EARLY CLASSICAL INDIA AND CHINA DBQ
Standards: SSWH2a. Describe the development of Indian civilization; include the rise and fall of the Maurya
Empire, . . .and the emperor Ashoka.
c. Describe the development of Chinese civilization under the Qin.
What am I learning today? How were Mauryan India and Qin China similar and different?
How did Ashoka influence the development of India and Buddhism?
What will I do to show I have learned it? I will… complete document based questions, participate in class
discussion, take guided notes, and will take a formative assessment for tomorrow’s warm-up.
In both China and India there were competing ideologies on how to be an effective ruler. Examine the
ruling philosophies during the Qin Dynasty of China and the Maurya of India. Both dynasties were the
first to control the vast majority of their countries.
Document 1
The following are excerpts from The Analects by Confucius
"Lead the people with governmental measures and regulate them with laws and punishment, and they will
avoid wrongdoing but will have no sense of honor and shame. Lead them with virtue and regulate them by the
rules of propriety [correct behavior], and they will have a sense of shame and, moreover, set themselves right."
Chi K'ang Tzu asked Confucius about government, saying, "What do you think of killing the wicked and
associating with the good?" Confucius replied, "In your government what is the need of killing? If you desire
what is good, the people will be good. The character of a ruler is like wind and that of the people is like grass.
In whatever direction the wind blows, the grass always bends."
Confucius said, "If a ruler sets himself right, he will be followed without his command. If he does not set
himself right, even his commands will not be obeyed."
1 How should a ruler rule according to Confucius?
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Document 2
The following is a quote by Han Feizi, who wrote at the same time Confucius did, the founder of the
Legalist philosophy of rule
When a [ruler] governs a state, he does not rely on the people to do good out of their own will. Instead, he sees
to it that they are not allowed to do what is not good. If he relies on people to do good out of their own will,
within the borders of the state not even ten persons can be counted on [to do good]. Yet, if one sees to it that
they are not allowed to do what is not good, the whole state can be brought to uniform order. Whoever rules
should consider the majority and set the few aside: He should not devote his attention to virtue [good character
and behavior], but to law.
If it were necessary to rely on a shaft that had grown perfectly straight, within a hundred generations there
would be no arrow. If it were necessary to rely on wood that had grown perfectly round, within a thousand
generations there would be no cart wheel. If a naturally straight shaft or naturally round wood cannot be found
within a hundred generations, how is it that in all generations carriages are used and birds shot? Because tools
are used to straighten and bend.
2a According to Han Feizi, why should a ruler devote his attention to law and not virtue?
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2b Do you agree with Confucius or Han Feizi’s principles of Legalism? Why?
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Document 3
The following is an example of Legalism was applied by Shi Huangdi, China’s first emperor, and his
Prime Minister Li Si.
As prime minister, Li Si implemented Legalist practices. Examples included killing the entire family of
someone who committed a crime, up to the 5th degree. Mutilation was practiced to keep criminals in check
and those who committed crimes not only had their families exterminated up to the 5th degree, but were cut at
the waist down. Any general and worker who reported late to duty was executed on the spot. All able men
were required to toil day and night on state construction projects. It was on Li Si's recommendation that Qin
Shi Huangdi ordered 460 dissenting Confucian scholars buried alive. Such draconian measures aroused
animosity from the civilian population. Li Si met his fate through his own measures. After Qin Shi Huangdi
died, Li Si and the court eunuch Zhao Gao vied for power. Li Si was made to go through his own "5 Torture
Method", arms and legs cut off and then body cut at the waist.
3a What are some of the punishments executed by China’s Legalists?
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3b Why are the punishments so severe?
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Document 4
The following is an excerpt about Kautilya from the textbook World History: Patterns of Interaction
Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty in India, relied on an adviser named Kautilya, a member
of the priestly caste. Kautilya wrote a ruler’s handbook called the Arthasastra [“The Science of Politics].
This book proposed tough minded policies to hold an empire together, including spying on the people and
employing political assassination.
4a Is Kautilya’s style of rule more similar to Confucianism or Legalism in China? Why?
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4b Do you agree or disagree with Kautilya’s philosophy?
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Document 5
The following is an excerpt about Kautilya from the textbook World History: Patterns of Interaction
Asoka became king of the Maurya Empire in 269 BC. At first, he followed in Chandragupta’s footsteps,
waging war to expand his empire. During a bloody war against the neighboring state of Kalinga, 100,000
soldiers were slain, and even more civilians perished.
Although victorious, Asoka felt sorrow over slaughter at Kalinga. As a result, he studied Buddhism and
decided to rule by the Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings.” Throughout the empire, Asoka erected huge
stone pillars inscribed with his new policies. Some edicts guaranteed that Asoka would treat his subjects fairly
and humanely. Others preached nonviolence. Still others urged religious toleration-acceptance of people who
held different religious beliefs.
5 Is Asoka’s style of rule more similar to Confucianism or Legalism in China? Why?
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