The Ming Dynasty

Question 1

China (1400’s-1600s)

Answer 1

Changes in scholarly thought (shift the Confucian thought); question government; economic growth due to increased trade and commercialization; global trade

Question 2

Confucianism

Answer 2

• Youngle Emperor
• Cheng-Shu of thought
• Wu Yubi

Question 3

Cheng-Shu of thought

Answer 3

• only accepted school of thought
• principle Li
• comes out of Song period
• knowledge comes from outside
• civil service exams are bad because you learn what you have to to pass a test, not to actually learn the material

Question 4

Li

Answer 4

• principle
• abiding moral principles
• principle can be found outside (study of the classics)

Question 5

Wu Yubi

Answer 5

(1392-1469) spent his whole life studying for the civil service exam but instead he quit and went home. He decided that you should live a solitary life filled with meditation rather than be consumed with an exam.

Question 6

Wang Yangming

Answer 6

• Zhengde Emperor
• put a lot of faith in unreliable advisors (Liu Jin)
• believed in innate knowing (liangzhi)
• knowledge should equal action; if you know what is right, do what is right
• magistrate of Luling country
• grand coordinator of southern China
• governments exist to help people
• academies: teach and encourage these ideas
• focus on local projects and self help
• erosion of class distinctions (Wang Gen)

Question 7

Liu Jin

Answer 7

• uses his connection with the Zhengde emperor to gain great power in the government
• abuses power (taxes, fines…)
• Scholars, including Wang, rise up against him
• Emperor finally turns on him and kills him

Question 8

Prince of Ning’s Rebellion

Answer 8

• Ning allows his men to run wild throughout the country to increase his wealth
• Ning’s son could be the next possible successor to Zhengde, which makes Z look bad
• Z tried to punish the leaders of the rebellion and reincorporate the followers in the government

Question 9

Liangzhi

Answer 9

• innate knowing
• everybody has it
• fundamental knowledge of right and wrong and can be found in every person
• people can lose sight of this knowledge sometimes

Question 10

Wang Gen

Answer 10

• wore fancy clothes and believed that everything should be accessible to all, not based on class
• Liangzhi is open to everyone

Question 11

in opposition to Wang Yanming’s beliefs

Answer 11

Zhang Juzheng

Question 12

Zhang Juzheng

Answer 12

• advisor to Wanli Emperor
• concludes that there are a lot of scholars and officials who are actually governing
• get away from philosophy and resort to firmness
• Wanli emperor and him? close down the academy to shut down ideas of Wang

Question 13

“firmness”

Answer 13

• get back to the real ground
• focus on things that are practiced and effective
• respect superiors as they should be respected