China history

Unit Six Notes: China
Chapter 10

Prehistory

• Neolithic culture developed around 7000 BCE
• Earliest records begin to develop in 1600-1500 BCE
• It was a small farming culture yet to reach the size and shape of modern China
• Due to their climate they are able to produce a wide variety of food and are self-sufficient in that way without relying on outside support or trade.
• Much like other early cultures early development was centred around bodies of water (in this case the Yellow River and the Yangtze River)
• High mountains form a natural geographical boundary.

Stages in Chinese Development—Formative Period to Third Empire

Formative Period (1600-1026 BCE)

• Writing is a central concern for Chinese Culture—it is seen as a driving force for cultural construction
• Writing, cities, jobs, social structure, art and metal work all developed during this period.
• Belief had a focus on telling the future
• Kings and nobles lived walled off from the rest of society
• Kings played the role of priests but were not deified.
• Ancestors were very respected
• Social Structure (in order): King, nobility, scribe-priest, farmer, artisan, merchant, and slave.
• Education brought status
• Women were valued but men established dominance over time due to their economic potential and ability to venerate the ancestors—which was important to parents as it affected their afterlife.

Classical Age (1027-221 BCE)

• The Zhou period (named after the Zhou’s invaded and defeated the Shang ruling elite) began by retaining the culture developed by the Shang in the formative period; changes to burial customs, military technology, religion and politics occurred.
• Political structure was decentralized and focus on a Lord/Vassal system
• Nomads displaced the Zhou ruling class and this resulted in a fragmented and violent period in Chinese history with Lords fighting over territory.
• Eventually unification occurred and in-fighting ceased.
• Military technology advanced during this period as did thinking on the nature of military strategy (Sun Zi’s Art of War for example)
• Infrastructure improved (Dikes, walls, irrigation structures, canals) as did farming techniques.
• Chopsticks were developed in accordance with new cooking techniques.
• Confucius/Kong Fuzi was one of the great Chinese thinkers. He passed on his thoughts to his students who recorded them in the Analects. He focused on the need for people practice the virtue of ren – essentially benevolence (kindness, courtesy, generosity all rolled into one). He saw family connections, work ethic and education as a means to this end—to bring all around to a better place and thought process.
• Not all agreed with him including Lao Zi and the Legalists.

First Empire (221 BCE-589 CE)

• Legalism focused on the power of the state and the ruler. It had little to do with ethics, morality and values. It focused on the strengthening of the state, harsh laws and lavish rewards for those that serve.
• It was a suggestion of subservience to the state, state first—individual second.
• One Legalist prince Han Fei Zi (later Emperor Shih-hwong dee) took this theory to heart and through a series of brutal military actions united the country.
• He took land from the nobility and divided China under appointed magistrates. He built a massive capital, with many secret passages so as to hinder assassins.
• Coinage, weights and measures were all standardized. Roads were planned and built as was a system of canals.
• Enjoyed military solutions and order the forced-construction of the Great Wall in order to keep out invaders from the North.
• Upon his death the country began to rebel only to be pulled back together by one of the rebels—the beginning of the Han dynasty.
• The Han years were similar to the height of the Roman empire. The Silk Road linked the two empires for the purposes of trade.
• The peasants during this period were fairly prosperous.
• Under Emperor Wudi China took control of Vietnam, Korea and much of Central Asia.
• Confucianism became the state religion; though the emperor ruled on the basis of a Mandate of Heaven which offered the people a right to rebel.
• Education was reserved for the elite.  Boys were directed towards the civil service through rigorous training and harsh examinations.
• The civil service was complex and expansive.
• Laws were specific and codified.  Punishments differed based on social standing and gender. Punishments were less harsh that those in the West.  People were guilt until proven innocent.  Elements of the Han law code still exist today.

Decline and Disunion

• This was essentially the dark ages of China, the Northern area was largely ruled by nomadic groups (the Manchus and the Tibetans) while the south had a series of weak dynasties with little lasting impact.
• Peasants lost their land, feudal lords took control once more.
• There were some technological advances in farming and medicine.
• Buddhism (from India) was able to overcome the language barrier and conflict with the ideals of Confucianism. It was appealing because of the harsh life in China. This caused a great deal of travel and connection between India and China and the cultures became more closely connected. This movement in religion also produced great works of art and culture.

Second Empire (589-960)

• The Sui dynasty reunited the country and saw a resurgence in the construction and repair of infrastructure. Sui Wendi was a benevolent ruler and sought fairness in governance and economics; his son however, did not and spent a fortune on fruitless military campaigns and frivolous indulgences.
• The Tang dynasty (following the assassination of the last emperor of the Sui dynasty by one of his generals) is seen as a golden age for China. The geographic boundaries were at their furthest extent, the cities were thriving and cosmopolitan ( Koreans, Indians, Syrians and Arabians all lived in China's territory—along with many other foreign entertainers and missionaries)
• Women's status improved during this period. Empress Wu ruled both behind the scenes and as a leader in her own right. She is known as one of China's most effective rulers.
• Gains were made in terms of education, written history, laws and equitable land division and taxation.
• The arts saw significant gains in during this Empire; particularly poetry
• Eventually the Tang dynasty began its decline and was under siege from rebellious elements upset by governmental neglect and incompetence.

Third Empire (960-1368)

• After a period of infighting and disarray the Third Empire arose under the Song dynasty.
• This period is similar to the Renaissance in Europe—a rebirth of knowledge and learning.
• Neo-Confucianism was born (a blend of Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism) which asked followers to be the best human that they could be.
• During the Song dynasty art and economics were revolutionized. As well metal-work and Ship building became far more advanced and gunpowder was created.
• Trade unions became prevalent giving many of the population of 100 million a stronger voice.
• Trade became the centre of economics for the Empire; agriculture was not the force that it once was.
• The Merchant shipping fleet (made up of junks) was quite advanced (technologically—magnetic compasses, watertight hulls, etc.) and an effective trading fleet.
• Art reached a high point during this dynasty—it became accessible (and producible) to all and was no longer understood only by the educated elite.

Daily Life

• By 1271 90% of the population was subsistence farmers; sons and daughters were sold or rented out in order for a family to make a living.
• The elites lived in luxury; with well built and beautiful homes; elaborate gardens were common and the houses were carefully decorated.
• Elite clothing and make-up was bright and rich in texture; the clothing of the poor was drab and utilitarian
• Women’s lives were lived largely at home; foot-binding was common among the elites—tiny feet were a symbol of status and were considered desirable.  
• Fairgrounds/circuses were common as were fortune–tellers.

Food and Medicine

• Famine had taught the Chinese not to waste anything so they were quite good at cooking and using all that they farmed/caught. Multiple dishes were served at meals, diners were to eat some of each as part of the experience.
• The upper class had superior health care but most had access to medical care in some form. Massage, acupuncture, and herbal medicine were all common

Beliefs

• In Song China religious belief was varied and complex; people tended to have a fluid sense of religion and religious conflicts were extremely rare.
• Peasants were superstitious but often practised Buddhism or Daoism at the same time.
• Ancestor Veneration was important and practiced by all. Dead ancestors were revered above all.

The Mongols

• In the North, circa 1271, Khublai Kahn rose to power and proclaimed dominance over China.  He attacked the Song capital of Hangzhou and destroyed it. The Yuan dynasty was born.
• This Mongol dynasty (formerly nomadic people) was brought together by Chingghis Khan in the early part of the 1200s; and they took over a great deal of territory in central and Northern Asia. They had a mighty military, well armed and mounted on horseback.
• Territory was later expanded to Korea, Russia, Baghdad, as well as Poland and Hungary. They truly were a force to be reckoned with; producing the largest land Empire in human history (geographically)
• Mongol rule was hard on the elites, and took away much of their influence in government posts.
• During this period the novel was born as were a more refined form of stage craft.
• By 1368 the Chinese rebelled and set the stage for the last Empire.

The Last Empire (1368-1911)

• Emperor Taizu ( a former peasant rebel) rose to power and formed the Ming dynasty. It was a peaceful and stable period in Chinese history.
• China became more inwardly focussed; with attention paid to internal trade and infrastructure.
• The examination system was more refined and traditional arts and crafts became quite refined.
• During this period Europe was expanding and exploring North and South America; fighting religious wars and moving through social, industrial and scientific revolution—China effectively remained apart.
• This was due largely to a desire for stability and a resistance of change. The focus was on maintaining not advancement.
• The Ming believed that where they had expelled the Mongols they could solve any problem that came their way; also the Chinese of this time were quite done with outside interference and felt a sense of superiority over the rest of the world. As time passed hey became afraid of outsiders (Xenophobic) and alienated from the rest of the globe.
• European contact began again around 1600—traders, Jesuits, and had mixed results (358).
• The gentry (new-elites) became China’s ruling class and lived much of the Confucian ideal.
• The population neared 150 million and literacy rates were improving.
• Chinese manufacturing of iron, silks, ceramics, etc. resulting in China becoming one of the wealthiest places in the world.