Confucius - Analects

   • Political virtue and good government
     • secular views, not religious

   1. Respect for superiors- even if bad

   2. Respect for tradition

   3. Leaders should behave modestly without excess

      1. Work hard as a leader and lesser people will serve superiors
      2. “When the ruler does right, all men will imitate his self-control”
      3. Rulers not just punish – be humble and sincere

   4. Satisfied upper class distaste for mystery, and interest in learning/manners

   5. Gov’t used to maintain order

   6. Careful socialization of children

   7. Lacks spiritual side

   8. Legalism – pragmatism

      1. Better gov’t is one that rules by force
      2. Human nature evil – needs restraint
      3. Confucian façade + legalist strong arm tactics

3. Polytheistic beliefs – appealed to peasants

   1. Spirits of nature
   2. Ancestors
   3. Dragons – fear plus playful respect

4. Daoism – first to upper class who wanted spirituality

   1. Nature has divine impulse that directs life
   2. Understanding comes from withdrawing and thinking of “way of nature”
   3. Espoused humility and frugal living