Dynastic cycle

Dynastic cycle is an important political theory in Chinese history. According to this theory, every dynasty goes through a dynastic cycle.

[edit] The cycle

The dynastic cycle appears as follows:

A new ruler unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the Mandate of Heaven.^[1]
China, under the new dynasty, achieves prosperity.^[2]
The population increases.^[2]
Corruption becomes rampant in the imperial court, and the empire begins to enter decline and instability.^[2]
A natural disaster wipes out farm land. The disaster normally would not have been a problem; however, together with the corruption and overpopulation it causes famine.^[3]
The famine causes the population to rebel and starts a civil war.^[4]
The ruler loses the Mandate of Heaven. ^[5] ^[2]
The population decreases because of the violence.^[6]
China goes through a warring states period.^[6]
One state emerges victorious.^[2]
The state starts a new empire.^[7] ^[2]
The empire gains the Mandate of Heaven.^[8] ^[2]

(The cycle repeats itself)

The Mandate of Heaven was the idea that the Emperor was favored by Heaven to rule over China. The Mandate of Heaven was created by the Chinese philosopher Mencius, during the Period of Warring States. ^[9]

^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g http://killeenroos.com/6/Chin2.htm
^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.
^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.
^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.
^ ^a ^b Wills, John E. Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994- p. 35
^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.
^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.
^ Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.

Kennedy, Bruce. "Chinese Dynastic Cycle." Killer Roos. 17 February 2008 <http://killeenroos.com/6/Chin2.htm>.
Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974.
Wills, John E. Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994

Chi, C. Y. C., and N. D. Lei. (1994) Famine, Revolt, and the Dynastic Cycle: Population Dynamics in Historic China. Journal of Pop Economics 7: 351-378.
Korotayev, A., Malkov, A., & Khaltourina, D. (2006) Introduction to Social Macrodynamics: Secular Cycles and Millennial Trends. Moscow: URSS [1]. ISBN 5484005590
Nefedov, S. A. 2004. A Model of Demographic Cycles in Traditional Societies: The Case of Ancient China. Social Evolution & History 3(1): 69–80.