Dynastic Cycle

[dawgman]

I studied this theory of Chinese dynasties about 10 years ago at the University of Washington and made a connection then between the USA and this theory.

Wikipedia (I know) has a pretty good synopsis of the theory here...

According to Chinese political theory, every dynasty goes through a dynastic cycle.

A new ruler: Unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the Mandate of Heaven. (“Ancestors”, p 78.)
China, under the new dynasty, achieves prosperity and a new golden age. ("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")
The population increases ("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")

Corruption becomes rampant in the imperial court, and the empire begins to enter decline and instability.("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")

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.(“Ancestors”, p 78.)

The famine causes the population to rebel and starts a civil war (“Ancestors”, p 78.)

The ruler loses the Mandate of Heaven.(“Ancestors”, p 78.) ("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")

The population decreases because of the violence ("Mountain of Fame" p35)

One warring state begins to gain power ("Mountain of Fame" p35)

One state emerges victorious ("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")

The state starts a new empire (“Ancestors”, p 78.) ("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")

The empire gains the Mandate of Heaven. (“Ancestors”, p 78.) ("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")

(The cycle repeats itself)
The Mandate of Heaven was the idea that the Emperor was favored by god to rule over China. The Mandate of Heaven was created by the Chinese philosopher Mencius, during the Period of Warring States. (“Ancestors”, p 78.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynastic_cycle

Substitute China with USA....remove mandate from heaven and replace it with mandate from the people....

[WCGreen]

1. We call them realigning elections here in the US...

Prime examples...

FDR in 1932...

LBJ in 1964...

Ronnie in 1980...

We are due...

[dawgman]

2. absolutely

however, I think that a longer view can be taken as well...right now we are in the height of the corruption and decadence of a 250-300 year cycle and a larger change is coming as a result of the rampant consumerism and corporatism...

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. That's really interesting. This part intrigues me:

Corruption becomes rampant in the imperial court, and the empire begins to enter decline and instability.("Chinese Dynastic Cycle")


That seems to be where we are now. I was just reading a post by a Canadian, bad mouthing America. I felt defensive, though I hate all the imperial policies...Its funny how this displacement occurs in people's minds where America, or the Empire, is seen as being either "good" or "bad", "powerful" or "weak", and this displacement makes them turns away from actually evaluating actions as being moral or bad, and this, I believe, is what derives the corrupt court. They live in a country that's been "good" and "powerful" for so long that they stop critically evaluating their actions, because they've disconnected them from the Empire. Its exactly what we see happening here. Why can America torture? because Hey, we're the GOOD guys, right? So its not torture...Why can America send over palettes of money and not worry about them? Because Hey, we're the most POWERFUL in the world, so it must make us win because that's what we do...

[dawgman]

5. When I first studied this

It was described as corruption and DECADENCE that led to the loss of the mandate of heaven. That is fully where I see us right now. Society (the elite and indeed the masses as well) is more decadent than maybe at any other time. Think about the lavish 3 million dollar B-day parties

[trof]

4. I like it.

Time to start a new dynasty.

[dawgman]

6. bump

nt