Ancient China

Chapter 4

Ancient ChinaI. Early Civilization in China

A. The Geography of China1. Natural Barriers

a. ELEVATION: the height above sea level; effects temperature and precipitation.

b. isolated China c. Himalayas, Tian Shan, Gobi

& Taklimakan Deserts, 3 major east- west rivers

2. China’s Agricultural Revolution

a. 7,000bc – agricultural communities begin in river valleysb. LOESS: fine, yellowish-brown, rich soil – great for farmingc. 4,000-1,000bc – Ag. Rev. in

Chinad. yearly river floods & monsoons brought watere. irrigation brought water when neededf. Huang He = Yellow River; rice, grains, sheep, cattleg. people worked together to improve entire valley

B. The Shang Dynasty

1. Shang Rulers a. first dynasty, Huang He valleyb. 1,750-1,000bcc. Anyang & Zhengzhou –

important citiesd. king led warrior-nobles to protect from invaders

2. Ancestor Worshipa. ancestors brought good

fortuneb. gifts of food, drink & art were given for respectc. ORACLE: person, place, or thing that a god uses to reveal

hidden knowledge; bones told future given by ancestors

3. Introduction of Writinga. First found in tombs on oracle bonesb. writing used symbols &

picturesc. helped to unify China

C. Shang Society1. Artisans & Merchants

a. king warrior nobles/royal family peasantsb. A&M no official rank in societyc. made objects of silk, jade, &

bronzed. trades spices & cowrie shells

2. Women’s Rolesa. some Shang women had rights

b. Lady Hao, wife of King Wu Ding, lived 1,200bc; in charge of

ceremonies, owned an estate, even led a large army

3. Silk Farminga. SERICULTURE: process of

silk production est. in China 2,600bcb. women’s responsibilityc. “men plough, women weave”

II. The Zhou, Qin, & Han DynastiesA. The Early Zhou

1. The Mandate of Heavena. 1,000bc – Zhou took power

b. MANDATE OF HEAVEN: a claim of the divine right to rulec. heaven’s approval of the king

2. The Dynastic Cyclesa. DYNASTIC CYCLE: explanation of the rise & fall of dynasties based

on the Mandate of Heavenb. gains power being kind & truthfulc. earthquakes & floods showed heaven’s displeasured. new group would challenge the aging dynasty

B. The Zhou Dynasty1. Times of Economic Prosperity

a. Wu Wang, first king of Zhou, granted land to lords, relatives, & generals

b. farming was profitablec. blast furnace used to create

irond. trade expanded with use of bronze coins

2. Early Booksa. education spread from

upper classes to othersb. Book of Songs – 305 poems

3. Decline of the Zhou Dynastya. 770-480bc lords became

more powerfulb. CIVIL WAR: war against

groups of people from the same country

c. 300 bc, only 7 territories survived

C. The Qin Dynasty1. The First Emperor

a. Qin Shin Huangdi (Zheng) founded dynasty in 221bcb. AUTHORITARIAN: exerting complete power as a rulerc. Xiangyang – capital cityd. nobles ordered to capital,

land divided among peasants; all paid high taxes; strict laws; harsh

punishments; books burnede. Unity: coins, weights &

measures; road & canal repairs2. The Great Wall of China & the Final Days of the Qin Dynasty

a. Huangdi ordered “Great Wall”b. Huandi died 202bc, son was

overthrown, end of dynastyD. Rise & Fall of the Huang Dynasty

1. The Civil Servicea. Liu Bang (202-195bc) used scholars & advice to est. Han dynasty, brought peace &

prosperityb. Wudi built Silk Road for tradec. CIVIL SERVICE: people employed in gov’t administrationd. 124bc Wudi est. school for

civil service, examination needed for employment

2. From Golden Age to Declinea. improved silk factories;

paper invented; stirrups for horses, wheelbarrow; plow with moveable parts

b. pictures of daily life on woven tapestries; temples & palaces

c. territory expanded from Korean to Vietnam

d. ad220 warlords attacked, overthrew emperor

III. Religions and Beliefs in Ancient ChinaA. Confucianism 1. Social Order

a. PHILOSOPHER: person who seeks wisdom or knowledgeb. Kong Qiu = Confucius, b 551bcc. believed rulers should lead by a good example, based on Zhoud. people had obligation to obey superiors, superiors had obligation to treat inferiors fairlye. every man should be junzi, “a princely man”

2. The Five Relationshipsa. father and sonb. older brother & younger brotherc. husband & wifed. subject & ruler

e. friend and friendf. harmony & balance is neededg. FILIAL PIETY: requirement that one must obey and respect

one’s parents3. Analects and Confucian Influences

a. Analects – collection of his sayings, his beliefsb. Confucian officials became educated class in Han dynasty

B. Daoism1. The Laosi

a. aka Classic of the Way and Its Power, beliefs of Daoism, written 500bc by Lao Dan, or 250bc

b. Dao is energy that controls all events in universec. YIN and YANG: 2 basic forces of universe according to Daoismd. Yin – negative, dark, weake. Yang – positive, bright, strongf. work together for balanceg. Zhuangzi by Zhwang Zhou – don’t worry about learning, working, fulfilling social

obligations – be free of spirits, meditate

2. Daoist Influencesa. combined with popular myths, ancestor worship, local gods &

seek of immortality

b. Japan & Korea also affectedc. emphasis on nature inspired

artsC. Legalism and Buddhism

1. Legalism and the Qina. LEGALISM: belief in strong

laws & the power of a ruler to rewards & punish people in order to maintain

controlb. Xunzi – “Now the original

nature of man is evil, so he must submit himself to teachers and laws before he can be just.”

c. Han Feizi – people are childrend. military replaced government

e. permits needed to travel, heavy taxes, family groups responsible for punishing crimes

2. Buddhism Spreads to Chinaa. came by Silk Road from Indiab. appeal: freedom from suffering

3. Reaction to Buddhisma. resented by Confucianists &

Daoistsb. believed it violated filial pietyc. temples sometimes closed by

emperorIV. Ancient Chinese Life & Culture

A. The Family