Chinese toward Military Prestige
It is not the First Emperor of Qin (259-210 BC) who first unified China in a full scale that Chinese people respect most. It is Emperor Wu of Han (156–87 BC) since he expanded the territory of China so wide and vast.
As a military campaigner, Emperor Wu led Han China through its greatest expansion—at its height, the Empire's borders spanned from modern Kyrgyzstan in the west, to Korea in the east, and to northern Vietnam in the south. Emperor Wu successfully repelled the nomadic Xiongnu from systematically raiding northern China and dispatched his envoy Zhang Qian in 139 BC to seek an alliance with the Yuezhi of modern Uzbekistan. This resulted in further missions to Central Asia. Although historical records do not describe him as a follower of Buddhism, exchanges probably occurred as a consequence of these embassies, and there are suggestions that he received Buddhist statues from central Asia, as depicted in Mogao Caves murals.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Wu_of_Han
However preceding Wu, two benevolent and clever emperors reigned Han.
After the first emperor of the Han dynasty Emperor Gaozu died, Han went into an era of political turmoil. Many members of the imperial family were executed through internal conflicts. But one of grandsons of Emperor Gaozu survived to be raised to the imperial throne. So, Emperor Wen (202 BC – 157 BC) was established as the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Wen governed China so wisely.
Emperor Wen was considered one of the most benevolent rulers in Chinese history. His reign was marked by thriftiness and attempts to reduce burdens on the people. His reign and that of his son Emperor Jing were often collectively known together as the Rule of Wen and Jing, renowned for general stability and relaxed laws.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Wen_of_Han#Impact_on_history
Emperor Wen and Jing tried to rest people as they were exhausted through internal conflicts. They tried to recover production power in farming villages. The Emperors did not unnecessarily try to build big buildings, roads, and other facilities, though Chinese emperors traditionally loved to conduct a large-scale public work, such as expansion of their palaces, during their reigns. They also mitigated application of serious punishment to criminals. They also abated tax sometimes.
So, it was said that during the reign of Emperor Wen and Jing, people enjoyed peace and prosperity so much. Stock rooms of villages were full of grains. Depot buildings in towns were full of coins. Economy was greatly improved.
However, it is said that Chinese people today respect Emperor Wu of Han more than those two prudent and pacifist Emperors, since Emperor Wu expanded the territory of China with military power more than the First Emperor of Qin had done.
Therefore, it is thought that Chinese people today are very ambitious in terms of boosting national prestige. They would support an aggressive defense policy of the Chinese Government. The Chinese people would support enhancement of military capability of China and deployment of naval fleets in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They might expect their Government to take as much as sea territory and as many as islands in those Seas.
And as China prevented Japan from obtaining a permanent seat in the UN Security Council several years ago, we cannot expect any effective movement of China toward peace in Asia and the world. We have to be careful in dealing with China in any fields, including economy and trade.
Early Han and Other Powers
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Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.