Western Zhou Government Structure vs Qin-Han Government Structure - Essay Example

Western Zhou vs. Qin-Han Introduction: Feudalism is often seen as a western term; however there exists instances where feudalism has been witnessed in non-western countries, for example China (Bedini, 261). In Chinese history, for example, the dynasty of Zhou Chou that existed between the periods of 1046 to 256 BC to the Qui dynasty has been seen as the true feudal period in China by a majority of Chinese historians (Roberts, 59). This is mainly because there was the custom or tendency of land enfeoffment that was similar to that in Europe. The concept of land enfeoffment existed in the middle Ages especially in Europe and constituted a larger part of the European feudal system. It referrers to the process through which an individual or groups of individuals were given land in exchange for loyalty or pledge to service (Breslin, 11). In the Zhou or Chou dynasty, the first kings is believed to have enfeoffed their close relatives and warriors, this in the long run created large domains of land that eventually grew strong enough and rebelled against the kingdom leading to the end of the centralized rule of the dynasty. There is a debate on whether to view the Chinese political system as feudal in nature (Bedini, 261). In Chinese there exists the term which similarly implies to the allocation of land to a specific individual, hence, making the individual in charge of that particular piece of land or region. It is also used to imply a decentralized political system, where the top leader shares power with local leaders, also referred to as lords (Breslin, 26). According to Chinese historians, specifically those guided by Marxist perspectives, the Zhou or Chou dynasty symbolized the Genesis of the feudal system of rule in China that continued until the fall of the Qin dynasty, hence, it is evident that Marxist historians define China’s society as mostly feudal. The Zhou Dynasty The Zhou dynasty was a dynasty that took over from the famous Shang dynasty and was later preceded by the Qin dynasty. Its military and political control of China lasted up to 771BC. This is a period referred to as Western Zhou (Bedini, 55). A majority of Western writers in support of the great Chinese historian Guo Moruo describe western Zhou as feudal. This is because it employed fengjian and this invited a critical comparison between the Western Zhou and the mediaeval rule in Europe. During the comparison, there were noticed great similarities between the two decentralized systems i.e. Western Zhou and the mediaeval rule in Europe (Byres and Harbans, 127). When new land was conquered, it was divided to fiefs referred to as (Zhuhou), these fiefs eventually became powerful on their own. The western Zhou dynasty legally regarded patrilineal primogeniture. Also referred to as the stratified or extensive patrilineage, it was defined by the social scientist Chang-chich by its main characteristic, where the eldest of all sons in each generation formed the main line of political authority and descent. However, the younger sons, who were the brothers of the eldest sons, would constitute lineages of lesser authority (Bedini, 156). The Western Zhou government supported and encouraged a strong army. The army was divided into two distinct units namely the eight armies of Chengzhou, and the six armies of the west. In the Zhou dynasty, the kings as heads of the government were commanders in chief. They were responsible in making sure that they fought alongside their solders both as a sign of leadership and bravery (Breslin, 66). The armies of Western Zhou were mainly focused on campaigns against barbarians that were located in the northern part of Loess Plateau, and the flood plains of the yellow river. It is because of these campaigns that king Zhao lost his life, alongside the entire six armies in Han River. Therefore, the Western Zhou government was a government that thought highly of the army, and used the army to protect its territories as well as fend off attacks from barbarians (Byres and Harbans, 36). Agriculture in Western Zhou was a main economic activity, and it was mainly directed and co-ordinated by the government. Land was owned by the nobles, and this was later sub-divided to other individuals commonly referred to as the serfs by the noble, that was strikingly similar to feudalism in Europe (Bedini, 137). Land was mainly divided into nine squares, grains harvested from the middle squares belonged to the government, whereas the grains harvested from were kept by the individual farmers for their own use. Through this, the government had the power to store or keep surplus harvest and later redistribute it to people in cases of famine, drought or bad harvest (Lewis, 60). Additionally, the Western Zhou government through the nobles was directly involved in the manufacturing industry that mainly encompassed the smelting of bronze which was used for the manufacture of farm implements and weapons, this mainly used slave labor (Byres and Harbans, 123). It is during the reign of the Zhou dynasty hydraulic engineering was initiated mainly to assist in the irrigation process. Hence, the Western Zhou government highly encouraged agriculture as a means of sustainability and encouraged creativity and innovation that would help improve the agricultural process. Qin-Han government structure By the end of the 3rdcentury, particular warlord states had emerged. These warlord states were seven in number (Levenson and Joseph, 57). Among these warlord states was the Qin dynasty in the fur north. The Qin dynasty had built a very powerful state by implementing reforms and establishing a very effective and efficient army that used horse archers designed in a manner that resembled those used by the nomadic enemies they faced from time to time (Bedini, 124). By the end of 221 BC, the last Zhou emperor had been replaced by Shih Huang Ti a Qin ruler. Shih Huang Ti was a harsh leader by character but was very efficient and his leadership brought China into a single rule, also referred to as single autocratic rule. The Qin government lowered taxes levied on individuals, and re-instituted the use of the canal and the irrigation systems; this gave a boost in farming and other means of production in the country. The government redistributed land to the peasant workers in an attempt to break the noble’s power, this activity led to the breaking up or dissolution of the old provinces and the creation of new ones, where rule was not hereditary, hence, the governors could not build up power and resistance over subsequent generations (Dirlik, 17). The Qi government established a series of unified policies, to be used across the country (Gernet, 37). These included coinage; coinage was a system of measure and weights that assisted the government in running the country smoothly, a unified law system, and tax system. The government had initiated a lot of construction programs across the country (Bedini, 127). Most of which were geared towards infrastructural improvement. These included canals and roads which served to facilitate trading activities as well as the movement of armies. Additionally, there was the construction of a big hospital in Hsien Yang that not only served members of the ruling families but also the other citizens (Byres and Harbans, 127). The most famous of all buildings created by the Qi government is the Great Wall of Chinaparticularly created to keep the nomadic horsemen from attacking the north. The wall took 7 years to build and a lot of people lost their lives because they were exposed to elements of hunger, and thirst. Majority of the Chinese peasant class referred to the wall as (Chinaslargest and longest cemetery), this is because it claimed the lives of a lot of people just to put up, mostly from the peasant class. Manning the Great Wall of China was also difficult; however, experts argue that the wall was established not with the intention of keeping the nomads out, but their chariots and horses. Without their horses, the nomads’ efforts would prove effortless (Dirlik, 63). To finance the various building projects of the Qi government especially during the rule of Shih Huang Ti, taxes had to be increased despite having being lowered by the same governments in its genesis days of power,hence, making the government lose its popularity (Hucker, 23). The emperor also lost popularity when he showed strict resentment to dissenting ideas. Especially ideas of confusianists, who preferred the past feudal structure than the current beurocratic structure he had created. Therefore, any ideology that contradicted with his, were destroyed (Byres and Harbans, 117). He also had over four hundred scholars executed by burying alive. This and a whole range of activities led civil wars and revolts resulting in the fall of the Qin dynasty and the mushrooming of the Han dynasty. Han Government structure Liu Pang is the founder of Han dynasty. He and his predecessors rescued China from civil wars, the burden of heavy taxes on peasants, and the constant raids by the nomads from the north. The Han government mostly built upon or improved most of the policies by the Qin government. In this sense, the Han and Qi governments are seen as having worked together in the formation of the Chinese imperial power and its powerful cultural influence in Asia (Breslin, 66). The Han government abolished forced labor that had been imposed by the Qi government, lowered taxes, and aided in the restoration of the classics. However, the kept and upholded some of the good policies by the Qi dynasty, For example, the redistribution of land back to peasants, hence, making them more popular among the people than the Qi. The Han government also ended the Qi policy of not using hereditary governors and restored the olden Zhou policy again. However, they expanded and improved on Qi tactics of using educated bureaucrats to run the day to day activities of the government. This was greatly contributed by Confucianism. The Han government saw Confucianism as an important emphasis on tradition, rituals, and valuable justifications. The Han government was in great support of the Chinese bureaucracy, whose backbones composed of the civil gentry. The civil gentry were a class of scholars who were tasked with running the Chinesegovernment and almost all of its activities (Dirlik, 52). This encouraged education, and a lot of peasants invested in education, with education their sons would now achieve positions in leadership. To deal with the attacks from the northern nomads, the Han government maintained and expanded the Great Wall of China (Bedini, 119). Additionally, they formed a great army that brought the nomads from the north under control. However, this was not easy;the Han government faced a lot of opposition in achieving the control because during the times of war, nomads that blended into Chinese culture, referred to as semi-civilized nomads would combine the knowledge they have acquired from Chinese civilization and life with their own restless nomadic behaviors to form powerful states that would in turn frustrate the Han government and China at large (Byres and Harbans, 53). Han rule established a very strong empire that expanded its cultural influence as well as political influence to the southeast areas of Asia, northeastwards into Korea, northward into the nomadic regions, and into Manchuria for over four centuries (Feng, 22). The Han government internally provided an environment of peace; many scholars describe this by comparing it to the Roman Empire (Byres and Harbans, 143). Like in the Zhou government, science and technology flourished and got proper aid and assistance from the Han government. It is because of this that China kept leading in the field of science in the region. Under Han governance, there was the development of paper, used for writing, surgery was discovered, and gun powder was invented. Additionally, new literature forms were established, for example, poetry, historical books, and diaries. Despite heavy resistance from the Han government and Confusianists, Buddhism started gaining strong influence in China. With time it won the battle and constituted the doctrine namely, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism (Bedini, 278). This left the other universal religions competing, at time violently for adherents. The Chinese populations absorbed the three doctrines into their cultural life since they served specific tasks and fulfilled particular needs. Confucianism practically guides the Chinese people on how to live their careers and lives. Taoism guided the Chinese on a perfect way to live their lives outside work places, and Buddhism prepared them for what lied beyond life (Breslin, 41). Many Chinese people saw it as Confucianism as of during the day, Taoism during the evening as one is relaxing, and Buddhism during the night as one was asleep. Trade also prospered during Han rule, both for Chinese natives and for the other cultures. For example, the faded Silk Road was established to facilitate trading in silk, cinnamon, rhubarb, furs, and iron (Roberts, 58). Silk was mainly traded to Rome, and was a luxury that weighed greatly with gold. Though the Han government was prosperous and good in most of its reign, it was also coupled with a list of weaknesses (Dirlik, 41). The Han government was based on a big and strong army as well as beurocratic ruling system that put a lot of strain on the Chinese economy. With this strain, there were two instances; the peasants who contributed to taxes continued to lose their land to the nobles who continued gaining power (Bedini, 116). This caused a few revolts both by the hungry nobles and the peasants that carried the whole burden of the country. The second instance is with the flattering of the Chinese economy due to the burden of nomadic raids, and heavy taxes (Dirlik, 33). These factors led to the formation of revolts and finally the Han government fell and that marked the genesis of another turmoil filled period. Conclusion The Western Zhou government took over from the famous Shang dynasty. Though it lasted longer than any other dynasty in China, the actual military and political control of China as a country by it lasted to 771Bc, this period was referred to Western Zhou. A majority of Western writers in support of the great Chinese historian Guo Moruo describe western Zhou as feudal; this is because it employed feigjian and this invited a critical comparison between the Western Zhou and the mediaeval rule in Europe. The Qin government took over from the Western Zhou government and built a very powerful state by implementing tolerable reforms and establishing a very effective and efficient army that used horse archers designed in a manner that resembled those used by the nomadic enemies they faced from the north. The end of the 221 BC saw the emergence of the Qin leadership. The Qin emperor was an efficient leader, and he was able to establish an autocratic rule. He also managed to build a coinage system that could be used for purposes of trade, and introduced a unified legal and taxation system. He was also able to build roads, and canals, for purposes of facilitating trade. The Han government rescued China from civil wars, the burden of heavy taxes on peasants, and the constant raids by the nomadic horsemen. It replaced the Qi government and built upon most of its policies. It abolished forced labor encouraged by the Qi government and lowered taxes. It kept the good policies by the Qi government, for example, the redistribution of land back to peasants, hence, making them more popular among the people than the Qi. Works Cited: Bedini, Silvio. The Trail of Time: Shih-chien Ti Tsu-chi : Time Measurement with Incense in East Asia. Cambrige: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Breslin, Thomas. Beyond Pain: The Role of Pleasure and Culture in the Making of Foreign Affairs. Greenwood: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001. Byres, Terence and Harbans Mukhia. Feudalism and non European societies. Bristol: Stonebridge Press, 1985. Dirlik, Arif. Feudalism and Non European Societies. London: Frank Cass and Co. limited, 1985. Feng, Li. Landscape and Power in Early China: The Crisis and Fall of the Western Zhou. Cambrige: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Gernet, Jacques. A History of Chinese Civilization. Cambrige: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Hucker, Charles. China to 1850: A short history. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1978. Levenson, Schurmann, Joseph, Franz. China-An Interpretive History: From the Beginnings to the Fall of Han. London: Regents of the University of California, 1969. Lewis, Mark Edward. The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han. London: Belknap Press, 2007. Roberts, John. A Concise History of China. london: First United Kingdom, 1999. Read More