Here is some chronological information to orient
the new reader. The chief dates referred to in the Lessons are included, along
with a few descriptions of what was happening at a particular time; note that
some dates are "circa" or approximate ones. Readers may want to compile
a more detailed time line for their own use, but here, for a start, are the key
events: the framework.
0771
Jou
Dynasty ends; its weak King is moved to Lwoyang in N central China
SPRING
AND AUTUMN
0721The
state of Lu begins to keep a chronicle, called the Spring and Autumn
much
warfare between the newly independent states
increasing
military pressure from the non-Sinitic southern state of Chu
0632The
state of Jin becomes dominant in north China
0549Confucius
is born in the state of Lu
0530A
military lull sets in, while the states reconsider their tactics
0493Lu
institutes a land tax, inaugurating a profound social change
0479Confucius
dies; the state of Chvn is obliterated by Chu
WARRING
STATES
0479Confucius's
disciples begin to compile Confucius's remembered sayings
as
they see it, the chief Confucian virtue is other-centeredness
0436Death
of Dzvngdz, the head of the posthumous School of Confucius in Lu
0390The
Kung Family take over the headship of the Confucian School
ritual
replaces other-centeredness as the cardinal Confucian value
0360A
new ruler comes to the Chi throne, and aggressively modernizes that state
0343The first great battle
(Ma-ling) is fought between new-style mass armies
0342The
Chi ruler takes the title King, symbolically displacing the Jou Ruler
argument
among political theorists about the form of the new state
0320Mencius
leaves the School of Lu for an independent career advising rulers
tensions
with newly organized northern steppe peoples
0318Chin
doubles its area by conquering non-Sinitic Shu, to the west
0315Chi
invades Yen but is expelled; Mencius leaves Chi in disgrace
0312The
Dzwo Jwan, a huge history of Spring and Autumn, is completed in Chi
0286Chi
conquers Sung, but is expelled; the Chi King dies as a fugitive in 0284
Sywndz,
a big-power Confucian thinker, begins to be active
Primitivist
reaction movements begin to be heard from
0278Chin
expels Chu from its western capital; Chu relocates in the east
0254Chu
conquers part of Lu and installs Sywndz as ruler of the conquered portion
0250Jau asks aid from
Chu; Sywndz takes part in a strategy conference
0249Chu
obliterates the rest of Lu; Sywndz becomes its intellectual dictator
0241The
Chin minister Lw Bu-wei completes a syncretistic philosophical treatise
0221Chin
finally conquers the last of the other states
THE
UNIFIED EMPIRE
0221Chin
begins the cultural unification of the former independent states
0213Chin
adopts Li Sz's advice to ban private ownership of Confucian books
0210The
weak Second Emperor comes to the throne; Chin rapidly dissolves
0206Confused
warfare; no real government
0202Formal
beginning of the Hàn Dynasty
0194The
Hàn founder's widow, Empress Lw, is dominant behind the scenes
0191The
Chin ban on Confucian and other ancient writings is lifted
0187Empress
Lw rules directly; the Lw clan nearly usurp the Hàn throne
0179Emperor
Wvn's reign begins; his court is favorable to Dauism
0156Emperor
Jing's reign begins; he is inclined toward Legalism
0140Emperor
Wu shows initial partiality for Confucianism
0136Confucianism
is proclaimed the official ideology for state employees
This
effectively brings to an end the War of Ideas
The
Hundred Voices is Copyright
© 1994- by E Bruce and A Taeko Brooks
22
Jan 2007 / Contact The
Authors / Exit to Contents
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