Mandate of Heaven and the Dynastic Cycle

Mandate of Heaven
and the
Dynastic Cycle
Answer the following questions…
What
qualities do we want in a
leader?
What qualities do we not
want?
Where does a leader get his or
her power?
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.
How might you gain the
Mandate of Heaven?
How might you lose it?
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
Guiding Principles
What
is the best way to
ensure order, control
behavior?
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”
By examining the following Chinese paintings, what can you
conclude about Daoist beliefs and the influence of Daoism in China?
Can you find the houses in this picture?
What can you conclude about why they were
painted in this way?
How
might this
painting
reflect
Taoist
influence?
Which
Daoist
values are
presented
here?
Army of Emperor Shi
Huangdi. Qin dynasty. c.
210 B.C.
Read your assigned section
of “Ghostly Warriors”
1. “A Young Warrior King”
2. “Creating a New Nation”
3. “Building a Worthy
Army”
4. “A Ghostly Army”
Share as a group and then
Answer the questions.
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
Legalist Rules
 In
your group devise some Legalist
Punishments and Rewards for the
following issues: Choose 1
 Shoplifting from the Cafeteria
 Tardiness (Lateness) to school
 Cheating on a Test
 Dress Code infractions
 Cell Phones when driving.
Reflection
 What
are some similarities and between
the 3 philosophies of China?
 What is unique or distinct about each
one?
 Which of the philosophies (Confucianism,
Daoism, Legalism) do you most agree
with? Least agree with? Explain.
 Principle:
is a standard of moral decision
making
 What


principles do you live by? List (5)
Rank your principles 1-5
(1 being the most important)