Though the Han and the Yuan dynasties are some of the most well known dynasties of China, there were other dynasties that occurred between the two. The Han Dynasty began in 206 BCE, and ended around 220 CE. For example, there was the Six Dynasties period, which was a time of unrest in China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was during that period of time that Buddism was first introduced in China. After that there was also the Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, and the Song/Sung Dynasty. Those are only a few examples, and it is only after those that the Yuan Dynasty – or the reign of the Mongol Empire – began in 1279. (Asia for Educators).
Over the course of those other dynasties, China saw the loss of “The Mandate of Heaven”, which was an ancient philosophical concept that began in the Zhou dynasty. It was basically a set of rules for the Emperor of China; a set of virtues and ethics that he had to live by. If he did not follow the mandate, he would lose his right to rule. The loss of this mandate could be a result of poverty or rebellion or war, and it was used as the excuse to take over for many different dynasties over time. (Szczepanski, Kallie). In the case of the Han dynasty, trouble rapidly began as ruler after ruler died without an heir, passing the rule to cousins that were too young to actually rule. This resulted in a lot of power plays and instability.
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Floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters also had a negative effect on the Han dynasty, as people took these as signs of heaven’s anger. An uprising – the Yellow Turban Rebellion – occurred in 184 CE that disrupted things further. Then in 190 CE, Dong Zhou took control, serving as the actual ruler over the Han figurehead, who eventually abdicated in 220 CE. Zhou’s rule was filled with bloodshed, and 220 CE was the final year of the Han dynasty, and it paved the way for the turmoil that would last over 300 years in China. (Ancient History Encyclopedia). Conversely, with the Yuan Dynasty, there were two main factors in its collapse. Firstly, there was a lot of class conflict due to taxes, and then there was also ethnic issues caused by “The Four Class System”. Ultimately, the dynasty fell as a result of a peasant uprising, as well as an attack by a military force led by Zhu Yuanzhang. (Travel China Guide).
All of these events make it clear that the Mongol victory over China resulted as a combination of superior military tactics, and the socioeconomic events that had taken place. The country was in a state of disarray, the class system had led to numerous revolts, and so China was more-or-less the perfect storm of events that led to the Mongol victory. However, it should be noted that military tactics did play a part, such as the strategy of the feigned withdrawal. This made it seem like the army was retreating, and it would lead any pursuing enemies into a trap. (Asia for Educators). The Mongol Empire somewhat stabilized the nation, expanded it, and helped to shape it to what it is today. Because of it’s impact on China, studying about these different dynasties is very important, as well as very interesting.
- Asia for Educators. “Dynasty Timeline”. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_timeline.htm Web. Accessed on 3/16/15.
- Szczepanski, Kallie. “What is the Mandate of Heaven?” About.com. http://asianhistory.about.com/od/ancientchina/f/What-Is-The-Mandate-Of-Heaven.htm Web. Accessed on 3/16/15.
- Asia for Educators. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china4_a.htm Web. Accessed on 3/16/15.
- Ancient History Encyclopedia. “Han Dynasty”. http://www.ancient.eu/Han_Dynasty/ Web. Accessed on 3/16/15.
- Travel China. “Decline & Fall of the Yuan Dynasty”. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/yuan/decline.htm Web. Accessed on 3/16/15.
