China- Ming to Manchu/Qing Dynasty
Dynastic Cycles
The Qing dynasty goes from early 1800s to 1908 (circa).
Mandate of Heaven
The mandate goes back from the transition of one kingdom to another, taking place of an overthrowing of the government. They had to be able to justify the overthrow, and thus, advisors came up with the idea that:
Heaven bestows the right of power on you
Power is a god given right, essentially, but without “god”
it was the heavens, such as nature, the universe, and supernatural forces
By being chosen, you are completely in charge and thus must act in a just manner that positively leads and defends society. People will feel comfortable with you and be treated in a just manner, and thus allows people to believe they can prosper.
i.e., warning farmers of a flood to prevent a loss in crops
messing up too much in quick concession, simply do not care about what they’re doing, and are corrupt
if the people hate you, you are not chosen by the mandate of heaven
Confucianism and Opioid Wars
Confucius came up with a system of government and hierarchical power during a time of great strife within. He looked to the past, to when China was at peace, and came up with the traditional values of the family. (China is one big family, made up of many little families, with the man at the head.) Everyone has a position within society, and each is respectable; you need to learn the proper respect.
Hierarchy:
father/emperor
father - eldest son
father - mother
elder brother - younger brother
friends
emperor/scholars
farmers
artisans/tool makers
militairy
merchant/business people (parasites)
Education is important, bc you need to learn the proper rituals and respect in order to properly address people. Anyone can be educated.
People within the government (judges, parliament, etc) have to study Confucianism and pass its tests.
Those who could get addicted to opioids were the people who could afford it, thus, they were corrupt and no longer ruling in a just manner…REMOVE them!
The mandate of heaven is not aligned with them.
The people who are recognized as having authority can be bribed with opioids, corrupting them
The man who started the Chinese infighting and civil wars was a man who failed Confucianism for many years (could not pass the exams for the life of him).
Mongols (Yuan Dynasty; 1279-1368)
While the Mongols sought to essentially eradicate China, they realized the monetary value of Chinese products, such as silk, for trade. They also, need people for administration, so they employed the Chinese, as well as craftman.
Exploiting the Chinese is more beneficial, but for business and administration, it wasn’t very important and was seen as feminine. As a result, they used the Confucian concepts for business and administration, due to them having to take various exams. Those who actually passed the exams were very important and knowledgeable and acted as mayors and such (because they had to think and administrate).
they’re sitting in an office
damn, this is for BITCHES
Rallying against foreign rule with a rebellion
eventually pushed out the Mongols
overnumbered them
Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644)
Buddhism took the stage and spread rapidly, especially to the Mongols. The basic aspect of Buddhist ideology was PEACE and pacifism. It comes from Tibet, which was seized by China.
They go back to a FULL Confucian state within the empire with the exams and government. If you pass the exams, you are very close to the emperor. They are also, exploring and spreading their ideas outside the Chinese world. Many Chinese products were produced, which the world found interesting enough to trade for.
mass production of China (exploit industry!)
silk
Exploraiton
The Chinese were excellent ship builders, thus allowing them great access through waterways.
Indian Ocean with huge fleets
3-4x the size of Columbus’s ships
organization and access to wealth to be able to build and dock them
When attempting to invade Japan, the Mongols had to rely on Chinese ship craftmans
Chinese craftsmen sabotaged the ships and didn’t bolt the masts correctly in order to “get back” at the Mongols
Defense
The Ming had little fear of invasions from the coast, such as from Japan and the Philippines. They did, however, have a great fear of invasion via land (Mongols).
The Great Wall!
…people still get through
This lack of defense on the coast later becomes a mistake bc of the Steamships from the English, causing a ruckus up the rivers and the coastline.
…opium lol
This was a loss of face/honor bc they were dead strolling up the river on their steamboats
gave the English Hong Kong
Manchu Dynasty (1644 - 1911)
The Monchu empire came down and did not practice the Chinese customs at the time
hairstyles
foot binding
a sign of wealth
My wife isn’t working the fields. How could she? Her feet are bound! She doesn’t have to work.
Manchu society had its women work tf, same with Mongols
They recognized Confucianism in the sense of:
beurocracy
It’s the way you move up in the world
Taipeng Rebellion (1840 - 1855)
A man woke up, with the help of Christianity, to take back the Chinese cultural heritage. He thought he was the younger brother of Jesus, and this was his god-given assignment.
He talked about fairness and equality, at least before god, as well as the early Christian communities in Rome. (where socialism comes from lol)
The End of the Rebellion
The notion of sharing everything, wealth, wasn’t appealing to the English and Americans
protected themselves from the “religious fanatics” along the coast
Very wealthy, land-owning Chinese families organized their own malitias, defending their property against the taipeng
equivalent to Elon Musk
The Machus have a decision
innovation or tradition
copy the Europeans in terms of manufacturing and opening the economic system, accepting the idea of change in societies, and changing the Chinese culture, or go back to what they know with their cultural traditions
wealthy didn’t like this bc their power would run out
The last of the Manchus died out in 1911