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The Fall of the Ch’in Dynasty &the Founding of the Han Dynasty

The Fall of the Ch’in Dynasty &the Founding of the Han Dynasty. In 209 B.C., only a year after the death of the First Emperor, a revolt broke out in the old Ch’u area, and rebellions followed in quick succession throughout the empire.

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The Fall of the Ch’in Dynasty &the Founding of the Han Dynasty

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  1. The Fall of the Ch’in Dynasty &the Founding of the Han Dynasty Prof. Frederick Hok-ming CHEUNG

  2. In 209 B.C., only a year after the death of the First Emperor, a revolt broke out in the old Ch’u area, and rebellions followed in quick succession throughout the empire. When the leading rebel, Hsiang Yu, a descendant of Ch’u generals, finally wiped out the last of the Ch’in armies in 206 B.C., he tried to return to Chou Feudalism, & only declared himself as “Hegemon King”.

  3. Another rebel general, Liu Pang, who challenged Hsiang Yu & destroyed him in 202 B.C., and became the Emperor of Han. Liu Pang (OR [Emperor] Han Kao-Tsu) succeeded, where the First Emperor of Ch’in had failed, in creating a lasting dynasty. The Western Han Dynasty reigned for more than 2 centuries until A.D. 8, & then, after a brief usurpation, resurrected the dynasty as the Later Han or Eastern Han, Which lasted from A.D. 25 until A.D. 220. Cf. Roman Empire

  4. Even today, the Chinese refer to themselves as “ men of Han” & the Japanese call the Chinese writing system “the Han characters.”

  5. Han thought: Among the old thought survived were the concepts of the late Chou Naturalists of yin & yang dualism, & the “five elements (or agents, or powers). Closely allied with these ideas was the notion that unusual natural phenomena were portents which reflected the character of the ruler or foretold the future.

  6. Tsou Yen’s Yin-Yang School proclaimed their theories of the yin & yang, the Five Elements, & predicted the rise &fall of fortune according to the dominant cosmic influence of an age (shih-yun). The influence of this school on the thinkers of Ch’in & Han was especially great. Hsiao, tr. By Mote, pp.61-65.

  7. Water Wood Metal Earth Fire create conquer

  8. The sequence of the 5elements in ancient Chinese history: Huang-ti: “earth” “yellow” “yellow dragon omen”

  9. then, the element of “earth” declined, & was conquered by the element of “wood”. Thus, Yu of Hsia Dynasty “wood” “green” “trees & grass alive even in fall & winter” as omen

  10. Then, the element of “wood” declined, &was conquered by the element of “metal” thus, Shang Dynasty. Then, Chou Dynasty of the element of “fire”. Then, Ch’in Dynasty of the element of “water”, “black” “Black dragon omen” Thus, in Ch’in Dynasty, the empire’s color of formal dresses & flags was “black”!

  11. Then, Liu Pang was reported to have killed a “snake” (omen), thus, conquered the declining “ water” element & succeeded by a new element of “earth” (a cycle).

  12. According to the cosmology of ancient China: Yin-yang was the origin or source of life/universe. In the beginning, there was nothingness: Poleless (then became)  T’ai Ch’I (2 poles)

  13. In Chinese medicine, it is important to balance & regulate yin & yang.

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