The Miao and Jiao Hymns of the Western Han

"In Praise of Political Legitimacy: The Miao and Jiao Hymns of the Western Han" is a book written by Anne Behnke Kinney. It focuses on the Miao and Jiao hymns, two collections of texts from the Western Han Dynasty in China (206 BCE - 9 CE).
The book examines how these hymns were used by the Han government to legitimize their political power and authority over the people. The Miao and Jiao hymns were recited at state ceremonies and rituals, and their content emphasized the importance of loyalty to the emperor and the Han government.
Kinney argues that the Han Dynasty was successful in creating a sense of political legitimacy through these hymns, as they were able to unify a diverse population under a single ruler and maintain their power for over four centuries. The book also explores the historical and cultural context in which these hymns were created, shedding light on the beliefs and practices of the Han people.
Overall, "In Praise of Political Legitimacy: The Miao and Jiao Hymns of the Western Han" provides insight into the role of propaganda and ideology in ancient Chinese politics and sheds light on the ways in which political power was established and maintained in early Chinese history.
The Miao and Jiao Hymns of the Western Han are a collection of Chinese poems from the Western Han dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE) that were used in religious rituals to honor the ancestors and communicate with the gods. The hymns were written in a style known as "fu," which is a type of poetic prose.
== One ==
"The Miao and Jiao Hymns of the Western Han" are a collection of ancient Chinese poems or hymns that were written during the Western Han dynasty (206 BCE-9 CE). They were used to praise the Emperor and his family, and to promote the concept of political legitimacy.
Here are a few examples of phrases in Chinese from the Miao and Jiao Hymns:
* 天子 Tiānzǐ: "Son of Heaven," a term used to refer to the Emperor.
* 万邦 wànbāng: "Ten thousand states," meaning all the nations of the world.
* 遐迩 xiá'ěr: "Far and near," meaning everywhere.
* 肃穆 sùmù: "Solemn and respectful," a term used to describe the atmosphere when the Emperor is present.
* 皇帝 huángdì: "Emperor," the highest ruler in traditional Chinese society.
* 君王 jūnwáng: "Monarch," a term used to refer to rulers of smaller states or kingdoms.
* 礼仪 lǐyí: "Etiquette and ceremony," the formal rules and customs that govern social behavior in Chinese culture.
* 象征 xiàngzhēng: "Symbolic," referring to the use of symbols and gestures to convey meaning in Chinese culture.
== Two ==
Here are a few phrases in Chinese from the Miao and Jiao Hymns:
* "三軍震旦，壹武靈兮。" (Sān jūn zhèn dàn, yī wǔ líng xī.): "The three armies shake the dawn, and the military spirit is unified."
* "南山崔嵬，北海澹泊。" (Nánshān cuī wēi, běihǎi dàn bó.): "The southern mountains are towering, and the northern sea is calm."
* "伐罪罟，芟夷羽。" (Fá zuì gǔ, shān yí yǔ.): "Punish the guilty with nets, and eliminate the enemies with swords."
* "雷動颺梁，雨施洪波。" (Léi dòng yáng liáng, yǔ shī hóng bō.): "Thunder shakes the beam, and rain falls like a flood."
* 王者之德，惟其綏之。- "The virtue of the ruler is to bring peace."
* 莫非王土，率土之濱。- "All within the boundaries of the kingdom belong to the ruler."
* 哲人其萌兮，日新其繁。- "The wise men flourish and multiply day by day."
* 王之德也，其如春何？- "The virtue of the ruler is like the spring."
* 國家之福，必從斯始。- "The prosperity of the state begins here."
* 能崇德禮，樂綏百姓。- "The ability to honor virtue and ceremony brings joy to the people."
* 民之無良 (Mín zhī wú liáng) - "The people have no morality"
* 賞不加賚 (Shǎng bù jiā lài) - "No rewards are given"
* 四海為家 (Sì hǎi wéi jiā) - "The four seas are our home"
* 甘泉之樂 (Gān quán zhī lè) - "The pleasure of sweet springs"
* 光祿勳 (Guāng lù xūn) - "Glorious and honorable deeds"
See Also: https://brill.com/view/journals/joch/8/1/article-p58_4.xml 
Category:Literature
Category:Military
Category:Politics
Category:History
Category:Culture