Arc of Autocracy
Five Dynasties - Ming Dynasty
Maps:http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/five-dynasty-map.cfm
Five Dynasties Period
(908-969)
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Chaos again!
Separate Kingdoms North & South
Reunification quickly achieved
Political Pragmatism rewarded
“Pure” Confucianism Weak!
Printing
• Feng Tao (882-946): “model” official, who
during his lifetime served 10 rulers under 5
dynasties.
• Orders the printing of the Confucian classics
from wood blocks. The work of editing and
printing takes 21 years and extends to 130
volumes.
• Woodblock printing had been available in private
hands since the late Tang dynasty.
• Movable print printing was invented by
commoner Bi Sheng (990-1051) in ca. 1041.
• The first Gutenberg Bible was printed 400 years
later in 1454.
Northern Song (960-1126)
• Chinese court under constant threat from
Northern Nomads (Liao & Xi Xia, and later Jin
Kingdoms)
• Confucian Idealism leads to Court Factional
Fighting
• Wang Anshi (1021-86): high-ranking court official
best known as a political reformer who
implemented his radical state-building ideals
through the "New Laws (xinfa)" of 1069-76.
Southern Song (1127-1279)
• Fall of Northern Song is a Crisis!
• Court Vision Increasingly "Turns Inward"
during Southern Song Dynasty
• Neo-Confucianism becomes popular by
Southern Song. It’s main promoter was Zhu Xi
(1130-1200) and his Four Books (the Analects,
Mencius, the Book of Great Learning and
Doctrine of the Mean). Zhu Xi strongly
emphasized the application of his principles to
public service.
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1367)
• Brutal Conquerors-Efficient Rulers
• Genghis Khan (1167-1227): Mongol chieftain who
devoted 5 years (1204-1209) to the internal organization
of the newly unified Mongol state, before launching farreaching military campaigns against his neighbors. At the
time of his death, Genghis Khan had conquered the
territory from China to the Caspian Sea.
• Kubilai Khan (1215-94): Genghis Khan’s grandson, who
established the Yuan Dynasty in China, moving his
capital from Mongolia to Dadu (later called Beijing),
where he ruled over Mongolia and China.
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ECAI Slk Road Atlas (UC):http://www.ecai.org/silkroad/
The “non-Chinese” Nature of
Mongol Rule
• Khan or kha-ghan (Khan of Khans)
• "Bloody tanistry": violent inter-tribal
struggle to determine political succession.
• Examination system initially NOT
important!
• Confucianism belittled and its
practitioners ignored.
• "Silent" loyalty to fallen Song Dynasty
was a badge of honor.
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
• First Ming ruler: Zhu Yuanzhang (132898) or Ming Taizu: "Superman" as
emperor, who learned “Mongol” lessons.
• Zu Xun ("Ancestral Warnings"): Ming
Taizu's code for future generations.
• Grand Secretariat (1382): the emperor's
personal advisors; no more Prime Minister.
• The Examination System returns, but
scholars’ jobs become more risky!