Chinese History and Philosophy

[david_dawei]

While I personally feel the dao section is most important and maybe the cosmology one is most interesting, this was maybe too ambitious a section. Trying to portray a concise history of china is an oxymoron, coupled with a 'world event' in each dynasty so you can see the time period to the rest of the world. I finish this with some comments on the west's exposure to China and an interesting connection to the declaration of independence.

 

 

II. Dynasties

Ancient China ( – 221 BC)

--Neolitic Cultures ( - 3000 BC)

--Pre-Historic Cultures (3000 – 2000 BC)

--Xia (2000 – 1500 BC)

--Shang (1500 – 1040 BC)

--Zhou (1040 – 221 BC)

--The “One Hundred Schools” of Philosophy

 

Early Imperial (221 BC – 586)

--Qin (221 – 206 BC)

--Han (206 BC – 220)

--Six Dynasties (220 – 586)

 

Middle Imperial (586 – 1280)

--Sui (586 – 618)

--Tang (618 – 906)

--Five Dynasties/Ten Kingdoms (906 – 960)

--Song (960 – 1280)

 

Late Imperial (1280 – 1912)

--Yuan (1280 – 1365)

--Ming (1368 – 1644)

--Qing ( 1644 – 1912)

 

The West in China

 

Individuals in China

 

Individuals on China

 

Leibniz and China

 

THE CHINA - LEIBNIZ – FRANKLIN – DECLARARION OF INDEPENDENCE CONNECTION

 

---

 

China History Forum

 

World History

 

History of China

 

History and Maps of China:

 

The Art of Asia, History and Maps:

 

Population of China by Dynasty:

Edited January 14, 2007 by DavidZixuan (see edit history)

[david_dawei]

II. DYNASTIES

 

 

ANCIENT CHINA:

 

NEOLITIC CULTURES:

According to Chinese tradition, the cradle of Chinese civilization is the Huang He valley (Yellow River—silt and mud produce a yellowish color); about 10,000 BC an agrarian culture developed comparable to the Nile Valley and oral [myth] traditions were most likely being passed down; millet was grown as early as 5500 BC; Around 5000 BC village settlements existed. Pottery had been used since 16,000 BC (see: http://arheologija.ff.uni-lj.si/documenta/pdf29/29chi.pdf ). The earliest form of writing on tortoise shells (though debated if it is a writing system) dates to 6500 BC (Jiahu script) and 5000 BC (Banpo script). Due to the similarities to Shang Dynasty characters, it is believed this could put Chinese writing as the earliest form of writing, 2000 years before Cuneiform. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2956925.stm .

 

World Events:

--Between 6000-5000 BC, world population is estimated at 5 million

--villages, settlements and farming appear in such places as Greece, Egypt, India, Sumer and Akkadia.

--4241 BC is earliest date mentioned by Egyptians; Around 3150, Egypt is a unified kingdom setting off a series of dynasties; Hieroglyphic writing is evidenced.

--3760 BC is first year (literal creation) of the Jewish calendar;

--In 3500 BC, a phonetic and number system is developed by Sumerians; Cuneiform script is considered the oldest writing system and adopted by many others. Since the early writings were on clay, even if enemy forces burnt a city, it effectively baked the clay, preserving the tablets. A Cuneiform example: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...26th_c_Adab.jpg

 

 

PRE-HISTORIC CULTURES: 3000 – 2000 BC

A form of Chinese writing by 2500 BC includes pictograms and then ideograms. The “Classic of History” (书经, Shu1 Jing1) written in 6th century BC (one of five classics, a sixth was thought burnt) presents some narrative and prose on ancient China. This book is the earliest narrative of China and thus predates the western historian Herodotus (“The father of history”) by centuries. Legend has this period as being ruled by the “Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors” (三皇五帝, San1 Huang2 Wu3 Di4).

 

--The first of the Sovereigns is said to be Fu Xi, who is credited with inventing writing, fishing and hunting, as well as the string instrument guqin. He is said to be the originator of “The Book of Change” (易经, Yi4 Jing1), oldest of the five classics, which is the source and basis for the Chinese explanation of how the universe unfolds and influences all life. This ultimately impacts cosmology, Yin Yang, Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, Feng Shui, etc. In cosmology, Fu Xi is said to be the first husband, marrying his sister Nu Wa (see cosmology write-up). This picture of Fu Xi and Nu Wa as husband and wife (with lower halves intertwined as snakes) dates to the late Han period: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d...Nuwa%26fuxi.jpg

 

--Shen Nong (The Divine Farmer) is considered the father of agriculture and medicine, to be the source of Chinese herbal medicine, having [taste] tested hundreds of herbs, and having introduced the techniques of acupuncture.

 

--The fabled first ‘emperor’ (prior to the idea of emperors) was the “Yellow Emperor” (黄帝, Huang2 Di4 - not to be confused with the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty) who lived roughly from 2700-2600 BC. He is said to be the ancestor of all Han Chinese and one of the founders of religious Taoism, and on whom is bestowed so much mythology and inventions that separating fact from fiction is near impossible. The “yellow” was ascribed for his contributions to agriculture and thus this became the imperial color. His social feats are said to cover writing, money and state-government organization, the start of a patriarchal system, great accomplishments in weapons and war, unifying tribes, creation of a calendar, developing a compass, eating utensils, founder of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with his writing “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine” (which describes Yin Yang theory of health, general care methods including acupuncture, and even describes such diseases as malaria), discovering tea (first reached Europe in 1610), surnames as originating from his 25 sons, the raising of silkworms and the start of weaving (his wife is credited with the these last two). It is said a yellow dragon came down from heaven and returned with him.

 

World Events:

--By 3000 BC, the world population was estimated about 14 million.

--2637 BC is first year of the Chinese calendar;

--In 2340 BC, the Akkadian Empire was founded by their conquest of Sumeria, creating the largest empire to date;

--In Greece, this is the Bronze Age;

--In Egypt, the pyramids were built and paper was created from papaya plant. Egypt used the mathematical concept of PI in calculations, (China around 200 AD) 1500 years before Archimedes is credit with it.

--In India, Egypt and Babylon there is evidence of the basic Pythagorean Theorem (which dates to around 500 BC for the western founder); Close in time, China documents a knowledge of it. Mesopotamians compiled tables of squared numbers;

--The Hindu’s possessed the most advanced mathematics of the ancient civilizations mainly due to their exclusive advancement of zero; As well, they asserted an understanding of motion, gravity as holding the universe together and revolving around the sun, and algebra, trigonometry, and calculus centuries prior to Galileo, Newton, and Leibniz.

 

 

Xia Dynasty: 2000 – 1500 BC

Traditionally, Yu the Great (大禹, Da4 Yu3) is the founder of this dynasty and legend ascribes him as author of the mythological geography book called “The Book of Mountains and Seas” (山海经, Shan1 Hai3 Jing1 - a semi encyclopedia of China), from which a flood story appears and where Nu Wa is shown as being a snake with a human head (see the cosmology write-up on comparisons to the elements in the western bible’s cosmology): This book contained a picture depicting Nu Wa, again with a snake lower half: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm.../180px-Nvwa.jpg

 

This dynasty, long thought a myth, has very little recorded history and only a few archeological finds. Discoveries since 2000 have uncovered ruins in Henan Province bolstering the oral tradition of this time period. It was considered a slave society but this information is deduced by evidence of slavery in the Shang dynasty. Prior to this period, ascension was based on community virtue, rather than father-son; Da Yu’s son proved capable enough and thus was born the dynasty, rule by heredity. Da Yu is said to have died in the mountains south of present day Shaoxing. Future emperors would pay homage to this site, where a temple now sits. The last of the Xia rulers was said to be a tyrant, resulting in the Shang tribe eventually coming to power; Oppressive rule burdening the people would ultimately lead to rebellions many times throughout dynasty rule.

 

World Events:

--By 2000 BC, the world population was about 30 million.

--In 1860 BC, Stonehedge is erected.

--In 1730 BC the Babylonian Empire was formed by the conquests of the Sumerians and Akkadians. The first king of the Babylonian Empire would become known for “The Code of Hammurabi”, 282 laws and punishments. (Images of Hammurabi can be found in the US Capital and Supreme Court buildings).

--By 1600 BC, Greece and Egypt are trading overseas. In 1470 BC, it is believed that a Volcano destroyed an ancient Cretan civilization.

--In this period was penned the book of Job and the Rig-Veda, the Hindu classic and oldest known religious writing.

 

 

Shang Dynasty: 1500-1040 BC

Avoiding the mistakes of the previous ruler, the Shang tribe leader treated the people well and the economy progressed. During the period the Shang capital was at Yin and archeological discoveries uncover an active society. The dynasty’s eventual fall would trace to their continued use of slaves.

 

The Shang dynasty, often considered the first dynasty, included thirty kings and seven capitals. This period is recorded as based on agriculture and while they ate various meats (pig to dog) they disliked dairy. They are credited with: the first time period to record their history (as found on Tortoise shells and Oracle bones), iron casting, bronze metallurgy and art, astronomical discovery of Mars, and use of chopsticks. The family system was based on oldest brother to youngest brother or nephew. Human sacrifice and ancestry worship existed. Their principle gods were for the sky, river, rain, earth; the god over all was “Shang4 Di4” (上帝 – see cosmology write-up). References to warlike tribes in the north are thought to include the latter known Huns. In the end, a despotic ruler was dethroned by the leader of the Zhou state, where a strong slavery system existed; generally a farming tribe with slave-soldiers used to protect western Shang, these slave-soldiers would stage the final revolt.

 

World Events:

--By 1500, world population is about 37 million.

--Early in this period, the Phoenicians develop an alphabet.

--Around 1235 BC Athens is founded; 1225 BC marks the birth of “Helen of Troy” (she’s really of Sparta); 1200 BC was the time of the Trojan War written in the Iliad by Homer (fall of Troy to the Greeks in 1184 BC).

--Around 1250 BC, Moses unites the Hebrews and they soon occupy Canaan. The first five books of the Hebrew bible were written.

 

 

Zhou Dynasty: 1040-221 BC

The semi-nomadic Zhou tribe conquered the Shang and built their capital in Xian. The Shang had weakened due to wars and Zhou strengthened by alliances. The Zhou (later called Western Zhou) credited their success to their own instituted concept of the “Mandate of Heaven”. They banned human sacrifice but replaced the Shang god (Shang Di) with an impersonal power, Tian, and worship of stars. Although they conquered hugh portions of China, they could not rule centrally and instead delegated administrative powers in a mix of tribal-feudal organization; Agriculture was mostly directed by the government with farm land owned by nobles who gave land to serfs. To overcome regional dialects, they utilized approximately 3,000 characters as representative of words (regardless of pronunciation, the symbol had the same meaning). With the absence of central control, eventually neighboring states weakened and a coalition of feudal lords attacked the Zhou capital killing the king in 771 BC; a new capital was formed in Luoyang.

 

World Events:

--By 1000 BC, the world population was about 50 million.

--Early in this period, King Saul is succeeded by David; David succeed by his son Solomon; After the death of Solomon, the two Kingdoms of Judah (southern kingdom with it’s capital in Jerusalem) and Israel (northern kingdom) formed in 930 BC. In 720 BC, the northern kingdom fell to the Assyrian Empire and became exiled as the “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel”. In 586 BC, the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian Empire and the southern kingdom endured the “Babylonian Captivity”. Babylon would fall to the Persian empire in 539 BC and by 370 BC the Jews would return to Israel and rebuild the temple.

--Carthage is founded in 814 BC by Phoenicians; In 509 BC a treaty was signed with Rome as Carthage had gained control of Sicily and Sardinia; Carthage became a commercial center.

--An Etruscan civilization is evidenced (allies of the Carthaginians), which includes part of later Rome.

--Greece is just emerging out of their “Dark Ages” with the formation of city-states and developed an alphabet from the Phoenicians. The first Olympic games were held in 776 BC.

 

 

Spring and Autumn Period:Occurred from about 770-476 B.C. begins what is called the Eastern Zhou. Luoyang became the capital in 722 BC. Farming utilized animals and plows, and land terraces for irrigation. Power constantly shifted and war and strife was the order of the day for two centuries prior to Laozi and Confucius. The “One Hundred Schools” began to bloom during this period. The founder of Daoism, Laozi, lived during this time and he advocated a return to simpler times when government would not interfere with man’s relationship to nature. The legalist school promoted a strict impersonal set of laws and emphasized a central government and strong economy. Confucius lived during this period and stressed a government respectful of people (as a model to teach people how to behave), obedience to authorities, ethical living, and studying of the classics and liberal arts, as a solution towards restoring order in society. China had created an antibiotic from soybean curd.

 

World Events:

--By 500 BC, world population was about 100 million.

--In 753 BC, Rome was founded, their first calendar had 10 months of 304 days and started in March; In 509 the Roman republic was founded.

--In Greece, this is the period of Homer, Hesiod, and Pythagoras; In 510 BC, the democratic government replace kingly rule.

--The Persian Empire was at it’s height, but then weakened by the Greeks in the Persian Wars.

--In India, around 520 BC, the Buddha began to spread his enlightened form of Indian Brahmanism; It would be almost 600 years before it would reach China. India determined the age of the earth as billions of years old (the west would arrive at that in the 20th century).

--Aesop’s fables were written.

 

 

Warring States Period: About 475 - 221 B.C., is so named because of the power struggle between the seventeen or so states of China that were trying to gain control over the entire area. Farming utilized certain iron tools and well as fertilizer. The famous Art of War was penned. A version of Laozi’s famous writing , Yi Jing/Tao Te Ching/The Way and it’s Power was discovered in 1993, written on bamboo slips (see this for a sample picture: http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/0...inese1-300.jpg ). The Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine) is thought to date to this period or early Han. The daoist Zuangzi lived during this time and whose eventual writing would be as important as Laozi. Thus the three foundational legs of Daoism show up in the Zhou period: Laozi, Zhuangzi, and the classic Nei Jing. Around 377 BC, Buddhism split into Northern and Southern branches; The former creed is what would eventually come to China. The patriotic poet Qu Yuan lived during this period (the present day Dragon Boat Festival commemorates his death).

 

In the early stages, the state of Qin was not considered a strong threat, rather semi-barbaric and containing Tibetans and Turks. Yet their martial spirit and trade/commerce seeking manner attracted many people and built up their army. Through expansionism and alliances, the states has reduced to around seven; Qin moved west in conquests, founding Chengdu. Successive victories for Qin finally put all ‘warring’ to an end and Zhou had one ruler; Southern expansions into Guangzhou and Guangxi would create what is now considered China. The largest city in this period is thought to have a population of 300,000 (at least nine had more than 100,000).

 

World Events:

--By 250 BC, world population is 125 million (China 28%).

--Through most of this period, Carthage sought to expand port and naval control and engaged in three Sicilian Wars and the Pyrrhic War. By 264 BC, the first of three Punic Wars occurred between the Romans and Carthaginians; Rome had become an international power.

--The Peloponnesian War lasted 30 years (431-404 BC) with the Spartans victorious over the Athenians. This was followed by the Macedonian invasion of Greece; Alexander the great took over the Persian empire but was to die at age 33 of a fever while in Babylon.

--The Hellenistic period had begun in Greece: this is the period of Aristotle, Sophocles, Socrates, Euripides, Archimedes, Herodotus, Euclid, and Plato; The theory of atomism is developed (everything is composed of atoms). In 264 BC, the first gladiator games are recorded.

 

 

THE “ONE HUNDRED SCHOOLS” IN EARLY CHINA:

Although there was the “One hundred schools” in early China, the most accepted categorization is the following “School of Six”:

 

1) Daoist (Dao De) school (Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi) concerned itself with bringing Heaven-Earth-Man into unity/harmony through the agency of Dao (called the ‘way’, a process considered more like a force or agency) and the transmission of De (power,virtue); It was influenced by Hinduism, the religion of India, and eventually influenced Buddhism (which originated in India).

2) The Yin Ying School concerned itself with cosmological issues which describe the interaction of Yin and Yang as the forces of the universe on nature and man (most likely an ancient Daoist concept). The eventual effect of Yin Yang cosmology would be found in the classic Yi Jing/I Ching/Book of Change, the origin of Feng Shui (geomancy) and used by both Confucianism and Daoism.

3) Confucian (Ju-scholar) School concerned itself with ethics and principles; ways to live in harmony with people and society.

4) Mohist School (Mo Zi and later Menicus) concerned itself with promoting general welfare and removing evil through the belief in spirits who can reward those who practice all-embracing love, or punish those who don’t; pragmatic dogma; Criticized the Confucian focus on the self as leading to struggle instead of cooperation and harmony.

5) Legalist School concerned itself with authority of law for promoting human welfare over moral laws; The interest of the state is of primary concern and this can be most effectively realized through adaptation of laws. Added legalism to Confucian moralism.

6) School of Names concerned itself with debating “what lies in the shape vs beyond the shape”; “Names vs Actualites”.

 

All the schools had well developed political philosophies which sought to expound a way for man to restore meaning in life and for the government to best rule. Confucianism’s political ethics can be best seen in this statement, made in light of the previous periods: "If right principles prevailed through the empire, there would be no need for me to change its state"—Confucius.

Edited January 14, 2007 by DavidZixuan (see edit history)

[david_dawei]

EARLY IMPERIAL DYNASTIES:

 

Qin (221 - 206 BC)

Of the main three political philosophies (Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism), legalism was implemented by the Qin: Qin Shi Huang Di was the first [self-named] emperor of Qin: the feudal system ended, land was divided into 36 districts with a governor, the great wall construction began (to keep out the northern warlike tribes), a canal was built from Chang Jiang (Yangzi) to present day Guangzhou, money was standardized, the country was unified, and last but not least, all philosophy books were ordered to be burned (influence of legalist school). The emperor spent lavish amounts of money to build his Imperial tomb; the famous location of the 6,000 life like terra cotta soldiers and horses at Xian. The emperor died in 210 BC and a power struggle ensued for control of China. The english word for China is said to come from the spelling [Ch¡¯in] of this dynasty.

 

World Events:

--By 200 BC, world population is about 150 million.

--The second Punic War is known for the Carthaginian Hannibal¡¯s crossing of the Alps.

--Archimedes develops proofs for a circle¡¯s area and buoyancy.

 

 

Han: (Western Han, 206 BC ¨C 9 AD; Xin, 9 ¨C 23; Eastern Han, 23 - 220)

The short lived Qin was replaced by the Han dynasty who opposed the Qin policies. The founder of the dynasty was the first commoner to rule china. He made an alliance with the northern warlike tribes to prevent their attacks, although he died in 195 BC. Power passed between a few emperors: Empress Lu was the fist woman ruler in China (she had her adopted son killed to take over rule for five years) and the celebrated Emperor Wu (140 BC) followed. Many aspects of life flourished and Confucianism was adopted as the state doctrine, the imperialist system was founded, the civil service examines were initiated (tests based on law, history, and Confucius¡¯s works); Inventions include paper (almost a 1000 years prior to Europe), porcelain (in 1709, successfully reproduced in Europe), and the rudder (ships could sail into the wind). Evidence of Alchemy existed.

 

The emperor wanted to secure trade routes west, yet remove the ties with the northern tribes who were likely to renew attacks. He was successful in pushing the northern tribes into retreat and occupying the new land. Thus, envoys and caravans went west establishing the ¡®Silk Routes¡¯ which went about 7000 miles east-west from the Mediterranean Sea to the Yellow Sea; A king¡¯s messenger, after 13 years of absence from being sent to western Asia to try and establish peace with the northern tribes, returned with stories of the land and credited with the recipe for making grape wine; Eventually more conveys would lead to establishing an east-west relationship); The first Chinese dictionary (shou wen) of 10,000 words was written; central rule was relaxed and some land privatized; Military expansion pushed into Vietnam and Korea and millions were transplanted for colonization. The Records of the Historian (Shi Ji) became the model for subsequent history books. The first biography of Laozi appears around 100 BC. This [Han] ethnic group established itself as the ¡®Chinese people¡¯ and the language became known as ¡®Han Yu¡¯.

 

Buddhism was first introduced from India (due to the silk routes) around year 50. Emperor Ming¡¯s dream of a giant was interpreted as the sage from the west, Buddha. An envoy was sent and Indian priests returned and were housed in the White Horse Temple (the first Buddhist temple built and named for the horse which carried back the sutras). Buddhism¡¯s early acceptance seems the result of Buddhism appearing as another form of Taoism (a popular legend was that Laozi had traveled to India to teach Taoism) and was translated often using Taoist terms. Taoism grew into a distinct religious branch (from philosophical Taoism) by being associated with the immortality cult. Taoism as a philosophy directed people¡¯s leisure, ¡®weekend daoist¡¯. Despite a period of political infighting, the Eastern Han period claims progress in science and technology: Seismograph was invented (detects earthquakes 400 miles away), sun spots observed, and over 11,000 stars and the lunar orbit charted. In agriculture, water pumps and wheel barrows were ahead of the great Roman ¡®golden age¡¯ inventions. Disease outbreaks occurred during 161. The Eastern Han¡¯s capital of Xian is estimated to have had a population of 500,000; China, 50 million.

 

The Yellow Turban Rebellion:

The turning point and weakening of the Han dynasty usually traces to the ¡°Yellow Turban Rebellion¡±, a secret Taiping Taoist society (Tai Ping Dao, The way of Supreme Peace) whose rebellion is the opening event in the classic novel ¡°Romance of the Three kingdoms¡±, written during the Mongol ruled Yuan dynasty.

 

The Yellow Turban¡¯s spread their message as:

²ÔÌìÒÑËÀ£¬ (The blue sky has perished¡ªHan dynasty)

»ÆÌìµ±Á¢£¬ (The yellow sky will soon rise¡ªrebels)

ËêÔÚ¼××Ó£¬ (In this year)

ÌìÏÂ´ó¼ª (Everything under heaven shall proper)

The Azure Sky is already dead; the Yellow Sky will soon rise.

When the year is jiǎzǐ, there will be prosperity under Heaven!
(蒼天已死，黃天當立。歲在甲子，天下大吉。)

Although the rebellion was defeated, the inevitable power struggle and fight for control of the south (south of the Yangzi) lead to the battle at Jiang Ling (a strategic hold) and the ¡°Battle of Red Cliffs¡± (also in the aforementioned novel), dividing the powers up. The eventual fall of the Han dynasty into three kingdoms had started and would result in a long period of independent state rule.

 

World Events:

--In year 0, the world population was about 170 million (China 30%); by 200 AD, almost 200 million.

--A Greek version of the Hebrew bible was written. Greece made the mistake to side with the Carthaginians in the Third Punic War against Rome; by 146 BC, Carthage fell and Greece would soon became a Roman province.

--Christianity is founded.

--The Coliseum and Parthenon were built by the Romans.

--In 79, Mount Vesuvius erupts and buries Pompeii under ash.

--In 67 Rome destroyed the second Jewish Temple.

--In 64 was the great fire in Rome.

--In 58, Julius Caesar started The Gallic Wars and his death in 44 spurred the Roman Empire¡¯s formation. Virgil, Ovid, Ptolemy, Cicero and Marcus Aurelius lived during this period. Lucretius wrote ¡°On the Nature of the Universe¡±, atomism.

--By 200 AD, Germanic people were attacking Greece.

 

 

Six Dynasties: (220 ¨C 586)

Three competing powers lead to the Three Kingdom [san Guo] Period (220¨C260), Jin (260-420) and Southern/Northern (420-586) dynasties. This period of division is said to have almost lost the uniform Chinese culture created by the Han dynasty. A movement in the north began the process of reuniting the country, which would be realized by the next dynasty. Although the three kingdoms were consolidated and romanticized through the famous novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, population counts from the late Han to early Jin show a reduction of about 40 million; However questionable the count, the reduction reveals the undeniable bloodshed of the period. As well, Disease outbreaks occurred during 310-312. The Classic of Geography (Ë®½›×¢, Shui3 Jing1 Zhu4) was written during the Three Kingdom period; The Pangu cosmological myth is first documented.

 

The Jin¡¯s nine successive emperors were eventually defeated by attempting to fight on two fronts, leaving them too weak in the north against Mongol tribes (Huns, claiming lineage via the intermarriage to Han princesses). Their inability to unite the country split into two (North-five states and South-four states) and expansions on the great wall occurred. The naturalist poet Tao Qian lived during the Jin Dynasty; His famous Peach Blossom would be imitated by many poets.

 

The capital moved from Luoyang to present day Nanjing. From this period of political fallout, the people turned away from Confucianism to Taoism and Buddhism. Taoism¡¯s popularity grew in both in the court (revival of Taoist classics) and among the common people (particularly the newer teachings of the afterlife and religion; Taoist worship and secret societies arose.) Buddhism, due to it¡¯s similar teaching of Taoism, spread throughout of China, mostly in the north (most of the nobility had fled to the south and took Confucianism with them). A Buddhist text called ¡°The Disposition of Error¡± was a defense of Buddhism against Confucian criticism which helped spread an understanding of the Buddhist¡¯s way. Buddhism grew rapidly with adherence and the buiding of temples. The first patriarch of Zen Buddhism would leave South India for South China in 520, which was already fertile with Buddhist teaching.

 

WORLD EVENTS:

--From 200-500 AD, world population is thought to be unchanged.

--In 500, Democracy is established in Athens; In 430, Athens was invaded by a plague.

--In 476, the Western Roman Empire comes to an end and Western Europe would soon emerge.

--In 440, Dec. 25 becomes the accepted celebration of Jesus¡¯ birth.

--By 400, Greece was ruled by Constantinople; In 312, Constantine converted to Christianity.

--In 380, Christianity is the official religion of Rome; In 325, a holy day of Sunday is instituted.

--The famed Christian, ¡°The Doctor¡±, St. Augustine, lived during this period.

--Jerome wrote the Latin version of the bible.

Edited March 8, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[david_dawei]

MIDDLE IMPERIAL CHINA

 

Sui: (586 ¨C 618)

Like the short lived Qin dynasty, the Sui (the founder was of mixed blood and the capital was setup in Xian) which reunited the country using the popularity of Buddhism and Taoism as a uniting tool, would precede a great and prosperous dynasty. They reinstituted Han government policies (positions by merit), abolished noble class privileges, and reformed many laws. This dynasty brought the preceding split and rivalry to an end and started the forces that would be realized fully in the Tang dynasty; The growth of Buddhism made China a center of Buddhist learning; Japan sent students to learn. The second and third Patriarch¡¯s of Zen lived during this period and the ¡®Silk Routes¡¯ were once again popular (re-establishing relationships). Economic and financial stabilization lead to the development of a social economy.

 

The downfall of this dynasty seems to have been put in motion by the death of the emperor in 604, whose son abused his power. In 610, the bubonic plague arrives by boat from India into Canton. Lavish spending on the completion of the Grand Canal (stretching 1200 miles from the Yellow River to the Yangtze River, literally connecting Beijing and Hangzhou), the continued building of the Great Wall, and moving the capital to Luoyang coupled with political greed and failed military expansion (four failed attacks on Korea killing over 300,000 troops) burdened the people and exhausted resources. The Khan (eastern Turks) led an attack on the emperor. Amidst rebellion, the emperor retreated to present day Yangzhou, leaving the capital exposed.

 

World Event:

--By 600 AD, world population is about 200 million (China 23%).

--In 570, Mohammad was born; Islam will soon expand.

 

 

Tang: (618 ¨C 906)

The founder of this dynasty was a former general who took control of the Sui capital (present day Xian). A well organized government and codified laws (the Tang Code) coincides with one of the most well known and prosperous periods in Chinese history; The Elizabethan Age of China. In 748, the first newspaper appears. A number of famous Tang poets include: Li Po, Tu Fu, Wang Wei, Po Chu-I, Li Shang-Yin, Meng Jiao, Meng Haoran, Han Yu, Du Mu, and Li Ho. In the Qing dynasty, the famous ¡°300 Tang poems¡± (Tang shi san bai) would be compiled. In 863, a collection of stories includes the oldest known ¡°Cinderella¡± story. The first version of The Legend of the White Snake (Bai2 Su4 Zhen1) and The Butterfly Lovers (Liang2-Zhu4) were written.

 

Religious tolerance was at a high (many foreign religions came into China); Buddhism reached it¡¯s peak (temples were built), emperors adopting it as a religion, and it spread to Korea and Japan (as well, monks from Japan came to study Buddhism); The fourth, fifth, and sixth Patriarchs of Zen lived during this period and split into two branches. Taoism was not commonly adopted, the emperors¡¯ embraced it (causing it¡¯s spread mostly through the upper class but soon was used in the civil service examinations); The emperor built a temple at the birthplace of Laozi. Later in the period, Buddhism was opposed by the emperors and Taoism further embraced; Confucianism had a revival late in this period. A landmark visit by a companion to the prophet Muhammad in 650 is considered the birth of Islam in China. The emperor approved the construction of China¡¯s first mosque in Xian which still stands today. Population increased to around 80 million people.

 

The 755 An Lushan Rebellion was the Tang turning point. Power struggles lead to the first successful peasant rebellion; The emperor ordered arms to the rest of the country but the newly armed peasants sided with the rebels. TANG: it¡¯s name survives in the phrase ¡®chinatown¡¯: Tang Ren Jie.

 

WORLD EVENTS:

--By 800 AD, world population is about 220 million.

--In 635, the first Christian missionaries arrive from Asia Minor and Persia.

--In 760, the Muslims invaded Central Asia.

--In 800, the Holy Roman Empire emerged.

 

 

Five Dynasties (North) and Ten Kingdoms (South): (907 ¨C 960)

The great Tang Empire fragmented under war and corruption; Buddhism was persecuted, temples were secularized, and followers reduced. Taoism as a religion remained popular in the court and with the wealthy. The north faced frequent attacks (Turks) and the south lived in relative peace (leaders in the south were mostly the Tang governors). In the south, trade invigorated the economy and printing promoted education while in the north paper money was introduced. The painful practice was foot binding was first begun (finally outlawed in 1911 but existing much later). This chaotic period ended when an army soldier awoke to find himself covered in a yellow rope (the imperial color) and urged by his fellow soldiers to attack the Emperor¡­

 

WORLD EVENTS:

--The world¡¯s population was estimated at 250 million people.

--Islam spreads in Central Asia.

 

 

Song: (Northern, 960 ¨C 1127; Southern, 1127¨C 1279)

Instead of continuing to fight neighbors in the north, the emperor turned to taking control of the south where economic progress had naturally made them militarily weak. In order to maintain peace with the Turks, payments were more effective than building up and maintaining an army. This period was a Chinese renaissance with economic, artistic, and intellectual achievements. (The western renaissance would occur 400 years later, corresponding to the Ming dynasty.). Paper money was printed in colors to deter counterfeiting. The first map is printed. Population grew by a factor of four to five. Muslims helped in important positions in the import/export industries. The most famous Song poet was Su Tung Po; others include Mei Yaochen and Ouyang Xiu.

 

Notable inventions were printing with moveable type, magnetic compass, and the abacus. Notable changes in society were: A political reform of equality that led to the acquisition of private wealth; Printing was output in excess of all previous dynasties combined. A Taoist canon was edited and Taoist architecture becomes popular. The Southern School of Zen Buddhism continued to flourish and Zen goes to Japan around 1120. Master Dogen of Japan goes to China to study ¡®sudden¡¯ school Zen and five years later goes back with ¡®gradual¡¯ school ideas; Thus is born the Soto School of Zen in Japan. Neo-Confucianism adopted some Tao and Buddhist ideas, developed a cosmology based on the Daoist¡¯s Yin Yang, and they emphasized less government as well as ethics over self-interest, and opened some academies. The examinations based on the Confucian classics for government positions also spurred a more educated culture.

 

This dynasty was divided by an invasion of the capital city in 1127, by the Jin Dynasty, causing the royal family to flee to southern china, setting up it¡¯s capital in present day, Hangzhou, estimated population of 2.5 million and 20% urban living in the country (in this period, the largest cities in Western Europe¡ªItaly¡ªhave an estimated population of 90,000; France and England did not sustain similar urban levels for another 500 years). The Southern Song¡¯s preference as a merchant port, for less government and more education would be a lasting legacy. Inoculations for certain diseases occurred as early as 1000; In 1200 the population was around 120 million; Over the next 200 years the plague would hit china in successive waves. (Japan had no outbreak of the plague).

 

World Events:

--By 1000, The world population is about 300 million (China 23%).

--Shogun and Samurai emerge as a ruling class in Japan.

--The ¡°Dark Ages¡± come to an end and in 1100 the first of many crusades occurs.

--The Inquisition begins. Jerusalem falls to the Muslims.

--Marco Polo leaves for China.

--The Mafia begins operations in Sicily.

--St. Thomas Aquinas, scholasticism, and Dante are born.

[david_dawei]

LATE IMPERIAL CHINA:

 

Yuan: (1280 ¨C 1365) Mongol ruled

The nomadic tribes of Central Asia, under the leadership of Genghis Khan sought to extend their empire by annexing China. His grandson, Kublai Khan eventually established the dynasty capital at Dadu (present day Beijing) and adopted a Chinese name for the dynasty. The South Song had allied itself with the Mongols (under Genghis Khan), but Kublai Khan eventually captured Hangzhou, capital of the Southern Song. An earthquake in 1290 claimed 100,000 lives.

 

The Mongols history of contact with western Asian and Europe brought about cultural exchange, including showing the west the inventions of the east (printing) and showing the east tools and instruments of the west. Marco Polo traveled to the ¡°great Khan capital¡± (Beijing); His explanation back home of ¡®the black stone¡¯ (coal) didn¡¯t seem to cause any interest; China had used coal for at least 800 years. The popular novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (san1 guo2 yan3 yi4) (several chapters are the origin of The Battle of the Red Cliff) and the play The Romance of the Western Chamber (Xi1 Xiang1 Ji4) were written; Having so many diverse and foreign people under their rule, much of the Chinese existing systems were adopted for use: Government positions still required an examination in Confucian classics.

 

Ultimately, the ethnic rule failed to get the support of the people and ¡®ethic¡¯ division resulted; Mongol, Semu, Han, Nan. Rivalry, discrimination and mutiny within the political system led to the end of Mongol rule. The militarily strong Mongols lacked political acumen over such a vast, yet impoverish land. The eventual Ming emperor led the final revolt; a Han peasant and former Buddhist monk turned rebel leader.

 

WORLD EVENTS:

--By 1280 AD, world population was about 360 million (China 32%), dropping to 250 million (China 23%) over this period.

--The plague struck the Chinese province of Hubei in 1334, believe to be carried in the merchant caravans; By 1468 the population shrunk to 60 million. By 1347 it reached Italy and spread to Russia by 1351; approximately half the population fell victim. The plague would hit Europe again and again.

-- The Hundred Years War between England and France occurred during this period.

--This period includes Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch, fathers of the Italian renaissance.

 

Spread of the Black Death:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/t...lague_map_2.png

 

 

Ming: (1368-1644), Han ruled

This [last ethnic led] dynasty had it¡¯s capital first in Nanjing, later in Beijing (the Forbidden City was built). A strong, central government reunited China and annexed the Mongol lands. To recover from the previous periods of unrest: agriculture was fully exploited (land went to farmers--the emperor was once one himself--and to soldiers), population doubled, and the final construction of the great wall occurred. The golden age of Islam in China saw Muslims became fully integrated into Han society adopting names (though preserving their dress and dietary ways). This period also saw missionaries who made some of the first translations of classics (both east and west) and the beginning of the west¡¯s knowledge of China. The novel Journey to the West (Xi1 You2 Ji4), Water Margin/Outlaws of the Marsh (Shui3 Hu3 Zhuan4), The Plum of the Golden Vase (Jin1 Ping2 Mei2), and the play Peony Pavilion (Mu4 Dan1 Ting2) were written during this period.

 

The emperor¡¯s distrust in Confucianism pushed it out the government doors. Currency devaluations surfaced due to too much paper money in circulation and coins came back into use; in turn, counterfeiting of coins devalued currency again. A strong army and navy (ships could carry 500) was formed and many expeditions occurred [the recent controversial ¡®1421 discovery of America¡¯ would theoretically occur during this dynasty]; Trade as far away as Africa was realized; but a sudden prohibition in building seas vessels and leaving the country went into rule. An earthquake in 1556 claims close to a million lives; A flood in 1642 claims 300,000. The population of 1600 was about 200 million. In the late Ming, Manchu attacks to Chinese cities in Manchuria led to control of all of that land and eventually to the coast of China. Another peasant uprising eventually opened the door for a northern Manchu to invade the capital, Dadu (Beijing).

 

World Events:

--By 1500, the world population is 425 million (China 23%).

--In 1380, Wycliffe writes the first English New Testament (In 1522, Martin Luther writes a version in German; An English version of the New testament is printed in 1525; 1535 was the first English printing of entire bible; 1611 brought the King James version).

--In 1431, Joan of Arc burns at the stake.

--In 1445, Gutenberg invented the printing press (China had been printing for 500 years already).

--In 1453, Greece was overtaken by the Turks and became part of the Ottoman Empire.

--In 1492, Columbus sets sail for Western Indies. Pilgrims first reach America in 1620 on the Mayflower.

--In 1517, Martin Luther published his protest of church practices and thus was born the Protestant Reformation and the [soon] close of the Middle Ages.

--The Renaissance flourishes in Italy (Galileo and Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo) and would transform in various locations; England (Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton); France (Descartes).

--In 1618, the Thirty Years War commenced.

--From the diseases and infections visiting Europe, Germany is thought to have lost 20-30% of it¡¯s population.

--In 1462, Ivan the Great was the first Czar of Russia; In 1547, Russia would begin autocratic rule under Ivan the Terrible.

--In 1534 the Society of Jesus was founded; In 1581, the Jesuit Ricci opened the door to China; He died in 1610. Ricci feels he had discovered a civilization that surpassed the west and pre-dated the biblical flood and reported:

 

¡°There is in China in certain regards an admirable public morality conjoined to a philosophical doctrine, or rather a doctrine of natural theology, venerable by its antiquity, established and authorized for about 3,000 years, long before the philosophy of the Greeks.¡±

 

"The commonest opinion held here among those who consider themselves the most wise, is to say that all three sects come together as one, and that you can hold them all at once.¡± (The three sects: Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism)

 

With the western discovery of china¡¯s culture and the opening of east-west relations revealing an ancient civilization having progressed thus far without any oversight of a religious body, war- and disease-torn Europe was seeking an answer to their various societal calamities. The solutions would become part of the driving force of the scientific revolution and the Age of Enlightenment that followed; This would also provide some framework for the American and French revolutions.

 

The Englishman Francis Bacon, a leading proponent for the scientific revolution stated that three inventions marked the beginning of the modern world: gunpowder, the magnetic compass, and paper and printing. All three came from China.

 

 

Qing: (1644 ¨C 1912), Manchu ruled

A Ming military general allowed the Manchu¡¯s to enter china through the gates of the great wall at Shanhai Pass (Qinghuangdao, Hebei). The first Manchu emperor¡¯s son learned both the Chinese classics and was taught under the Jesuits; This son would eventual sign the first international treaty, with Russia. The Manchu rule left most of the Chinese ways intact (government examines on the classics), although they forced the men to shave their head and grow the infamous ¡®queue¡¯ (Manchu pigtail) and abandon Han dress; The QiPao (Chinese dress) is of Mongol origin. In 1692, the emperor (the son) granted Christians the right to preach and convert as long as the native Chinese adhered to the rites of their office; The ¡°Rites Controversy¡± resulted in the catholic church issuing a papal bull prohibiting Christians to adhere to Confucian beliefs. The emperor read the proclamation and stated, ¡®westerners are small minded¡­ I have never seen such nonsense¡¯. Thereafter, Christianity was banned. After successive attempts to resolve this issue, and successive papal bulls stating the same, most westerners were expelled and cut off from China in 1742; In 1793, further isolationist messages were sent to Great Britian; China was self-sufficient. By 1820, large shipments of Opium revealed the northern capital (Beijing) was too far away (from southern ports) and thus too weak to enforce it¡¯s existing bans on the drug. China¡¯s attempts to abolish the opium trade resulted in the Opium Wars and the treaty of Nanking (Nanjing) where Great Britain receiving Hong Kong and open ports for trade (Hong Kong was returned in 1997).

 

The history of Chinese and Manchu conflict usually shows dramatic drops in population; Particularly the Ming-Qing transition and the Taiping Rebellion. The Mongols were known to slaughter at will and the Chinese to defend to their own death. The census counts show 1620 with 52 million, 1651 with 11 million; Yet 1741 had 142 million and 1800 had 400 million (urbanization dropped to 7%). Intermarriage with Han was forbidden and other separatist efforts were in effect (to keep the minority groups apart; anti-Muslim sentiment existed). An attempt to forbid foot binding was unsuccessful. Classic works were compiled bringing about a revival of Confucianism; Neo-Confucianism¡¯s emphasize on subject-ruler relationships became a state creed. The Mongols preference for Tibetan Buddhism was their mode of worship.

 

The novel A Dream of Red Mansions (Hong2 Lou2 Meng4), the Peach Blossom Fan (Tao2 Hua1 Shan1), and the Strange Tales of Liaozhai were written during this period. Imperial China peaked during this last feudal dynasty. Land and economic reform improved their agrarian system and united the country under this ethic group rule, including the acquisition of present day Taiwan and Tibet. Around 1770, Emperor Lung, a patron of the arts and literature, ordered a library which took twenty years to finish and comprised 36,000 volumes (almost 50,000 poems from the Tang dynasty alone); Anything disrespectful to the Manchus was destroyed or banned. In 1855 the last major plague hit China; In 1887 the Yellow River burst it¡¯s banks and claimed almost a million lives; The Taiping Rebellion claimed around 20-50 million lives.

 

The autocratic rule failed to (or was unwilling to) embrace the types of change going on in developing worlds. This period included the Opium Wars, Taiping Rebellion, Anglo-French Invasion, Sino-Japanese War, the Boxer Rebellion, and eventually the Hundred Day Reform which futility sought to save a sinking ship. Power struggles for reform caused an inevitable revolution. The full sign of weakness was evident with a two year old was sitting on the throne. The Xinhai revolution of 1911 ended imperialism and feudalism and the Republic of China emerged (1911-1949); The country was proclaimed as belonging equally to the Han, Muslim, Manchu, Mongol, and Tibetan¡­

 

World Events:

--By 1800 AD, the world population is almost 1 billion (35%); By 1900, 1.6 billion (China 28%).

--Sir Isaac Newton (english) was a central figure in the Scientific Revolution as was Leibniz (german) and Voltaire (french) to the Age of Enlightenment.

--Conflicts would include the American (1775) and French (1789) Revolutions, the Napoleonic Wars (1805), the 1812 War, the American Civil War (1861), Franco-Prussian War (1871), and the Russian Revolution (1905).

--The Revolutionary movement in France gave impetus to the Romantic movement that followed; The three romantic composers (Mozart, Hyden, Beethovan) and a great number of poets in America and Europe.

--In 1721, the Russian Empire, under Peter the Great, was the largest landmass in the world; Lenin was born in 1870; Tolstoy, who died in 1910, said, ¡°were I young, I would go to China.¡±

--America signs the declaration of Independence in 1776; in 1789 George Washington is elected first president.

--In 1776, Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations; there was already strong support for free trade in America and Great Britian.

--In 1818, Karl Marx is born; In 1844, Nietzsche; In 1889, Adolf Hitler.

--By 1830, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing.

--In 1833, England abolished slavery.

--In 1869, Ghandi is born in India.

--In the 1880s, the first automobile is built.

-- In 1884, a boy of five with a disproportionately large head and who barely spoke looked into a compass and realized something was affecting the needle; At 16 years old, staring in a mirror, he wondered what his image would look like at the speed of sound; The boy was Albert Einstein.

--Zen reached American shores in 1905.

[david_dawei]

THE WEST AND CHINA

The main source of information about China came from the Jesuits, who saw China as a rational society, a model of “enlightened Despotism”. The lack of abstract thinking about morality and religion, the desire for individual and social happiness, and the common application of duty by both man and government were evident; a natural morality, a rational religion, and individual happiness under a philosopher-king. Yet the merchants gave a wholly different view of deceit and dishonesty. Rousseau, Voltaire and Leibniz would publish on China and Europe was generally enthusiastic to receive news and goods, like silk; But, by the end of the 18th century, most of Europe had developed a western scorn for China, leveling it’s people as barbaric, it’s art as nothing but pottery and it’s history as static.

 

Throughout the 19th century, the enigma of China continued to defy easy classification in western eyes: Being thought of as industrious, shrewd, and practical, but with a penchant for lying and deceit without conscience. Chinese of all social levels were considered to be extremely polite, refined, and courageous in facing personal adversities; but they were also thought to be cruel, sensual, and amoral. Western history books continued to be written without much regard for their contributions. Not till some attention was drawn to their natural resources and labor force was the flames fanned stronger against the prospect of “Yellow Peril”. By the end of the 19th century, American press warned of the threats of immigration and the bell was rung for adequate defenses.

 

INDIVIDUALS IN CHINA:

--In 1839, the Scottish Sinologist, James Legge, first entered China; He would eventually translate the Confucian Four Books and Five Classics, and other works.

--The famous missionary Hudson Taylor arrived in Shanghai in 1854, soon to adopt the local dress and the Manchu pigtail; In 1905 he died and was buried alongside his first wife in Zhenjiang, China.

--In 1872, Bertrand Russell was born and would spend a year later in life lecturing on philosophy in Beijing. He was so moved by the Chinese character and it’s ability to find joy in hardship he said, they are more “laughter-loving than any other race”.

--In 1885, Ezra Pound was born and would later write his inspirational and controversial Cathay, a collection of poems many of which were Chinese.

--In 1892, Pearl Buck entered china just three months old, learning english as a second language; She would become a prolific writer and activist.

--In 1903, Watchman Nee was born and would become world renowned for his Christian writing.

--In 1910, Robert Wood Clack entered China to teach mathematics but would eventual turn his attention to the study of the Chinese culture and music. In 1958, he would eventually produce his three-volume anthology of Chinese classical poetry, Millenniums of Moonbeams.

--Some of the Jesuit’s work in china was corresponded back to Leibniz, leading to period published works (News from China) and eventually to Leibniz’s Discourse on the Natural Theology of the Chinese (1716).

 

INDIVIDUALS ON CHINA:

 

--Leibniz: "I almost think it necessary that Chinese missionaries should be sent to us to teach the aims and practice of natural theology, as we send missionaries to them to instruct them in revealed religion." -- Novissima Sinia (1697), News from China, a collection of letters and essays from the Jesuit missions in China,

--Christian Wolff: (1679-1754), a disciple of Leibniz, suffered persecution because of his admiration for China. In a lecture delivered in 1721, he praised the Chinese system for successfully harmonizing individual happiness with the welfare of the state. He maintained that Confucianism was fully adequate as a way of life; that there was no real conflict between it and Christianity.

--Voltaire, in 1764: "One need not be obsessed with the merits of the Chinese to recognize that their empire is in truth the best that the world has ever seen."

--Pearl Buck: “Nothing and no one can destroy the Chinese people. They are relentless survivors. They are the oldest civilized people on earth. Their civilization passes through phases but its basic characteristics remain the same. They yield, they bend to the wind, but they never break”. – China, Past and Present.

--Pearl Buck: “Chinese were born ... with an accumulated wisdom, a natural sophistication, an intelligent naivete, and unless they were transplanted too young, these qualities ripened in them.... If ever I am homesick for China, now that I am home in my own country, it is when I discover here no philosophy. Our people have opinions and creeds and prejudices and ideas but as yet no philosophy.” - My Several Worlds

---Bertrand Russell in 1921: Asserted that the Chinese were more “laughter-loving than any other race,” not self-assertive either nationally or individually, avaricious for money for enjoyment rather than power, and socialist and scientific rather than capitalistic and mechanistic in temperament. -- Atlantic Monthly

 

 

LEIBNIZ AND CHINA:

Leibniz’s scientific fame includes an independent discovery of calculus (to Newton’s), finding the science of economics, the originator of the binary system (the 3,000 year old Chinese Yi Jing—Book of Change—is a binary and octal system), and the metaphysical concepts of “monads” (this has comparative value to certain Buddhist metaphysical teachings). Leibniz came to an interest in the Jesuits’ writings on math. Thus was born a correspondence with the Jesuits who were in China translating and teaching. Leibniz would find in Chinese philosophy support for both philosophical and mathematical theories he could not find any equivalent in Europe, as well as similarities between Confucianism and Christianity. Leibniz would eventually attempt to explain Chinese thought in his “Discourse On the Natural Theology of the Chinese” (1716): The idea of pre-established harmony of matter, describe the first principle “li” and innate energy “chi” (using the neo-Confucian idea) by God, who is not an interposer nor is he absent. As well, he published the Jesuit missionary works in as a collection of essays and write in support of Eurasia relations. In drawing upon a comparison between the two societies (Europe and China), he has this to say:

 

“they despise everything which creates or nourishes ferocity in men, and almost in emulation of the higher teachings of Christ (and not, as some wrongly suggest, because of anxiety), they are averse to war.

 

But who would have believed that there is on earth a people who, though we are in our view so very advanced in every branch of behavior, still surpass us in comprehending the precepts of civil life? Yet now we find this to be so among the Chinese, as we learn to know them better. And so if we are their equals in the industrial arts, and ahead of them in contemplative sciences, certainly they surpass us (though it is almost shameful to confess this) in practical philosophy, that is, in the precepts of ethics and politics adapted to the present life and use of mortals. Indeed, it is difficult to describe how beautifully all the laws of the Chinese, in contrast to those of other peoples, are directed to the achievement of public tranquility and the establishment

of social order, so that men shall be disrupted in their relations as little as possible.

 

What harm, then, if some nation has found a remedy [for these evils]? Certainly the Chinese above all others have attained a higher standard. In a vast multitude of men they have accomplished more than the founders of religious orders among us have achieved within their own ranks. So great is obedience toward superiors and reverence toward elders, so religious, almost, is the relation of children toward parents, that for children to contrive anything violent against their parents, even by word, is almost unheard of, and the perpetrator seems to atone for his actions even as we make a parricide pay for his deed. Moreover, there is among equals, or those having little obligation to one another, a marvelous respect, and an established order of duties. To us, not enough accustomed to act by reason and rule, these smack of servitude; yet among them, where these duties are made natural by use, they are observed gladly. As our people have noticed in amazement, the Chinese peasants and servants, when they bid farewell to friends, or when they first enjoy the sight of each other after a long separation, behave to each other so lovingly and respectfully that they challenge all the politeness of European magnates. What then would you expect from the mandarins, or from Colai? Thus it happens that scarcely anyone offends another by the smallest word in common conversation. And they rarely show evidences of hatred, wrath, or excitement. With us respect and careful conversation last for hardly more than the first days of a new acquaintance--scarcely even that. Soon familiarity moves in and circumspection is gladly put away for a sort of freedom which is quickly followed by contempt, backbiting, anger, and afterwards enmity. It is just the contrary with the Chinese. Neighbors and even members of a family are so held back by a hedge of custom that they are able to maintain a kind of perpetual courtesy. “

 

[in 1689, a Jesuit sent to Leibniz a copy of the Yi Jing / I Ching and Leibniz quickly understood the binary nature of the 64 hexagrams. In his 1703 publication of binary integers, he acknowledge their origin in the ancient Chinese text.]

 

 

THE CHINA - LEIBNIZ – FRANKLIN – DECLARARION OF INDEPENDENCE CONNECTION:

 

"The most perfect society is that whose purpose is the universal and supreme happiness." – Leibniz, 1690

 

When Leibniz wrote his “Discourse on the Natural Theology of the Chinese”, he had argued the ‘natural religion’ the Chinese by. Leibniz’s kinship to Confucianism was due to his own views on moral philosophy as based upon reason (not theology); that some laws (Natural Laws) are fundamental to human nature. Central to his Natural Law theories are ethics and a virtue of good deeds, which produces pleasure; happiness as a process not a state. For Leibniz, who was unable to find justification for his ideas in western society, he found in China a living, societal application of the concepts of ethics, duty, and happiness in both the people and the government.

 

His fight against the prevailing philosophy of John Locke and his desire to impact the colonies in America would find a welcome ear in the statesman and international diplomat who would greatly influence the draft of the Declaration of Independence, Ben Franklin.

 

The phrase, ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of property’, was coined by Adam Smith, and represented a feudal and oligarchic system supported by John Locke. Leibniz followed Plato that man’s happiness cannot be tied to property. For Leibniz doing good produced happiness, thus one should pursue things which bring happiness. Leibniz wrote a dismantling critique of Locke’s work which would finally get published after his death, in 1765. A year later, Ben Franklin would meet the editor of the newly printed work and discuss the Leibniz concepts on ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’. The actual expression “pursuit of happiness” was coined by Samuel Johnson in a novel where it’s clear that happiness is unattainable (or rather any effect wears off), and it is the pursuit of happiness which brings happiness.

 

It should be noted that Thomas Jefferson, the drafter of the Declaration of Independence was a strong Lockean, in support of the ideas of ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of property’ as evidenced in congressional debates of 1774. On the other hand, Franklin was considered a protégé of Cotton Mather, whose influential, “Essays to do Good” (1710-1860 printings), was an organizing manual for the American Revolution; On the original cover is displayed a banner of Plato and Leibniz. Ben Franklin was the leader of a committee of five to draft the Declaration of Independence and one cannot help but wonder how influential he might have been towards guiding a departure from the Lockean emphasis on property (‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of property’) for the Leibnizan conception of happiness (‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’).

Edited January 14, 2007 by DavidZixuan (see edit history)

[Dan R]

A lot of territory to cover David. I think the Mongolian Empire (Yuan Dynastic Period) is given a bad review usually. They ruled more of the world for longer than anyone else. The "Pax Mongolia" allowed for Marco Polo's family and others to trade from Europe to China. The American pony express was modeled on their postal system.

 

My People were the laborers building the Pyramids you mention in the prehistory period.

 

It is said if we don't know history we are doomed to repeat it. Knowing it doesn't seem to get us much closer to getting it right.

 

China certainly has an amazing past. As it flexes its influence in the world tthe future may be even more interesting. But for now I am here.

[PapaBear]

Whew.....so much history to digest. Again, David, you have done an excellent job in Chinese History 101. So many dynasties and emperors, then kingdoms and peasants. Glued together!

 

Me thinks with all this information.....I just might be able to pass the Xiucai Exam? I'm ready to try......or maybe not.

 

Thank you David. I enjoyed your writing immensely! Looking forward to the next chapter!

 

Oh yeah, I wondered why you didn't mention the Chinese Bible Salesman, the three daughters, and their relationship to modern day China. Sun Yat-sen? Chaing Kia Shek? Zhou Enlai? Mao Zedong?

 

OH....I'll bet I'm jumping ahead. Sorry about that.

 

PapaBear B)

[david_dawei]

Oh yeah, I wondered why you didn't mention the Chinese Bible Salesman, the three daughters, and their relationship to modern day China. Sun Yat-sen? Chaing Kia Shek? Zhou Enlai? Mao Zedong?

The first few I know nothing about.. the last few are outside of 'Dynasty rule'.. I had to draw the line somewhere... Since my interest was originally philosophy, it was to be a brief history of philosophy at the beginning.. but felt that the general points of the period would be best to have as well.

 

But anyone is welcome to add in more history as part of the post... (All the parts of the original entire write-up is a single html off of Part I).

Edited January 24, 2007 by DavidZixuan (see edit history)

[PapaBear]

The first few I know nothing about.. the last few are outside of 'Dynasty rule'.. I had to draw the line somewhere... Since my interest was originally philosophy, it was to be a brief history of philosophy at the beginning.. but felt that the general points of the period would be best to have as well.

 

But anyone is welcome to add in more history as part of the post... (All the parts of the original entire write-up is a single html off of Part I).

 

Sorry about the detour, I got caught up in the history and forgot you were focusing toward philosophy connecting related dynastic history. By the way, you've done an excellent job and I am quite enjoying what I'm reading. Alot to absorb!

 

The bible salesman I mentioned was Charlie Soong. He had three daughters, all American educated, who married some of modern China's most influential men. One married Sun Yat-sen; one married Chiang Kai Shek; and the other married H. H. Kung. Thus it was said; One married for love, one married for power, and one married for money.

 

Interesting stuff. Also, I remember that Zhou Enlai married Deng Yingchao, but mistakenly thought she was Deng Xiaoping's sister. She is not, my mistake. And Mao Zedong's wife was a junk-yard dog (in her own words) bit whoever he said to!

 

I'm so enjoying learning all I can about the Chinese culture, history and yes philosophy. Sorry I side-tracked with my previous post.

 

PapaBear

Edited January 24, 2007 by PapaBear (see edit history)