Made bureaucracy more sophisticated by starting civil service examination using Confucian ideology; those who passed the test were known as scholar gentry- merit based although some aristocrats got into court without exam…
The two previous empires, the Sui and Tang Dynasties, created the foundation for the success of the Confucian system. The Song Dynasty reformed the Confucian system and in turn increased the power of the Song emperor, even more than had been seen in the two previous dynasties. The Confucian civil service consisted of “a series of extremely rigorous exams, first on the regional and then on the national level” (Judge and Langdon pg. 303). These exams were so difficult that only 1 percent of individuals passed. This insured that the government consisted of well-educated individuals; these individuals would then became state officials and had to earn their way up through the ranks. By earning their own way, they had to depend on the favor of those higher in power than themselves, this enforced loyalty to the Emperor and high officials. Most of these…
Throughout ancient China, there were many dynasties that were set up. After one would collapse another one would soon arise and take its place. Because of this there were many different beliefs and government ideas on how China should be run. Some of the dynasties used each other’s ideas, but made them better so they succeeded this time. The two dynasties we will be looking at are the Han and Yuan dynasties. During the Han and Yuan dynasties, religious played a major part in their culture, government, and politics.…
It is two main philosophies that started to compete in China 3000 years ago. They were not just philosophies, but state policy options to govern / rule the nation. Throughout the long course of China history, Confucianism came out on top. Most major ruling dynasties in China have adopted Confucianism. It even spread to Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Legalism emphasizes law, or a set of codes, to rule the nation. Everyone is equal before the law (this sense is vague in China); law rewards who obey and punish who violate. Confucianism, on the other hand, emphasizes morality---such as, human nature is essentially good, treating others as you treating yourself; and it stresses social order---i.e. high officials respect the ruler when it comes to state affairs; son respects father, young / inexperienced respect elder / experienced, when it comes to family…
China flourished as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan societies under the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties. Officials governed effectively, economic development grew and farmers fed people, merchants and manufacturers prospered. Confucianism and Daoism was the government foundation, social structure and culture. Agriculture remained the foundation for the economy. Strong central government continued with powerful emperors and educated bureaucracy with the examination system. Landowners were at the top of the social class as well as the educated bureaucrats and military leaders. The merchants and artisans had a great deal of wealth but were…
Under the Han dynasty the rulers created an efficient and well governed empire. The Han expanded China hundreds of miles to the west, north, and south and had many innovations such as the expansion of the Great wall. The people followed the teachings and values of Confucianism. They were so strong that they have lasted throughout the centuries of Chinese history and is still well-known today. The Chinese civilization lived in a patriarchal society and Confucius teachings created a guide to how a good family should live. Patriarchy was a continuity for Chinese civilization during the classical period. Many of his beliefs and values survived and withstood many changes to come…
People in ancient china were very prosperous. It is also considered the second greatest Chinese dynasty. People in china were mainly Confucianist. Many technological advances were made during this dynasty. The emperor was very important in the Han dynasty but was sometimes over ruled by the empress, next came the kings and then the nobles. Most of their lives were controlled by the teachings of the ancient philosophers.…
Classical China was established under the influences of three philosophical movements: Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. Confucianism intended for bettered moral conduct and more sophisticated political formations. Confucian beliefs, however, lacked the spiritual side Daoism provided. Daoism integrated traditional Chinese principles with a sense of magic and mystery of nature. Legalism prompted military force for a more authoritative state, preferring strong-arm tactics and shunning Confucian values. These three philosophical movements of classical China shaped its civilization in many ways.…
Confucianism became the official philosophy of China. Confucianism emphasized the significance of individuals knowing and doing what they were expected. Confucius maintained that social order led to peace and harmony of the society. Due to the popularity of Confucianism, the civil service examination system was established. In order to work in the government, people had to pass the examination on Chinese history and Confucianism. To this day, Confucianism is still popular in China, and a large number of people are studying…
the country healthy. Everyone was supposed to play their role and if something or someone didn’t they were going to suffer from a natural disaster. The Mandate of Heaven was very significant because to the civilization because for many years they were shaped because of it. Additionally like the Shang Dynasty the Zhou Dynasty had a lot of significant achievements. During the Shang Dynasty they were three important philosophies, Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. According to passage "Ancient Chinese Dynasties: Advancements and Achievements.” ‘Confucianism was the idea that people should behave ethically and have great respect and commitment for their families. Taoism teaches humility and compassion. Legalism believed that people were evil…
The idea of ruling a powerful government based on the principle of using two conflicting ideologies at the same time appeared foreign to most dynasties of early China. In early Chinese times, after the Period of the Warring States, two ideologies emerged: Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism stressed a strong central government that expressed harsh laws while Confucianism had a decentralized government, placing trust in conscientious and learned individuals to work together to solve political issues. These two schools of thought were in stark contrast to each other and, up until the Han dynasty, had never been combined with each other through government policy. The Qin dynasty, for example implemented a strict Legalist government while the Zhou dynasty applied a decentralized Confucianist government, which, as with the Qin dynasty, did not last long. As opposed to the Qin and Zhou dynasties, the combination of Legalist and Confucianist values led to a successful government in the Han dynasty because it gave way to a strong central government along with a rise in cultural and intellectual thinking while also checking each of the ideologies to prevent one from becoming too dominant.…
China was a prosperous empire during the Tang and Song Dynasties and The Mongolian Empire because of their achievements and customs. Their achievements and customs created and influenced values such as education, respect, obedience, care taking and fierceness. These values were mainly built off of the teachings and beliefs of Confucianism and the many inventions of the Chinese and…
In the Chinese Warring States Period (475~221 B.C.) several Chinese thinkers emerged due to the unsettling instability and change that surrounded China. Both Confucianism and Legalism emerged during the period of the Hundred Schools of Thought (6th century~221 B.C.) to debate several philosophical questions in order to centralize China such as: What should human beings accomplish? How should society be organized? Who has the authority to rule? However, both Confucianism and Legalism were different as they had different ideas on what was important. While Confucianists were reinforcing the early Zhou idealism of ancestral worship and the systematic rituals in families and the government, Legalists were more focused on agricultural production, increasing commerce, and supplying the army all economic sources…
Confucius believed that a peaceful society occurred “when all people acted properly based on their roles with others” (Source #1.) To add on, he believed that people should respect and obey those above them. One of Confucius’s goals was “to bring people to a virtuous way of life” (Source #2.) In other words, Confucius didn’t believe in using military power or punishments per Source #4. However, his philosophy does take some actions and doesn’t just let things be. Per Source #3, Confucius said, “People need to treat each other as they would like to be treated.” Using Confucianism would not only inspire students to act properly, but chances are, everyone would be kinder to one another if they used the treat others how you wish to be treated saying in all their actions. Also, students who do a small wrong deed won’t be severely punished, but some action will be taken, just enough to tell the student to stop. To wrap up, Confucianism is the middle pathway to run a…
Both Confucianism and Legalism were developed in China during the Classical Period as solutions to bring back peace and harmony to the area. After the decline of the Zhou dynasty, there was a breakdown of social order (The Period of Warring States), so Chinese scholars and philosophers looked for ways to bring back a state of order and peace. Two different schools of thought, Confucianism and Legalism, developed as ways to move China out of chaos and help it return to stability. Another philosophy, Daoism, is similar to Confucianism and Legalism because it was also developed during the Classical Period in China as a solution to the disorder.…