Ancient Dynasties of China

East Asian StudiesUnit OneMitchell

Founding Chinese States 3 Sovereigns & 5 Emperors (c.2852-c.2070BC)

• Semi-mythological rulers & culture heroes responsible for creating man and imparting essential skills

Xia (“shy”) Dynasty (c.2070-c.1600BC)• First dynasty described in ancient historical chronicles• Established by the legendary Yu the Great

Legend states he successfully united the people in order to stop the floods by building canals for 13 years.

• Strengthened his power, increased wealth of Xia clan• Reliability of information about Xia dynasty has been

questioned due to a lack of primary sources and tradition of speculation among ancient and imperial historians.

Shang (“shong”) Dynasty (1600-1046BC)

Yellow River Civilization Technological Advances

• Pictographic writing system• Stone ploughs, spades,

sickles to improve farming yields

• Bronze Age vessels Political Structures

• Dynasty had over 50 kings Head priest, leader of military

aristocracy, head of economy• 5-7 Capital Cities

Urban capital would move due to shifts in power

Shang Dynasty (1600-1046BC)

The Oracle Bones• Inscriptions on turtle shells

& ox bones have provided key insight on politics, economy, and religion of Shang

• Over 20,000 artifacts have been recovered

• Questions written on bones, bones would be fired, cracks would be interpreted to determine the future

• Countless oracle bones lost when used as “dragon bones”

Shang Dynasty (1600-1046BC)

Religion within the Shang• Worshiped “Shang Ti” or “Di” (The Lord on High)

Supreme God above all others, could command the elements

• Royal ancestors were viewed to intervene with distant Di Could also cast curses, send dreams, assist in battles Wishes of ancestors determined through burning of oracle

bones Required extensive sacrifices to avoid disasters (floods,

drought)• Human sacrifice very common, often slaves or

P.O.W.s

Zhou (“jyoe”) Dynasty (1050-256BC)

Conquering of the Shang• “Noble warriors supported by

Heaven defeat decadent Shang court led by evil King”

• 3 Conquering Rulers of Zhou King Wen expanded domain King Wu conquered the Shang Duke of Zhou consolidated power

• “The Mandate of Heaven” Spiritual/Political theory used by

early Zhou rulers to justify power Heaven gives a king mandate to

rule only as long as he rules in the interests of the people. If not…

Western Zhou Dynasty Zhou Political Structure

• King head of royalty, nobility Still head of ancestor worship, but

less sacrifice & oracle bones• Sent trusted relatives to build

garrisons in conquered lands• Quasi-Feudal system develops

Zhou society highly aristocratic When king bestowed land, he

often included labor to work it Slave/serf labor = noble wealth Manors divided into nine squares,

king held middle for emergencies Warrior class develops over time

Eastern Zhou Dynasty A Transition in Power

• Over time, lords trade & sell feudal land thus gaining power from the Zhou kings

• Succession to throne became major issue due to concubines Kings would occasionally name

son from concubine as heir over eldest son from wife

Excluded sons would often ally w/ neighboring armies, lead warfare

King Yu of Ji family made such a move, fell to wife’s father, power moved from “West” to “East”

Eastern Zhou Dynasty Spring & Autumn Period

• Lasted from 770 to 476 BC• Some vassal states grow in

power, royal authority shrinks• Small feudal states absorbed

by larger, stronger ones• Small-scale war, annexation

36 kings dead, 52 states destroyed• Competition among low-level

nobles to advise rulers brings rise of intellectual flowering Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism

all trace roots to this time period

Eastern Zhou Dynasty Warring States Period

• Spanned from 475 to 221 BC• Long-term wars: 7 Kingdoms

Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, Qin

• States focus on reform within realm, attack outside turf Qin reforms the most quickly

(see “legalism”), emerges as the most-powerful feudal state

256 BC: Qin attacks and defeats all armies in Eastern Zhou

221 BC: China becomes united under the Qin, ending Warring States Period

Eastern Zhou Dynasty Legalism “School of Law”

• One of the major philosophical movements of warring states Utilitarian political philosophy,

fails to address higher questions of nature & meaning of life

• Han Fei Zi proposed leader should use three tools: Fa (law): laws should be fair,

equal, just, predictable Shu (method): rulers need

secrets, bureaucracy to protect power

Shi (legitimacy): the position, not the ruler, holds true power