Zhou's Mandate Of Heaven

Jennifer Perez
Assignment 4 Chapter 4

1. Zhou’s main goal was to lay foundations for Chinese dynastic and to justify his family's dynasty the creation of another, he allegedly developed the idea of the Mandate of Heaven. This concept explains rightfully rule of China, a dynasty must have authorization from "Heaven," perceived not as place but as the god of the skies and ancestor of Chinese rulers. This man date empowered the ruler to reign as "Son of Heaven" but also required that he govern justly and humanely. If a ruler grew corrupt and oppressive and the people suffered, Heaven would withdraw the mandate and bestow it and on someone else. Whoever would take power and rule with virtue and benevolence. This principle helped Zhou overthrow
In the resulting chaos, an ambitious leader might seize power and set up a new dynasty. His success and strong government showed the people that the new dynasty had won the Mandate of Heaven. The dynastic cycle was the cycle in which dynasties rose and fell in china. The ruler clearly has the mandate of heaven and the dynasty is prosperous and stabile. The Dynastic cycle had four main phases. First, a strong leader conquered all of China, creating a powerful, effective regime. Then he passed on power to his heirs, after continuing the dynasty and its era of stability and prosperity. But eventually the rulers grew corrupt. They would increase taxes, and prosperity declined, as natural and military disasters started to happen and this is what signified the loss of Heaven's Mandate. In the cycle's final phase, a new hero arose to claim the mandate and challenge the old dynasty. If he failed to gain power, he was seen as lacking Heaven's favor; if he succeeded, he started a new dynasty. The rise and fall of ruling families was not unique to China; Egypt, for example, also had a long chain of dynasties. But the Mandate of Heaven and the dynastic cycle set up
It is two main philosophies that started to compete in China 3000 years ago. They were not just philosophies, but state policy options to govern / rule the nation. Throughout the long course of China history, Confucianism came out on top. Most major ruling dynasties in China have adopted Confucianism. It even spread to Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Legalism emphasizes law, or a set of codes, to rule the nation. Everyone is equal before the law (this sense is vague in China); law rewards who obey and punish who violate. Confucianism, on the other hand, emphasizes morality---such as, human nature is essentially good, treating others as you treating yourself; and it stresses social order---i.e. high officials respect the ruler when it comes to state affairs; son respects father, young / inexperienced respect elder / experienced, when it comes to family