China. Scope Zhou dynasty, ending 6th century BC Period of Warrying States (403-221 BC) Intellectual...

China

Scope

• Zhou dynasty, ending 6th century BC

• Period of Warrying States (403-221 BC)

• Intellectual developments: Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism

• Political unification: Qin and Han dynasties

Confucius

• Kong Fuzi, 551-479 BC• Philosophy: pointing at human

qualities and relations• Politics: official positions to be

filled with educated and conscientuous people, „junzi“, deep impact on Chinese history until 20th century

• Values: „ren“ (benevolence), „li“ (propriety), „xiao“ (filial piety)

• Disciples: Mencius (372-289 BC), Xunzi (298-238 BC)

Daoism

• Understanding the world by introspection and reflection

• Living in harmony with the world brings harmony to society

• „Dao“ = the way, original force of the cosmos, „wuwei“ = disengagement

Legalism

• State oriented philosophy• Main representatives:

Shang Yang (390-338 BC), Han Feizi (280-233 BC), leading officials at court of Qin

• Ideas: agriculture and army as main pillars of the state

• Legal system with harsh penalties

The Unification of China

• Preconditions: dynamic economic and political development during 4th/3rd centuries BC, peasant immigration encouraged by Shang Yang

• Centralisation, weak nobility, military expansion

• 221 BC: Qin Shihuangdi – First Emperor

• 210 BC: Shihuangdi dies (huge grave, terra cotta army), end of Qin dynasty, however persistence of centralised state

The Terra Cotta Army

Han China

The Han Dynasty

• 206 BC: central state restored by Liu Bang (from Han), lasts until 220 AD, interruption 9-23 AD

• Former Han: capital Chang‘an, centralism according to Qin tradition

• Most important Han emperor: Han Wudi (141-87 BC), „Martial Emperor“, expansion to Vietnam, Korea, conflicts with nomadic Xiongnu empire

• Highly organised state, administered by educated elite, 124 BC founding of university based on Confucianism

Economy, Society

and Decline

• Structure: patriarchal households, agricultural, textile „industries“

• Innovation: iron tools in agriculture, silk production, invention of paper (100 AD)

• Decline of Han empire due to social disbalance

• Reaction: Wang Mang reforms („socialist emperor“, 9 AD)

• Later Han dynasty: capital moved to Luoyang

• Ongoing social disbalance, revolts (Yellow Turban Uprising, 2nd century)

• Early 3rd century: disintegration of Han Empire, 400 years of disunity