Influence of Confucianism on the Han Dynasty Essay

Influence of Confucianism on the Han Dynasty - Essay Example Confucianism became quite popular under the Han dynasty and influenced it greatly in terms of politics, history, education, law, and the role of women. According to Spodek, Confucianism influenced politics in the Han dynasty by changing the hierarchy of power within society. In a Confucian society, scholars were the most powerful, â€Å"followed by farmers, artisans, and merchants†(Spodek). In this new hierarchy, scholars had the most influence over how the Han empire ran on a day to day basis. Confucianism also had a great impact on history and its importance within the Han dynasty. According to Spodek, court historians were utilized in a much greater capacity than in previous dynasties. This change was due to the fact that Confucianism emphasized the â€Å"importance of tradition and continuity†(Spodek, 2006). This emphasis, therefore, dictated that histories should be documented more frequently and carefully. Education and law were other areas that were especially influenced by Confucianism. Within the Han dynasty, special schools were set up to teach Confucian principles(Spodek, 2006). Spodek states that â€Å"the emperor declared that the knowledge of Confucian classics would be a basis for promotion in the imperial civil service†(Spodek, 2006). This was a significant change as before the shift to Confucianism, only the aristocracy was really brought into the imperial civil service(Spodek, 2006). Law also changed as Confucian scholars were given the power to change and inform the laws within the Han dynasty in order to reflect Confucian principles(Spodek, 2006). Lastly, the role of women was influenced by Confucianism. According to Spodek, Confucianism taught that women were inferior and should dedicate themselves to serving men such as their brothers, fathers, and husbands(Spodek, 2006). Confucianism established the way women should behave in that they were seen as subservient to the males within their society.

View of Wordsworth Poet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

View of Wordsworth Poet - Essay Example Apart from what is read and learned he derived his philosophy based on his own life experience. The time he had spent in France was rather painful and difficult. His sojourn in France from 1791 to late 1792 had far reaching effect on his mind and heart. He became an ardent admirer of the revolution and the political philosophy that it entailed. Wordsworth was already biased towards ideas of freedom under natural law, a social system that allowed all men freedom to build their lives on truth and brotherhood. But at Paris power has passed into the hands of extremists who called for deaths of all aristocrats and the reign of terror was unleashed .This seemed to completely upset all the great members of Giroudist partly. He was even in danger of his life. His faith in the Revolution and all that it meant suffered a severe setback and upset his belief in human nature. He coined his own understanding of the world and of human mind in his own terms, formulated his own philosophies which app eared in many of his poems that served as stupendous literary works in English literature. The meeting with a lady, Annette Vallon, at Orleans was a turning point in his life. She gave birth to a child ‘Caroline ‘. But later due to the war he was unable to meet them. The desertion of Annette tormented him with remorse and affected his character and haunted his poetry for years. This episode in his life appears in ‘The Prelude’. His meeting with Coleridge at Bristol paved the way to a new era in literature. Coleridge had read Wordswoth’s early poems and was deeply impressed by them. In return both Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy were stuck by the abilities displayed by the Coleridge. Having realized that the political reform and moral theory offered less improvement in the society, Wordswoth turned to nature. Nature that seemed to provide for man, to bless him with health and to keep him in contact with the essentials of Words worth’s great me ssage to his time were sown at this time. The Lyrical Ballard was the immediate outcome of this new association between Wordswoth and Coleridge. Its purpose was not merely to write in a manner different from neo-classical poets which would seem its purpose from the preface but also to present the meaning full experience of Nature which Wordswoth has now re-experienced in a manner which would convey its importance to all men. Wordswoth sought to replace with real and observed figures from the country side, the outworn mythology of Greece and Rome as the frame of reference for the poetry. Such humble and rustic men and women were also representatives of the great truths of life, the truth that man was happiest and the most free when he lived in communion with nature. Throughout the spring and summer of 1798 the philosophic framework for his concepts and ideas continued to develop under the stimulus of the wide ranging philosophical and theological knowledge of Coleridge. Wordsworth ow n personal experience and wisdom of the relationship between Man and Nature was supplemented and enriched by the new ideas of living and creating mind , that was the vital force operating in both Man and he Universe. This is the force that he addressed the spirit and wisdom of the universe in Book 1 of ‘The Prelude’. Later Coleridge identified Wordswoth’s introspective mind from the stories of his previous experiences of mystical and semi-mystical