Final answer:
Feudalism in China failed due to the emergence of independent lords, disruptions to social hierarchies by external events and internal pressures, and unsuccessful government reforms leading to increased social mobility and weakened control, ultimately being replaced by alternative economic systems and social structures. The correct answer is option 3).
Step-by-step explanation:
Feudalism in China ultimately failed to fulfill its original purpose due to several factors. The complexity of ruling and maintaining peace, as well as the issues like depopulation and the shifting of military practices, played major roles. Additionally, the centralization of monarchical power and challenges in tax collection contributed to the weakening of the feudal system. The Zhou monarchical state, or feudal system (fengjian), was initially structured with the king assigning relatives and allies to lands to maintain control and provide protection. However, this led to independent lords who became powerful and sometimes challenged the central authority.
Over time, as the aristocracy gained more control over land, and the economy shifted back to a more manorial system, the dependence on feudal relationships weakened. The social structures and hierarchies, such as the relationship between serfs and their lords, could not withstand the external pressures from events like the Black Death and internal pressures such as rising merchant power. These disruptions led to an increase in social mobility and decreased the hold of feudalism on society.
Moreover, the Ming government's cutting off of access to foreign trade and imposing high taxes on certain groups, while trying to alleviate expenses through reforms like making soldiers and wealthier peasants responsible for taxation and maintaining order, eventually was unsuccessful. The challenges in enforcement and collection of taxes, as well as the military's incapability to sustain themselves on allotted lands, reflected the diminishing effectiveness of the feudal system and its inability to adapt to the changing socio-economic conditions.