1. Recap. How do we perceive Qu Yuan’s poem “On Encountering Sorrow” in relation to The Classical of Poetry? What is renewed in his poetic creation? -- Political allegory initiated in The Classic of Poetry: What kind of change can we observe in his lyrical work? -- To strike a deeper chord of feelings in an imaginary journey: A critique of Qu Yuan’s outlook: “Must you yet long for the capital?” (Jia Yi, 201-169 BC) The literary impact: -- The stalk image of the allegorical relation in court: -- Elitist loyalty to his lord overweighs his appreciation of life: -- Talent can transform personal resentment into passionate art:

2. Historical Change From Warring States to Qin Empire

3. Historical context: Longing for unity in the chaotic period: Social unification promises stability, peace and prosperity. The changing scene: a) The use of iron for tools and weapons: -- infantry armies; cavalry warfare, etc. b) The Qin 秦 rose with the advantage of reforms: -- Legalist adviser: Shang Yang (390-338 BC):

4. Major characteristics of Qin How to dominate the local lineages? To foster the bureaucratic structure:  The state was divided into 31 counties: How to undermine the aristocracy?  To create a new elite dependent upon the ruler:

5. Major characteristics of Qin (continued): Legalist practice: -- To glorify power for its own sake: Human beings are merely vessels in service of the state. -- To advocate war as a means to strengthen the power of the ruler: The military power is used for profit of the monarch. -- State laws define responsibilities for all except the ruler: To enforce laws of the state over the family and kinship ties; Traditional loyalty was undercut to enforce obedience to the state. To stimulate farm enterprise: Farmers could buy and sell land.

6. Unification of the Qin Empire (221-206 BC) The first emperor ( 秦始皇 ) The centralized state inspired both awe and dread, for it wielded unprecedented power and controlled vast resources.

7. Unification of the Qin Empire (continued) Construction of a centralized government: -- The first emperor divided the nation into 36 jun (province); each jun is subdivided into a number of counties. -- County magistrates were appointed, salaried and subject to recall: Transportation: To build highways and canals and connect old city walls: -- a total over 4,000 miles of highway (similar to the Roman Empire):

8. Unification of the Qin Empire (continued) Standardizing writing; unifying measurements and currency: Ruthless exaction of resources and repression of Confucian orientation: -- Peasants uprising (209-206 BC): Chen Sheng and Wu Guang -- Murder of Confucian scholars and burning of the their classics

9. Unification of the Qin Empire (continued) The legacy: -- The idea of empire and the governmental structure to embody it: -- A profound effect upon the thinking of the Chinese: terror and strength alone could not rule the world for long. -- “Fault of Qin” 過秦論 by Jia Yi: a) Men of courage wrecked the Qin empire which was neither small or weak; b) Preserving power differs from seizing power; c) The Qin rule was too harsh for the nation to renew

10. Consolidation of power in Han 漢 (202 BC - 220 AD) The Han reaction to Qin absolutism: The need of a state orthodoxy to consolidate legitimacy of the Han: -- Confucian scholars claimed they could bring out the hidden meaning in classics to highlight the art of governing: e.g. Mao commentaries of The Classic of Poetry became statecraft. -- Literati convinced the monarch that they were indispensable for the ruler to legitimize his power and make the social structure work: -- The practical demand to staff the government with loyal officials:

11. Consolidation of power in Han (continued) Confucian orientation became the canon in Han: The complex relation between the emperor and literati: -- The monarch provided them with prestige and power; -- They provided knowledge to legitimize the imperial state: The tension: -- The monarch had absolute power in the political center: -- Sanctioned violence is the reality in court politics: -- The minister had no protection in power play: -- The insecurity of literati is built in the literati mentality: -- Many scholars resort to writings for self-expressions: