Turbulent Times and Classical Thought

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Turbulent Times and Classical Thought

• Chapter 2
• A Brief History of Chinese Civilization

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Zhou

• Neolithic Cultures (Legendary Xia)
• Shang Dynasty (1766-1027)
• Western Zhou (1027-771)
• Eastern Zhou (771-256 bc)
• Spring and Autumn Period (772-481)
• Warring States Period (403-221)
• Capital moved east to Luoyang (Chengzhou).

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The Spring and Autumn Period

• Decline of Zhou kingship and rise of powerful
  vassal states
• Zhou kingship source of legitimacy
• Political system of the hegemons (ba)
• Heads of most powerful state
• Loose alliance of blood oaths
• Decline of Zhou accompanied by important economic
  political developments

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Economic Political Developments

• Rise of powerful, centralized states (see map)
• Introduction of Soybean cultivation
• Rich source of protein
• Augmented the fertility of soil
• Taxation systems
• Direct taxation peasant paid land rents
  directly to ruling house

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Zhou Dynasty Royal Domain and the ten major fiefs
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Warring States Period (453-221)

• Chronic Warfare
• Chu and Qin become increasingly powerful, annexed
  neighbors
• Strategic locations
• Witnessed major social, political, economic, and
  military changes.

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Modes of Warfare

• Spring Autumn
• no more than 30,000 men on flat terrain
• Limited duration one season to one year
• Military composed primarily ruling elite

• Warring States
• Between 100,000 and 600,000 men
• Conflicts could last up to five years
• New tools crossbow and lamellar armor
• Infantry comprised all segments of society

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Social Changes

• Old Social hierarchies began to break down
• Warfare allowed for social mobility shi or
  commoner could rise to become a powerful minister
  or general
• E.g. Lu Buwei merchant rose to become minister
  to Qin ruler

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Political and Economic Reforms of the Qin State

• Lu Buwei and Shang Yang Qin advisors both
  later executed
• Universal Military Service
• Abolished estates maintained by nobles and
  divided state in counties governed directly
• Individual household as basis for taxation and
  military service

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Qin Advantages

• Increased resources by conquering neighboring
  states
• Fertile area
• Strategically easy to defend
• mountains

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The Hundred Schools

• Four Distinct Schools
• Ru (Confucian)
• Mohist
• Daoist
• Legalist

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Confucius

• Kong Qiu (551-479 bc)
• Born in latter period of Spring and Autumn in the
  State of Lu
• Annalects
• Transmitter not innovator
• Rectification of Names
• Junzi
• Advocate of Li

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Vietnamese Temple of Literature
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Mozi

• Mo Di (470-391 bc)
• Treatises or speeches collected in the Mozi
• Utilitarian
• Universal Love

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Mencius

• Meng Ke (371-289 bc)
• The Mencius
• Human nature is good
• All men have potential to become sages
• Four sprouts (si duan) innate moral sense
• Eg. Child and the Well
• Rebutted Mozi
• Mandate of Heaven
• Rule of Virtue

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Xunzi

• Xun Kuang (312 - ?)
• Recd official appointments in the state of Chu
• The Xunzi organized into thematic essays
  reflecting a systematic philosophy
• Human nature is Evil
• No inborn inclination to act ethically
• Radical Transform through moral training, study,
  and hard work
• Human desires create need for li
• Heaven as inscient oblivious to humans

Teacher of two famous thinkers Han Feizi (d. 233
bc) Li Si (d. 208 bc), advisor to Qin Shihuangdi
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Laozi

• Putative author of Dao de jing (The Way and its
  Power)
• Shadowy figure
• Perhaps older contemporary of Confucius (?)
• Legendary origins of Dao de jing

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Dao de jing

• Cryptic, paradoxical, highly suggestive
• Subject of more classical commentary and modern
  translations than any other Chinese text
• Collection of verses divided into two parts Dao
  and De
• Dao is ineffable
• Wu Wei (Non-interferance)

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Zhuangzi

• Legendary
• The Zhuangzi compilation of different works long
  chapters
• Limits of conventional morality that depends upon
  distinctions
• Proper perspective on matters
• How do I know that the dead do not wonder why
  they ever longed for life?
• Indeterminacy or uncertainty of human knowledge
• Dream of Butterfly

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Butterfly Dream
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Han Feizi (c. 280-233 bc)

• Member of royal house of state of Han student of
  Xunzi
• Wrote treatises on realpolitik caught attention
  of young Qin king
• Qin king eventually executes Han
• Legalism (fa jia)
• Practical problems of statescraft and control
• Strict enforcement of law
• Human beings act of self-interest enlightened
  ruler must use punishment and rewards