POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN IMPERIAL CHINA

ARISTOCRACY

ABOUT ARISTOCRACY

• Aristocracy is a form of government run by a group of privileged citizens.
• The idea for aristocracy came from Ancient Greece.
• Greece created aristocracy because they didn't like the idea of monarchy.
• Aristocracy is derived from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best"
• Monarchy was commonly contrasted with aristocracy.

Aristocracy In Imperial China

Ancient Chinese emperors were constantly looking for different ways to administer their government. One method was to run on an aristocracy of wealthy landowners. This aristocracy lasted until Emperor Han Wu Di decided to choose his administrators for their merit.

MERITOCRACY

ABOUT MERITOCRACY

• Meritocracy was a form of government where rulers were chosen by proving their merit
• People advanced through the system by taking tests to see if they we're fit to be a government official
• The tests measured people's intelligence or IQ
• Another definition of meritocracy is a government run by a group of able or well educated citizens
• Meritocracy was first used in a Ancient China and Greece to determine who should help the emperor rule.

Meritocracy in Ancient China

Emperor Han Wu Di chose his officials for their merit rather than wealth. During the Han dynasty, all candidates for government roles must pass a test to prove their intelligence or merit. As a result of this, a lot of scholars became government officials. Later emperors began to call this system meritocracy, or rule by officials who have proven their merit.

CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM

Civil Service in Ancient China

The civil service system was first used by the Sui dynasty. People take Imperial exams to prove see if they are eligible for a government role. The Imperial exams are made up of two parts: an arts exam and a wushu exam. The Wushu examination is to test for selecting military leaders. It is much less important than the art exam.

CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism in a Ancient China

Confucianism was a Chinese philosophy created by a man named Confucius. The core of Confucianism is humanism. It focuses more on practical things and family rather than gods and the afterlife. Followers of Confucianism believe that humans are teachable, improbable, and perfectible.

BUDDHASIM

Buddhism in Ancient China

Buddhism is a non-theistic religion based off the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). His teachings are based around the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths describe how people must suffer then overcome suffering to become truly happy in life. The foundations of Buddhism would be the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (community). Taking "refuge in the triple gem" has traditionally been a deceleration and commitment to the Buddhist path.

THE END