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China's Political Structure and Its Religious Philosophy

Explore the fascinating political history of China, from the ancient Dynasties to modern Communism, and its connection to religious philosophy, such as Confucianism and Daoism.

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China's Political Structure and Its Religious Philosophy

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  1. Day 1 question What similarity did early Buddhism and early Christianity share? • Support for caste hierarchy • Requirement to total celibacy for men • Allowance of women to enter monastic life • Prohibition of conversion

  2. Today 9/ and 9/Chapter 2 Day 1 • Practice Question • Reading Quiz • Lecture • Exit • Objective: • You will be able to discuss the political structure of China and how it is connected with its religious philosophy (Theme 2 & 3)

  3. Ancient China

  4. Key Ideas • Dynastic Cycle • Centralization • Discuss: What is this???? • Bureaucracy • Confucianism

  5. Info • Oldest River Valley Civilization • Discuss: • Why has the distinct Chinese identity lasted so long??? • Doesn’t mean nothing ever changed • Instead the identity remained stable

  6. What is a Dynasties????? 1 2 6 3 5 4

  7. Scope of Chinese Dynasties • Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE - 1027 BCE • Zhou Dynasty 1122 BCE -256 BCE • Qin Dynasty 221 BCE - 206 BCE • Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220AD • Sui Dynasty 589 AD - 618 AD • Tang Dynasty 618 AD - 907 AD • Sung Dynasty 969 AD - 1279 AD • Yuan Dynasty 1279 AD - 1368 AD • Ming Dynasty 1368 AD - 1644 AD • Manchu or Qing Dynasty 1644 AD - 1912 AD • 1912 – 1949 Nationalism and Communism • 1949 – present Communism

  8. The Song Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Sui, Tang, Song Sui, Tang, Song Yuan, Ming, Qing, The Republic Yuan, Ming, Qing, The Republic Mao Zedong Mao Zedong

  9. Reference Points • Egypt  Neolithic, Shang • Assyria  Zhou • Greece  Qin • Roman Empire  Han • Dark Ages  Jin, Sui • Charlemagne  Tang • Feudalism in Europe  Song, Yuan • Renaissance  Ming • Industrial Revolution  Qing

  10. General Development Ancient Classical First Classical society to develop Has the closest ties to its ancient past of all the other civilization Isolation saves them from invasion First Dynasty (Shang) sets precedents • Arises along Huanghe River Valley develops in relative isolation • Strong central political organization (Shang) • Advanced Technology

  11. Political (Pre-Classical) • Xia Dynasty (pre-classical): • Around 2200 BCE • Still a lot of questions about this dynasty • Founded by King Yu • Shang Dynasty (pre-classical) • 1766-1122 BCE • Warrior Kings • Moved a lot

  12. Political (Classical) • Zhou Dynasty • 1029-258 BCE Longest lasting dynasty in China • 1st real dynasty but not complete yet • Not centralized it still had regional governments with a lot of power • Development of the Middle Kingdom and Mandate of Heaven • Created a unifying language: Mandarin • Discuss: Why was a common language so important?

  13. Zhou continued • Developed Confucianism • Beginning of the ideas of centralization • When the dynasty fell it could have ended like India • Discuss: HOW/WHY???? • But the developing philosophies and centralization helped keep China together • PLUS a strong leader takes over

  14. Political (Classical) • Qin Dynasty • 258-206 BCE • Shi Huangdi—First “Emperor” • This is when the strong central government is created • Very strict and harsh government • Legalism • Many innovations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  15. Qin Continued • Shi Huangdi changed the regional control • Discuss: Why did they still need regions???? • Bureaucrats instead of the strong family ties • Another layer in the growing centralization

  16. How does it fit into the Dynastic Cycle?

  17. Political Cont (Classical) • Han Dynasty • 206BCE – 220 CE (one of the longest and strongest) • Wu Ti • Continued to encourage Confucian thought • This becomes stronger in Political life (centralization) • Other Bureaucratic systems grew • Exam system • Expanded China’s territory • Allowed for some trade

  18. Confucianism • Confucian ideas • Fundamentally moral and ethical in character • Restore political and social order; stress ritual • Gave bureaucracy a common belief system • Wrote the Analects • Principle of Jen: • “Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you”

  19. 5 Relationships of Confucianism • Father and Son • Elder brother and younger brother • Husband and wife • Older friend and younger friend • Ruler and subject

  20. Discuss: How did Confucianism support Political structure? • Superior men should serve not be glorified • Welfare of common people • Common people respect overlords • Loyalty and obedience holds the society together

  21. Daoism • Prominent critics of Confucianism • Understand natural principles, live in harmony with them • Laozi and Zhuangzi • Laozi, founder of Daoism; wrote the Daodejing • Philosophical Daoism • Dao - The way of nature, the way of the cosmos • Opposites in balance, complementary

  22. Legalism • The doctrine of statecraft • Promoted a practical and ruthlessly efficient approach • No concern with ethics and morality • No concern with the principles governing nature • Discouraged art, and literature • Doctrine used by Qin dynasty • Called for harsh penalties even for minor infractions • Not popular among the Chinese

  23. Economic • Government played an active role in the economy • Standardized currency • Maintained a surplus in order to control prices • Trade was focused on luxury items • India • Silks, jewelry, leather, furniture • High tax • Merchants are no looked upon favorably

  24. Social • Rural or agricultural society • Small groups of people living far from each other within the confines of the “civilization” • Social stratification • Landowners and bureaucrats 2% • Laborers, peasants and artisans • Merchants were not good • Emphasis on • Family!!!!!!!!!!!! • Proper behavior and obedience • Patriarchal society

  25. Intellectual/Arts • Art was created in a detailed, proportional, and balanced manner • Nature was emphasized • Often very decorative • Jade, pottery, ivory, bronze, and silk • Calligraphy

  26. Intellectuals/Art Cont • Many innovations • 364.5 days per year • Movement of the planets • Seismographs • Advanced medical knowledge • Acoustics • Architecture • Inventions • Paper, compass, water mills, porcelain, silk, plows

  27. Today 9/ & 9/Chapter 2 Day 2 • Practice Question • Review • Work on PERSAN Chart • Primary Source work (pg 42) • Exit • Objective: • You will be able to discuss the political structure of China and how it is connected with its religious philosophy (Theme 2 & 3)

  28. Day 2 question Which of the following best describes how Chinese imperial elites viewed their civilization in relation to the rest of the world? • China was a unique and superior civilization surrounded by barbarians of one sort or another • China was an intermediary civilization whose main role was to facilitate the exchange of trade items and ideas between surrounding and more advanced societies • China was one member of a peer group of advanced civilizations • China was a rising civilization learning from and preparing to overtake existing world power

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