1. Dynasties of China
East Asian Studies 2011

2. Zhou Dynasty Around 1045 B.C.E Shang overturned
Western Zhou B.C.E.
Eastern Zhou/Warring States B.C.E.
First evidence of the Mandate of Heaven
“Son of Heaven” – ruler
As cities grew, the Zhou built roads and canals to supply them, these turned into stimulated trade and agriculture.
The Zhou dynasty introduced coin money, which further improved trade.
Iron was used to create weapons and tools.
Zhou King
Relatives
Trusted Subordinates

4. Zhou Dynasty War in the Zhou Period
Two sides agree on time and place
Sacrifices before battle
Will not attack if the ruler had died
Ruling houses not wiped out
Honor as important as winning
Zhou kings were monarchs, but had no power to enforce obedience
Vassals would not be loyal

5. Warring States Period Qi, Qin and Chu most powerful states
Unhappy sons excluded from rule would look for allies in other states
Dukes started calling themselves kings to signal means to rule

7. Hundred Schools of Thought
Chaos led to many ideas of how to bring stability
Confucius
Daoism
Legalism

8. Qin Dynasty 221-206 B.C.E. First empire of China
United many states and regions
Centralized bureaucratic government

9. Qin Dynasty Beginnings
Lü Buwei
Rich merchant rose to become regent for King Cheng (age 13)
Recruited scholars to Qin
Mixture of Daoist and Confucian rule

10. The First Emperor King Cheng becomes Shi Huangdi- “First Emperor”
Sent Lü Buwei away, later committed suicide
Li Si, a legalist, became chancellor, helps organize newly conquered states

12. Qin Reforms
Nobles were forced to leave their states and move to the capital, Xianyang
Officials appointed by the Emperor ruled the provinces
These men were controlled by regulations, requirements and punishments

14. Qin Reforms
Standardized writing, weights, measurements, coinage, and even cart axle widths
WHY?
Not allowed to carry weapons

15. Qin Reforms
Roads built for armies
Expanded canals to connect rivers

16. Qin Legalism
Shi Huangdi suspected intellectuals, burned thousands of ancient writings
3 assassination attempts
Qin set up “neighborhood watch” programs to inform on criminals

17. Qin Punishments Hard labor
physical mutilation (branding, cutting off body parts),
Banishment
Slavery
Death (torn apart by horse drawn chariots)

18. Threats to the North Xiongnu Pastoral nomads in steppes
Organized by families/clans
Originally driven out by Qin, but gain power as dynasty declines
One of the reasons for building the Great Wall

19. Fall of Qin Dynasty
Shi Huangdi died 210 BCE, younger son becomes emperor, executes brothers
Executes Li Si (Legalist) in favor of chief eunuch
Legalist institutions unravel, uprisings throughout empire

20. Han Dynasty
206 BCE – 220 CE
Liu Bang is victor of rebellions and gains power
Came from a modest family
Takes name of Emperor Gao 高祖
(r BCE)

21. Han Dynasty Kept centralized government Eliminated some harsher laws
Cut taxes
Gave out some fiefs (land grants) to relatives and friends –which he later realized was a mistake

22. Han Dynasty
Xiongnu remained a threat, eventually gave tributes (bribes) of silk, grain, etc.
Even princesses as brides
Controversial policy

23. Han Government Emperor in theory all-powerful
Depended on chancellor and other high officials
Nine ministries for state ritual to public works
Officials graded by rank and salary, appointed by merit
Local officials—magistrates and grand administrators (governors)
Collected taxes, judged lawsuits, commanded troops, flood control

24. Han Government Main tax of 120 coins on adults
Children were less
Adults also owed a month of labor each year
Could be public works or military service
Low land tax (one-thirtieth of harvest)

25. Empress  Lü
Empress Dowager (widow of emperor) ruled for the next 15 years.
Her son, Emperor Hui, was too weak to rule
Painted as cruel, spiteful, vicious
After her fall her entire family was wiped out

26. Emperor Wu (r. 141-87 BCE) Came to throne as a teenager
Encouraged many developments in the Han Dynasty
Arts, culture, government
Expanded empire

27. Business in Han Dynasty
Heavy taxes on merchants (which had always been mistrusted)
Shops, boats, carts all taxed
Government monopolies established for salt, iron and liquor
Gov’t took over grain to stabilize prices

28. Chinese Society in Han Common Farmers Bulk of population
Gov’t tried to keep farmers independent and productive
Two-bladed plow invented
Many farmers fell into debt, become tenants
Some sold wives and children as slaves to pay off debt

29. Chinese Society in Han Elite Groups Merchants and manufacturers
Gave loans
Still despised despite their wealth
Gentry or scholar class (shi)
Gov’t officials
Educated in Confucianism

30. The Family in Han Patrilineal Closely connected to Confucian teachings
Bride join husbands family
Filial piety
Respect for elders and ancestors

32. 221 - 581 (AD) Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t
Non-Chinese nomads control much of China
Buddhism becomes popular - Confucianism failed

33. Tang (618 - 907 AD) High point of Chinese culture Rebuilt bureaucracy
Examination system
Confucian education
Limited social mobility
Buddhism supported, then oppressed
Invention of movable print, porcelain, gun powder

34. Civil Service Exam
Highest are those who are born wise. Next are those who become wise by learning. After them come those who have to toil (work) painfully in order to acquire learning. Finally, to the lowest class of the common people belong those who toil painfully without ever managing to learn.

35. Civil Service Exam
According to Confucius, who are the second highest in society?
2. According to Confucius, who are the third highest in society?

36. Tang (618 - 907 AD) Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese history
Decline
Weak emperors, nomadic incursions, economic difficulties
Warlords take control

37. Song (969 - 1279 AD) Large centralized bureaucracy (Neo-Confucian)
Mercantile class grows, increased trade
Magnetic compass, growing sea power
Weak military

39. Yuan (1279 - 1368 AD) Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China
FIRST NON-CHINESE DYNASTY
Economic stability and prosperity
China more open to trade and travel (Marco Polo)
Ignored Chinese traditions, replaced bureaucrats with non-Chinese
Unsuccessful attacks on Japan, corruption weakens dynasty
Peasant rebellion ends Yuan