Ancient China

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Ancient China
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4 Philosophies of Ancient China

• Buddhism introduced from India along the Silk
  Road
• Confucianism favored by rulers and adopted by
  the Han Emperor as the official state belief
  system
• Daoism stressed harmony with nature
• Legalism opposed Confucian belief that proper
  behavior would solve societies problems.
  Encouraged strict laws, severe punishments, a
  strong central govt.

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Dynastic ChinaZhou Dynasty (1027-256 BCE)

• Claimed they had a right to rule because they
  possessed the Mandate of Heaven permission to
  rule was granted by the divine power
• Mandate of Heaven was later used to explain the
  Dynastic Cycle a dynasty would remain in power
  as long as it was providing good govt.
• Dev. of silk and the beginnings of the
  exportation of this resource
• Dev. of bookmaking

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Qin Dynasty (221 206 BCE)

• Unified China for the first time
• Known for warfare dev. Cavalry
• Favored Legalism the state had absolute control
  and the nobility lost their power
• Achievements standardized the language, writing,
  currency, measurements
• Great Wall of China built to protect from
  Northern invasions
• Punished any opposition and burned books

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Han Dynasty (206 BCE 220 CE)

• Considered Chinas Golden Age
• Govt. focused on economic development the Silk
  Road
• stretched as far as Mesopotamia and India
  (4000 miles)
• main method of exchange btwn. China and other
  cultures
• main export silk
• imports glass, cloth, food, architecture,
  gold, camels, Buddhism
• Confucianism was the state belief system civil
  service workers had to pass a Civil Service Exam
  to get a job the Merit System
• Achievements adv. in science, accurate clocks,
  ship rudders, PAPER

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• Tang Dynasty strict social structure developed,
  dev. Of gunpowder, block printing, the first
  vaccinations
• Song Dynasty movable type printing

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Cultural Diffusion of Chinese Culture

• Japan
• Retained political independence
• Copied Chinese models of government
• Adopted Confucian philosophy, historical writing,
  and architecture (pagoda)
• Japanese modified the Chinese system of writing
• Buddhism became the dominant religion in Japan
• Eventually, the influence of China declined in
  the 9th century
• Long-term impact Zen Buddhism, which is still a
  dominant faith in Japan today

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• Korea
• Influenced the most by China
• Became a Chinese colony
• Chinese rulers attempted to institute the Chinese
  writing, examination system, and govt.
  bureaucracy (process of Sinification)
• Buddhism did take hold, Confucianism did not
• Trade and colonization offered access to Chinese
  learning art, and goods
• Vietnam (as an example of the influence on SE
  Asia)
• Chinese wanted Vietnam to control the rice
  production in the country
• The Vietnamese resisted the adoption of Chinese
  more than other areas
• Early attempts at conquest yielded trade, but no
  political control
• Some differences between the two cultures
  language, dress, and the higher status of women
• The Han will eventually conquer and Confucianism,
  agricultural techniques, and military techniques
  will take hold
• Even after winning independence from China in the
  10th century, Chinese bureaucracy and Buddhism
  remained in place