Heritage of China

The Dynasty

• Having one family or group rule for an extended period of time.

• Zhou (joh) Dynasty lasted almost 800 years

• Rulers were determined according to the Mandate of Heaven

Mandate of Heaven

• Linked power and responsibility

• If a ruler fails to maintain order and prosperity, the people have the right to overthrow them. (see chart on page 329)

• Dynasties used the MOH to justify their power.

• Helped to explain the Dynastic Cycle

Confucius

• Born around 551 BC - a time of chaos, warfare and disorder

• Developed ideas about how to restore peace was ignored by princes

• His ideas caught on after his death

Teachings of Confucious

• Five Relationships– Ruler and ruled– Father and Son– Older brother and younger brother– Husband and wife– Friend and friend.

• In all but the last relationship, one has superiority over another. – Supports MOH

Influence of Confucius

• Became guide for proper behavior– Based on ethical or moral principles– Interests of family and society above

individual– Stressed loyalty, hard work, and service

• Dominated Chinese society– Spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam

Daoism

• Word dao means “the way.”– “Those who know the Dao do not speak of it,

those who speak of it do not know it.”

• Taught order of nature

• The duck and the crane

Influence of Daoism

• Advances in science and technology– Astronomy– Magnetic compass– Gunpowder

Legalism

• Han Feizi (han fay dzuh) rejected Confucian teachings

• Believed people acted out of self interest

• Would respond to rewards and punishments, not to good examples

• Only harsh laws imposed by a strong ruler would ensure order in society

Family life

• Joint family

• Oldest male held authority

• In poor families only strong survived

• Filial Piety– “The bamboo stick makes a good child.”

• Respect for ancestors

• Arranged marriages– Groom pays dowry to bride’s familyu

Role of Women

• Women are inferior to men

• Valued girls for work and for bearing children– Did not celebrate birth of daughter

• Foot binding– Began around 950 CE– Purpose: to keep a woman’s feet small– Brought intense pain and STENCH!