East Asia Midterm Flashcards
Xia (2205-1766 BCE)
The first of the so-called Three Dynasties that form the classical age of Chinese antiquity. Recorded long after it happened.
Yü (Ruled 2205-2198 BCE)
Founded Xia Dynasty after taming a catastrophic flood. A sage king. Ruled with wisdom, clarity, virtue. Refused to name their sons as heirs, but people refused to accept this from Yu and his son succeeded him.
Shang dynasty (1766-1045 BCE)
The second of the Three Dynasties. Early example of a relatively large territorial state. Probably did not employ an extensively centralized bureaucratic government but rather delegated authority to largely autonomous local leaders. Exclusive prerogative of Shang kings to sponsor oracle bone divination. Conquered by foreign Zhou in 1045.
Zhou dynasty (1045-256 BCE)
Western Zhou (1045-771) Eastern Zhou (771-256) Spring & Autumn Period (771-441) Warring States Period (446-221). Became an ideal, not really a rule. Absorbed large portions of Shang ideas. Illustrates how Chinese civilization was a hybrid mixture of local cultural traditions.
Duke of Zhou (1043 BCE)
Regent on behalf of new boy king. Duke’’s brothers rebelled against him but he put down the rebellion. After the dynasty was put on a stable path, he voluntarily relinquished his authority as regent. Stories about him became foundational to Chinese political tradition and established overriding Confucian principle of ruling by virtue. Intimately associated with Mandate of Heaven.
Yijing (Book of Changes) (1100 BCE)
Written by last ruler of Shang Dynasty. Poems aimed at forecasting the future. Trigrams. Handbook for divination, based on a set of sixty-four hexagrams. One of the five core Confucian Classics.
The Five Classics (Attained canonical status in late 2nd century BCE)
The Book of Documents (Speeches, announcements, etc attributed to great figures of antiquity), The Book of Odes (Three hundred early Zhou songs and poems), The Book Of Changes (See Above), The Rites (Collective name for three ritual texts), and The Spring and Autumn Annals (History of Confucius’s home state of Lu covering years 722-481. Traditional believe that Confucius had compiled the history). Important because of their antiquity.
Warring States (446-221 BCE)
Power of Zhou kings overshadowed by the rise of regional territorial states which became fully independent countries with their own sovereign kings during this period. Qin, Zhao, Yan, Wei, Han, Song, Qi, Chu, Lu, Zhou.
Confucius (551-479 BCE)
Born Kong Qiu in state of Lu. Jesuits devised latinized form Confucius (Kong Fuzi: Master Kong) in 18th Century. Most of what we know about him is from the Analects.
Confucianism
Leadership by moral example. Can’t govern through regulations and punishments. Have to lead through proper ritual and moral force, and people will correct themselves. Good society means self-cultivation of moral principles by a gentlemen who hopes to influence those around him. Humaneness, Loyalty, Filial Piety, Knowledge. Five Relationships. The Dao: The way or how one should live according to proper values and principles. “Golden Rule” - Never impose on others what you wouldn’t want on yourself.
Mencius (372-289 BCE)
“Second Sage.” Student of Confucian teachings. Spread and popularized Confucian teachings. Innate goodness of human nature. Importance of education to cultivate virtue. Importance of common people to a state, and the right of people to overthrow rulers ruling unjustly.
Mozi (470-379 BCE)
Developed Mohism. Opposed excessive ritual. Impartial caring & consequential ethics. Family is bad, random connection of bloodlines is a bad way to start a society. Should respect parents but should respect all members of society. Universal love. Confucius puts too much emphasis on ritual and filial piety.
Daoism
Yin and Yang. Dao, same as Confucianism, the way or how one should live. Virtue or Power. Active non-action or Active passivity. The Dao is unescapable. The way that can be spoken of is not constant way. Maoist Dao is beyond petty artificial human considerations, unlike Confucian Dao which was moral and human centered. Laissez-faire.
dao
Part of both Confucian and Daoist ideologies. “The Way” or how one should live life according to proper values and principles.
Daodejing
Supposedly written by Laozi, a supposed contemporary of Confucius. Likely a mythical figure.
Laozi (Contemporary of Confucius)
Old Master, allegedly instructed Confucius. Supposed but likely mythical author of one of the only original texts on Daoism
Zhuangzi (369-286 BCE)
Master Zhuang. Thought to be a real historical figure. Wrote multiple parables. Story of the cook who does not cut or hack and does not have to change his knife because of it. Rather he learned to follow natural patterns of joints, tendons, etc. Such a cook truly understood the Way.
yin-yang
Dualism of life, often called Daoist though it is also a separate independent strand of traditional Chinese thought. The contrast of male/female, cold/heat, dark/light, active/passive, etc. Need both, both work together.
Legalism (Developed 390-338 BCE)
Developed by Shang Yang. People are motivated by fear and greed, and can be controlled by the “Two Handles.” First adopted by state of Qin in 350 BCE. Rewards and Punishment are needed, to appeal to greed and to fear. Keep society ordered through consistent application of rules not rites or moral examples. Ruler has “mystery of authority.” Offers realism unlike Confucianism and Daoism.
Qin Shi Huangdi (260-210 BCE r. 220-210)
First Emperor of China, King of Qin (247-220). Standardized writing systems, legal codes, coins, weights and measures. Wanted to promote a single unified imperial culture. Erected what is thought to be first version of Great Wall. Justified conquests in name of providing peace and uniform justice to people. Idea that it may be necessary for people to submit to the authority of a powerful state for own self preservation.
Great Wall (Began in 220-210 BCE)
First started by Qin Shi Huangdi across Northern border. May have been constructed as a projection of Chinese imperial power onto the nomads more than to keep nomads out.
Terracotta Warriors (220-210 BCE)
Constructed by Qin Shi Huangdi to be placed in his tomb. An entire terra-cotta army consisting of thousands of life-sized clay soldiers. 20 mile in circumference tomb. Shows idea that he thought himself a god like figure.
Han dynasty (220 BCE - 220 CE)
Liu Bang captured the Qin capital and put an end to the dynasty. After a few years of conflict between different regions he became founding emperor of the Han dynasty. The dynasty brought in many provinces as part of a Western extension.
Han Wudi (r. 141-87 BCE)
Sixth Han emperor. Economic interventionism and aggressive military expansionism. The emperor who first established Confucianism as imperial Orthodoxy.
