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Dynastic cycle () is an important political theory in Chinese history. According to this theory, each dynasty rises to a political, cultural, and economic peak and then, because of moral corruption, declines, loses the Mandate of Heaven, and falls, only to be replaced by a new dynasty. The cycle then repeats under a surface pattern of repetitive motifs.〔Edwin O. Reischauer, “The Dynastic Cycle,” in John Meskill, ''The Pattern of Chinese History'', (Boston: D.C. Heath and Company, 1965), pp. 31-33.〕 This theory sees a continuity in Chinese history from early times to the present by looking at the succession of empires or dynasties, implying that there is little basic development or change in social or economic structures.〔"(Dynastic cycle )," in , p. 87〕 John K. Fairbank expressed the doubts of many historians when he wrote that "the concept of the dynastic cycle . . . has been a major block to the understanding of the fundamental dynamics of Chinese history." 〔John K. Fairbank and Edwin O. Reischauer, ''East Asia: The Great Tradition''(Boston, 1960), p. 115.〕 ==The cycle== The cycle appears as follows: #A new ruler unites China, founds a new dynasty, and gains the Mandate of Heaven.〔Ching, Frank. Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1974. p 78.〕 #China, under the new dynasty, achieves prosperity. #The population increases. # Corruption becomes rampant in the imperial court, and the empire begins to enter decline and instability. #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.〔 #The famine causes the population to rebel and a civil war ensues.〔 #The ruler loses the Mandate of Heaven.〔 #The population decreases because of the violence.〔Wills, John E. Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994- p. 35〕 #China goes through a warring states period.〔 #One state emerges victorious. #The state starts a new empire.〔 #The empire gains the Mandate of Heaven.〔 :::(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 explanation was championed by the Chinese philosopher Mencius during the Period of Warring States.〔 It has 3 main phases: #The first is the beginning of the dynasty. #The second is at the middle of the dynasty's life and is the peak of the dynasty. #The last period is the decline of the dynasty, both politically and economically, until it finally collapses. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dynastic cycle」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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