Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

Mandate of Heaven The belief that heaven granted a ruler a mandate or ‘divine right to rule’ Linked Power and Responsibility In exchange for loyalty, the ruler must maintain order Rulers need Mandate of Heaven to rule If lost, the people were allowed to rebel.

Accomplishments Est. a strong, central government Bring peace and order Give land to peasants Build roads, defensive walls and irrigation systems Support education and arts

Failures & Losing the Mandate Allow Corruption Lose military power Raise taxes Spend $ on luxuries Fail to reinforce walls, and irrigation Harsh ruler

Problems: Sign the Mandate is Lost Chaos Floods Invasions Peasant rebellions Poor harvests

Dynastic Cycle A strong leader emerges and establishes a new dynasty Claims mandate Cycle begins again

During times of Chaos, Chinese philosophers tried to find ways to guide human behavior and ensure order in society 3 Philosophies Developed in China Confucianism Daoism (Taoism) Legalism

Confucianism Founder: Confucius Dates: 551 B.C Writings: The Analects (Master Kong) Dates: 551 B.C Writings: The Analects Teachings: 5 Relationships must govern society “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do”

5 Relationships Ruler and Ruled Father and Son Older Brother and Younger Brother Husband and Wife Friend and Friend Superior sets example and cares for inferior Inferior shows respect to superior

Confucius Filial piety: the duty and respect that children owed their parents Education and Morality Society more important than individual I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Daoism Stressed the link between Nature and People Founder: Lao Zi Dates: 551 B.C Writings: “The Way of Virtue” Teachings: Stressed the link between Nature and People People should do nothing contrary to nature, live according to the Dao “the Way”

Daoism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-zD-RohzNY

Yin: female, passive, earthy Yang: male, active, heavenly Yin and Yang: Forces in Nature are to balance each other Yin: female, passive, earthy Yang: male, active, heavenly

Daoism Water as symbol of Tao Govt. should have fewer rules “Reveal thyself, embrace original nature, do not be selfish, curtail desire”

Legalism Founder: Han Feizi Writings: Han Feizi 300-200 B.C. Teachings: People acted out of self interest People only respond to rewards and punishments, not good examples

Legalism Harsh Laws and Strict Rulers are necessary to get things done Laws more important than rulers Example: Shi Huangdi used Legalism to unite China and create the Great Wall