The Classical Period, c. 600 BCE to c. 600 CE: Handout 2.1: Classical Empires in East Asia

A new age is inaugurated by the Emperor;
Rules and measures are rectified,
Many things set in order,
Human affairs are made clear
And there is harmony between fathers and sons

A new age is inaugurated by the Emperor;
Rules and measures are rectified,
Many things set in order,
Human affairs are made clear
And there is harmony between fathers and sons

The emperor set forth to pacify the east,
To inspect officers and men;
This great task accomplished
He visited the coast.

All the common people prosper;
Tools and measures are made uniform,
The written script is standardized.

When a man of true worth becomes a minister, he faces north before the sovereign, presents tokens of his allegiance, and banishes from his mind the thought of all other loyalties.

Legalists developed a philosophy of power stressing the role of absolute monarchy and arguing that rule should be based on clear laws and on strong, nondiscriminatory incentives and punishments.

The focus on [incentives without preferential treatment] threatened and offended the aristocracy, and it is thus safe to assume that these ideas would not have been implemented if aristocrats were powerful enough to stop them.

Bureaucratization is the process of creating imposing systems, rules, and hierarchy in the structure of organizations such as governments, militaries, or businesses with the goal of running them more efficiently and purposefully.

[Many in the Han Empire] believed that individual interests should be sacrificed to bolster the strength of the kin group.

And the property of kinfolk should be held in common and managed by family elders.

Although these values did indeed gain most prominence through [the religion of] Confucianism, they long predate Confucius.

[The bureaucracy of the Qin and Han Empires] coupled with [political] unity allowed China’s resources to be marshaled on an unprecedented scale.

[The bureaucracy of the Qin and Han Empires] coupled with [political] unity allowed China’s resources to be marshaled on an unprecedented scale.

[The bureaucracy of the Qin and Han Empires] coupled with [political] unity allowed China’s resources to be marshaled on an unprecedented scale.

However, the price for such efficiency was the alienation of most people from the workings of the government.

Early imperial China was also noteworthy for its urbanization.

The Master [Confucius] said, “to rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.”

The Master [Confucius] said, “to rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons.”

The Master said, “The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of people in their ruler.”

The Master said, “The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of people in their ruler.”

Chi K’ang asked Confucius about government, saying, “What do you say to killing the unprincipled for the good of the principled?”

Confucius replied, “Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good.”

He seeks to allay appetites but strengthen bones.

In ruling his country, if the wise magistrate loves his people, he can avoid compulsion.