Turbulent Times and Classical Thought - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 23
About This Presentation
Title:

Turbulent Times and Classical Thought

Description:

Decline of Zhou accompanied by important economic & political developments ... Subject of more classical commentary and modern translations than any other Chinese text ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:46
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 24
Provided by: peopleR
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Turbulent Times and Classical Thought


1
Turbulent Times and Classical Thought
  • Chapter 2
  • A Brief History of Chinese Civilization

2
Zhou
  • Neolithic Cultures (Legendary Xia)
  • Shang Dynasty (1766-1027)
  • Western Zhou (1027-771)
  • Eastern Zhou (771-256 bc)
  • Spring and Autumn Period (772-481)
  • Warring States Period (403-221)
  • Capital moved east to Luoyang (Chengzhou).

3
The Spring and Autumn Period
  • Decline of Zhou kingship and rise of powerful
    vassal states
  • Zhou kingship source of legitimacy
  • Political system of the hegemons (ba)
  • Heads of most powerful state
  • Loose alliance of blood oaths
  • Decline of Zhou accompanied by important economic
    political developments

4
Economic Political Developments
  • Rise of powerful, centralized states (see map)
  • Introduction of Soybean cultivation
  • Rich source of protein
  • Augmented the fertility of soil
  • Taxation systems
  • Direct taxation peasant paid land rents
    directly to ruling house

5
Zhou Dynasty Royal Domain and the ten major fiefs
6
Warring States Period (453-221)
  • Chronic Warfare
  • Chu and Qin become increasingly powerful, annexed
    neighbors
  • Strategic locations
  • Witnessed major social, political, economic, and
    military changes.

7
Modes of Warfare
  • Spring Autumn
  • no more than 30,000 men on flat terrain
  • Limited duration one season to one year
  • Military composed primarily ruling elite
  • Warring States
  • Between 100,000 and 600,000 men
  • Conflicts could last up to five years
  • New tools crossbow and lamellar armor
  • Infantry comprised all segments of society

8
Social Changes
  • Old Social hierarchies began to break down
  • Warfare allowed for social mobility shi or
    commoner could rise to become a powerful minister
    or general
  • E.g. Lu Buwei merchant rose to become minister
    to Qin ruler

9
Political and Economic Reforms of the Qin State
  • Lu Buwei and Shang Yang Qin advisors both
    later executed
  • Universal Military Service
  • Abolished estates maintained by nobles and
    divided state in counties governed directly
  • Individual household as basis for taxation and
    military service

10
Qin Advantages
  • Increased resources by conquering neighboring
    states
  • Fertile area
  • Strategically easy to defend
  • mountains

11
The Hundred Schools
  • Four Distinct Schools
  • Ru (Confucian)
  • Mohist
  • Daoist
  • Legalist

12
Confucius
  • Kong Qiu (551-479 bc)
  • Born in latter period of Spring and Autumn in the
    State of Lu
  • Annalects
  • Transmitter not innovator
  • Rectification of Names
  • Junzi
  • Advocate of Li

13
(No Transcript)
14
Vietnamese Temple of Literature
15
Mozi
  • Mo Di (470-391 bc)
  • Treatises or speeches collected in the Mozi
  • Utilitarian
  • Universal Love

16
Mencius
  • Meng Ke (371-289 bc)
  • The Mencius
  • Human nature is good
  • All men have potential to become sages
  • Four sprouts (si duan) innate moral sense
  • Eg. Child and the Well
  • Rebutted Mozi
  • Mandate of Heaven
  • Rule of Virtue

17
Xunzi
  • Xun Kuang (312 - ?)
  • Recd official appointments in the state of Chu
  • The Xunzi organized into thematic essays
    reflecting a systematic philosophy
  • Human nature is Evil
  • No inborn inclination to act ethically
  • Radical Transform through moral training, study,
    and hard work
  • Human desires create need for li
  • Heaven as inscient oblivious to humans

Teacher of two famous thinkers Han Feizi (d. 233
bc) Li Si (d. 208 bc), advisor to Qin Shihuangdi
18
Laozi
  • Putative author of Dao de jing (The Way and its
    Power)
  • Shadowy figure
  • Perhaps older contemporary of Confucius (?)
  • Legendary origins of Dao de jing

19
(No Transcript)
20
Dao de jing
  • Cryptic, paradoxical, highly suggestive
  • Subject of more classical commentary and modern
    translations than any other Chinese text
  • Collection of verses divided into two parts Dao
    and De
  • Dao is ineffable
  • Wu Wei (Non-interferance)

21
Zhuangzi
  • Legendary
  • The Zhuangzi compilation of different works long
    chapters
  • Limits of conventional morality that depends upon
    distinctions
  • Proper perspective on matters
  • How do I know that the dead do not wonder why
    they ever longed for life?
  • Indeterminacy or uncertainty of human knowledge
  • Dream of Butterfly

22
Butterfly Dream
23
Han Feizi (c. 280-233 bc)
  • Member of royal house of state of Han student of
    Xunzi
  • Wrote treatises on realpolitik caught attention
    of young Qin king
  • Qin king eventually executes Han
  • Legalism (fa jia)
  • Practical problems of statescraft and control
  • Strict enforcement of law
  • Human beings act of self-interest enlightened
    ruler must use punishment and rewards
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com