Chinese Civilization
Daodejing
The Daodejing is a classic text of the Chinese philosophies. Once known as the Laozi because of its author, The Daojing was written during the third and the 6th centuries. The Daodejing presents a life, which was supposed to restore tranquility, and harmony to the kingdom after it was racked with by disorder. Daodejing enhances non-action, which was understood to command any action, which was unnatural instead of complete passivity hence; allowing dao to determine issues naturally (Bentley and Herbert 56).
Confucianism & Daoism
Confucianism has its ancestry, which focus on the search of molding behaviors and various regulations. In the same perspective, Daoism focuses on following personal paths. The personal paths are usually in a self-sufficient manner. Daoism comes from the word Dao. Dao means a way or path. The philosophy reveals on how people follow various paths. The paths must be followed while the person focuses on self-knowledge and a considerate state of mind. It states how people’s paths are unique and that people should learn from it (Bentley and Herbert 75).
Shihuangdi & unification of China
The Chinese unification was a campaign, which was led by the first Chinese emperor Qin king. The former Qin Shi Huangdi tried to unify the ancient China. He also tried to harden his rule. The whole campaign regarding unification of China was part of Warring states period, which was a war (Bentley and Herbert 159).
Han Wudi, centralization, accomplishments and expansion of China
Han Wudi was the first emperor of China who contributed in its unification. He was the Emperor Wu of the of the Western Han Dynasty. China has made various wonderful accomplishments and expansions. Some of the various accomplishments range from the educations sector to its industrial sectors. The Great Wall of China, silk, firecrackers and the Terra Cotta army are some of the other accomplishments of China. Education wise, China has grown from strength (Bentley and Herbert 201).
Han dynasties
The Chinese civilization recorded history during the reigns of the dynasties following the absorption of eastern Asia dating back to more than 3000 years. The Shang dynasty that existed from 1600 BC to 1050 BC marked the bronze age of the middle China making greater contributions to the civilization of Chinese. During the Zhou dynasty, semi nomadic culture in co-existence with the Shang was common. The dynasty begun with King Zhou Wueang also referred to as Ji Fa and Ji Chang also known as Wen considered as an ideal ruler, art patrons, and Yellow Emperor descendants. They flourished during the period of Zhou banning the act of human sacrifice. There was a development of a feudal similar system of government and allegiance lasting throughout the dynasty from around 140-221 B.C. (Bentley and Herbert 94). Its adaptability was considerate since it survived during the barbarian invade that forced Zhou to shift the capital further east. The period of Zhou divisible into the following:
• Eastern Zhou 770-221 B.C
• Western Zhou 1027-771 B.C
• Autumn and spring period 770-476 B.C
• Warring states period 475-221 B.C
During the Zhou dynasty period, there was a development of Iron tools with the explosion of the population. The Qin had several defeat over their enemies during the period of the Warring states. The mandate of heaven was a philosophical concept determining the sufficient virtuous rule of the emperor. Veneration of ancestor’s involved ancestral worship as a way of life with gifts in the historic temples or places specified. The Chinese classic texts including the Book of Changes, Book of Songs, Analects, Book of Rites, Daodejing and Book of History dates from the dynasty of Zhou during the 1122 BC to 256 BC period. They are the Chinese classical literature with culture considered the most valuable with some attributable to Confucius officials with the wish of being government officials (Bentley and Herbert 183).
During the Qin dynasty, which lasted from the year 221-206 B.C., the architect and first emperor Qin Shihuangdi of the Great Wall had developments including a repelling plan with the wall against invaders and the construction of the Xiongnu Highways. Following his death, an enormous tomb was applicable with the protection of the Terra cotta army. During this dynasty, there was an existence of central bureaucracy in replacement of the feudal system.
The dynasty of Han found by Liu Bang also referred to, as Han Gaozu existed for four centuries lasting from 206 B.C – A.D. 8, 25-220. During the period, the state doctrine was Confucianism with china having contact to the west using Silk Road. There was an n expansion during the rule of Emperor Han Wudi. During the dynasties, the writing system of the Chinese applied logographic system with larger symbols referred to as characters (Bentley and Herbert 249).
2. Nationalism, Liberalism, and Revolution
Mexico
The success of industrialism in Mexico is worth noting due to the rate at which the country exhibited industrialization. Since gaining its independence from Spain in 1821, the country has constantly been witnessing the evolution in their industries (Bentley and Herbert 679). The rapid industrialization has its foundation from the establishment of a stable federal government in terms of industrial support. The presence of industrial materials from the mining outputs also encouraged the growth of the industries. Juan Francisco is the father of liberalism in Mexico. Mexico had been witnessing war originating from the clashes of liberal and conservative ideologies. However, liberalism came to win especially in the political front (1917 constitution) making Mexico become one of the liberal countries. Before Mexico achieved nationalism, USA had grabbed almost half of the Mexican territory in 1848. The imperialism of USA on Mexico only changed when the country embraced nationalism. Nationalism allowed the country to make its own choices without relying on the external influences on their economy. This allowed the country to trade freely with other territories especially USA.
Russia
The fall of communism in the country led to the emergence of liberal parties with only Yabloko being successful in its establishment (Bentley and Herbert 711). Liberalism helped in putting forward the pro-free-market and anti-authoritarianism stances witnessed during the reign of communism. Industrialization rate in Russia was fuelled by the need to preserve the independence of the country (Bentley and Herbert 748). This made the country establish a significant industrialization in 1914 making to join the league of scramble for imperialism. However, it is notable that the country achieved industrialization without destroying the provision of its cultures. The establishment of nationalism in Russia has much relation to the imperialism witnessed in the eighteenth century. The scramble for imperialism made the country depend on their internal operation without depending on the western influences. This made the country oppose the Western Europe influences while believing in its own unique traditions (Bentley and Herbert 783).
China and Japan
Following the American and the French revolutions, there was an implantation of the liberal democracy philosophies alongside free market capitalism in the governments of China and Japan. The socialist theorists consequently formulated the substitutes to the free market capitalism, which happened to be popular amongst the politically active governments of the two nations. China and Japan felt the liberalization process was not rapid. This was because the growing working, middle class needed to gain more from the social order. Since only the wealthy would benefit from the free market capitalism, China and Japan turned to the other means of transformation including socialism and communism. They desired for a larger pie portion to their people, and the implementation of socialism and communism ideologies were a means of accomplishing that.
Both China and Japan believed in achieving whatever they wanted through gradual reforms of the existing political arrangements. In the complete replacement of the old order, the two countries adopted the socialist ideology. On the international front of politics, China and Japan expressed no displeasure with the capitalism approach but proposed for its regulation to benefit the country as a whole alongside the personnel who were holders of the production means. This was a form of nationalism ideology depicted by the two countries (Bentley and Herbert 1006).
In either instance, the philosophies of politics, which emphasized country and class, were responses to a transforming world, which had done away with the aged social beliefs. The industrial revolution led to the destruction of previous social values with a prominence on social order and substitution on fresh stresses on individuality. This did not go down well with every country, so nation and class were fresh conceptions in the collectivists’ identity, which China and Japan accepted. China and Japan gladly consented to the alternatives even though there was a loss on the individual voice to them.
Work Cited
Bentley, Jerry H, and Herbert F. Ziegler. Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.
