Mandate of Heaven: Chinese Civilization and History Essay (Movie Review)

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Introduction

The foremost rationale of the report is to seek and provide an elaborate explanation concerning the meaning of the “Mandate of Heaven”. It also covers how China’s yellow river played a role in China’s civilization, how Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism philosophies, Great Wall and Silk Road, Opium Wars, and communism affect China’s civilization. “Ming” in early Chou was in essence the heavenly mandate given to the ruling class.

However, it has undergone two different developments. It initially predestined the moral instructions of heaven. It appears that the superior or the ruling house received authority from heaven to manage and control the people. As such, when the superior or ruler was overthrown, it simplifies a loss in the Mandate of Heaven. Therefore, the concept of Mandate of Heaven resembles the heavenly right of kings in that the right to rule streams directly from God’s will.

The ruler or superior believes that the way they govern a state is in accordance with the will of Heaven, and that people have to obey the superior that has prearranged the mandate or authority to control them. In essence, it was an idea of authority or legitimacy of a ruler to preside over under the heaven. Thus, the superior became an earthly representative to care for the people, as well as the welfare of their subjects.

China’s Yellow River

The Zhou and Shang dynasties marked a complex civilization period for China. During this period, Chinese traditions and cultural values were spread and transpired throughout Asia. China’s yellow river played a vital role, as well as the key influence on agriculture in China.

The development and success of cities, resource trading and labor opportunities also relied on the yellow river. The Pamir, Tian and Himalaya mountain ranges, the Mongolian steppe, as well as deserts such as the Gobi and Takla Makan, isolate China from the eastern hemisphere. As a result, travel was difficult due to the gigantic trail of mountains, therefore, making trade and transportation difficult, as well.

Actually, people did not travel by foot since communication would be made tremendously slow. As an alternative, travel was common through Yangzi and Yellow rivers. In addition, agriculture and trade could not be sufficient without the rivers.

Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism Philosophies

China has immense history in religion and art. Currently, religion in China is coined “Chinese Religion” since it is not organized but a combined movement. Chinese culture categorizes religion into four traditions: Confucianism, Chinese folk religion, Buddhism and Taoism.

Most people in China mix religion with their daily beliefs. In addition, the Chinese government plays a crucial role in dictating the religion that people should follow. The Chinese art is founded on these three key religions: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The previously mentioned religions put emphasis on love for nature. For this reason, landscapes, animals, flowers and birds constitute the established subjects of the art of Chinese.

Great Wall and Silk Road

The Silk Road, which is known as the silk route is a wide-ranging interconnected, set of connections of trade routes that transverse the Asian continent. It connects East, West, and Southern Asia with the Mediterranean countries, as well as the Eastern and Northern Europe and Africa. The origin of the name Silk Road is linked to the extensive trans-continental silk trade that takes place in China.

The silk trade came into operation at a time when China had the reign of Han dynasty. In addition, to silk, the other significant feature is the Silk Road that was used to carry some other commodity to form part of the significant world history. In that same light, the Silk Road is regarded as the world’s oldest intercontinental routes that stretch and upholds a considerable number of religions in particular the Buddhism through Central Asia.

This broadcast/diffusion has not only made a considerable impact on the lives and cultures in exacting countries within the continent, but it has also left the citizens of those countries with an ocean of wonders in literature and art. Art and iconography are the two main forms that have played a noteworthy role in the transmission of religious traditions all along the Silk Road.

The Great Wall of China is a proof and a factual thing to the Chinese’s extensive journey of civilization. The wall was built to protect the country from invaders, as well as a show of wealth and power in ancient China.

Opium Wars

The reign of Qing dynasty feared instability due to the influences of the outside world, especially European countries. This resulted to refusal of the traders into the country. As a result, wars were employed to open trade, particularly for opium. China lost the war, and this paved way to signing of treaties that saw large trading companies being opened in Hong Kong.

Communism

The onset of communism witnessed an alternate loosening and tightening of political and economic policies. It ensured redistribution of wealth through land reforms, and initiating power structure that was centralized. In addition, communism led to a campaign directed against tax evasion, bribery, theft of government assets, cheating on materials and labor, and stealing government economic secrets.

Moreover, communism shifted the economic system to socialist, as opposed to private ownership. China strived to attain economic growth and development founded on purposeful destabilization. The video explores the different aspects that affected the Chinese civilization.

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IvyPanda. (2019, March 27). Mandate of Heaven: Chinese Civilization and History. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mandate-of-heaven/

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IvyPanda. (2019) 'Mandate of Heaven: Chinese Civilization and History'. 27 March.

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IvyPanda. 2019. "Mandate of Heaven: Chinese Civilization and History." March 27, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mandate-of-heaven/.

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