1. Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

2. 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.

3. 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

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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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”

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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”

13. Daoism

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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