Review: Zhou defeats Shang, mandate of heaven

Zhou Dynasty
Soft states (Borders not clear. No clear or strict form of taxation)
First among equals
Hereditary aristocracy
Wang (King), zu (lineage), and fengjian (feudalism)
Feudalism: Statelets. Ritual of Enfeoffment
Social structure w/in the statelets
State breakdown: Rivalries, warfare, and competition
Warefare and/as ritual
Inequalities & Competition between and w/in statelets
Spring and Autumn 770-481BCE
The Iron Age: in agriculture and warfare
New forms of warfare: infantry (7th c. BCE)
Cavalry (4rd c. BCE)
Story of Double Ears
Warring States 480-221 BCE
New states, new ideas, wandering ministers
Aristocracy vs Meritocracy
Peasant/Soldier subjects (remember this one)
Confucius born into the Spring and Autumn period, about 300 years of
warfare
during this period, some statelets are becoming more powerful
and absorbing others that they conquer
the Zhou state is still the most powerful
ritual was very important here, elite fighting the elite
Story of Double Ears
Duke of Shen who had many concubines, favorite concubine was
the wife of his father.
Cant marry her, but names her son 1, his heir
Dukes first wife, Lady Li, and her son 2, was not the heir.
His third son (double ears), half chinese and half rong, not
favored by Duke Shen, and is exiled to Jin
Lady Li spreads a rumor that the Son 1 is trying to poison the
Duke, he commits suicide because he cant go against her
Son 2 and 3 flee Jin
When Duke Shen dies, the minister kills the remaining sons and
takes over it themselves.
Double ears comes back and fights the ministers and takes back
the state
Then fights the rival state and wins
Far more powerful than the center state Jo.

 Jo king names double ears his lord protector.

Number of states dwindled from a few thousand to a couple states
after Confucius death
Confucius
one of the wandering ministers of his age
wandering around looking for a ministerial position
came from the lowest ranking level of ministers, hereditary
in the Jo dynasty statelet, social order, King -> duke -> minister
-> shi (trained in military and sacrificial rights) -> peasants ->
slaves
six skills of shi in order of priority: propriety of conduct, music,
archery, chariot driving, writing, arithmetic
Duke lives on tribute
Ministers on estates
Shi on land
Peasants on toil
The Duke of Jo was the most important/perfect minister
ancestor of Confucius
Text Sources: 5 classics: Books of Songs, History, Rites, Changes and
Spring & Autumn Annals
Zuo Zhuan
Confucius: An able minister in search of a state
The Gentleman: Duke of Zhou as model
Li: Ritual, the Rites
Dao: the Way
De: Power of Virtue, morality, charisma
Ren: Humanity, benevolence
Xiao: Filial Piety
The 5 relationships
Prince: Minister
Husband: Wife
Parent: Child
Elder (brother): Younger (brother)
Friend: Friend
Reciprocity: benevolence for loyalty
These relationships also work metaphorically
How do these relationships interpose/interact w/ each other?
Some concepts to keep in mind
Ritual vs Law (punishment)
Rectification of Names

Remonstration
Filial piety
Mozi: the debates begin
Pacifism, Impartial Caring, Utility
Confucius only knows about one Way, one Dao, doesnt talk about
other cultures and other rituals
Never talks about the nature of man as good or evil
Mencius and Xunzi are the next great Confucius thinkers
Mozi (470-291 BCE)
The debate begins!
Who was Mozi and what did his school look like?
Form of writing: Logical argumentation
Main ideas: Pacifism, Impartial Caring, Utility
A hundred flowers bloom, a hundred schools of thought contend