Brandon Mogi
Dana M. Reemes
History 110A MWF 11:00-11:50
16 March 2015
Chapter 8: The Unification of China The unification and expansion of China during the Qin and Han dynasties (221-220 B.C.E) was a rich tradition of the social and political philosophies of Confucians, Daoists, and Legalists was the foundation on which these and later dynasties rested. The important elements that contributed to the unification of China in this period were building a centralized bureaucracy staffed with professionals educated in Confucian thought and values, a prosperous economy based on technological and industrial development and long-distance trade, and standardization of the written language. Confucius was an educator and political advisor and his sayings were compiled in the Analects by his disciples. His ideas were fundamentally moral and ethical in character and practiced on how to restore political and social order. His ideas concentrated on the formation of junzi or superior individuals and did not allow personal interests influence their judgements. Confucius had edited the Zhou classics for his disciples to study. Ren, an example of key Confucian values, was a sense of humanity, kindness, and benevolence. There was also Li, a sense of propriety, courtesy, respect, and deference to elders. Lastly, there was Xiao, afilial piety and familial obligation. He wanted to cultivate personal morality and junzi for bringing order to China. One of the spokesmen for Confucian school was Mencius, who believed in the goodness of human nature, an example of ren, and advocated for a government by benevolence and humanity. Xunzi, an example of Li, had a less positive view of human nature and believed that humans selfishly pursue their own interests. He preferred harsh social discipline to bring order to society and advocated for moral education and good public behavior.
Daoism