Change Over Time Essay During the time period of 300-1300 CE, the Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuan empires had all come to power in China. All of which contributed to the changes and continuities that occurred in China during that time period. The Sui Empire (581-618 C.E.) of China was very important because it sprang from the political diversity of the period of disunion. After the fall of the Han Empire there was a vacuum of political instability.
Han China vs. Imperial Rome The methods of political control used in Han China (206 B.C.E-220 C.E.) were similar to that of Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E-476 C.E. ); however, these societies greatly differed on their oppositions of governing and the techniques used in maintaining control over citizens, expansions, and their falls. Han China and Imperial Rome had similar governments because they were ruled under one central leader, however, Han China had an emperor that enforced policies and Imperial Rome had a republic because they felt the monarchy did no good to the people. The Senate of Rome had most control over the citizens.
Neo-Confucianism turned into sometimes rigid orthodoxy over the following centuries. In popular practice, however, the three doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism were often melded together. The abolition of the examination system in 1905 marked the end of official Confucianism. The New Culture intellectuals of the early twentieth century blamed Confucianism for China's weaknesses. They searched for imported doctrines to replace it, such as the "Three Principles of the People" with the establishment of the Republic of China, and then Communism under the People's Republic of China.
In Tang Dynasty, deeply rooted favoritism stemming from the influence of the ‘eminent families’ who held powerful posts prevented someone without connection and background from occupying prominent posts. In this manner, the power of eunuchs in Tang Dynasty began to accumulate. By the time of Emperor Xizong’s rule, substantial cliques began to form. The cliques grew powerful enough to formulate the national policy and claim monopoly on officeholding. The clash between the cliques radically undermined the ruling of the central government and led to its downfall.
In what way does the growth of nationalism explain the downfall of imperial China 1911-12? From 2200BC to the twentieth century China had been ruled by fifteen imperial dynasties with little variance between them. The people of China believed in the Mandate of heaven which stated that the emperor was entitled to complete power and this hierarchic sense of loyalty and obedience, to the emperor and his mandarin class government as well as one’s own family, was characteristic of the totalitarian, Sino-centric culture in China at that time. However in 1911 the weak Qing dynasty was overthrown by a people’s revolution and the mandate of heaven was passed to a republic. The feeble leadership of the Qing dynasty, whilst a definite cause, was not solely responsible for their downfall as other factors such as foreign influence in China as well as the western impact on economy and society are what demonstrated the inability of the Qing dynasty.
Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping both wanted a communist government for China. I feel that Deng Xiaoping was the better choice of the two leaders. His actions resulted in the improvement of the Chinese society. While, Mao Zedong appeared to do more damage than good for the Chinese people. Mao Zedong worked with the "Red Guards.
This means that they were always bettering themselves. China was separated during the warring states era but was later brought together (around 221 BC. )by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of the in. This emperor was known for his cruelty and intolerance, which went against tradition but was also effective. Qin Shi created the great wall of china in order to protect the Chinese civilization from barbarians.
The British government retaliated with much force, resulting in Chinese defeat, which then forth became the Treaty of Nanking. The Treaty of Nanking is labeled as one of the “Unequal Treaties” for many reasons. When Britain implemented the Treaty of Nanking, much of the life that China knew would soon be no more, the island of Hong Kong was forced over to British ownership and control, rights were taken away, tariffs implemented, and the destruction of Opium by Lin caused a six million dollar “refund” to England. Since China was a closed nation, with an old-fashioned way of life and military technology, this caused a great disadvantage for them, trying to fight against what British was doing to their country. China had no say or control to what Britain was doing to them, and no way of fighting back or retaliating.
Why did it take until 1928 for Nationalist control of China . The most obvious outcome of the 1911 Revolution would have been for a democratic government led by the nationalists to emerge, after all one of the main aims of the Revolution had been to introduce democracy to China. The Nationalists were also the party with the most support, and should have prospered, but they didn’t. Initially it seemed that in the aftermath of the Revolution the Nationalists would gain control when Sun Yat-Sen was installed as president, but the presence of Yuan Shikai complicated matters. The military strength he possessed was far greater than the Nationalists so when he made a bid for the presidency, Sun felt that he had to step aside.
Confucius best summarizes Jen in the Analects through what is sometimes referred to today as the Golden rule, “Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you." (Analects 15:23). This idea of treating others the way you would want to be treated emphasizes the importance of acting virtuous, and in return will be rewarded with acts of virtue. Confucius teaches that virtue is an act, and by acting with virtue good will come. Lao Tzu was another great philosopher around the time of Confucius who had a different take on life.