ANCIENT CHINA #2
I.
CH'IN DYNASTY 221-206 B.C.
A.
CHI'N SHIH HUANG-TI
1.
FIRST HISTORICAL EMPEROR OF CHINA
2.
UNIFIED CHINA IN 221 B.C.
3.
BY DESTROYING CHIN DYNASTY & MANY INDEPENDENT FEUDAL STATES
a.
INTO WHICH CHINA HAD BEEN SPLIT FOR CENTURIES
4.
CHIN ESTABLISHED CENTRALIZED MONARCHY
a.
NOT SOMETHING TO BE SEEN IN WEST FOR ANOTHER 1000 YRS
(FRANCE & ENGLAND)
5.
WHILE HE FAILED TO ESTABLISH LASTING DYNASTY
a.
CHINA LASTED ONLY 15 YRS
6.
IMPERIAL SYSTEM INITIATED BY CHIN CONTINUED ALMOST
UNINTERRUPTED FOR NEXT 2000 YRS
7.
& ITS IMPACT ON LATER HISTORY OF CHINESE PEOPLE IS IMMEASURABLE
8.
DURING HIS REIGN ARMIES ON MARCH DAY & NIGHT TO CARVE OUT GREAT
EMPIRE
9.
MIDDLE KINGDOM STRETCHED FROM FOOTHILLS OF MONGOLIAN PLATEAU
10.
TO YANGTZE RIVER BASIN
11.
HE RULE USED LEGALISM AS MODUS OPERANDI
B.
EMPEROR'S METHODS OF RULING
1.
MANY ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TAKEN TO REINFORCE CENTRALIZED
CONTROL
2.
DETAILED CENSUS OF WHOLE COUNTRY TAKEN
a.
RECORDING NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS
b.
HEADS OF FAMILIES
c.
NAME
d.
AGE & BIRTHPLACE OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS
e.
NEARLY 60 MILLION TOTAL PERSONS
3.
SUCH MEASURES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT
a.
POLL TAXES,
b.
CORVEE (FORCED LABOR)
c.
& MILITARY SERVICE
4.
WRITTEN LANGUAGE SIMPLIFIED &
5.
& MADE UNIFORM OVER WHOLE COUNTRY
6.
WEIGHTS, MEASURES & COINAGE STANDARDIZED THROUGHOUT EMPIRE
7.
NEW ROUND COIN WITH SQUARE HOLE IN IT BECAME MEANS OF EXCHANGE
a.
STANDARD FOR NEXT 2000 YRS
8.
NETWORK OF ROADS STRETCHING FROM CAPITAL TO EXTREME LIMITS OF
NEWLY CONQUERED EMPIRE
9.
STANDARD DIMENSIONS IMPOSED FOR AXLES OF ALL CHARIOTS & CARTS
10.
COMMON GAUGE MADE IT POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE WHEEL RUTS
11.
HE AGAINST USING CONFUCIAN IDEAS OF GOOD GOVT AS GUIDE FOR HIS
RULE
12.
ALLOWING MEN TO GIVE OPINIONS BASED ON PAST WOULD RUIN STATE
13.
HE ALSO FELT PROHIBITION OF PRIVATE LEARNING ALTOGETHER WOULD
PROTECT STATE
14.
BURNING OF BOOKS OF PAST PART OF HIS PROGRAM
15.
OTHER MEASURES INCLUDED DEATH PENALTY FOR CITING CLASSICAL
WORKS IN DAILY CONVERSATIONS
16.
OR APPLYING HISTORICAL EXAMPLES TO CRITICIZE CURRENT POLICIES
17.
EXCEPTIONS TO BOOK BURNING ONLY FOR REFERENCES ON
a.
MEDICINE, DIVINATION & AGRICULTURE
18.
HE ENFORCED HIS DECREES BY BURYING PROTESTING SCHOLARS ALIVE
C.
GREAT WALL
1.
TO PROTECT AGAINST BARBARIAN HUNS OF NORTH
2.
HE LAUNCHED ONE OF MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECTS EVER UNDERTAKEN BY
MAN
3.
BUILDING OF GREAT WALL ALONG NORTHERN FRONTIER OF CHINA
4.
PROTECTION FROM THESE BARBARIAN NOMADS HAD PREOCCUPIED CHINESE
RULERS FOR MANY CENTURIES
5.
MANY SMALLER BARRIERS HAD BEEN ERECTED BY FEUDAL STATES DURING
CHOU PERIOD
6.
GREAT WALL CONNECTED THESE SEPARATE WALLS INTO SINGLE MASSIVE
FORTIFICATION
7.
IT IS SAID GOVT CONSCRIPTED 1 MILLION MEN AS LABORERS TO BUILD
WALL
8.
WALL STRETCHED ALMOST 1800 MILES
9.
WALL YOU SEE TODAY DATES MAINLY FROM MING PERIOD 14-17TH
CENTURIES
D.
TERRA COTTA ARMY & SHI'S BURIAL
1.
IN 1974 ARCHAEOLOGISTS FOUND AN IMPRESSIVE SITE
2.
OVER 3 ACRE SITE 7000 LIFE-SIZE EARTHENWARE SOLDIERS
a.
EQUIPPED WITH REAL WEAPONS,
b.
REAL CHARIOTS
c.
& TERRA COTTA HORSES
d.
TO PROTECT RESTING PLACE OF EMPEROR
3.
FIGURES OF SOLDIERS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN COPIED FROM LIVE MODELS
4.
NO TWO OF THEM ARE ALIKE
5.
SOME 2200 YEARS LATER THIS AWESOME SITE INSPIRES
6.
& WARNS OF POWER OF GOVERNMENT & MAN
2
II.
HAN DYNASTY 206 B.C. - 220 A.D.
A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
STRUGGLE FOR THRONE FOLLOWED FIRST EMPERORS' DEATH
2.
WINNER OF STRUGGLE ESTABLISHED HAN DYNASTY
3.
HAN DYNASTY CAME TO POWER ON WAVE OF PEASANT REVOLT
4.
SO FIRST EMPERORS OF HAN TOOK STEPS TO IMPROVE LIFE FOR COMMON
PEOPLE
a.
TAXES CUT
b.
& HARSH LAWS OF CHIN DYNASTY TAKEN OFF BOOKS
c.
PEOPLE WHO HAD SOLD THEMSELVES AS SLAVES FREED
d.
& CHIN SOLDIERS TOLD TO GO BACK TO THEIR FARMS
e.
WITH BAN ON BOOKS LIFTED,
(1)
SCHOLARS BEGAN TO RESTORE CONFUCIAN CLASSICS
5.
IN FIRST CENTURY OF HAN RULE
6.
TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS BECAME OFFICIAL WORD
OF STATE
7.
HAN STARTED SYSTEM IN WHICH ANYONE WHO WANTED TO BE IN
GOVERNMENT
a.
HAD TO PASS A SERIES OF TESTS ON CONFUCIAN CLASSICS
8.
FROM HAN TIMES UNTIL 20TH C MOST NB WAY TO GET AHEAD IN CHINA
a.
TO DO WELL ON THESE CIVIL SERVICE TESTS
9.
BUT ONLY SONS OF WEALTHY & NOBLE FAMILIES ALLOWED TO TAKE EXAMS
IN HAN TIMES
10.
IT WASN'T UNTIL 2 DYNASTIES LATER
a.
NEARLY 900 YRS LATER
11.
THAT CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM OPENED TO YOUNG MEN FROM ALL CLASSES
12.
BUT WHATEVER CLASS THEY CAME FROM
13.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO EMERGED FROM CIVIL SERVICE TESTS
BECAME NEW RULING GROUP IN CHINA
a.
MANDARINS
(1)
NAME GIVEN TO THEM BY WEST
14.
TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS BECAME BASIS OF
CHINESE SYSTEM OF GOVT & EDUCATION FOR NEXT 2000 YRS
15.
FIRST ATTACKS OF BARBARIAN HUNS DID NOT STOP WHEN HAN TOOK OVER
16.
LONG & COSTLY WARS AGAINST HUNS TOOK THEIR TOLL ON COMMON FOLK
TOO
17.
BECAUSE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEASANTS DRAFTED INTO ARMY
18.
FARMLAND NOT CARED FOR
19.
PEOPLE STARVED IN TIMES OF FLOOD & DROUGHT
20.
TAXES RAISED TO PAY FOR WARS
21.
PEASANTS LOST THEIR LAND FOR NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES TO GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS
22.
AS LANDLORDS GREW IN POWER & WEALTH THEY STARTED TO FIGHT EACH
OTHER & EMPEROR
23.
PEASANTS FORMED SECRET SOCIETIES TO PLOT AGAINST LANDLORDS
24.
THIS PATTERN OF
a.
WAR,
b.
LANDLORDS GROWING RICH
c.
& PEASANTS GETTING POORER
d.
REPEATED ITSELF CENTURY AFTER CENTURY
25.
WIDESPREAD REVOLT FINALLY BROUGHT DOWN HAN IN 221 A.D.
26.
AGE OF DISUNITY FOLLOWED & SUBJECT OF LATER LECTURE
III.
HAN SOCIETY & LEGACIES
A.
PHYSICAL ENLARGEMENT OF CHINA
1.
UNDER HAN RULERS 202 B.C. - 221 A.D. CHINA MORE THAN DOUBLED IN
SIZE
2.
AT ITS PEAK HAN DYNASTY EQUALED & SUPASSED ROMAN EMPIRE IN
BRILLIANCE & MILITARY POWER
3.
HAN RULERS MADE THEIR GREATEST ADVANCES IN CENTRAL ASIA
3
TO THIS DAY, NATIVE CHINESE CALL THEMSELVES HAN PEOPLE OR SONS
OF HAN
a.
IN TRIBUTE TO FEATS OF THESE EMPIRE-BUILDERS
b.
& TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES FROM MINORITY GROUPS OF
BARBARIAN DESCENT
COMMON FOLK
1.
MAJORITY OF POPULATION IN EARLY CHOU TIMES TILLED SOIL
2.
ORDINARY PEASANTS HELD VARYING AMOUNTS OF LAND, BUT FEW
PRODUCED MORE THAN THEY NEEDED
3.
SOME ABLE TO SELL SURPLUS
4.
MANY PEASANTS HAD LITTLE OR NO LAND OF THEIR OWN
5.
FORCED TO LABOR FOR WELL-TO-DO LANDLORDS
a.
& PAY HIM DUES
b.
JUST LIKE MEDIEVAL WEST
6.
SLAVES COULD BE SOLD OR KILLED BY THEIR OWNERS
7.
ONE NAME FOR SLAVES IN CHINESE LITERALLY MEANT ANIMAL PEOPLE
a.
& THUS TREATED AS SUCH
MARRIAGE & FAMILY CUSTOMS
1.
MARRIAGES ESPECIALLY AMONG ELITE ARRANGED BY PARENTS
2.
AFTER BRIDE BROUGHT TO NEW HOME SHE ON PROBATION FOR 3-MONTH
PERIOD
3.
WHEN SON MARRIED HE CUSTOMARILY BROUGHT HIS BRIDE HOME TO LIVE
UNDER PATERNAL ROOF
4.
OR IN A HOUSE CLOSE BY
5.
BY CHOU PERIOD TYPICAL CHINESE FAMILY LARGE BECAUSE IT EMBRACED
SEVERAL GENERATIONS
6.
AUTHORITY VESTED IN FATHER OR GRANDFATHER
7.
UTMOST EMPHASIS PLACED UPON RESPECT FOR ELDERS
8.
SO EVEN GROWN MEN BOUND BY THEIR PARENTS' WISHES
9.
SUCH CUSTOM LED TO EXTREME CONSERVATISM
10.
& SOMETIMES INFLICTED HARDSHIPS UPON YOUTH
11.
BUT DEVELOPED QUALITIES OF PATIENCE, LOYALTY & CONSIDERATION
FOR ELDERLY
a.
HAS CONTINUED UP TO TODAY IN CHINA
12.
PEASANTS DID NOT CELEBRATE INDIVIDUAL MARRIAGE RITES
a.
BUT TOOK PART IN ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL
b.
WHEN YOUNG MEN & WOMEN FROM SURROUNDING VILLAGES MET IN
WOODLAND
c.
TO PLAY TIME-HONORED GAME KNOWN IN SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLAND
AS "MAKING GREEN BACKS"
d.
IF GIRL WAS PREGNANT BY AUTUMN
e.
SHE & HER MAN WOULD SETTLE DOWN TO MARRIED LIFE
13.
WHILE ONLY 1 WIFE LEGAL, HUSBAND FREE TO TAKE SEVERAL
CONCUBINES
14.
TO JUSTIFY THEIR TAKING OF CONCUBINES AS WELL AS WIFE, THOSE OF
LITERARY BENT QUOTE AUTHORITY OF CONFUCIUS
15.
PHILOSOPHER REPLIED
a.
WHEN THE COAT UPON YOUR BACK IS OLD, WORN OR NO LONGER IN
FASHION, DO YOU NOT TAKE ANOTHER?
STATUS OF GIRLS & WOMEN
1.
ACCORDING TO OLD CHINESE PROVERB
a.
MOST BEAUTIFUL & TALENTED DAUGHTER IS NOT AS DESIRABLE AS
A DEFORMED SON
2.
PREFERENCE FOR BOYS SO OBVIOUS IN UPPER-CLASS FAMILIES
CHERISHED SON OCCASIONALLY GIVEN GIRL'S NAME DURING HIS
CHILDHOOD
3.
IN BELIEF EVIL SPIRITS THINKING CHILD A GIRL a.
AND THEREFORE LESS VALUABLE
b.
WOULD PASS HIM BY
4.
BIRTH OF MALE HEIR CONSIDERED MATTER OF UTMOST URGENCY
5.
BIRTH OF DAUGHTER GREETED W/CONSIDERABLY LESS ENTHUSIASM
6.
VERSE FROM BOOK OF POETRY INDICATES APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO
BIRTH OF DAUGHTER OR SON
7.
& CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES PREFERENCE & PRIVILEGES FOR MALES
a.
SONS SHALL BE BORN TO HIM-THEY WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP ON
COUCHES; THEY WILL BE CLOTHED IN ROBES; THEY WILL HAVE
SCEPTERS TO PLAY WITH; THEIR CRY WILL BE LOUD. HEREAFTER
THEY WILL BE RESPLENDENT WITH RED KNEE COVERS, THE FUTURE
KING, THE PRINCES OF THE LAND.
b.
DAUGHTERS SHALL BE BORN TO HIM-THEY WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP
ON THE GROUND; THEY WILL BE CLOTHED IN WRAPPERS; THEY
WILL HAVE TILES TO PLAY WITH. IT WILL BE THEIRS NEITHER
4.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
4
TO DO WRONG NOR TO DO GOOD. ONLY ABOUT THE LIQUOR AND
THE FOOD WILL THEY HAVE TO THINK, AND TO CAUSE NO SORROW
TO THEIR PARENTS.
8.
PEASANT FATHERS UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO SUPPORT A FEMALE
SOMETIMES DROWNED NEWBORN GIRLS
9.
PRACTICE OF INFANTICIDE, THOUGH NEVER COMMON
10.
INCREASED DURING TIMES OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
11.
GIRLS OFTEN PLACED AS
a.
COOK, MUSICIAN OR CONCUBINE IN HOME OF WEALTHY OFFICIAL
12.
OR WHILE STILL QUITE YOUNG SHE MIGHT BE PURCHASED BY FARSIGHTED
INDIVIDUAL
a.
WHO WANTED HER FOR FUTURE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
13.
NO MATTER WHAT HER CIRCUMSTANCES A WOMAN COULD LOOK FORWARD TO
LIFE OF SUBJUGATION
a.
UNDER HER FATHER & ELDEST BROTHER IN HER CHILDHOOD
b.
UNDER HER HUSBAND & HIS MOTHER AFTER HER MARRIAGE
c.
& TO HER OWN SONS UPON HER HUSBAND'S DEATH
14.
ONLY HUSBAND COULD OBTAIN DIVORCE
15.
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE IF WIFE
a.
BARREN,
b.
ILLNESS WHICH PROVOKES DISGUST
(1)
SUCH AS LEPROSY & EPILEPSY
(2)
OR CHRONIC ILLNESS
c.
OR NEGLECTFUL OF HER FATHER-IN-LAW
d.
OR TALKED TOO MUCH
(1)
OR MALICIOUS GOSSIP
e.
HABITUAL & ABSOLUTE DISOBEDIENCE
f.
ADULTERY
g.
JEALOUSY
h.
WHEN WIFE STOLE FROM HER HUSBAND TO ENRICH HER OWN FAMILY
16.
SHE WAS EXPECTED TO LIFE A LIFE OF PERFECT SUBMISSIVENESS AS
OUTLINED IN A LATER TANG DYNASTY MANUAL
a.
A CHASTE WOMAN MUST NOT GO OUT OFTEN...AND MUST WORK VERY
HARD. IF ASKED TO COME, SHE MUST COME AT ONCE; IF ASKED
TO GO, SHE MUST GO QUICKLY. IF SHE FAILS...REPROACH AND
BEAT HER...
17.
BUT THERE IS CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE THAT WOMEN FROM POWERFUL
SCHOLAR-GENTRY HOUSEHOLDS
18.
ENJOYED MORE FREEDOM AND STATUS IN HAN ERA THAN IN LATER
CHINESE HISTORY
19.
BUT POLITICAL POSITIONS RESERVED FOR MALES
20.
THOUGH WOMEN COULD SOMETIMES EXERT POWERFUL INFLUENCE FROM
BEHIND THE THRONE
21.
BUT AT ALL CLASS LEVELS WOMEN EXPECTED TO MARRY
22.
& WHATEVER THEIR INDIVIDUAL TALENTS THEIR MOST VITAL SOCIAL
FUNCTION BEARING MALE CHILDREN
RELIGION
1.
BY END OF CHOU BASIC RELIGIOUS PATTERN SET
2.
STATE TO PERFORM SACRIFICES TO GODS
3.
CHIEF CEREMONIES CENTERED ON SACRIFICES TO HEAVEN & TO EARTH
4.
CULT CONTINUED DOWN TO BEGINNING OF 20TH C.
5.
FAMILY TO WORSHIP THEIR ANCESTORS
6.
CHINESE BELIEVED HUMAN HAD 2 SOULS
a.
PO
(1)
ANIMAL SOUL OR LIFE SOUL
b.
HUN
(1)
SPIRITUAL OR PERSONALITY SOUL
7.
BOTH SOULS BECOME SEPARATED FROM BODY AT DEATH
8.
BOTH CAN BE KEPT ALIVE BY SACRIFICES
9.
WHILE LIFE SOUL GRADUALLY DECAYED AS BODY DECAYED AFTER DEATH
10.
SPIRITUAL OR PERSONALITY SOUL SURVIVED AS LONG AS IT REMEMBERED
a.
& RECEIVED SACRIFICES FROM LIVING
11.
THIS HUN SOUL HAD NUMEROUS POWERS
12.
IF PO OR LIFE SOUL NEGLECTED IT COULD BECOME DEMON & HAUNT
LIVING
13.
PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF HAVING MALE DESCENDANTS TO PERFORM
FAMILY ANCESTRAL SACRIFICES
14.
BECAUSE OF ANCESTOR WORSHIP GREAT ATTENTION PAID TO FUNERAL &
MOURNING RITUALS
15.
NEGLECT OF MOURNING RITES FOR PARENTS MOST SERIOUS OFFENSE
RELIGION & CUSTOMS OF PEASANTS
1.
INITIALLY COMMON PEOPLE HAD NO PART IN CEREMONIES OF ANCESTOR
G.
H.
5
WORSHIP
a.
NOBILITY CLASS ONLY
2.
BUT BY HAN PERIOD PEASANTS WORSHIPPED ANCESTORS TOO
3.
1 OF CELEBRATIONS OF POOR - RIVER FESTIVAL
a.
IN WHICH BEAUTIFUL GIRL CHOSEN
b.
& SENT OFF TO FLOAT AWAY IN BOAT
c.
& ULTIMATELY DROWNED AS "BRIDE OF RIVER"
4.
PEASANTS ALSO WORSHIPPED
a.
LOCAL DEITIES OF SOIL & FERTILITY
b.
& SHAMANISTIC CULTS INVOLVING SPIRIT MEDIUMS, EXORCISTS
OR SORCERERS
(1)
CALLED WU WHO DANCED IN FRENZY
5.
MOST BELOVED GODDESS - KWAN YIN
6.
THIS SHAMAN ELEMENT FOUND ALL OVER SE ASIA INCLUDING JAPAN
7.
EARLY ON ELIMINATED FROM RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OF UPPER CLASS
8.
IN SUMMARY NATIVE RELIGION HAD PRACTICAL RATHER THAN HIGHLY
MYSTICAL CONCERN
9.
PLACE OF DRAGON IN CHINESE RELIGION & CULTURE
a.
NOT MAIDEN- EATING ONE OF WEST
b.
DRAGON FOR CHINESE REPRESENTED STRENGTH & FERTILE
BENEFICENCE OF RAIN
c.
SIGNIFIED WATER GOD
d.
DRAGON EARLY BECAME EMBLEM OF SON OF HEAVEN
e.
HIS THRONE WAS DRAGON THRONE
f.
NO ONE ELSE ENTITLED TO USE DRAGON SYMBOL
GROWTH OF TRADE
1.
HAN EMPERORS OPENED TRADE ROUTES TO WEST
2.
UNTIL THESE TIMES NO CONTACT BETWEEN CHINA & WESTERN REGIONS
3.
OLD SILK ROAD ESTABLISHED
a.
CARAVANS WENT TO INDIA, PERSIA, & MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES
4.
FOREIGN DEMAND FOR SILK MUCH GREATER THAN CHINA'S INTEREST IN
a.
IVORY, PERFUME & JEWELS WEST HAD TO OFFER
5.
BUT CHINA WANTED WESTERN HORSES
6.
AFTER OPENING OF SILK ROAD REFERENCES TO CHINA BEGAN TO APPEAR
IN WESTERN LITERATURE
7.
CHINESE SILK EVENTUALLY REACHED ROMAN EMPIRE
8.
WHERE SO HIGHLY PRIZED BY ROMAN LADIES THAT DEMAND FOR IT
CAUSED A DRAIN OF GOLD & SILVER
9.
SPICE TRADE ESTABLISHED AS WELL
10.
THROUGH CHINA'S CONTACT W/SOUTHEAST ASIA TEA WAS INTRODUCED
a.
AT FIRST MEDICINAL BEVERAGE
b.
LATER GENERAL DRINK
SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
1.
PAPERMAKING INVENTED
2.
1000 YRS BEFORE IT WAS INTRODUCED IN EUROPE
3.
CHANG HENG, AN ASTRONOMER, MATHEMATICIAN & POET
a.
INVENTED SEISMOGRAPH 78-139 A.D.
b.
1600 YRS BEFORE WESTERN WORLD PRODUCED ONE
4.
IT SHOWED WHENEVER A REGION IN CHINA ROCKED BY EARTHQUAKE
5.
ACUPUNCTURE
a.
METHOD OF RELIEVING PAIN & TREATING ILLNESS
b.
PERFECTED DURING HAN TIMES
c.
ALL SORTS OF ILLNESS COULD BE CURED WITH ACUPUNCTURE
(1)
ASTHMA
(2)
ULCERS
(3)
ARTHRITIS
(4)
POOR EYESIGHT
6.
CHINESE BELIEVED A LIFE-FORCE FLOWS THROUGH BODY ALONG DEFINITE
PATHS
7.
WHEN FLOW IS BLOCKED OR WHEN FORCES OF YIN & YANG ARE OUT OF
BALANCE IN BODY
8.
NEEDLES ARE USED TO RESTORE GOOD HEALTH