In this historical article analysis, Feng (2003) writes about the Eurocentric terms used to describe primarily Asian governmental styles in the Western Zhou government (1046–771 BC). The term “feudalism” is a generalized term used by European historians, which improperly attempts to define the Fenjian style of governance in Western Zhou. Certainly, the global dominance of European scholarship is unsuccessfully analyzing the critical differences between the feudalistic style and the Fenjian governments. Feng (2003) defines the ways in which the Zhou king never possessed a “vassalage” relationship in feudal governing, since he was considered separate from his “subjects” as a divine ruler. This approach is considered from the perspective of the king, regional rulers, regional states, military ranking, and the Fengjian mechanisms of a centralized government. This article analysis will present the major differences between the “feudal” depiction of Western Zhou and the more appropriate Fenjian method of Feng’s (2003) analysis of this style of government in ancient China. The first argument that Feng (2003) puts forth is related to the function of the king as a head of state, which implies a highly centralized state that reduced the intimacy between the king and his subjects. The “ritual” of the Zhou court is defined by Feng (2003) as part of a monolithic style of governance that does not involve a “vassal” relationship found in medieval feudalism. In feudalism, there are
In ancient China, many different rulers tried to unify and rule the country using a variety of methods – Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism to name a few. Each philosophy had its own set of rules of how people should act both in public and privately. The overall goal of each philosophy was to set a standard of acceptable living that would ensure harmony and success for the society. However, each was different and thus had different results. The best way for the people of China to succeed in a harmonious, respectable society occurred when both Confucianism and Legalism were combined.
During the Zhou Dynasty, there were mant developments, and how and why those develpoments happened. There was also many changes and continuities that was caused because of these additions. Some developments were that supporters supported a central governmentwith tax revenues amd troops. This development happened because since large estates were too big, they were controlled by family members/ supportters of the emperor. These supporters lacked cintrol of their territory which
In breaking down the causations and effects of the Mongols regarding their rule on China during 1200-1500, one can see these include the implementation of governing philosophies of elected officials that shaped Chinese culture, the influence of tax-farming systems on China’s economy, and the influence of trade on social hierarchies. An example of an impact by the Mongols on Chinese rule is the negative influences of tax farming on Chinese economy. Another example of a causation of Mongol rule on China is the of tax-farming systems in order to improve revenue in the area.
During the Western Zhou period, commodity circulated mostly through tribute and gift rather than office, cities were noble fortify, artisans were an heritable caste of serfs attached to states or flattery, and ministers and court members were preferential based on consanguineous rather than talent. Battles between regional leaders were relatively short and, for the nobles, restrained by a code of
From 600 BCE to 600 CE, China experienced changes in its political system in terms of the dissimilar ruling styles of different leaders, the rule under Legalism, and the influence of philosophical thinking like Daoism. These changes, influenced by aspects of the world and its own region, shaped China into its Classical state. In contrast, the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, the civil service system, and the significance of unity through a strong central government remained constant throughout China’s Classical period. These continuities followed through, staying essentially the same as an important part of China’s identity.
The Egyptian politics and economy was directed by the pharaoh’s government, and this may have been because of the irregularity and complexity of the Nile’s overflow. Thanks to its early unity along the river of Nile, the Ancient Egyptian civilisation didn’t have as much political issues such as the Zhou Dynasty. Meanwhile, the Zhou ruled through alliances, which means that the emperor would have not had direct control of all of Zhou’s territory. This is known as China’s feudal period, where supporters of the emperor were asked to provide troopers and tax revenues. The central government would then provide them with land in return. This weakened the emperor’s strength in government and in order to strengthen their power throughout Zhou, the emperors introduced a few methods. For example, they claimed a ‘mandate of heaven’, a concept that states there can be only one ruler at a time. Emperors of Zhou also tried to unite Zhou in cultural aspects, by means such as supporting and promoting the use of the Mandarin language. The Ancient Egyptian civilisation and the Zhou had their similarities in the fact that they both had a single ruler, but while Egyptian pharaohs had a firm hold of their society, the emperors of Zhou failed to do
Analyze similarities and differences in methods of political control in two of the following empires from 600 BCE to 600 CE (Han China, Mauryan/Gupta India, Imperial Rome).
Ancient China’s rich history has a direct influence on the China of the 21st century. First, the immense importance of the cultivation of rice, which became a staple source of food in China for centuries. Next, the primary source of accounts of ancient china comes from the Shujing, which spanned the Xia, Shang, and Zhou empires. Furthermore, The power women could hold reached its heights during the Shang empire, and underwent a downward trajectory during the Zhou empire. Moreover, regime changes have had a unique outcomes in China due to the “Mandate of Heaven” which gave new regimes the control over the civilians of the conquered empires. Lastly, the decline of the Zhou came about from the power of local rulers who began to seek their own interests. Ultimately, the mandate of heaven bears responsibility for keeping China intact for centuries regardless of conflicts and shifts in power.
The Han dynasty was a golden era for China. It saw the greatest land confiscation of the nation’s history and economic success. In this paper I will be focusing on the structure of the national government, the monopolizing of iron and salt, the Yumen Pass and the Yellow Turban rebellion. Join me as we take a trip back in time to visit a time in Chinas history that is highly revered.
However, it is always easy to start the process of centralization but difficult to maintain the state of centralization. Faced with this knotty problem, Wudi adopted Confucianism, which underlined “the moral basis of superior-subordinate relations, appreciating that in the long run the ruler would achieve his goals more easily and economically when his subordinates viewed their relationship with the ruler in moral terms of loyalty and responsibility” (65).
The dynastic system was replaced with a democratic system. This essay is going to discuss whether or not the Mandate of Heaven was present during the Chinese revolution of 1911. Before the Chinese revolution in 1911, “China was ruled by a series of dynasties or royal families, dating back to 1500BC”(Kucha and Llewellyn). A dynasty is a family that would rule China until it loses power. When the emperor dies, most of the time their son would take power and become the emperor.
The early Zhou dynasty of ancient China was governed by a hereditary vassal system. The emperor would assign land to vassals of his choosing, often times members of his own family (pg. 96). Both the position of vassal and Emperor was hereditary so these positions could be kept in the family and hopefully the loyalty would too. However, that was not the case. With such a widespread method of government the vassals were able to form their own alliances and as generations grew they continued to become less and less loyal to an emperor they had never met. The emperor was overthrown by disloyal vassals and they placed a person from their own family in his place. The government was never centralized and so the trend continued. Vassals would fight
The type of government that helped and benefited China the most was aristocracy because the Tang dynasty thrived using aristocracy and the wealthy have access to knowledge and books. According to the textbook, it stated that “[Tang rulers] strengthened the central government and increased Tang influence over outlying areas”(181). This suggests how Tang’s system of aristocracy was extremely effective in strengthening China’s central government. The text concludes that an aristocratic government benefited China by strengthening its central government. In addition, it said, “Only the wealthy could afford tutors, books, and time to study” (182). This excerpt suggests that the wealthy had access to knowledge, unlike the poor whom had no access to books and therefore, couldn’t study.
The Six Dynasty period in Chinese historiography is often classified with moments of conflict, revolt, strife, famine, disunity, and not innovation. Historians and academics categorize the period as a placeholder between the more significant Han China—206 BCE to 220 CE—and the Tang dynasty—618 to 907 CE. Understandably, Han China’s military, infrastructure, and civil capabilities were rivalled only by that of the Roman Empire, and even then, the Han dynasties administrative capabilities were rivalled by none. The Tang period is widely considered to be the high point of Chinese culture and civilization, where cosmopolitan China emerged with force vastly shaping China for centuries to come. The significance of the Han and Tang dynasties is not in question, it is the lack of importance that historians confer on the Six Dynasties period. Admittedly the Six Dynasty period in Chinese history can be categorized as a warring period, in which China did not develop unilaterally, but separately along fractured lines (split both north-south, and east-west). Much like the European medieval period, there are few accessible sources from early-medieval china, and because of this, China’s six dynasty period is brushed over as a period of little advancement and innovation. The “Dark Ages” in Europe use to receive the same scholarly interpretation as a period of stagnation.
The purpose of this paper is to tell the history of the Ming Dynasty’s impact on the Chinese Empire, and to explain why the Chinese Empire was in fact an empire.