How China created a centralized state down to 500 CE
Centralization of china was brought about by King Ch’eng, the king of Ch’ing after the weakening of the Chou and Shang states in 500BC. The fall of these states led to chaotic period known as The Warring states period. Ch’ing state led by the young King Ch’eng adopted an aggressive policy to achieve territorial expansion.
They were to do this guided by adopting a new style of governance on principles of Legalism. These principles guided him to conquer the neighboring states, since they did not have wealth and military powers like he had. He was able to conquer all the northern states. In order for centralization to take place, there needed to replace the existing feudal system with a strong hierarchical system.
After conquering the states, Ch’ing started a system of central governance with ministers of state being appointed. As a way of stopping aristocracy’s power, he decided to take all the pieces of land and gave them to the peasants, the same way the government got its taxes directly from the peasants. As a way of strengthening the central government, Ch’in introduced currency and standard measures of measurement (Sutter 38).
Role played by Confucius ideas and other philosophers in the rise of a strong central government in China
Confucian was one of the great Chinese philosophers who significantly impacted the rising of the central government in china. He stood by the policy of Legalism that defined human beings as selfish in nature, and had to be governed and controlled through laws. He also considered that the laws were to be severe to the humans so that they could follow them. The Legalist philosophy stated that there was the need to have a strong central government that had a strong military and a strong economy, and citizens were to be under a strong regime.
Later, after the incorporation of these philosophies, the Legalist system was the most followed since it was stricter especially to the people in the government. Offenders were severely punished, and some crimes for example corruption, attracted punishments like death. On viewing that non legalism ways could lead to revolution, Legalists decided to outlaw other school of thoughts especially the Confucian, and their practitioners were executed (Morris 94).
Material factors that contributed to China’s rise
Many factors have lead to the growth of China. Rapid growth in both imports and exports has ultimately improved their economic stimulus, hence more growth economically. China’s size and its population also offer an adequate market for the products produced in their industries, contributing more of their economic development.
The economic reforms of 1978 as china changed its communist family farming have led to its economy moving so fast to a growth rate of about 10%, which is the fastest in the world (Sutter 18). Public investment is another factor that has led to the rise of China. Good roads and highways, ports, airports are some of the structures laid down by their government that have greatly led to their rise. The corporate structures put in place in the 1980’s have enabled them to increase the use of the world available technologies.
The changing of the state owned corporations to private owners made them profit-oriented. The ability of these corporations to have responsiveness to the market led them to having gains and productivity in the market, as well as promoting growth, hence rising economically. The culture of China still played a prominent role in their rise. The confidence in their system of moral and ethical superiority has promoted it to having a great technological growth (Sutter 20).
Works Cited
Morris, Ian. Why the West Rules for Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2010. Print.
Sutter, Robert. China’s rise in Asia: promises and perils. London: Rowman & Littlefield. 2005. Print.