Transcript Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

Mandate of Heaven
and the
Dynastic Cycle
Mandate of Heaven
 The
belief that heaven granted a ruler
a mandate or ‘divine right to rule’
 Linked Power and Responsibility
 In exchange for loyalty, the ruler
must maintain order
 Rulers need Mandate of Heaven to rule
 If lost, the people were allowed to
rebel.
Accomplishments
 Est.
a strong, central government
 Bring peace and order
 Give land to peasants
 Build roads, defensive walls and
irrigation systems
 Support education and arts
Failures & Losing the Mandate
Allow
Corruption
Lose military power
Raise taxes
Spend $ on luxuries
Fail to reinforce walls, and
irrigation
Harsh ruler
Problems: Sign the Mandate is Lost
Chaos
Floods
Invasions
Peasant
rebellions
Poor harvests
Dynastic Cycle
A
strong leader emerges and
establishes a new dynasty
Claims mandate
Cycle begins again
During times of Chaos, Chinese
philosophers tried to find ways to guide
human behavior and ensure order in
society
3
Philosophies Developed in China
 Confucianism
 Daoism (Taoism)
 Legalism
Confucianism
 Founder:

Confucius
(Master Kong)
 Dates:
551 B.C
 Writings: The Analects
 Teachings:
 5 Relationships must
govern society
“Our greatest glory is not in
never falling, but in getting up
every time we do”
5 Relationships
 Ruler
and Ruled
 Father and Son
 Older Brother and Younger Brother
 Husband and Wife
 Friend and Friend
 Superior sets example and cares
for inferior
 Inferior shows respect to superior
Confucius
 Filial
piety: the duty
and respect that
children owed their
parents
 Education and
Morality
 Society more
important than
individual
I hear and I forget. I see and I
remember. I do and I understand.
Daoism
 Founder:
Lao Zi
 Dates: 551 B.C
 Writings: “The Way of Virtue”
 Teachings:
 Stressed
the link between Nature
and People
 People should do nothing
contrary to nature, live according
to the Dao “the Way”
Daoism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-zD-RohzNY
 Yin
and Yang: Forces in Nature are to
balance each other
Yin:
female, passive, earthy
Yang: male, active, heavenly
Daoism
 Water
as symbol of Tao
 Govt. should have fewer rules
 “Reveal thyself, embrace original
nature, do not be selfish, curtail
desire”
Legalism
 Founder:
Han Feizi
 Writings: Han Feizi
 300-200 B.C.
 Teachings:
 People acted out of self interest
 People only respond to rewards and
punishments, not good examples
Legalism
 Harsh
Laws and Strict
Rulers are necessary
to get things done
 Laws more important
than rulers
 Example: Shi
Huangdi used
Legalism to unite
China and create the
Great Wall