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.

How might you gain the Mandate of Heaven? How might you lose it?

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

Guiding Principles ØWhat is the best way to ensure order, control behavior?

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 Kongzi) Ø Dates: 551 -479 BCE 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: Laozi Ø Writings: “Classic of 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”

By examining the following Chinese paintings, what can you conclude about Daoist beliefs and the influence of Daoism in China?

Can you find the houses in this picture? What can you conclude about why they were painted in this way?

How might this painting reflect Taoist influence?

Which Daoist values are presented here?

Legalism Ø Founder: Han Fei Ø Writings: Han Fei Ø 280 -233 BCE 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