Book burning in Qin Dynasty - Revision history

Root at 22:14, 4 March 2013

2013-03-04T22:14:27Z

Root: /* Possible Results of Book Burning Policy */

2013-03-04T22:13:41Z

Possible Results of Book Burning Policy

Christopher W: /* Qin Shi Huangdi */

2013-03-01T06:27:11Z

Qin Shi Huangdi

Christopher W: /* Qin Shi Huangdi */

2013-03-01T06:15:29Z

Qin Shi Huangdi

Christopher W: /* Qin Shi Huangdi */

2013-03-01T05:43:10Z

Qin Shi Huangdi

Christopher W: /* Controversy over Sources */

2013-03-01T05:38:55Z

Controversy over Sources

Christopher W: /* Legalism */

2013-03-01T05:36:55Z

Legalism

Christopher W: /* Confucianism */

2013-03-01T05:35:12Z

Confucianism

Christopher W: /* Confucianism */

2013-03-01T05:32:20Z

Confucianism

Christopher W: /* Qin Shi Huangdi */

2013-03-01T05:27:19Z

Qin Shi Huangdi

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:14, 4 March 2013
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−	'''Book burning in ~~the~~ Qin Dynasty''' was possibly used as a means of censorship. This policy was instituted by Qin Shi Huangdi while under the influence of his legalist advisor Li Si. The book burning mandate occurred in 213 B.C. at the height of his advisor Li Si’s power. This policy caused unrest within the Qin Empire and proceeding dynasties would look back negatively on this policy, though it is uncertain whether the book burnings actually happened as recorded or if they were merely used as propaganda to legitimize the Han Empire.	+	The '''Book burning in Qin Dynasty''' was possibly used as a means of censorship. This policy was instituted by Qin Shi Huangdi while under the influence of his legalist advisor Li Si. The book burning mandate occurred in 213 B.C. at the height of his advisor Li Si’s power. This policy caused unrest within the Qin Empire and proceeding dynasties would look back negatively on this policy, though it is uncertain whether the book burnings actually happened as recorded or if they were merely used as propaganda to legitimize the Han Empire.

	==Controversy over Sources==		==Controversy over Sources==

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 [[File:Qin_empire_210_BCE.png ‎|300px|thumb|center|Map of Qin Empire. Photo by Yeu Ninje. Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qin_empire_210_BCE.png]for original source.]]
-==Possible Results of Book Burning Policy==
+==Possible Results of the Book Burning Policy==
 	How much damage did me and Li Si cause?  According to Francis Hammit in his article, The Burning of Books, the destruction under me reign was not as great as is generally supposed.  In addition to those who defied the order to burn their books, certain officials were allowed to retain books, and I, myself had my own collection. A few scholars disobeyed the orders for the destruction of books by concealing old Confucian tablets and other writings.  It is said that the fire caused by Hsiang Yu in the capital a few years later in 207 B.C., caused more damage to books than by the implementation of the book-burning under my orders. (Hammitt 1945, 300-12).
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 This policy was more a matter of intimidation than of actual implementation. The destruction of whole ideas for the sake control is even too drastic for me. Subduing is more important to me than destroying. I wanted obedient servants and the best way to achieve this was to control the flow of information and if i could cause Confucian ideas to go underground, then all the better for Legalism to flourish.
+==Classroom Presentation==
 [[Media:Book_Burning_in_the_Qin_Dynasty.pptx]]
-'''See Also'''
+==See Also==
 *[[Qin Shihuangdi]]
 *[[Han Feizi]]
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 *[[Confucius]]
-'''References'''
+==References==
 *Mencius, 2A:6. A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, trans. and compiled Wing-tsit Chan(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1963).

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 ==Qin Shi Huangdi==
-I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I unified the states that make up part of what is now considered modern china and I ushered in  thousands of years of tradition of imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. As a foundation for my work, I followed the tenets of Legalism through the guidance of Shang Yang and Li Si. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
+I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I, through conquest, unified the states that make up part of what is now considered modern china and I ushered in  thousands of years of tradition of imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. As a foundation for my work, I followed the tenets of Legalism through the guidance of Shang Yang and Li Si. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
 [[File:Qinshihuang.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Painting of Qin Shi Huangdi. Photo by Tsîn-sí-hông. Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qinshihuang.jpg]for original source.]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==Qin Shi Huangdi==
-I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I unified the states that make up part of what is now considered modern china and I ushered in  thousands of years of tradition of imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
+I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I unified the states that make up part of what is now considered modern china and I ushered in  thousands of years of tradition of imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. As a foundation for my work, I followed the tenets of Legalism through the guidance of Shang Yang and Li Si. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
 [[File:Qinshihuang.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Painting of Qin Shi Huangdi. Photo by Tsîn-sí-hông. Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qinshihuang.jpg]for original source.]]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==Qin Shi Huangdi==
-I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I unified the states in part of what is now considered modern china and ushered in  thousands of years imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
+I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I unified the states that make up part of what is now considered modern china and I ushered in  thousands of years of tradition of imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
 [[File:Qinshihuang.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Painting of Qin Shi Huangdi. Photo by Tsîn-sí-hông. Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qinshihuang.jpg]for original source.]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==Controversy over Sources==
-[[File:Sima_Qian.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Portrait of Han historian Sima Qian. Photo by ZazaPress. Click [ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sima_Qian_(painted_portrait).jpg] for original source.]]
+[[File:Sima_Qian.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Portrait of Han historian Sima Qian. Photo by ZazaPress. Click[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sima_Qian_(painted_portrait).jpg]for original source.]]
 The majority of the information that we have on Qin Shi Huangdi’s order to burn books and bury scholars alive has come from the writings of the historian Sima Qian of the Han dynasty. Sima Qian, having been part of the proceeding dynasty, had views of Qin Shi Huangdi that regarded him as an opportunist with cruel legalist policies. Many of the negative views held of the Qin by proceeding empires can be seen as associated with the period in which the Qin began to implement legalism. Prior to this, the Qin were simply seen as part of the Central states, instead of the conquering barbarians that Sima Qian depicted them as. Skepticism as to the validity and objectivity of Sima Qian’s writing as a reliable source is to be had.(Sima Qian, ix –xxv)

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 Looking at these two excerpts, Han Feizi makes book burning seem like a reasonable undertaking.  In an effort to reduce ill-informed criticisms that arose from too much emphasis on past historical achievements, Li Si recommended the burning of books.  After all, the sage kings of ancient times were no longer in power so they must have done something wrong to lose their power.  In order to find the correct path for the future, according to Legalist thought, one must look at the present and examine the current situation.
-[[File:Qin_empire_210_BCE.png ‎|300px|thumb|center|Map of Qin Empire.]]
+[[File:Qin_empire_210_BCE.png ‎|300px|thumb|center|Map of Qin Empire. Photo by Yeu Ninje. Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qin_empire_210_BCE.png]for original source.]]
 ==Possible Results of Book Burning Policy==

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 To further illustrate the conflict between Confucianism and Legalism, I would like to point out what happened when the Hans took over China. They continually used my dynasty and our Legalist policies as an example of poor government, despite the fact that they had an unified empire and secure borders as result of my work and direction. They later dynastys, including the Han,that prided themselves on their Confucianism even made up fake histories about me and my legacy. Their plan was to destroy my image to make their reigns look legitimate in comparison and to make people feel like they were in the greatest dynasty ever. The irony is that Confucians pride themselves on having moral leaders and moral citizens, but I would argue that changing history to create beneficial propaganda for one's self is highly immoral. These later leaders merely had the image of morality, but their achievements were nothing in comparison to the great works that were done under my rule.
-[[File:Fragment_of_Xiping_stone_classics.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Fragment of Xiping stone classics referring to book burning in Qin dynasty.]]
+[[File:Fragment_of_Xiping_stone_classics.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Fragment of Xiping stone classics referring to book burning in Qin dynasty.Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CMOC_Treasures_of_Ancient_China_exhibit_-_Fragment_of_Xiping_stone_classics,_detail.jpg]for original source.]]
 ==Legalism==

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 ==Confucianism==
-[[File:Confucius_2.png ‎|300px|thumb|right|Engraving of Confucius. The Chinese characters read "Portrait of the First Teacher, Confucius, Giving a Lecture".]]
+[[File:Confucius_2.png ‎|300px|thumb|right|Engraving of Confucius. The Chinese characters read "Portrait of the First Teacher, Confucius, Giving a Lecture". Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Confucius_02.png]for original source.]]
 Unlike legalism, Confucianism assumes that people are naturally good and expects morality from leaders and citizens. Mencius wrote of this innate goodness:

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 I, Qin Shi Huang am considered the first emperor as I unified the states in part of what is now considered modern china and ushered in  thousands of years imperial rule. To ensure this, I was willing to pursue great projects and implement drastic policies at great expense to my kingdom. With my achievements in mind and the obvious lengths that I was willing to go to achieve them,  some credence must be given to the idea that the propaganda fueled history of Sima Qian may have some truth to it.
-[[File:Qinshihuang.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Painting of Qin Shi Huangdi.]]
+[[File:Qinshihuang.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Painting of Qin Shi Huangdi. Photo by Tsîn-sí-hông. Click [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qinshihuang.jpg]for original source.]]
 ==Li Si's Influence on Qin Shi Huang==