Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle Mandate

Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

Mandate of Heaven Ø The belief that heaven granted a ruler a mandate or ‘divine right to rule’ Ø Linked Power and Responsibility l In exchange for loyalty, the ruler must maintain order Ø Rulers need Mandate of Heaven to rule Ø If lost, the people were allowed to rebel.

Accomplishments Ø Est. a strong, central government Ø Bring peace and order Ø Give land to peasants Ø Build roads, defensive walls and irrigation systems Ø Support education and arts

Failures & Losing the Mandate ØAllow Corruption ØLose military power ØRaise taxes ØSpend $ on luxuries ØFail to reinforce walls, and irrigation ØHarsh ruler

Problems: Sign the Mandate is Lost ØChaos ØFloods ØInvasions ØPeasant rebellions ØPoor harvests

Dynastic Cycle ØA strong leader emerges and establishes a new dynasty ØClaims mandate ØCycle begins again

During times of Chaos, Chinese philosophers tried to find ways to guide human behavior and ensure order in society Ø 3 Philosophies Developed in China Confucianism l Daoism (Taoism) l Legalism l

Confucianism Ø Founder: Confucius l (Master Kong) Ø Dates: 551 B. C Ø Writings: The Analects Ø Teachings: Ø 5 Relationships must govern society “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do”

5 Relationships Ø Ruler and Ruled Ø Father and Son Ø Older Brother and Younger Brother Ø Husband Wife Ø Friend and Friend Superior sets example and cares for inferior l Inferior shows respect to superior l

Confucius Ø Filial piety: the duty and respect that children owed their parents Ø Education and Morality Ø Society more important than individual I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Daoism Ø Founder: Lao Zi Ø Dates: 551 B. C Ø Writings: “The Way of Virtue” Ø Teachings: Ø Stressed the link between Nature and People Ø People should do nothing contrary to nature, live according to the Dao “the Way”

Daoism http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=g-z. D-Rohz. NY

Ø Yin and Yang: Forces in Nature are to balance each other ØYin: female, passive, earthy ØYang: male, active, heavenly

Daoism Ø Water as symbol of Tao Ø Govt. should have fewer rules Ø “Reveal thyself, embrace original nature, do not be selfish, curtail desire”

Legalism Ø Founder: Han Feizi Ø Writings: Han Feizi Ø 300 -200 B. C. Ø Teachings: Ø People acted out of self interest Ø People only respond to rewards and punishments, not good examples

Legalism Ø Harsh Laws and Strict Rulers are necessary to get things done Ø Laws more important than rulers Ø Example: Shi Huangdi used Legalism to unite China and create the Great Wall