Chinese Empire: What it was and its characteristics

We explain what the Chinese Empire was, how it originated and its different stages. Also, its general characteristics, religion and more.

The Chinese Empire spans from the Qin dynasty to the Qing dynasty.

What was the Chinese Empire?

The Chinese Empire was a state that existed between 221 BC and 1912 AD in East Asia. Throughout its history, the Empire was under the rule of different dynasties, although its unity was interrupted on various occasions by civil wars, invasions by foreign peoples or by the territorial division into various kingdoms.

The Qin dynasty was the first to unify Chinese territory under its rule, and the last to do so was the Qing dynasty.

See also: Byzantine Empire

Location of the Chinese Empire

The Chinese Empire was located in East Asia, on the plains bordered by the Yellow and Blue Rivers. It was a fertile territory that lies between the plateaus of Central Asia to the north, the Blue and Yellow Rivers to the south, the mountain ranges of Tibet, the Pamirs and the Himalayas to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east.

Throughout its history, the territory controlled by the imperial government changed. At its greatest extent, the Empire came to occupy the territories of the present-day People’s Republic of China and Mongolia.

Origin of the Chinese Empire

Qin Shi Huan’s army is represented by 8,000 Terracotta Warriors.

Surrounded by mountains, deserts and seas, Chinese culture remained isolated from other civilizations of the ancient world. The first permanent settlements in China arose around 3000 BC, on the banks of the Yellow and Blue Rivers. It is believed that by the 18th century BC, the Chang dynasty of kings ruled part of the region. Then, in the 11th century BC, the Chou dynasty succeeded it.

In the 5th century BC, a period known as the “Warring States” began, during which seven kingdoms fought for control of the territory. In 221 BC, Shi Huang-ti, the monarch of the kingdom of Qin, managed to prevail over the rest of the kingdoms and founded the Chinese Empire.

Early Empire (221 BC-589 AD)

The Qin were defeated and replaced by the Han.

The first stage of the Chinese Empire began with the Qin dynasty. To control the noble warriors and keep them under his central influence, the emperor adopted legalism as the essential doctrine of the Empire, a philosophical school that postulated that the State should be aggrandized for the well-being of the people. The sovereign had to be obeyed unconditionally and had the right to use force to prevail in case of disobedience.

In turn, the population was subjected to rigorous discipline and the spread of contrary ideas was prohibited. The emperor established the burning of Confucian books (another Chinese philosophy, based on the ideas of Confucius) and persecuted opposing intellectuals.

On the other hand, Shi Huang-ti created a professional state administration system. To this end, he founded a school of civil administration in which officials were trained with the specific objective of carrying out state administration tasks. He also divided the empire into 36 administrative regions and established a civil and military organization.

In order to consolidate the imperial union, he began the construction of a network of roads and canals, and unified the currency, writing and the system of weights and measures throughout the territory. He also established compulsory military service for men.

Likewise, during the Qin dynasty, work on the Great Wall began, through the unification of the different pre-existing fortifications.

By 206 BC, the Qin dynasty was defeated and replaced by the Han dynasty, which ruled for four centuries and introduced Confucianism to the state. Confucianism advocated the importance of moral standards for the king and his advisors, and the moral discipline of subjects through education and work.

This period culminated in the year 220 AD. C., when the Empire was divided into three different kingdoms: Wei, Shu and Wu. It was the first step towards the era of the Six Dynasties, a prolonged period of division and civil war that ended around 589 AD. C., when the Sui dynasty defeated all its rivals.

Middle Kingdom (589-1279 AD)

The Chinese Empire fell to Genghis Khan’s successors in 1279.

In 589, the Sui Dynasty succeeded in reuniting the Chinese Empire. It carried out a series of institutional reforms with the aim of consolidating imperial power. It also initiated major public works, such as the Grand Canal and the extension of the Great Wall.

In 618, the Tang Dynasty came to power under Emperor Li Yuan. His reign is considered to be a time of state grandeur and cultural splendour, during which poetry and painting were particularly developed.

Between 907 and 960 AD, the Empire was divided during the period known as “The Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms”, until the Song dynasty managed to reunify part of the territory. At this stage, the Chinese population grew enormously and a series of inventions appeared that promoted cultural activities, such as an ink printing system and new porcelain working techniques. It is a time marked by the dissemination of literature, shows and neo-Confucian philosophy.

In 1279, China was conquered by the Mongol Empire, which was controlled by the successors of Genghis Khan. The Mongols controlled the entire nation, reunited their government, called the region “Manzi” and left it in the hands of a dynasty they had created, the Yuan.

Late Empire (1368-1912 AD)

The Late Empire began with the fall of the Mongol Empire and the return of the Chinese dynasties, which were the Ming and the Qing. This period culminated in the defeat of the Empire at the hands of foreign powers such as the British Empire (in the Opium Wars) and a situation of unrest and instability that forced the Qing into a series of institutional reforms.

However, the disastrous Sino-Japanese War that culminated in 1895, when China seized control of the Korean Peninsula and the island of Taiwan, caused enough unrest among the population to dare to undertake more substantial reforms. Sun Yaet-sen led the republican forces to unleash the Xinhai Revolution (or Japanese Revolution of 1911), which was a military uprising that formally put an end to the Chinese Empire.

Religion and beliefs in the Chinese Empire

In the history of the Chinese Empire, different belief systems and ways of conceiving life developed. All of them coexisted in Chinese society over the years and influenced all areas of society. Among the most important are:

• Confusionism. It was a philosophy founded by Confucius in the 5th century BC, which taught about the importance of moral education to achieve personal harmony and social harmony. It promoted honor, benevolence, loyalty and respect for tradition and the elderly.
• Legalism. It was a political ideology that had great influence in China from the 4th century BC. C. The philosophers Shang Yang and Han Feizi maintained the need to establish order through discipline and obedience. This ideology advocated the use of force and the establishment of strict laws for the general welfare.
• Taoism. It was a belief system developed by Lao Tzu around the 6th century BC (there is no certainty about his age). This philosophy is based on the notion of the Tao, which is understood as the “way” that underlies the universe and guides all things. It promotes a life in harmony with the natural order, spontaneity and simplicity to achieve inner and outer peace.
• Buddhism. This religion was introduced in China around the 1st century BC. C. and is based on the teachings of Buddha, a teacher from India. Through introspection and meditation, the overcoming of suffering and spiritual enlightenment is sought.

Culture of the Chinese Empire

Throughout its history, the Chinese Empire has developed a great cultural tradition, very heterogeneous and marked by the different transformations of Chinese society. Confucianism, Taoism and the legalistic school influenced the cultural practices of different moments in Chinese history.

However, there are certain common elements that characterized Chinese art and differentiated it from that of other cultures:

• Search for harmony. The artistic compositions sought a balanced and harmonious visual representation. In aesthetics, serenity and calm were the preferred choice.
• Emphasis on symbolism. Artistic expressions were linked to the transmission of values, beliefs and ideas. Through the use of different materials, colors, textures and objects, the Chinese sought to symbolize deeper meanings. Among the most common symbols in Chinese art are the dragon, the phoenix, the lotus flower, water and other elements of nature.
• Admiration for nature. Respect for the natural order and the life of all beings is a characteristic motif of all Chinese art. This trait derives from the influence of Taoism, which promoted life in harmony with the natural flow of the universe.
• Preference for simplicity. The choice of simple aesthetics, with clear and formal lines,…