Confucius and his school- members constantly go for gov’t positions. Optimistic
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Reasons why the three schools of thought were formed during the Period of the Warring
states (403-221 BCE)- forced thoughtful people to reflect on the nature of society and
think about man’s role. Different methods to restore order during this chaos

Confucius-Kong Fuzi. A pragmatic man who wanted to serve as a member of lu court
o Best way to promote good gov’t- lead by example
o Junzi- superior individuals. Took a broad view of public affairs and did not allow
personal interest to influence their judgments. Confucius wanted to form these
people and place them in government positions. His students were Mencius,
Xunzi (Xunzi believed humans to be self centered
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Reasons why he wanted students to study literature and poetry- he believed they provided
excellent insight into human nature.
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Strong sense of morals and integrity
o Ren- attitude of kindness and benevolence or sense of humanity. Courtesy,
respect, diligent, loyal. Ren is Needed in gov’t. govt should rule by benevolenve
and humanit. Rulers levy light taxes, avoid wars, support education, and
encourage harmony and communication. Mencius idolized this
o Li- decency. Treat all humans with courtesy, with special respect for elders and
superiors. Xunzi focused on this and harsh discipline
o Xiao- family piety. Family is significant, kids should respect parents and other
family elders, look after their welfare, support them in old age, and remember
their ancestors
o Reasons Confucius believed these qualities were so important-people with these
traits will gain influence in society. These junzi will be better rulers and restore
order to china
Daoism- founded by Laozi, but likely that Daodejing was written by more than one person.
Second most important work was the Zhuangzi, written by a philosopher with that name.
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Response to Confucian activism- criticized Confucius. Said it was pointless to waste time
and energy on problems that defied solution.
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Daoism
o Does nothing yet it accomplishes everything- focused on reflection and
introspection to understand the natural principles that governed the world and
how to live with them. Dao does nothing yet accomplishes everything. It is the
unchanging and eternal force that governs the cosmos

Attitudes towards political involvement and why- living in the world of dao would mean
retreating from politics, ambition and activism would not solve problems. Live simply

Wu Wei- disengagement from the competitive exertions and active involvement in affairs
of the world. Refrain from higher education and personal striving. Live simply,
unpretentiously, and one with nature.
o Implications for society- less gov’t the better. Tiny, self-sufficient communities
with no desire to conquer territory
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Confucius/Daoist combo- Daoists mock Confucians for wasting time on superficial
issues. However, many people served on government as Confucians by day, then
reflected on themselves and wuwei by night, so as to be both.
Legalism-developed by Chinese political affairs veterans. Notably, Shang Yang, chief minister to
the duke of the Qin state; he died by court ordered execution and mutilation and his family was
killed too. Han Feizi, a student of Xunzi studied legalism and synthesized the legalist ideas into
essays; he was forced to take poison and commit suicide.
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Differences between Legalism and Daoism and Confucianism- legalists did not worry
about ethics, morality, or propriety like Confucians. They did not care about principles
governing nature or the rightful place of humans in nature. They focused on the state;
strengthen it and expand it.

Leadership characteristics-power and ruthlessness. Foundations of a strong state were
agriculture and armed forces, so this should be the working class.

Use of political laws and punishments- laws would be clear but strict. Laws are better
than leading by example like Confucian junzi. Severe punishments stopped people from
committing small crimes, so it’d be even more of a push not to commit big ones. Littering
could result in amputation of the hands or feet. All family members should observe each
other closely and stop any illegal activity, or report any infractions or else the whole
family would be liable to punishment. Legalism got results for rulers who used them, and
put an end to the Period of Warring states.
The Unification of China
The Qin Dynasty
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Ways they grew to become centralized and powerful- Shang Yang and han Feizi
oversaw3 implementation of legalism. Qin dominated neighbors and imposed imperial
rule in China. Encopuraged peasants to spread out to private plots where they get profits,
agriculture increased.
Ways they disarmed local governments and nobility and created a centralized
bureaucracy loyal to one emperor- Encouraging peasants to move to boost agriculture
also diminished power of aristocrats. Peasants were happier and nobles were losing
power, so Qin effectively did it.
 Political oppression
o ignorance of nobility and ruling through bureaucracy.
o Disarmed regional military forces and destroyed fortresses that could be used in
case of rebellion.
o Confucians and Daoists opposed Qin and were ordered to be executed.
o All books on philosophy, ethics, history, and literature were burned. Medicine
books, fortune telling books, and agricultural books were kept due to their
utilitarian value
 Enhancing the unity of chinao New wealth from agriculture to an army with iron.
o Expansion under one ruler and army brought China to rule under a single state for
first time.
o Built roads and defensive walls with drafted laborers- precursor to great wall of
china
o Standardized laws, currency, and measures in China
o Importance of standardized script Before Qin, all regions had unrecognizable script, even though it
originated from Shang
 Different languages were spoken, but there was only one form of writing
 Reasons for its demiseo civil insurrections after Qin’s death. His projects for building palaces and roads
led to laborers being angered and rebellion. The Qin court was overwhelmed and
government officials were slaughtered.
o Qin’s death- lavish underground palace/tomb, with paintings and bronze. Booby
trapped and had an army of life size pottery soldiers to protect Qin in death
The early Han Dynasty

More centralizationo Liu Bang (persistent and planner) recentralizes China with brilliant advisors and
loyal troops.
 Large amounts of land for imperial families, Divide empire into
administrative districts governed by loyal officials, but Liu was attacked
by Xiongnu and took land back and formed a bureaucracy.
o Han Wudi- martial emperor ruled for 54 years.
 Built a huge bureaucracy under legalism. Administrative provinces with
imperial officers to implement policies.
 Built roads and canals with Taxes on agriculture, trade, and crafts.
Imperial monopoly on iron and salt, liquor under the state
 Established an imperial university to prepare men for gov’t service.
 Didn’t like education (once peed in a Confucian scholar hat)
 Confucianism becomes the basis for curriculum, ensures the
survival of Confucian ideology under legalism
 Takes over Vietnam and Korea. Takes over Xiongnu, which was a threat
that China had been paying tribute to. They were great horsemen and
archers, taught from an early age. (Maodun, their most successful leader
trained soldiers and told them to shoot whatever he aimed at. He aimed at
his favorite horse, a wife of his, and his father’s (the current ruler) best
horse. Those who didn’t fire were executed. He then aimed at his father
and took control of the Xiongnu)
From Economic Prosperity to Social Disorder
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Patriarchal social order- houses averaged five people. Emphasis on familial piety and
female insubordination
o Expectations for women and children- humility, obedience, subservience, and
devotion to their father/husband. Kids should honor ancestors and parents along
with government officials.
o Critical role of iron- pots, stoves, knives, needles, axes, hammers, saws, and other
tools
 Farming- majority of Chinese people farmed. Iron industry’s rapid growth
allowed for completely iron (not just tipped) plows, shovels, picks, hoes,
sickles. More food and increasing population.
 Military- suits of iron armor, strong swords, spears, and arrowheads
Silk and paper- Textiles/sericulture thrived after trade was established with western lands
o Significance of these two products Chinese silk was the best due to Chinese sericulture techniques. Rome,
India, Persia, Mesopotamia all wanted silk
 Han craftsmen invented paper. Less expensive than silk, easier to write on
than bamboo
Reason for and significance of population growth- high agricultural productivity
supported rapid prosperity and the population tripled to 60 million by the end of the Han
dynasty. Taxes were still low.
Economic and social Difficulties


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Conflicts between rich and poor- rich wore silk, leather, and jewelry. Poor wore hemp
and sandals. Rich had pork, fish, fowl, wine. Poor had grain with small amounts of meat
and veggies. Rebellions occurred.
Land distribution problems-poor harvests, high taxes, and debt forced small landowners
to forfeit property. Big estates absorbed this land and then hired cheap laborers. This
meant the wealthy had almost all of the land and everyone else became poor peasants. No
reform was made due to the Han dynasty’s reliance on wealthy landowners and banditry
and rebellions were common.
Factions, back stabbing, evil plotting- how do the Han disintegrate?
o Wang Mang, a minister for the Han family temporarily served as a regent when a
2 year old boy inherited the Han throne. He then took over permanently, claiming
that the mandate of heaven had passed to him. Wang limited the amount of land a
family could own. This was a good idea, but was poorly executed and confusion
ensued. Angry peasants and spiteful landlords ended his dynasty and his life.
o Capital is moved from Chang’an to Luoyang after a new ruler takes over
o Land problem still existed and the Yellow Turban uprising weakened the state.
o Factions of imperial families, Confucian scholars, and court eunuchs formed and
several times war broke out between them and this ended the Han dynasty as the
gov’t was not strong enough to put these factions down.