1. Chinese Empire
Chapter 4, Section 4

2. Background.... The Zhou Dynasty declines because Feudal Kings begin to think of themselves as independents kings. The Empire is in disarray which leads to.....

3. 3 Influential Philosophies
1. Confucianism = five social relationships should guide society. Based on Respect
(1) Ruler and Subject
(2) Father and Son
(3) husband and wife
(4) older brother and younger brother
(5) friend and friend
Wanted to restore “order” to Chinese society after years of conflict in “warring states” period

4. Confucianism Creator = Confucius respect for parents and elders
education makes you a gentleman
Book created by his students = Analects
CONFUCIUS 551 – 479 B.C. “Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done
to yourself.”
-Confucius

5. 3 Influential Philosophies
2. Daoism or Taoism= Search for knowledge and understanding with nature
Creator = Laozi (Lao Tzu)
Dao (“The Way”) guides all things
Yin- Yang
powers that represent the natural rhythms of life
Yang = Masculine, Orange, Tiger
Yin = Feminine, Blue, Dragon
LAOZI (Lao-tzu) ca. 600 B.C.
Stop thinking, and end your problems.                                —Lao Tzu

6. 3 Influential Philosophies
3. Legalism = Law will end disorder and bring harmony
urged harsh, strong rule
Control ideas and actions

7. China’s “First Emperor”
The Qin Dynasty ( bc)
Shi Huangdi - the first Qin emperor
Used Legalism to end the period of “warring states” ( bc)
China’s “First Emperor”

8. Shi Huangdi’s Harsh Rule
united China w/ Military Power (ended internal fighting and feudalism)
forced all royal families to live in the capital (so he could watch them)
Practiced Legalism
burned “useless” books -
Hated scholars and philosophers
Banned Confucianism

9. Shi Huangdi’s Advancements
built 4000 mile road network
built the Great Wall to stop northern invaders
standardized currency, writing, weights/measures and laws
Trade and farm production increased

10. Shi Huangdi’s unpopularity
Autocracy - government in which a ruler has unlimited power to do what he wants
Harsh taxes
repressed freedoms
forced labor on peasants
Chinese peasants were forced to work on the wall sometimes until their deaths!

11. Japan in search of this magic potion in 210 BCE.
Shi Huangdi was a tyrant and ruled with an iron hand, handing down harsh laws,
and levying large tax rates that oppressed the commoners of ancient China. He
tried to eliminate the teachings of Confucius, and the education system that
accompanied Confucianism. In his final years, Shi Huangdi became quite withdrawn
and odd-behaving. He surrounded himself with magicians and alchemists, providing
them only one task: to find or create an immortality formula. Shi Huangdi became
increasingly more maniacal near his death, and wanted an potion that would allow him
to rule as a divine emperor forever. He died-- broken, insane, and alone--after a trip to
Japan in search of this magic potion in 210 BCE.
Recently discovered in 1974 by Chinese peasants who were drilling a well, the tomb of
Shi Huangdi proved to be one of the greatest archaeological finds. Archaeologists were
uncertain when the excavations began of the great magnitude of this site. The centerpiece
of Shi Huangdi's mausoleum is the terra-cotta army of approximately 8,000 life-sized
men and horses. Individually sculpted of thick terra-cotta clay, each soldier and horse
is unique, each with its own style of dress (the mineral paints used to cover the figures
in bright, gay colors have since dissolved), weaponry, and facial expressions.
Built mainly underground, the construction itself took 700,000 prisoners of war and slaves over 36 years to construct and covers approximately four square miles. The as-yet-unearthed palace
(built for Shi-Huangdi’s use in the afterlife and thus never lived in)
is reputedly of legendary grandeur. Shi-Huangdi’s actual
pyramidal tomb has also not been excavated yet.
When the Chinese made the first announcements about the statues
in 1974, many archaeologists, intellectuals and especially tourists
wanted to visit the site. The Chinese communist government today
has been surprisingly open about visitation (although they oversee
all the digging) and even lead tours to watch the actual excavation
as it takes place.
s98/smithbio.html
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

12. The Han Dynasty overthrew the Qin Dynasty after Shi Huangdi’s death