The civilization of China, the land of hills, rivers, and plains, originated from its main river known as The Yellow River. The basic Chinese culture was founded on cultivation, enlarged by hunting and rearing animals. The tribes used stone tools, and animal games were conducted for entertainment. Tribal rivalries were common during that period and also they had some forms of ancestor worship. This vast region consisted of countless quantity of racial groups and languages.
“In the Chinese version of history, however, history begins with three semi-mystical and legendary individuals who taught the Chinese the arts of civilization around 2800-2600 BC:” The three popular folk heroes are Fu Hsi, who is regarded as the inventor of writing, hunting, and fishing; Shan Nung, who devised the method of agriculture and The Yellow Emperor who made-up the form of government and Taoist philosophy.
They believed in the existence of three Sage Kings namely Yao, Shun, and Yu who reigned with ideal perception, simplicity, and virtue, and the last of the sage kings, Yu, established a dynasty of kings, the Hsia. The Hsia initiates with good value and wisdom and finishes with the rule of Chieh, who was depraved and brutal.
War: Fundamental to Social Organization
After the time of Zhanguo or Chan-Kuo, the city-states come with existence in ancient China. When analyzing the history of ancient China, one can see that the nation has a history of internal warfare and crisis. During 221 B.C. Chinn has earned a political and social unity. After the fall of Shan dynasty, Chi’n from Chao dynasty ruled the country. He concentrated on social and political unification of China.
Huan of Chi (686-643) dynasty fought against the nomadic barbarians, and he encouraged agriculture by controlling rivers and irrigation programs. During this time, war became the part of fundamental or ideal. “He attempted to stop the constant wars by holding conferences, by saying within established boundaries, and by open trade.” The war and beliefs of ancient people in China were interrelated. They had followed certain values and morals towards the opponent. Therefore, it is clear that war in ancient China helped the social and cultural organization of China.
The principles of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius had a great influence on the social life of ancient China. The formation of the Great Wall in China influenced the feelings of nationality and national security. Many thinkers exerted their predominance in Chinese political and religious life. With their preaching, they advocated the ways for the union of China as an independent country, having all the rights of a nation.
Most important among them is Confucius the foremost philosopher and sage. “He taught filial piety and piety towards the ancestors.” Though a majority of the tribes came to China tried to overrule China by imposing their power, some of them did much for the formation of the new China. Bradford presented an example when he said about Former Han that, “The last eight years of Former Han was a period of peace and stability for China and its neighbors.”
War: Fundamental to Political Organization
The role of war in the political organization of a country is a widely discussed topic among historians and political thinkers. Regarding the political organization of ancient China, war had exerted its predominant influence that caused many notable changes in various aspects of Chinese life. Historical studies reveal that ancient China was a group of independent provinces that were fighting with one another to get supremacy.
Bradford further observed that these pressure groups united in 221 B.C. and finally gathered under a system of bureaucracy which was already controlled by military. Many kings and their representative dynasties had played their roles in the creation of modern China. The prominent dynasties that had significance in the social and the political phases of China included the Shang dynasty and the Ch’in the Chou dynasty.
Historical studies also reveal that Ch’in the Chou came into power after the fall of Shang dynasty. Like the Shang dynasty, Ch’in the Chou also had tried to bring the nobles under their control but proved futile. Thus their attempt to bring political organization ended in miserable failure. Later, the known history marks the defeat and the death of the Chou king in 771 B.C., by a coalition of the northern nobles and it resulted in the coronation Chou prince to act as king having little. Thus one can see the political organization of China again remained as a question.
Historians regard Chou dynasty as the “Spring and Autumn” of Chinese history who assumed the major role in uniting the country which was once divided into as many as 170 independent districts. One of the important dynasties that influenced the social and political phase of China was the Mongolians, who overwrought the Chinese theory of political legitimacy with their military power.
The role of Mongolians in the political unity of China is clear from the words of Ch’i-ch’ing Hsiao when he rightly refers to Mongolians, as “They tended to think in military terms and never made any serious attempt to rule China in traditional Chinese fashion.” One of the important factors that caused for bringing political and social unity was the construction of the Great Wall of China during the period of Ch’in Shih-Huang-ti. “the Great Wall defined agricultural China and separated if it did not defend China from the barbarian nomads.”
Ideology or Necessity of War
The history of the ancient world comprises of invasions leading to war. By analyzing the history of ancient world one can pinpoint various factors that are responsible for invasions and war. Both the ideology and necessity led to the war. In the ancient period, self-interest, beliefs, and the principles of the king inspired him to conquer the neighboring states in order to take advantage of wealth and prosperity.
In some cases, war was considered as a necessity because when a country underwent outsider’s invasion then it had to prepare for the war. The war was also necessary for maintaining peace and order in the ancient world. The early history of china was mainly for leading the country to unity. The internal warfare started about 221 B.C. At that time the first priority was given to the social order but The Confucian school stated that war was not helpful in creating social order. Harmony and stability were the major aspects of political thinking in ancient China. Peace explained the absence of disturbances.
A remarkable quotation from the article “The Chinese Meaning of Just War and its Impacts on the foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China” claims that, “the use of violence can be justified because the political order needs be restored. Even though violence stands in contrast to the ideal of a virtuous emperor, wars in respect of order are Just Wars.
Therefore, political order is the independent variable which determines whether the use of violence or war is justified”. So it is clear that political order determines whether the use of violence is justifiable or not. To conclude, one can infer that it is a necessity that led the ancient world, including China to the war. When a country needs to be protected from invasions, it has to fight for self-protection.
Bibliography
- Bradford. Alfred S. 2001. “With Arrow, Sword, and Spear: History of warfare in the ancient world China: china: the former Han: When the unity of command breaks down: The career of Le Kuang.” Bradford, Pamela M, (ed.). 11. (Provided by customer).
- Bradford, Alfred S. “With Arrow, Sword, and Spear: History of Warfare in the Ancient World: China: the Warring States: the Lord of Shang.” Bradford, Pamela M, (ed.). 6. (provided by customer).
- Bradford, Alfred S. “With Arrow Sword, and Spear: A History of Welfare in the Ancient World: China: Spring and Autumn: The Search for Unity and Social Order.” 3. (Provided by customer).
- Godehardt, Nadine. 2008. “The Chinese meaning of just war and its impact on the foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China: Conclusion.” 31. GIGA Research Programme: Violence, Power and Security.
- Hsiao, Ch’i-ch’ing. 1978. “The military establishment of the Yuan Dynasty: chapter 1: The Military System: The Chinese and Inner Asian backgrounds of the yuan military system.” Council of East Asian Studies: Havard University: Havard University Press. 2. (Provided by customer).
- “The yellow river culture: Three cultural heroes.” Ancient China.
- Bradford, Alfred S. and Bradford, Pamela M. 2001. With Arrow, Sword, and Spear: History of Warfare in the Ancient World. Greenwood Publishing Group. 134. Web.