The Four Autonomous States

East Asian Cultures

Pronunciation

• C = Tz/Ts
• Q = Ch
• X = Hs/Sy
• Z = Dz/Ds
• Zh = J

The Four Autonomous States

• These states are under Chinese protection

1) Manchuria (Dongbei)

• 1

2) Inner Mongolia

• Mongolia gained independence from USSR in 1985

3) Xinjiang

• Large Muslim influence

4) Tibet

• Under Chinese control during Yuan Dynasty and Manchu/Qing Dynasty until 1911
• Dharm-Sala is a refuge area in India
• 1950s: PR CHN invaded Tibet

• Other controversial territories include Taiwan, HK (returned in 1997 by UK), Macau (returned 1999 by POR), Islands in East China Sea
• Rest of China forms Han China
• Chinese living outside China are known as Tang Chinese

PLUS: Chinese population is 1.3b. Japan’s is 130mil. Japan’s expansion during the 1900s and lack of apology has complicated East Asian attitudes towards Japan.

Xia Dynasty

• No historical evidence (mythical dynasty)
• “Golden Age” (everything was ideal)

Prominent Figures

• Founded by Yu (brought civilization, irrigation, tamed Yellow R., govt.)
• Yellow R. aka China’s sorrows b/c river changes course unexpectedly
• Yao gave throne to the most worthy, Shun, not his son

Li

• Li: a philosophical concept based on matter and etiquette
• After Shang, philosophers tried to return to Li

Shang Dynasty

• Shang: 1766-1122 BC
• Regarded as the first historical dynasty (no written records of the Xia, which Shang succeeded)
• Succeeded by Zhou (1045/1040-256 BC) and Han (206BC-220AD)

Intro

• Over 150,000 oracle bones
• Highly stratified society
• Sophisticated bronze industry

Oracle Bone Inscriptions

• 21st king, Wu Ding, divined about many different topics
• Many were about what the king should do; others told of his plans (seeking assurance)
• Also searched for hidden meanings of events that had already happened

Religion – Emperor

• King & supporters extracted agricultural surplus; mobilized peasants for public works & warfare
• Crown passed from brother to brother, then next generation; later, became direct father to son
• Only emperor can reach heaven (acts as an intermediary)
• Emperor often labeled son of heaven; not actually divine but heaven gives right to rule
• Emperor gives offering once a year @ CNY  result is either “yes” or “no” (crop yield)
• If yield was bad  revolt  successful (land redistributed), suppressed (heaven still with him)
• Offerings involved lots of blood (animals & human captives)
• 2 type of spirits: Shen (good) & Guei (bad)

Religion – Ancestors

• The living king feared and respected the power of his dead descendants
• Ancestresses had special judgment in child-bearing issues
• Believed in many gods; constantly growing

Male Favoritism

• Boys carry family name  Boys needed to keep ancestors happy
• Agricultural society  Boys needed for labor

The High God (Di)

• Di = High God
• Other powers: nature, former lords, dynastic and non-dynastic ancestors
• Other powers could also affect harvest, weather, king’s health, etc. but Di exclusively ordered rain, thunder, and wind
• Di’s allegiance was uncertain; he could afflict harm through foreign armies

Ancestral Cult

• Approachable and comprehensible (because they were ex-humans)
• Over time, rituals became more regular and fixed

Mandate of Heaven

• No later than early Zhou: the idea of Heaven (power that governed all creation) arose.
• Argument used by Zhou when taking over Shang: Heaven gave leadership to certain good men who maintained religious/administrative rightness.
• This Mandate of Heaven has been accepted since.

There was a strong hierarchical structure, which highly regarded religion and kin. The dead was respected and feared as the Shang people believed they had the power to harm the king personally and influence both the weather and harvest. There was and still is a large belief of male favoritism.

Western Zhou Period

• Zhou Dynasty: 1122-221 BCE
• Western Zhou: 1122-771 BCE
• Set up on the Wei R. (NE of Shang)
• Had already been in contact with the Shang

Overthrow of Shang

• King Wen prepared attack; King Wu overthrew the Shang
• Explained using Mandate of Heaven last ruler of Shang, Zhou Xin, portrayed very negatively
• To control this vast territory, Zhou kings assigned relatives to rule (known as “feudal age”)
• 7 major divisions  states  kingdoms
• Shang was allowed to keep a small portion of land for sacrifices
  (Zhou didn’t want to upset Shang ancestors)

Decline of Western Zhou

• First 300 years: relatively similar culture and society (houses, bronze, etc.)
• In Zhou, writing was more prevalent and done on bamboo or wood
• The limited power of the central govt. declined further by 850 BCE  king driven out in 841 BCE

Eastern Zhou Period

West to East

• 771 BCE: Zhou suffer big defeat against tribal QuanRong Capital moved eastward
• Apparently, the Zhou army didn’t take the king’s alarm seriously b/c the king had previously used the alarm to bring all the army together and make his concubine smile
• Allegiance of various states to the Zhou became nominal
• Kings (but not emperors) began to spring up  7-10 major powers fight each other

End of Zhou

• 722-479 BCE: Spring-Autumn (Chunqiu) Period
• “hundred schools”: philosophers tried to bring China back together wandering scholars
• 403-221 BCE: Warring States (Qin Dynasty begins; Zhou already faltering)

The Zhou is the longest dynasty in Chinese history, and the conditions at the beginning and end are vastly different.

Confucius

• 551-479 BCE
• Born in Lu (eastern China)
• Kong Qiu Kong Fuzi (our master kong)  Confucius
• Ru = Confucianism (soft, gentle, enduring, weak … followers were identified as ru)
• Travelled across many states, looking for someone who shared his vision (ru)
• Eventually failed  became a teacher (after his death, his ideas survived)
• Confucius’s ideas were too abstract for politicians to use Mencius (later) was more practical

Moral Nobility (junzi)

• “gentleman” or “son of a lord”
• Implies egalitarian principles (anyone could become a junzi)

 Filial devotion, humaneness, ritual decorum (also Confucius’s govt. views)

Li: Rule by virtue (not harsh punishment)
 Think long term and big, instead of looking for small advantages

 Everyone qualifies for an education (no class distinctions)
 Heaven has a place for everyone, and sacrifice as if they were present

• Ruler should treat the people as he wants to be treated

5 Relationships

• Confucius stressed Li and Reciprocity
• 1) Ruler/Subject
• 2) Old/Young
• 3) Father/Son (filial)
• 4) Brothers
• 5) Husband/Wife
• Women: Respect father  marry  Respect husband Husband dies  Respect son

5 Classics

• Was written before Confucius, but Confucius compiled them
• 1) Book of Rites
• 2) Book of Poetry (those who studied the first two books were superior men)
• 3) Book of History (past)
• 4) Spring/Autumn Annals (current)
• 5) Book of Changes (future)

Mencius

• 4th Century BCE (more than a century after Confucius)
• Warring States Period: larger states began swallowing smaller states; warfare more brutal

Beliefs

• Was against war (war interferes with basic human needs (food, clothing, shelter, education))
• Criticized rulers for war
• Humaneness + Rightness (yi) (drew on ideas of Confucius and Xia)
• Mandate of Heaven = powerful  heaven oversees an overarching moral order

Morality

• Qi: Energy or vitality directly related to moral effort
• Four beginnings: Humaneness, Rightness, Propriety, and Wisdom = natural human tendencies
• Many discounted his optimism, but emerged as most influential contributor in China and E.Asia.

New Ideas

• Man is inherently good
• Conservation of resources
• Renunciation & overthrow of kings

Mozi

• Lived between Confucius and Mencius
• Possibly from class of slaves → Not surprising that his following was small

Beliefs

• Universal Love & Utilitarianism (practical) → love to PROFIT from each other (conditional)
• Promote the worthy (merit)
• Firm belief in heaven - heaven created us equally → heaven will revenge is smth wrong is done
• Against Confucian rites - waste of time and money → use them to better the people (practical)
• Relationships - partial/inconsistent

Xunzi

• Lived end of Zhou + Qin unification
• Later becomes basis for legalism (strict laws & harsh punishment)

Beliefs

• Man is born good, but becomes self-centered (greed comes from conscious activity)
• Li: what you learn to control evil nature
• Accepts Confucian relationships
• Heaven plays no part in life (deism) - heaven only sets world in motion (seasons, eclipse, etc.)
• Anyone can become a leader EXCEPT the fundamentally evil (cast them away instantly)

Daoism

Laozi

• Legend: came from falling star + 80yrs in mother’s womb  born w/ wrinkles, white hair, etc.
• Contemporary of Confucius or Mencius (unsure)
• Many say he didn’t exist at all (Laozi = a group of scholars writing under the same name)

Daodejing

• Short esoteric book by Laozi
• Can be loosely interpreted  2nd most translated book (after Bible)
• Everything should happen naturally
   yin-yang complementary cycle
   live in harmony through non-action
• Gov’t should get rid of education and then stay out of people’s life (nature is an uncarved wood)

Zhuangzi

• First Chinese philosopher to consider an after-life
• Eventually we all die  just accept it  maybe death is the ultimate awakening
  (examples: Lady Li & Butterfly Dream) (life vs. death, dream vs. reality)

Religious Daoism

• Laozi and Zhuangzi are philosophical Daoists (bring peace, preserve life)
• Later, Religious Daoists concerned themselves with spirits & elixirs of eternal life

Qin Dynasty

• 221-207 BCE
• Was one of seven major states under Zhou, but not the largest (strongest militarily)
• Founded by Qin Shihuangdi
• Legalism (or Realism)  not philosophy but actual laws

*see paper notes for page numbers

Priorities of State

• Maintain control at all costs*
• State comes before individual*

Union of 7 States

• Rid feudalism and centralized govt.
• Disarmament of the conquered

Laws & Education

• Education is bad (weak people = strong state)
• Scholars do nothing but soak up taxes
• Burning books & execution of scholars (except Classic of Changes, medicine, agriculture, etc.)
• “Began” the Great Wall (connected individual state walls together)

Punishment

• No degree of punishment (punish heavily for light offense  large ones won’t be dared)
• 3 generations of punishment
• Status doesn’t matter

Art of War

• Way of deception (dao)
• Knowledge & strategy (orthodox vs. extraordinary)
• Better to win w/o battle

Early Han Dynasty

• 207 BCE – 220 ACE
• Gaozu: First emperor (used to be lieutenant of Zhou)
• Foundation to take over was largely in place (unified, standard measurement, roads, etc.)

Restoration of Religions

• Confucianism was made state orthodoxy (ended Legalism)
• Recompiled 5 classics through hidden existing texts or oral transmission
• Religious Daoism flourishes as Daoism is also reconstructed

Historical Archives

• Han is mainly known for its historical archives
• 147-87 BCE: Han Wudi (emperor)
• 145-85 BCE: Sima Qian (great historian; travelled throughout China)

Civil Service Exam (CSE)

• Established CSE based on 5 classics
• Gave illusion that anyone could serve (although only rich know how to read and write)

Expansion

• Expanded China near to modern borders
• Sent Zhong Qian from Changan (Xian) to Yuezhi to ally against Xiongnu
• Captured for 10 years  Escaped  Took back historical/geographical/cultural data back

Silk Road

• Generals were sent to acquire horses in exchange for silk
• These tribes traded the silk for other goods  Resulted in roads leading from Rome to China
• China knew more about Rome (Rome thought China was near Ethiopia)
• Religion, commodities, and philosophies exchanged

Northwestern China

• Expanded NW  parts incorporated into China
• Those not incorporated were appeased through trade  upset the incorporated areas

Later Han Dynasty

• 23-220 ACE
• Capital moved East to Luoyang

Culture

• Scientific inventions (water clock, steel, firecrackers/gunpowder, paper, etc.)
• Cultural prosperity (poetry, silk paintings, etc.)

Rebellions

• Expeditions, history, inventions, etc.  drained treasury  taxes  discontent
• Yellow Turban (184 ACE): most powerful & last rebellion; used yellow banners and red text
• Falun Gung: claimed to be religious group; severely persecuted; used same colors

Theravada Buddhism

• Teachings of elders
• Original teaching of Buddha
• Labeled as Hinayana (lesser) by the Mahayana Buddhists

Prince Siddhartha Gautama

• Prophecy: He will become a great ruler … BUT …
• If he sees an old man, sick man, dying man, or a monk  become a religious leader
• As teenager, goes out and sees old/sick/dying/monk  Never returns to palace
• Joins ascetic group  becomes extremely ascetic (torture body to release soul)
• Doesn’t work  Pursues middle way through meditation

Four Noble Truths

1)Life is suffering

2)Suffering is caused by desires

3)Stop desires, stop suffering

4)Stop desires through middle way

Eightfold Path

 Right view Intention Speech Action

 Livelihood Effect Mindfulness Meditation

Five Universal Elements

• Form & Matter
• Sensation
• Perception of mind (maya: idea that everything is an illusion)
• Inner Psychic Disposition
• Consciousness

Samsara

• Karma leads to birth, death, and rebirth OR nirvana/enlightenment (become Buddha)

Mahayana Buddhism

• “Great” way
• Believed Buddha was God
• God  Heavens  Bodhisattvas

Bodhisattvas

• Enlightened compassionate beings who postpone nirvana to teach others

(eg: Dalai Lama)

• Missionary trips to CHN, JPN, KOR, West
• Buddhism introduced to China in 50 AD

Recap of Dynasties

• Xia  Shang  Zhou (Western  Eastern (Spring/Autumn  Warring))
• Qin: 221-207 BCE
• Han: 207 BCE - 220 ACE
• THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD (disunion)
• Sui: 589-618 ACE
• Tang: 618-906 ACE

Sui Dynasty

• Harsh rule
• United kingdoms
• Expanded Great Wall
• Grand Canal (connected Yangzi to Yellow R.)

Recap: Note the similarities of Qin/Sui and Han/Tang.

Tang Dynasty

Early Tang (618-712 ACE)

• Characterized by Expansion, Silk Road, Military Expansion, C.S.E.
• Four Social Classes: Literati, Peasants (tied to land), Artisans, Merchants (middle man; not loyal)
• Taxes supported the literati
• Because literati was so valued, the military was neglected  Generals came from the West
• Eventually led to rebellion which weakened Tang (eg: An Lu Shan)

Xuanzong (712-755 ACE)

• Tang known for poetry; Xuanzong promoted poetry (Li Bo, Tu Fu, Bo Juyi were prominent)
• Loved Yang Guifei (one of the most beautiful woman in Chinese history)

Han Yu

Mahayana Buddhism

• Mahayana Buddhism was sectarian:
  Tibetan (Tantric)
  Pure Land (pray to Amitabha; its simplicity appealed to illiterate class)
  Tiantai (Lotus) (referred to parables; appealed to literate class)

Government Economic Loss

• Literati turned to religion for creativity
• People donated land to temples  Gov’t losing land tax revenue
• Han Yu tried to get people back to Confucianism (with a strong tax reasoning undertone)

Neo-Confucianism

• Eventually leads to Neo-Confucianism in Song Dynasty
• Mixes Han Yu’s return to Confucianism with a way to fill spiritual void

Midterm Format: 10 True or False, 5 Fill-in-the-blanks, Short answers, Essay

Midterm Essay Question:

Imagine you are the emperor of a powerful state during the Warring States period looking for a way to bring peace & harmony to your kingdom.

Choose from Mencius, Laozi, or real life state of Qin and state detailed specifics why you feel this philosophy of government would work. Feel free to combine philosophies to create a better balance, but do not combine more than two.

Neo-Confucianism

Zhu Xi

• 1130-1200 ACE
• Developed ideas from Cheng Brothers, Zhou Dunyi
• Cheng Brothers thought people had lost sight of Li (perfect order/nature)
• This Li was re-found in the Great Learning (a Confucian text)
• Great Learning was similar to Buddhism Buddhism included in Confucianism

Supreme Polarity

• The idea of a Tai Qi (supreme polarity)
• Yin & Yang (which cause movement and give rise to…)
• 5 Elements: fire, water, earth, wood, metal
• QianKun (Heaven/Ideal/Male/Li vs. Earth/Practical/Female/Qi)
• Belief was that no one was perfect, but everyone could reach Li
• Live life and learn to match the ideal  Different from Buddhism (maya: nothing is real)

8 Steps in Self-Cultivation

1)Manifest Virtue

2)Put in order their states

3)Regulate their families

4)Cultivate own persons

5)Rectify mind & hearts

6)Make intentions sincere

7)Extend knowing

8)Investigate things & affairs

Four Books

• Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean (like the “middle way”)
• 4 Books + 5 Classics  basis for new Civil Service Exams

Recap: Neo-Confucianism is Confucianism mixed in with a little bit of Buddhism, thereby satisfying the religious aspect.

Yuan Dynasty

• Tang: 618-906
• Song: 960-1279
• Yuan: 1279-1368

Foreign Dynasty

• First foreign Chinese dynasty – Mongolian (Kublai Khan)
• No Civil Service Exam during this time
• Different art developed (storytelling)
• Silk Road expands with cobalt blue import (friendly foreign contact)
• Expanded Great Wall
• Built Beijing

Ming Dynasty

• Ming: 1368-1644
• Made use of cobalt blue
• Completed Great Wall

Zheng He

• Great expeditionary; sea trade to Africa
• Was stopped by new conservative emperor (Confucius: sons should not venture far from home)

Qing Dynasty

• Qing: 1644-1911
• Foreign Dynasty – Mongolian
• Europe advanced through Industrial Revolution

British East India Company

• Monopolized trade in India
• Early 1600s: Limited trade begins with China
• China not interested in trade (for thousands of years, they were self-sufficient)  tea export to Britain drains silver  Begins selling opium to China (by 1700s, addiction becomes serious)

Opium Trade