The Zhou Dynasty and New Ideas

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The Zhou Dynasty and New Ideas
The Big Idea The Zhou dynasty brought political
stability and new ways to deal with social and
political problems in ancient China.
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The Zhou Dynasty and New Ideas
Zhou Dynasty Expands Confucius offers
ideas to bring order Daoism and Legalism gain
followers
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The Zhou Political System

• The Zhou people worked with other tribes to
  overthrow the Shang dynasty in the 1100s BC.
• Zhou leaders believed that their rulers were
  mandated by heaven, and that heaven would find
  another leader when necessary.
• A new political order was established the king
  granted plots of land to lords, who in turn
  provided soldiers and paid taxes to the king.
  Poor farmers were granted land as well, and
  remained under the rule of the lords.
• The lords helped Zhou rulers keep control of the
  dynasty.

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The Zhou Dynasty
King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang around 1027
B.C.. The dynasty lasted until 222 B.C., making
it the longest lasting-Chinese dynasty.
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The Zhou period was filled with unrest. Attacks
from surrounding states weakened the dynasty
until by the 700s B.C., it had lost most of its
power.
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The Warring States Period Thousands of armies
fought each other to gain territory. The armies
used new weapons and battle techniques in the
civil wars that lasted more than 200 years.
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By 481 BC, China had entered an era called the
Warring States period, a time of many civil wars.
Armies grew. Soldiers fought for territory, not
honor
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During the Warring States period, China lacked a
strong government to stop the power struggles
within the ruling-class families
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The Zhou dynasty is called the Classical Age of
China because of its many important developments
in religion, literature, and government.
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Decline of the Zhou Dynasty

• As the lords power grew, they became
  uninterested in serving Zhou rulers. Many refused
  to fight against Zhou enemies.
• In 771 BC, the Zhou suffered a loss to invaders.
  The dynasty survived, but morale weakened, and
  the Zhou began to fight among themselves.
• The Warring States Period marked power struggles
  between the ruling-class families.
• Problems within the government paralleled
  problems within large family systems, which were
  breaking down. Bonds of loyalty weakened within
  even small families, and disorder fell upon China.

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Confucius Changes China
What effects did the teachings of Confucius have
on China?
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Confucianism
Disgusted with the rude and insensitive nature of
the people around him, Confucius pushed for a
return to ethics, or moral values.
Moral Values
This code of ethics was passed down and written
in a book. These stories focused on morality,
family, society, and government.
The Analects
One of the major ideas Confucius put forth for
the success of both family and government was
leading by example. Confucius believed that when
people behaved well and acted morally, they were
carrying out what heaven expected of them.
Leading by Example
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Confucius was a scholar and teacher who lived
from 551 B.C. to 479 B.C. Confucius suggested
ways to bring order, peace, and traditional
values to China.
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Scholars began to search for ways to end the
unrest. One of these scholars was Confucius.
Confucianism was an important school of thought
at this time.
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Confucius loved learning, and mastered writing,
mathematics, history, and archery. Confucius got
a job for the government , but later devoted his
life to teaching. Confucius ideas were called,
Confucianism. Confucius claimed that Chinese
culture had lost its traditions, and that ancient
traditions had once made society fair and good.
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Confucius taught that men should follow a
tradition of learning. Through education, people
from rulers to farmers could learn how to become
good people once again.
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Women were taught to support and serve in the
home, but they did not receive the education
available to many men. Confucius felt that such
rules would lead to a good society.
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A central idea of Confucianism is filial piety,
or respect of children toward their parents. This
idea also applied to a government- a subject must
respect the ruler, who had a duty to be wise and
good.
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Confuciuss thoughts were recorded by his
students in a book called The Analects. Analects
are selected writings.
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The Confucius School
Confucianism focuses on morality, family,
society, and government. Confucianism is a unique
teaching that is philosophical and religious.
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Confucius supported Education Loyalty and
love of others Filial Piety Men should
follow a tradition of learning Women
support and serve the home
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Two Schools of Thought

• Daoism
• Daoism comes from Dao, meaning the way.
• Daoists believed that people should avoid
  interfering with nature or each other.
• Laozi wrote The Way and Its Power, a book
  teaching that power and wealth are unnecessary.

• Legalism
• Legalism is the political philosophy that people
  need to be controlled.
• It is unconcerned with religion or individual
  thought, and prepared always for war.
• Legalists put their ideas into practice
  throughout China.

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Lao Zi is said to have founded Daoism. Daoism
became a religion for many, and it influenced
Chinese poetry, painting and values.
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Lao Tzu or Lao ZiOld Sage or Old Master

• Born c. 604 bc
• Author of Tao te Ching or Taodejing The Way and
  Its Power
• Legendary life

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Daoists believed that the tao, or the way, to
truth could not be found in everyday concerns.
Instead, it was believed to be in the force or
energy that is the source of all that exists.
Daoists believed that governments should leave
people alone.
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Legalism is the belief that people are bad by
nature and need to be controlled. Legalists feel
society needed strict laws to keep people in line
and punishments should fit the crimes.