2,000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius: World History #7

Summary

This Crash Course World History episode, hosted by John Green, explores the narrative of Chinese history through the lens of the Mandate of Heaven. It discusses the concept's origin in the Zhou Dynasty and its role in justifying the rise and fall of dynasties, emphasizing the importance of moral leadership. The episode also delves into Confucianism's influence on Chinese governance and society, highlighting key Confucian principles like ren (propriety) and li (ritual), and the role of historians in shaping historical narratives.

Takeaways

• 📜 China's history is often discussed in the context of its potential to overtake the U.S., but the focus here is on how storytelling shapes historical narratives.
• 🏛 The concept of a 'modern state' in China dates back to 150 BCE with a centralized government and bureaucracy, lasting until 1911 CE.
• 📚 The Chinese were early historians, with the 'Shujing' or 'Classic of History' being one of the Confucian Classics, providing records of events as they happened.
• 👑 Chinese history is traditionally divided into dynasties, ruled by emperors from continuous ruling families, with dynasties ending due to lack of heirs or overthrow.
• 👩‍🦳 Despite the patriarchal nature of imperial rule, there were several empresses and empress dowagers who wielded significant power, including Empress Wu who founded her own dynasty.
• 🔄 The dynastic cycle in China involved periods of rule and chaos, with notable dynasties like the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing shaping China's history.
• 🌐 The 'Mandate of Heaven' is a key concept dating from the Zhou Dynasty, suggesting that divine approval determined the rise and fall of dynasties based on the moral behavior of rulers.
• 👑 The fall of dynasties was often attributed to rulers losing the Mandate of Heaven due to immoral actions, such as the last Shang emperor's alleged cannibalism.
• 📖 Confucianism, with its emphasis on moral behavior and proper conduct, became the ideological foundation for Chinese governance and society, influencing the perception of historical events.
• 👨‍🏫 Confucius promoted the idea of a 'superior man' (Junzi) who embodies moral virtues, with the five key relationships and filial piety being central to social harmony.
• 🌐 The Mandate of Heaven provided a moral framework for historical analysis, reinforcing the importance of Confucian scholars in interpreting and recording history.

Q & A

What is the significance of the term 'Crash Course World History' in the context of the script?

The term 'Crash Course World History' refers to the educational series that John Green is presenting, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview of world history in an engaging and concise manner.

What is the primary focus of the script regarding China's history?

The script primarily focuses on how the way stories are told shapes the narrative of history, specifically looking at the concept of the Mandate of Heaven and the dynastic cycle in China's history.

What is the Mandate of Heaven, and how does it relate to the dynastic changes in China?

The Mandate of Heaven is a political and religious doctrine in Chinese history that legitimizes the rule of the emperor. It suggests that the emperor's right to rule is granted by Heaven, and if the emperor behaves improperly, he can lose this mandate, leading to the rise of a new dynasty.

How did the concept of the Mandate of Heaven originate, according to the script?

The concept of the Mandate of Heaven is believed to have originated during the Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou created this concept to justify their overthrow of the Shang Dynasty, suggesting that the Shang had lost the Mandate of Heaven due to their improper behavior.

What is the role of Confucianism in shaping the political and social structure of China as described in the script?

Confucianism played a central role in shaping China's political and social structure by emphasizing moral behavior and proper conduct in hierarchical relationships. It provided a framework for governance and social order, with the ideal of the 'superior man' (Junzi) and concepts like 'ren' (propriety) and 'li' (ritual).

What are the five key relationships in Confucianism, and why are they important?

The five key relationships in Confucianism are between ruler and subject, father and son, elder brother and younger brother, husband and wife, and friends. These relationships are important because they establish the social hierarchy and define the proper conduct expected in each role.

Why is the script's mention of the Xia Dynasty considered ironic or humorous?

The mention of the Xia Dynasty is ironic and humorous because it is described as 'sadly fictional,' suggesting that while it is traditionally considered the first Chinese dynasty, there is little historical evidence to support its existence.

What is the significance of the 'Junzi' in Confucian philosophy, and how does it relate to the concept of the Mandate of Heaven?

The 'Junzi' or 'superior man' in Confucian philosophy represents the ideal of moral and upright behavior. This concept is closely related to the Mandate of Heaven, as the behavior of the emperor as a 'Junzi' is believed to maintain or lose the Mandate, thus affecting the stability of the dynasty.

How does the script use humor to engage the audience while discussing serious historical concepts?

The script uses humor through puns, such as 'Chin-uh' in reference to China, and by personifying historical concepts, like the Mandate of Heaven, to make the content more relatable and engaging for the audience.

What is the role of the historian in shaping the narrative of history according to the script?

According to the script, historians play a crucial role in shaping the narrative of history by interpreting events through the lens of their own beliefs and values, such as the Confucian scholars who wrote Chinese history with an emphasis on moral behavior and the Mandate of Heaven.

How does the script suggest that the study of history is important for understanding the present?

The script suggests that the study of history is important for understanding the present by illustrating how historical narratives, such as the Mandate of Heaven, continue to influence our understanding of political and social structures, and by highlighting the role of historians in interpreting these narratives.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Storytelling of Chinese History and the Mandate of Heaven

John Green introduces the topic of Chinese history, focusing on how storytelling shapes historical narratives. He discusses the longevity of China's centralized government and bureaucracy from 150 BCE to 1911 CE, and the Chinese tradition of historical record-keeping, particularly the 'Shujing' or 'Classic of History'. Green also touches on the concept of dynasties and the role of the emperor, highlighting the significant contributions of female rulers like Empress Wu. The paragraph concludes with an overview of the dynastic cycle, which includes the rise and fall of various dynasties, and introduces the Mandate of Heaven as a key concept in understanding Chinese historical narratives.

05:03

👑 The Mandate of Heaven and the Role of Confucianism in Chinese History

This paragraph delves into the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, which originated during the Zhou Dynasty and was used to justify the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty. The narrative discusses the Zhou's portrayal of the Shang's loss of the Mandate due to immoral behavior, such as the alleged orgies of the Xia Dynasty, and the subsequent rise of the Zhou. The paragraph also covers the Qin Dynasty's brief but impactful rule, the exaggeration of their brutality by the succeeding Han Dynasty, and the contrast between the Qin's fall and the benevolent rule of Emperor Wen of Han. Green then introduces Confucius and his philosophy, emphasizing the importance of moral behavior, hierarchical relationships, and the concept of 'Junzi' or 'superior man' in creating a harmonious society, which aligns with the Mandate of Heaven.

10:05

📖 The Influence of Confucian Scholars on Chinese Historical Writing

The final paragraph examines the role of Confucian scholars in shaping Chinese historical narratives. It discusses the circular relationship between those who write history and those who create it, with historians being trained in Confucian classics that emphasize moral behavior as a key to maintaining the Mandate of Heaven. The paragraph highlights the flexibility of the Mandate of Heaven as an explanation for historical events, such as natural disasters and peasant uprisings, which were seen as consequences of a ruler's immoral actions. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the importance of understanding the perspective of historians when learning about any history, and teases the next episode about Alexander the Great, with a humorous nod to the previous episode's phrase of the week.

Keywords

💡China

China is the central focus of the video, representing a country with a rich history and ongoing global influence. The script discusses China's historical significance as the first modern state with a centralized government and its long-standing dynastic system, which shaped its political and cultural identity. The term is used to introduce the topic of the video and to frame discussions about its historical development and impact on the present.

💡Dynasty

A dynasty in the context of the video refers to a period of time during which a country is ruled by a specific family of emperors. The script uses the concept of dynasties to organize and explain the political history of China, highlighting how each dynasty's rule was justified and potentially ended, according to the Mandate of Heaven.

💡Mandate of Heaven

The Mandate of Heaven is a foundational concept in Chinese political philosophy, suggesting that the right to rule is granted by a divine power and can be lost if the ruler behaves improperly. The script explains how this idea was used historically to justify the rise and fall of dynasties, emphasizing the moral responsibilities of rulers and their impact on the stability of the state.

💡Confucianism

Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system developed by Confucius that has significantly influenced Chinese society, particularly in government and education. The script discusses Confucianism's emphasis on moral behavior, proper social relationships, and the cultivation of virtue, which are central to understanding the historical narrative presented in the video.

💡Shujing (Classic of History)

The Shujing, or Classic of History, is one of the Confucian Classics and serves as a historical record in the script. It is used to illustrate the Chinese tradition of historical writing and the problematic nature of interpreting history through the lens of the Mandate of Heaven.

💡Empress Wu

Empress Wu is a notable figure in Chinese history mentioned in the script as an exception to the rule of male emperors. She ruled China for over 20 years and founded her own dynasty, challenging the traditional narrative and highlighting the complexity of gender roles in historical contexts.

💡Qin Shi Huangdi

Qin Shi Huangdi is the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, and his reign is significant for reunifying China after the Warring States period. The script uses his example to discuss the concept of the Mandate of Heaven and the brutal methods that can be employed in the pursuit of power and legitimacy.

💡Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty is highlighted in the script as a period that set the pattern for much of China's history, lasting for almost 400 years. It serves as a contrast to the Qin Dynasty, illustrating the importance of benevolent rule and adherence to Confucian principles in maintaining the Mandate of Heaven.

💡Confucian Classics

The Confucian Classics are foundational texts in Confucianism, which are central to the script's discussion of how history was written and interpreted in ancient China. They emphasize moral behavior and proper social order, shaping the narrative of Chinese history and the role of the emperor.

💡Junzi

Junzi, translated as 'superior man' in the script, represents the ideal of moral and virtuous behavior in Confucianism. The concept is used to describe the behavior expected of an emperor and citizens in order to maintain social harmony and the Mandate of Heaven.

💡Ren and Li

Ren and Li are complex Confucian concepts translated as 'propriety' and 'ritual,' respectively. The script explains that these concepts are integral to understanding and practicing proper behavior in society, which is essential for maintaining the Mandate of Heaven and the stability of the state.

Highlights

Introduction to the historical significance of China and its impact on modern society.

Discussion on the narrative shaping of history and the role of centralized government in ancient China.

The longevity of China's centralized government system from 150 BCE to 1911 CE.

The importance of the Shujing, or Classic of History, in understanding Chinese historical records.

The concept of dynasties in Chinese history and the role of emperors and empress dowagers.

The historical inaccuracies and the role of the Mandate of Heaven in justifying dynastic changes.

The fall of dynasties due to lack of heirs or rebellions and wars.

A brief overview of the major Chinese dynasties from Shang to Qing and their contributions.

The Mandate of Heaven's origin from the Zhou Dynasty and its role in political legitimacy.

The moral and behavioral expectations of rulers under the Mandate of Heaven concept.

The Qin Dynasty's impact on China's unification and its legacy of brutality.

The contrast between the Qin and Han dynasties in terms of rulers' adherence to Confucian principles.

Introduction to Confucius and his influence on Chinese government, education, and society.

The philosophical concepts of ren (propriety) and li (ritual) in Confucianism.

The role of Confucian scholars in shaping history and the importance of the Mandate of Heaven.

The circularity of Chinese history and its connection to Confucian teachings.

The humorous Open Letter to the fictional Xia Dynasty and the importance of historical figures like Yu the Engineer.

The production credits and the call to action for viewers to engage with the Crash Course community.

Transcripts

Hi, I’m John Green, this is Crash Course World History, and today we’re going to talk about China, which

these days is discussed almost constantly on television and in newspapers - wait, are they still a thing?

So, we used to print information on thinly sliced trees and then you would pay someone

to take these thinly sliced trees and throw them onto your front lawn, and that’s how

we received information. No one thought this was weird, by the way.

[theme music]

Right, but anyway, you hear a lot about how China is going to overtake the U.S. and bury

us under a pile of inexpensive electronics, but I don’t want to address those fears

today. Instead, I want to talk about how the way you tell a story shapes the story.

China was really the first modern state – by which I mean it had a centralized government

and a corps of bureaucrats who could execute the wishes of that government. And it lasted,

in pretty much the same form, from 150 BCE until 1911 CE, which is technically known as a long-ass time.

The Chinese were also among the first people to write history. In fact, one of the Confucian

Classics is called the Shujing, or Classic of History. This is great for us, because

we can now see the things that the Chinese recorded as they were happening, but it is

also problematic because of the way the story is told.

So even Me From The Past with his five minutes of World History knows that Chinese History

is conveniently divided into periods called Dynasties.

Mr. Green, I didn’t even say anything. That doesn’t seem very fair --

Shh! What makes a dynasty a dynasty is that it’s ruled by a king, or as the Chinese

know him, an emperor, who comes from a continuous ruling family. As long as that family produces

emperors -- and they are always dudes --

No they aren't. First off, there were several empress dowagers who wielded tremendous power

throughout Chinese history, and there was one very important full-fledged empress, Empress

Wu, who WU-led China for more than 20 years and founded her own freaking dynasty!

-and those emperors keep ruling, the dynasty gets to be a dynasty.

So the dynasty can end for two reasons: either they run out of dudes (which never happened

thanks to the hard work of many, many concubines), or the emperor's overthrown after a rebellion

or a war. This is more or less what happened to all the dynasties, which makes it easy

for me to go over to camera two and describe them in a single run-on sentence: Hi there – camera two.

Leaving aside the Xia dynasty, which was sadly fictional, the first Chinese dynasty was the

Shang, who were overthrown by the Zhou, which disintegrated into political chaos called

the Warring States period, in which states warred over periods - oh, no, wait, it was

a period in which states warred - which ended when the Qin emperor was able to extend his

power over most of the heretofore warring states, but the Qin were replaced by the Han,

which was the dynasty that really set the pattern for most of China’s history and

lasted for almost 400 years after which China fell again into political chaos – which

only means there was no dynasty that ruled over all of China – and out of this chaos

rose the Sui, who were followed quickly by the Tang, who in turn were replaced, after

a short period of no dynasty, by the Song, who saw a huge growth in China’s commerce

that was still not enough to prevent them from being conquered by the Yuan, who were

both unpopular and unusual... because they were Mongols- [mongoltage] - which sparked

rebellions resulting in the rise of the Ming, which was the dynasty that built the Great

Wall and made amazing vases, but didn’t save them from falling to the Manchus, who

founded a dynasty that was called the Qing, which was the last dynasty because in 1911

there was a rebellion like the ones in, say, America, France or Russia, and the whole dynastic

system which at this point had lasted for a long-ass time, came to an end.

And... breathe. So that's what happened, but what's interesting, as far as capital-H History

is concerned, is why it happened, and especially why the people who were writing history at

the time said it happened. Which leads us to the Mandate of Heaven.

So the concept of the Mandate of Heaven dates from the Zhou Dynasty, and current historians

think that they created it to get rid of the Shang. Before the Zhou, China didn’t even

have a concept of “Heaven” or T’ian, but they did have a “high god” called Shangdi.

But the Zhou believed in T’ian, and they were eager to portray the idea of heaven as

eternal, so they ascribed the concept of the Mandate of Heaven back to a time even before

the Shang, explaining that the Shang were able to conquer the Xia only because the Xia

kings had lost the Mandate of Heaven. This, of course, would have been impossible, partly

because the Xia kings had no concept of “heaven”, and partly because, as previously noted, they

didn’t exist, but let’s just leave that aside.

The Shujing is pretty specific about what caused the Xia kings to lose the Mandate,

by the way, explaining: “The attack on Xia may be traced to the orgies in Ming Tiao.”

Sadly, the Shujing is woefully short on details of these orgies, but orgies are the kind of

behavior that is not expected of a ruler, and therefore Heaven saw fit to come in, remove

the Mandate and allow the Shang to take power.

But then the Shang lost the Mandate. Why? Well, the last Shang emperor was reported

to have roasted and eaten his opponents, which, you know, bit of a deal breaker as far as

the Mandate of Heaven is concerned. Of course, that might not actually have happened, but

it would explain why Heaven would allow the Zhou to come to power.

So basically the fact that one dynasty falls and is replaced by another in a cycle that

lasts for 3000 years is explained, in the eyes of early Chinese historians, by divine

intervention based on whether the ruler behaves in a proper, upright manner. It’s after-the

fact analysis that has the virtue of being completely impossible to disprove, as well

as offering a tidy explanation for some very messy political history. And even more importantly,

it reinforces a vision of moral behavior that is a cornerstone of Confucianism, which I

will get to momentarily.

But first, let’s see an example of the Mandate of Heaven in action. The Qin dynasty on lasted

only 38 years, but it's one of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, so important

in fact that it gave the place its name, “Chin- uh.” (laughing) Can I just tell you guys,

that we literally just spent 20 minutes on that shot? We shot it like 40 times. Stan,

you are in love with puns.

The accomplishment of the Qin was to re-unify China under a single emperor for the first

time in 500 years, ending the warring states period. As you can imagine, the making of

that particular omelette required the cracking of quite a few eggs, and the great Qin emperor

Qin Shi Huangdi and his descendants developed a reputation for brutality that was justified.

But it was also exaggerated for effect so that the successor dynasty, the Han, would

look more legitimate in the eyes of Heaven. So when recounting the fall of the Qin, historians

focused on how a bunch of murderous eunuchs turned the Qin emperors into puppets, not

literal puppets, although that would have been awesome. And these crazy eunuchs like

tricked emperors into committing suicide when they started thinking for themselves, et cetera.

So the Mandate of Heaven turned away from these suicidal puppet emperors, which set

up a nice contrast with the early Han emperors, such as Wen, who came to power in 180 BCE

and ruled benevolently, avoiding extravagance in personal behavior and ruling largely according

to Confucian principles.

Under Wen, there were no more harsh punishments for criticizing the government, executions

declined, and, most importantly for the Confucian scholars who were writing the history, the

government stopped burning books. Thus, according to the ancient Chinese version of history,

Emperor Wen, by behaving as a wise Confucian, maintains the Mandate of Heaven. So who is

this Confucius I won’t shut up about? Let’s go to the Thought Bubble.

Confucius was a minor official who lived during the Warring States period and developed a

philosophical and political system he hoped would lead to a more stable state and society.

He spent a great deal of his time trying to convince one of the powerful kings to embrace

his system, but while none ever did, Confucius got the last laugh because his recipe for

creating a functioning society was ultimately adopted and became the basis for Chinese government,

education, and, well, most things.

So Confucius was conservative. He argued that the key to bringing about a strong and peaceful

state was to look to the past and the model of the sage emperors. By following their example

of upright, moral behavior, the Chinese emperor could bring order to China. Confucius’ idea

of morally upright behavior boils down to a person’s knowing his or her place in a

series of hierarchical relationships and acting accordingly.

Everyone lives his life (or her life, but like most ancient philosophical traditions,

women were marginalized) in relationship to other people, and is either a superior or

an inferior. There are five key relationships - but the most important is the one between

father and son, and one of the keys to understanding Confucius is filial piety - a son treating

his father with reverential respect.

The father is supposed to earn this respect by caring for the son and educating him, but

this doesn’t mean that a son has the right to disrespect a neglectful father. Ideally,

though, both the father and the son will act accordingly: the son will respect the father,

and the father will act respectably.

Ultimately, the goal of both father and son is to be a “superior man” (Junzi in Chinese).

If all men strive to be Junzi, the society as a whole will run smoothly. This idea applies

especially to the emperor, who is like the father to the whole country. Oh, it’s time

for the Open Letter? Alright.

God, that’s good. But first, let’s see what’s in the Secret Compartment today.

Oh, an iPhone? Stan, this doesn’t factor into Chinese history until much later. An

Open Letter to the Xia Dynasty.

Dear Xia Dynasty, Why you gotta be so fictional?

You contain all of the most awesome emperors, including my favorite emperor of all time,

Yu the Engineer. There are so many The Greats and The Terribles among royalty and so few

The Engineers. We need more kings like Yu The Engineer: Peter The Mortgage Broker; Danica

The Script Supervisor; Stan The Video Editing and Producer Guy. Those should be our kings!

I freakin’ love you, Yu The Engineer. And the fact that you’re not real – it breaks

my heart, in a way that could only be fixed by Yu The Engineer. The circularity actually

reminds me of the Mandate of Heaven.

Best wishes, John Green

But back to the Junzi: So how do you know how to behave? Well, first you have to look

to historical antecedents, particularly the sage emperors. The study of history, as well

as poetry and paintings in order to understand and appreciate beauty, is indispensable for

a Junzi. The other important aspects of Junzi-ness are contained in the Confucian ideas of ren

and li. Ren and Li are both incredibly complex concepts that are difficult to translate,

but we’re going to do our best.

Ren is usually translated as “propriety”. It means understanding and practicing proper

behavior in every possible situation, which of course depends on who you’re interacting

with, hence the importance of the five relationships. Li is usually translated as “ritual” and

refers to rituals associated with Chinese religion, most of which involve the veneration

of ancestors.

Which brings us back, in a very roundabout way, to the fundamental problem of how early

Chinese historians wrote their history. Traditional Chinese historians were all trained in the

Confucian classics, which emphasized the idea that good emperors behaved like good Confucians.

Would-be historians had to know these classics by heart and they’d imbibed their lessons,

chief among which was the idea that in order to maintain the Mandate of Heaven, you had

to behave properly and not engage in orgies or eat your enemies or eat your enemies while

engaging in orgies.

In this history the political fortunes of a dynasty ultimately rest on one man and his

actions - whether he behaves properly. The Mandate of Heaven is remarkably flexible as

an explanation of historical causation. It explains why, as dynasties fell, there were

often terrible storms and floods and peasant uprisings... If the emperor had been behaving

properly, none of that stuff would have happened.

Now, a more modern historian might point out that the negative effects of terrible storms

and floods, which includes peasant uprisings, sometimes lead to changes in leadership. But

that would take the moral aspect out of history and it would also diminish the importance

of Confucian scholars.

Because the scholars can tell you that one of the best ways to learn how to be a good

emperor, and thereby maintain the Mandate of Heaven, is to read the Confucian Classics,

which were written by scholars.

In short, the complicated circularity of Chinese history is mirrored by the complicated circularity

of the relationship between those who write it and those who make it. Which is something

to think about no matter what history you’re learning, even if it’s from Crash Course.

Next week we’ll talk about Alexander the Grape— really, Stan, for an entire episode?

That seems excessive to me. They’re just like less sour, grapey-er lemonheads - ohhh

Alexander the GREAT. That makes more sense. Until then, thanks for watching.

Crash Course is produced and directed by Stan Muller. Our script supervisor is Danica Johnson.

Our graphics team is Thought Bubble, and the show is written by my high school history

teacher Raoul Meyer and myself.

Last week’s phrase of the week was "Right Here In River City". If you wanna guess at

this week’s phrase of the week or suggest future ones, you may do so in comments where

you can also ask questions about today’s video that'll be answered by our team of historians.

Thanks for watching. As we say in my hometown, don't forget to be awesome!