L E C T U R E 10 - NEO CONFUCIANISM AND THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS Flashcards
Civil Service Examination
unchanged for 800 years
Defining institution of imperial China
Abolished in 1905
Sustaining Imperial Power
burned books
established Confucianism
divided rule between Shi and Eunuchs
Nine-Rank System 九品官
Aristocrats retained their local power
Classified by your importance in a community
Sui Dynasty
rebuilt country, engaged in warfare
spent a lot of money for infrastructure
grand canal built
fruitless war against the Goguryeo kingdom of Korea
Tang Dynasty
Japan liked the Tang Dynasty
Centrality and authority of Emperor paramount
Cosmopolitan
multicultural
silk road
Emperors Gaozu and Taizong
Beginning of Civil Service Exam
Jinshi 进士
Scholar presented [to the emperor for appointment]
Much more analytical
JRE test**
Equitable Field System
Tang
Re-distributed land
Pay “rent” (tax) to the government
Officials and Taxes
Officials did not pay tax
New products in Tang China
Dyes from Central Asia
Hairstyles from Persia
Incense from Arabia
Cloves (breath freshener) from Java
Pistachios, grapes, black pepper, dates, melons
Chang’an
Religious Capital
many temples and monastaries
Three Great Doctrines
Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism
An Lushan Rebellion
rebelled against Tang
Decline of Tang
up to to 80% of military not in Tang’s control
Tang lost central authority due to no army– and the Great Clans lost their source of income and status
Song Dynasty
Culturally and economically strong but militarily weak
Jurchen Jin Dynasty
overthrew the Liao
southern song
Commerce in the Song dynasty
faced challenges as a tribute-taking society
had to pay tribute to korea, japan, other nations
more open to maritime trade
Song products
Watertight compartments Rudders Compass Gunpowder Silk-reeling machine Wood-block printing used
daoxue 道學
Learning of the Way
Han Yu
Post-An Lushan Tang dynasty official
Reaction against Buddhism
Cheng Yi
Confucianism philosopher
Cheng Hao
Brother of Cheng Yi
Recovered teachings after death of Mencius
Zhu Xi
1149 - Passed Jinshi exam
Convinced of superiority of Confucian Way and cultivation
Sought to restore vitality of China’s cultural heritage as a Confucian society
Civil service exams in Tang
10-20% government positions came from examinations
Civil service exams in Song
all positions came from the examinations
Neo-Confucianism
Government is not the solution
Emphasis on individual self-cultivation
Individuals will share government’s values
Emperor Wudi
established Imperial Academy
What are the Four Books and Five Classics
Confucian classics
Literati (Scholar-official)
a low-risk investment