The enormous expanse of land, resource and population that is and has been China, to varying size parameters, has by virtue of these outsized characteristics, been site to wild fluctuations in the areas of continuity of control. The onset of a historical trend which would become known as the dynastic cycle would be preceded though by a sustained period of Chinese social stability, distinguished in particular by the influence of Confucius (551-479 BC) and his refined code of ethics. As with such figures as Jesus and Mohammed thereafter, Confucius commanded a personal mythology in his passing which only grew. As Molloy tells, after the passage of full millennium since the death of this great teacher and scholar, the Ch'in Dynasty rose from a crowd of seven divided pre-Chinese kingdoms to bring the Confucian philosophy to central authority.
This would lead to a sustained enlightened period for the institution of meritocracy, where the magistrates and other government officials were...
The Civil Service examination, here became an important methodology for the establishment of the greatest interpreters of Confucian philosophy. The greatest development of this time period was the adoption of standards for census taking, equitable tax collection and fund allocation, and socialized working programs. All of these were products of the academic ideology which pervaded government and directed it toward an end of increased employment, more even resource distribution and an ultimate surplus of agricultural commodities and centers of commerce. This was the period which began to see the rise of China's important metropolitan centers, suggesting that the influence of Confucius would be quite concrete, proceeding from an emphasis on rational spirituality.
Works Cited:
Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the Worlds Religions, tradition, challenge, and change. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
