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Rise Of Chinese Dynasties: Zhou, Qin, And Han Dynasties

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Zhou, Han, And Qin Dynasties

The Zhou dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that accompanied the Shang dynasty and preceded the Qin dynasty. The Zhou dynasty lasted for more than any dynasty in Chinese records (790 years). 


However, the control of the army over China by the royal house surnamed Ji lasted initially from 1046 till 771 BC for a duration referred to as the Western Zhou, and the political sphere of influence it created endured nicely into the Eastern Zhou duration for another 500 years.


During the Zhou dynasty, centralized power was lesser around the Spring and Autumn period till the Warring States duration in the ultimate centuries of the dynasty. 


In the latter duration, the Zhou court had very little control over its constituent states that were in conflict with each other till the Qin state merged power and formed the Qin dynasty in 221 BC. 


The Zhou dynasty had officially collapsed the best 35 years prior, although the dynasty had the best nominal power at that point.


On this page, we will understand in detail about Shang, Zhou, Qin, And Han. Along with the rise of dynasties in China,  we will get to learn about Zhou, Han, And Qin Dynasties.


The Period Of Warring States: Why Zhou Dynasty Collapsed?

The Zhou Dynasty gradually collapsed over a period of hundreds of years, because the feudal rulers of outlying provinces gained greater authority. Eventually, these states gained efficient power than the king, starting a period of war that is known, appropriately, as the Warring States Period. 


This duration lasted from approximately 475 BCE to 221 BCE, while the western state of Qin conquered its neighbours and installed the Qin Dynasty. Qin rule was the prime time all across China was united beneath an emperor.


Many philosophies approximately life and governance appeared during the period of warring States. However, three philosophies that came to prominence were as follows: 

  • Confucianism, 

  • Legalism, and 

  • Daoism. 

These three philosophies are covered in intensity later in "Philosophers of the Warring States," however for right now, let's sum them up this way:



  • Confucianism: Obeying your elders and social foremen is the greatest civic virtue; preserving morality, respect, and activism is what maintains a society's functioning.


  • Daoism: People ought to obey the unyielding will of the universe, literally the Dao—the way. Rather than contain themselves in the complicated workings of the state, Daoists advised detachment, self-sufficiency, and deliberate ignorance of worldly things.


  • Legalism: The state's functions are more crucial than personal liberty, and adherence to the law is the most crucial thing. Apply and uphold the regulation in any way necessary.


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Following a prolonged and successful campaign to win over his neighbours, King Zheng of the state of Qin established a despotic, centralized rule over his six neighbor states, claimed the Mandate of Heaven, and declared himself Qin Shi Huangdi, the primary Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. His dominance from 220 to 210 BCE was brutal and the Qin Dynasty did not long outlive him. The subsequent Qin Emperor, Qin Er Shi, reigned for three tumultuous years, and Ziying, who observed Qin Er Shi, held onto power for only 46 days.


So, the duration of Chinese records produced what many consider the zenith of Chinese bronzeware making. The latter duration of the Zhou dynasty is likewise well-known for the beginnings of 3 major Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. The Zhou dynasty additionally spans the duration in which the written script advanced from the oracle script and bronze script into the seal script, and then ultimately into an almost-modern form with the use of an archaic clerical script that emerged during the late Warring States duration. Now, let us understand the warring period.


The Qin Dynasty: Removal Of All Proofs By Historians 

Qin Shi Huangdi was a Legalist, and it appeared. Soon he assumed power, he clamped down on freedom of expression. The Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian, who wrote roughly a century after the founding of the Qin Dynasty, quoted the emperor as saying:


Historians hold it as a recognition to defy the ruler, regard it as lofty to take a dissenting stance, and that they lead the lesser officers in fabricating slander. If behaviour such as this isn't always prohibited, then in upper circles the authority of the ruler will be compromised, and in lower ones, cliques will form. Therefore it needs to be prohibited. They, therefore, request that all information of the historians apart from those of the state of Qin be blazed.


With the anomaly of the academicians whose duty it's far to own them if there are persons anywhere in the empire who have of their own copies of [Zhou texts], or the writings of the hundred faculties of philosophy, they shall in all instances deliver them to the governor or his commandant for burning. 


Anyone who ventures to talk about the Odes or Documents will be accomplished in the marketplace. Anyone who makes use of antiquity to criticize the present will be accomplished along with his family. And, indeed, there was a clampdown on the scholars of China. 


Many texts from non-Legalist philosophies were set fire to, and tradition holds—in keeping with Sima Qian—that Qin Shi Huangdi ordered 460 Confucian scholars buried alive. This mass burial may not have found as discussed, however. Sima Qian, as a devoted Confucian, may have embellished the fact of it to make Qin Shi Huangdi appear more immoral.


Fact 1: Shang, Zhou, Qin, And Han: Timeline Of Chinese Dynasties

  • Xia Dynasty - 2100-1600 BCE

  • Shang Dynasty - 1600-1050 BCE

  • Zhou Dynasty - 1046-256 BCE

  1. Western Zhou - 1046-771 BCE

  2. Eastern Zhou - 771-256 BCE

  • Qin Dynasty - 221-206 BCE

  • Han Dynasty - 206 BCE-220 CE 

  1. Western/Former Han - 206 BCE-9 CE

  2. Eastern/Later Han - 25-220 CE


Fact 2: The names of rulers in the Zhou dynasty along with their posthumous names and the period of reign: 


Personal name

Posthumus Name

Period of Reign

Fa

King Wu of Zhou

1046–1043 B.C., 1045–1043 B.C.

Song 

King Cheng of Zhou 

1042–1021 B.C., 1042/1035–1006 B.C

Zhao 

King Kang of Zhou

1020–996 B.C., 1005/1003–978 B.C.

Xia

King Zhao of Zhou

995–977 B.C., 977/975–957 B.C.

Man 

King Mu of Zhou 

976–922 B.C., 956–918 B.C.

Yihu

King Gong of Zhou 

922–900 B.C., 917/915–900 B.C.

Jian

King Yi of Zhou 

899–892 B.C., 899/897–873 B.C.

Pifang 

King Xiao of Zhou

891–886 B.C., 872–866 B.C.

Xie

King Yi of Zhou 

885–878 B.C., 865–858 B.C.

Hu

King Li of Zhou

877–841 B.C., 857/853–842/828 B.C.

Gonghe Regency

-

841–828 B.C.

Jing

King Xuan of Zhou 

827–782 B.C.

Gongsheng

King You of Zhou

781–771 B.C.


Overview Of Zhou, Qin, And Han Dynasties 

The Zhou Dynasty paved a way for the confusion of the Warring States Period, disordered out of which some foundational Chinese philosophies were framed.


The Warring States period had a consequence in the creation of the first united Chinese state under the Qin Dynasty.


After the longer-lived Han Dynasty, the reign of the Qin Dynasty started, which expanded territory, centralized governmental authority, and originated a bureaucracy that had an influence for two millennia.

FAQs on Rise Of Chinese Dynasties: Zhou, Qin, And Han Dynasties

1. What is the 'Mandate of Heaven' and how did it legitimise the rule of the Zhou Dynasty?

The 'Mandate of Heaven' was a crucial political and religious doctrine used to justify the rule of the emperor in ancient China. It proposed that Heaven granted an emperor the right to rule based on their ability to govern justly and wisely. The Zhou Dynasty used this concept to legitimise their overthrow of the preceding Shang Dynasty, arguing that the Shang rulers had become corrupt and tyrannical, thereby losing the mandate. If a dynasty was plagued by disasters or its ruler was inept, it was seen as a sign that they had lost the Mandate of Heaven, giving legitimacy to rebellion and the establishment of a new dynasty.

2. What were the most significant achievements of the Qin Dynasty under its first emperor, Qin Shi Huang?

The Qin Dynasty, led by Qin Shi Huang, is renowned for unifying China after the turbulent Warring States Period. Its most significant achievements include:

  • Centralisation of Power: Abolishing the old feudal system and dividing the country into administrative provinces and counties controlled by centrally appointed officials.
  • Standardisation: Creating uniform systems for currency, weights, measures, and, most importantly, the written script, which greatly enhanced communication and economic integration.
  • The Great Wall: Initiating the massive project of connecting existing fortifications to form the first version of the Great Wall of China to defend against northern invasions.
  • Legalism: Implementing a strict Legalist philosophy that emphasised law and order to maintain control over the vast new empire.

3. How did the Han Dynasty differ from the Qin Dynasty in its approach to governance and philosophy?

The Han Dynasty learned from the swift collapse of the Qin and adopted a more moderate and sustainable approach. The key differences were:

  • Philosophy: The Qin Dynasty brutally enforced Legalism, which was highly authoritarian. In contrast, the Han Dynasty established Confucianism as the state ideology, promoting ethics, social harmony, and education. You can learn more about Confucius and the Hundred Schools of Thought.
  • Governance: While the Han retained the centralised administrative structure of the Qin, they relaxed the harsh laws and significantly reduced the tax burden on the peasantry.
  • Bureaucracy: The Han established a civil service system where officials were selected based on merit and their knowledge of Confucian classics, rather than solely on birthright or military power.

4. What was the importance of the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty?

The Silk Road, a vast network of trade routes formally established during the Han Dynasty, was immensely important for several reasons. It connected China to Central Asia, India, the Middle East, and even the Roman Empire. This facilitated not only the trade of valuable goods like silk, spices, and precious metals but also led to a significant cultural exchange. Ideas, technologies, philosophies, and religions like Buddhism travelled along these routes, profoundly influencing Chinese society and the wider world, making it a cornerstone of the Han Dynasty's economic prosperity and international influence.

5. Why is the Qin Dynasty, despite its short duration, considered a pivotal moment in Chinese history?

The Qin Dynasty lasted only 15 years (221–206 BCE), but its impact was monumental. It is considered pivotal because it ended centuries of division during the Warring States Period and created the first unified, centralised empire in China. The administrative and bureaucratic structures established by the Qin, along with its standardisation of writing, currency, and measurements, laid the essential foundation for all subsequent dynasties. In essence, the Qin Dynasty created the imperial template that would shape Chinese governance for over 2,000 years.

6. How did the political structure change from the feudal system of the Zhou Dynasty to the centralized empire of the Qin?

The transition from the Zhou to the Qin marked a radical political transformation. The Zhou Dynasty operated on a decentralised feudal system where the king granted land to lords in exchange for military service and loyalty; these lords held significant autonomy over their territories. In stark contrast, the Qin Dynasty implemented a fully centralised imperial system. Qin Shi Huang abolished the hereditary lordships, divided the country into 36 commanderies governed by officials he directly appointed, and consolidated all authority in the hands of the central government, effectively eliminating the power of the regional aristocracy.

7. What key factors led to the rise of the Han Dynasty?

The rise of the Han Dynasty was a direct result of the collapse of the Qin. The primary factors were:

  • Harsh Qin Rule: The Qin Dynasty's strict Legalist policies, heavy taxation, and forced labour for massive projects like the Great Wall created widespread resentment among peasants and nobles alike.
  • Popular Uprisings: After the death of Qin Shi Huang, massive rebellions erupted across China. The most successful of these was led by Liu Bang, a man of peasant origin who would become the first Han emperor.
  • Rejection of Legalism: Liu Bang gained popular support by promising to abolish the oppressive Qin laws. Upon establishing the Han Dynasty, he adopted a more moderate, Confucian-influenced governance style, which proved far more sustainable. For an overview, you can read more about the Rise Of Chinese Dynasties - Zhou, Qin, And Han Dynasties.