Han Dynasty System
In this primary source document, it describes how a country such as China should be ruled, in order for the country and it people to prosper. According to this document, ancient China was well organized, and had an efficient system to run their country as well as allowing their people prosper. In this document it mentions Zuo Chronicles, which comes from around the Han dynasty that would be most likely that this document is from the Han dynasty period. A scholar or an officer, who have experienced many things in life that it opens his eyes to wanting to make his country great and prosperous as well as for the people in it, might have written this document. He wants his country to prosper, which means that roles in society have to be elevated, and systems are mentioned to remind rulers that they are to protect the people and the nation. The elevated roles in China, and the systems that were established are to remind rulers, officials, with power that elevated roles and systems are created for prosperity of the nation, and protection for the people.
The most important thing for a country such as China is that it should know how to keep its country thriving as well as prospering the people. China during the Han dynasty has rich natural resources, and that it also have a lot of citizens to care for.
‘If a country …show more content…
possesses a wealth of fertile land and yet its people are underfed, the reason is that merchants and workers have prospered while agriculture has been has been neglected. Likewise, if a country possesses rich natural resources in its mountains and seas and yet its people are poor, the reason is that the people’s necessities have not been attended to while luxuries have multiplied.’ According to the text, ancient China uses parables with explanations to help rulers, and people to understand that a country has to be affluent in many ways, towards its people, and for itself. Since China is big and is rich of natural resources, and a big population, which could help the nation to be flourishing as well as giving a better living environment to people. This means that the ruler of China needs to steer China is the right direction where both the nation and its people are prospering. It is not an easy task as China is big, which would require the ruler to understand communal living, which is mention in the document.
‘[The ancient emperor] Pan Geng practiced communal living, [the ancient emperor] Shun concealed the gold, and [the Han dynasty founder] Gouzu prohibited merchants and shopkeepers from becoming officials. Their purpose was to discourage habits of greed and to strengthen the spirit of sincerely.’
Whoever who was ruling China or even helping rule a part of China, are set up with examples from their ancient emperors who wants people to be sincere and not to be blinded by greed, as it would lead China to be in the worst position in society, and it would not bring prosperity to its nation nor its people. Leaders of China are led by examples from their ancient emperors, and know how to lead their people which would allow the nation and its people to thrive. However, no one is perfect, and there are always people who are greedy and use their power to benefit him or her only.
‘even with all of the discriminations against commerce, people still do evil. How much worse it would be if the ruler himself were to pursue profit.’
China discourages people to be greedy and selfishness, but encourages people to be sincere, that they would benefit the country and its citizens. China recognizes that if a ruler were to be corrupted, and is greedy, which would mean that China would be destitute and a lot of hardship would break China. China has elevated the role of the emperor as well as all governors, which would allow China to be ahead among other nations. China is trying to prevent corruption from destroying the nation, which would bring suffering to its people. The government wants rulers, officials, and feudal lords to be someone who is sincere and honorable. This tells that China knows what kinds of leaders it need, to allow continuing prosperity.
‘The Zuo Chronicle says: “When the feudal lords take delight in profit, the officers become petty; when the officers are petty, the gentlemen become greedy; when the gentlemen are greedy, the common people steal.” Thus to open the way for profit is to provide a ladder fpr the people to become criminals!’
This text from the document tells us that China has elevated roles in society, that bad behavior would potentially affect everyone in society, which would allow the nation to be corrupted. If a high status person does not take delight in profit, the individual would surely elevate ancient China on a different level among the nation. If people like the feudal lords takes delight and focuses too much on their goal, to satisfy themselves to live a life of comfort, it would encourage corruption and failure to society. China has a high expectation of its citizens, especially when it comes to rulers, officials, and those who have power within the nation. The document of ‘The minister’ demonstrates that the Chinese government created a system that creates a balance and peace in society of ancient China.
‘Formerly the feudal lords in the commanderies and kingdoms sent in the products of their respective regions as tribute. Transportation was troublesome and disorganized and the goods often of such bad quality as not to be worth the transport cost.’
In the document, it is said that feudal lords and kingdoms would send tributes to their respective regions, however, they had terrible transport system, and the goods were bad quality that it was not worth transporting at all. Transporting goods was important in ancient China, especially to make sure that there are good amount of food supply in each regions of the kingdom, so that citizens can thrive and not starve to death.
‘transport officers were appointed in every commandery and kingdom to assist in speeding the delivery of tribute and taxes from distant regions’
The government thought of a good idea of making a system that would improve transporting and making sure that the supplies and tributes are in good quality.
The transport officers would allow safe travel for goods, and that it would be an organized transportation. For the nation to run smoothly, it needs order, which means that each officer would have to send reports of what the goods were, and how long it would take to transport. This would reassure that goods are on their way, and as well as the goods are in a suitable and usable quality. The equable marketing system is consists of transport officers in every kingdom and commandery to make fast
delivery.
‘A receiving bureau was established at the capital for all the commodities. Because goods were bought when prices when prices are low and sold when prices were high, the government suffered no loss and the merchants could not speculate for profit.’
The receiving bureau established by ancient China stabilized the economy, which allows the nation to be prosperous. This also made sure that goods were sold at a standard price, which allows its citizens to be abounding as well. It ensures that people are not being cheated with the prices due to people who want to gain profit for themselves. This tells that China makes sure that there is a prevention, so that there would be less or minimum crimes, especially within its markets.
‘The balancing standard safeguard the people from unemployment; the equable marketing system distributes their work fairly. Both of the measures are intended to even out goods and be a convenience for the people. They do not provide a ladder for the people to become criminals by opening the way to profit!’
The balancing standards make sure the people are not unemployed, which would have minimum crimes. People who have jobs are less likely to steal, or even commit small crimes for survival. With the combination of the equable marketing system and the balancing standards makes sure that to even out the goods and tribute, and provides convenience for people. This tells that in ancient China, there was a system that respects equality, and made sure that the system is fair, and would help decrease or even stop people from becoming so desperate that they decide to steal and make criminals of themselves.
The document tells that China was a well-developed country that has elevated roles in society, and has a developed marketing system that allows people to prosper, with minimum crimes. China has prominent roles in society, so that it can benefit prosperity from it, and it would allow it to set a standard among the other nations. It has created systems that would improve the quality of goods, and there’s a marketing system that protects people from people who wants to gain profit. This also creates jobs, makes sure that people are employed. The writer of this document wants to remind people to understand that roles that an elevated are valued to help the nation and the people, which in turn creates a flourishing nation.
The most important thing for a country such as China is that it should know how to keep its country thriving as well as prospering the people. China during the Han dynasty has rich natural resources, and that it also have a lot of citizens to care for.
‘If a country …show more content…
possesses a wealth of fertile land and yet its people are underfed, the reason is that merchants and workers have prospered while agriculture has been has been neglected. Likewise, if a country possesses rich natural resources in its mountains and seas and yet its people are poor, the reason is that the people’s necessities have not been attended to while luxuries have multiplied.’ According to the text, ancient China uses parables with explanations to help rulers, and people to understand that a country has to be affluent in many ways, towards its people, and for itself. Since China is big and is rich of natural resources, and a big population, which could help the nation to be flourishing as well as giving a better living environment to people. This means that the ruler of China needs to steer China is the right direction where both the nation and its people are prospering. It is not an easy task as China is big, which would require the ruler to understand communal living, which is mention in the document.
‘[The ancient emperor] Pan Geng practiced communal living, [the ancient emperor] Shun concealed the gold, and [the Han dynasty founder] Gouzu prohibited merchants and shopkeepers from becoming officials. Their purpose was to discourage habits of greed and to strengthen the spirit of sincerely.’
Whoever who was ruling China or even helping rule a part of China, are set up with examples from their ancient emperors who wants people to be sincere and not to be blinded by greed, as it would lead China to be in the worst position in society, and it would not bring prosperity to its nation nor its people. Leaders of China are led by examples from their ancient emperors, and know how to lead their people which would allow the nation and its people to thrive. However, no one is perfect, and there are always people who are greedy and use their power to benefit him or her only.
‘even with all of the discriminations against commerce, people still do evil. How much worse it would be if the ruler himself were to pursue profit.’
China discourages people to be greedy and selfishness, but encourages people to be sincere, that they would benefit the country and its citizens. China recognizes that if a ruler were to be corrupted, and is greedy, which would mean that China would be destitute and a lot of hardship would break China. China has elevated the role of the emperor as well as all governors, which would allow China to be ahead among other nations. China is trying to prevent corruption from destroying the nation, which would bring suffering to its people. The government wants rulers, officials, and feudal lords to be someone who is sincere and honorable. This tells that China knows what kinds of leaders it need, to allow continuing prosperity.
‘The Zuo Chronicle says: “When the feudal lords take delight in profit, the officers become petty; when the officers are petty, the gentlemen become greedy; when the gentlemen are greedy, the common people steal.” Thus to open the way for profit is to provide a ladder fpr the people to become criminals!’
This text from the document tells us that China has elevated roles in society, that bad behavior would potentially affect everyone in society, which would allow the nation to be corrupted. If a high status person does not take delight in profit, the individual would surely elevate ancient China on a different level among the nation. If people like the feudal lords takes delight and focuses too much on their goal, to satisfy themselves to live a life of comfort, it would encourage corruption and failure to society. China has a high expectation of its citizens, especially when it comes to rulers, officials, and those who have power within the nation. The document of ‘The minister’ demonstrates that the Chinese government created a system that creates a balance and peace in society of ancient China.
‘Formerly the feudal lords in the commanderies and kingdoms sent in the products of their respective regions as tribute. Transportation was troublesome and disorganized and the goods often of such bad quality as not to be worth the transport cost.’
In the document, it is said that feudal lords and kingdoms would send tributes to their respective regions, however, they had terrible transport system, and the goods were bad quality that it was not worth transporting at all. Transporting goods was important in ancient China, especially to make sure that there are good amount of food supply in each regions of the kingdom, so that citizens can thrive and not starve to death.
‘transport officers were appointed in every commandery and kingdom to assist in speeding the delivery of tribute and taxes from distant regions’
The government thought of a good idea of making a system that would improve transporting and making sure that the supplies and tributes are in good quality.
The transport officers would allow safe travel for goods, and that it would be an organized transportation. For the nation to run smoothly, it needs order, which means that each officer would have to send reports of what the goods were, and how long it would take to transport. This would reassure that goods are on their way, and as well as the goods are in a suitable and usable quality. The equable marketing system is consists of transport officers in every kingdom and commandery to make fast
delivery.
‘A receiving bureau was established at the capital for all the commodities. Because goods were bought when prices when prices are low and sold when prices were high, the government suffered no loss and the merchants could not speculate for profit.’
The receiving bureau established by ancient China stabilized the economy, which allows the nation to be prosperous. This also made sure that goods were sold at a standard price, which allows its citizens to be abounding as well. It ensures that people are not being cheated with the prices due to people who want to gain profit for themselves. This tells that China makes sure that there is a prevention, so that there would be less or minimum crimes, especially within its markets.
‘The balancing standard safeguard the people from unemployment; the equable marketing system distributes their work fairly. Both of the measures are intended to even out goods and be a convenience for the people. They do not provide a ladder for the people to become criminals by opening the way to profit!’
The balancing standards make sure the people are not unemployed, which would have minimum crimes. People who have jobs are less likely to steal, or even commit small crimes for survival. With the combination of the equable marketing system and the balancing standards makes sure that to even out the goods and tribute, and provides convenience for people. This tells that in ancient China, there was a system that respects equality, and made sure that the system is fair, and would help decrease or even stop people from becoming so desperate that they decide to steal and make criminals of themselves.
The document tells that China was a well-developed country that has elevated roles in society, and has a developed marketing system that allows people to prosper, with minimum crimes. China has prominent roles in society, so that it can benefit prosperity from it, and it would allow it to set a standard among the other nations. It has created systems that would improve the quality of goods, and there’s a marketing system that protects people from people who wants to gain profit. This also creates jobs, makes sure that people are employed. The writer of this document wants to remind people to understand that roles that an elevated are valued to help the nation and the people, which in turn creates a flourishing nation.