19th Century Leaders and Government
The Ci-Xi Imperial Dowager Empress by Qingprof used under Public Domain Qing Dynasty also known as the Manchu Family Click on the Emperor to Learn more about him Emperors [2] Jia Qing 1796 - 1820 Dao Guang 1821 - 1850 Xian Feng 1851 - 1861 Tong Zhi 1862 - 1874 Guang Xu 1875 - 1908 Empresses [2] Xiaoherui 1820-1850 Xiaojingcheng 1855 Dowager Ci'an 1861-1881 Dowager Cixi 1861-1908 |
The first step in the Dynastic Cycle, shown above, was the internal strife. This is referring to the struggle with the military in the area. Eventually, a group would gain enough power to advance to the next step in which they could claim their right to authority using the philosophy of the Mandate of Heaven. Then, a ruler would be able to build his strength and consolidate the resources necessary to officially end the turmoil and question of authority. In general, this pleases the people with leads to the era of harmony and the following growth and reform. After awhile, the dynasty will become unhappy with current standings and expand aggressively until they feel like they cannot be stopped. Until people start to question the dynasty's ability to lead and they begin to consider other options for leadership. This usually leads to corruption within the government and a military struggle which will bring a new dynasty to power. This a general format for how dynasties change from one family to another [5].
Dynasty Government and the Qing Dynasty
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Buildings and Locations
The forbidden city, shown to the right, served as the central hub for the Qing Dynasty during the nineteenth century. Although, this dynasty was not completely holed up in this palace like the Ming Dynasty before them; they often left to conduct their business in small communities (Waley-Cohen).
The Qing family was also famous for the revitalization of the gardens which the Allied Expenditionary force destroyed in 1860; Empress Dowager Cixi renamed these gardens the Garden to Nurture Harmony shortly thereafter (Rawski). The structures and securities of these buildings gave insight into the Chinese mindset of the time as well as keeping the Confucian influence from earlier dynasties [3]. |
CApitals
The capitals in the times of Chinese dynasties are not as stable as they are now. In fact, China even had times of multiple capitals. Peking-now known as Beijing- was the primary capital. Mukden-now known as Shanghai- served as a secondary capital [3]. There were many reasons to establish and change capitals. These were primary strategically placed for military and political purposes. These could include protecting an area or even economic motivations.
Capitals typically had large walls. Peking had an alter to heaven that modeled there tribute to warfare, the city also included an alters to Earth, Moon, and Sun. The city had also used the alters in Han Dynasty as a place to sacrifice for the winter solstice although those alters lied outside city walls [3]. |
THe Eight BannersWhile the Qing Dynasty was in power, they instituted a military structure called the Eight Banners. This system "grafted military-based social structure onto existing social hierarchies, altering China’s social framework," [4].The banners served as the highest military function. Even the living quarters were designed to mimic their battle formation for each of the banners [4]. Manchus, Mongols, and “Chinese-martial” each had banner establishments that were individually created in a set of eight for the function of military hierarchy and development of efficie-nt defense practicum [4].
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Created by Tyler Schenck
References
Text Sources
[1] N.A. (2001). Empresses and Consorts: Selections from Chen Shou's Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi's Commentary. China Review International, 8(2), 358-363. Retrieved November 24, 2014
[2] Hou, Stephen M. (2001). List of Qing Dynasty Emperors (1644 - 1912). Web. Retrieved from http://web.mit.edu/shou/www/china/qing.html. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
[3] Rawski, E. S. (1998). The last emperors: A social history of Qing imperial institutions. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Retrieved November 24, 2014
[4] Waley-Cohen, J. (2006). Culture of War in China : Empire and the Military under the Qing Dynasty. London, GBR: I.B. Tauris. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014
[5] Keating, J. (2014). Lecture on Early China.
Personal Collection of J. Keating, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Image Sources
Qingprof. (2009). The Ci-Xi Imperial Dowager Empress. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi#mediaviewer/File:The_Ci-Xi_Imperial_Dowager_Empress_(5).JPG. Available under Public Domain.
Calflier001. (2012). FORBIDDEN CITY BEIJING CHINA NOV 2012. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FORBIDDEN_CITY_BEIJING_CHINA_NOV_2012_(8166579840).jpg. Available under Creative Commons.
Anonymous. (19th Century). Portrait of two imperial consorts within the harem of the Emperor. Cixi entered Xianfeng's harem as a lowly concubine, but gave birth to his only male heir. [Painting] Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi#mediaviewer/File:%E3%80%8A%E7%8E%AB%E8%B4%B5%E5%A6%83%E6%98%A5%E8%B4%B5%E4%BA%BA%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%90%E5%9B%BE%E3%80%8B.jpg. Availabel under Public Domain.
Top Image
Stikkel, H. C. (2000). Soldiers of the en:Vietnam People's Army. [photo]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soldiers_of_Vietnam_People's_Army.jpg. Available under Public Domain.
[1] N.A. (2001). Empresses and Consorts: Selections from Chen Shou's Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi's Commentary. China Review International, 8(2), 358-363. Retrieved November 24, 2014
[2] Hou, Stephen M. (2001). List of Qing Dynasty Emperors (1644 - 1912). Web. Retrieved from http://web.mit.edu/shou/www/china/qing.html. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
[3] Rawski, E. S. (1998). The last emperors: A social history of Qing imperial institutions. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Retrieved November 24, 2014
[4] Waley-Cohen, J. (2006). Culture of War in China : Empire and the Military under the Qing Dynasty. London, GBR: I.B. Tauris. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014
[5] Keating, J. (2014). Lecture on Early China.
Personal Collection of J. Keating, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Image Sources
Qingprof. (2009). The Ci-Xi Imperial Dowager Empress. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi#mediaviewer/File:The_Ci-Xi_Imperial_Dowager_Empress_(5).JPG. Available under Public Domain.
Calflier001. (2012). FORBIDDEN CITY BEIJING CHINA NOV 2012. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FORBIDDEN_CITY_BEIJING_CHINA_NOV_2012_(8166579840).jpg. Available under Creative Commons.
Anonymous. (19th Century). Portrait of two imperial consorts within the harem of the Emperor. Cixi entered Xianfeng's harem as a lowly concubine, but gave birth to his only male heir. [Painting] Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Dowager_Cixi#mediaviewer/File:%E3%80%8A%E7%8E%AB%E8%B4%B5%E5%A6%83%E6%98%A5%E8%B4%B5%E4%BA%BA%E8%A1%8C%E4%B9%90%E5%9B%BE%E3%80%8B.jpg. Availabel under Public Domain.
Top Image
Stikkel, H. C. (2000). Soldiers of the en:Vietnam People's Army. [photo]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soldiers_of_Vietnam_People's_Army.jpg. Available under Public Domain.