ANCIENT

CHINA

PRE-HISTORIC

CHINA

Neolithic 12,000-2000 bce

Yangshao Culture 5000-2500 bce

Hongshan Culture 4700- 2900 bce

Lung-shan Culture 2500-1000 bce Xia Dynasty

21st –16th c. bce

Paleolithic China:Peking Man

Fossils found in 1920’s -30’s -- date to 500,000 bce

Classified as HOMO ERECTUS

Neolithic China ca. 12,000-2000 bce

Neolithic China ca. 12,000-2000 bce

Neolithic period began ca. 12,000 bce in China, but good evidence dates back only to 4,000 bce

Agriculture concentrated near Yellow River: millet was main crop

Silk production began even before the Neolithic period.

Clustered dwellings suggest importance of kinship

9000 year-old flutes

These 9,000-year-old Chinese flutes are believed to be the oldest known playable instruments.

They're made from the forelimbs of a rare crane.

Yangshao Culture5000-2500 bce

Their handcrafted, Painted Pottery occasionally bears a single incised sign that may be a forerunner of Chinese writing

Domesticated the dog and the pig

Lung-shan Culture ca.2500-1000 bce

Black Pottery Practiced ancestor

worship Domesticated pig,

dog, sheep and ox

Jade Early Chinese describe jade

as embodying five virtues: Benevolence is typified by its

luster that is bright and warm Integrity by its translucency Wisdom by its sonorous ring

when struck Courage by its hardness Steadfastness by its

durability

Neolithic Jade

Modern jade includes nephrite and jadeite: only nephrite used in Neolithic times

Ranges widely in color, from pale to dark green, from white to yellow, from brown to black.

Extremely hard, so very difficult to work. It cannot be carved, but must be ground by a material harder than itself

The Neolithic tools of choice were probably a gut saw and bamboo drill together with an abrasive in the form of river sand or sludge.

Earliest pieces date ca. 7000 bce

Hongshan Jade

Far to the northeast, in the Manchurian hills, archaeologists have uncovered traces of a ceremonial center associated with the Hongshan culture (4700-2920 B.C.).

Jade objects found in tombs

Jade coiled pig-dragon, Hongshan Culture

(c. 4700-2920 B.C.)

Liangzhu Jade Congs

Found almost exclusively in burial contexts, indicating ritual and religious significance

Unique form of a circle within a square suggests some cosmological significance.

Perhaps the circle symbolizes heaven, and the square symbolizes earth

Chinese Creation Myth

In the beginning there was nothing in the except a formless chaos.

The chaos coalesced into a cosmic egg for about 18,000 years.

Within it, the perfectly opposed principles of Yin and Yang became balanced and Pangu emerged from the egg.

Pangu set about the task of creating the world: he separated Yin from Yang with a swing of his giant axe, creating the Earth (murky Yin) and the Sky (clear Yang).

To keep them separated, Pangu stood between them and pushed up the Sky.

Pangu

Chinese Creation Myth

After the 18,000 years had elapsed, Pangu was laid to rest. His breath became the wind; his voice the thunder; left eye

the sun and right eye the moon; his body became the mountains and extremes of the world; his blood formed rivers; his muscles the fertile lands;

His facial hair the stars and milky way; his fur the bushes and forests; his bones the valuable minerals; his bone marrows sacred diamonds; his sweat fell as rain; and the fleas on his fur carried by the wind became the fish and

animals throughout the land. 

Nüwa

Nüwa is the goddess who is credited with the creation of mankind and the maintenance of the heavens

Half-woman, half-dragon

Nüwa and the Creation of Man

When Nüwa looked down upon the earth for the first time, she saw that it was full of life but empty of creatures.

She took handfuls of yellow clay from the banks of the rivers and molded beings from them. She found that the clay was not strong enough to remain erect, so she reinforced it with carefully woven ropes spread throughout their bodies.

Once she had created all the animals of the world and begun work on mankind, Nüwa became tired and no longer wished to form each one individually; instead, she dipped a great rope in the mud and began flicking it, causing drops of the clay to spin off and form humans on their own.

These were the common people of the world, and those she had created with her own hands became the nobles.

San Huang (Three August Ones)

ca. 3000-2700 bce A succession of legendary sage-

emperors taught the ancient Chinese to communicate and to find sustenance, clothing, and shelter.

Fu Xi, the first legendary Emperor, taught many arts, such as the use of fishing nets, the breeding of silk worms, and the taming of wild animals. He invented music, the casting of oracles and the one hundred Chinese family names.

San Huang

Suiren taught how to build a fire and to cook food.

Shennong,  "Divine Farmer," also known as the Emperor of the Five Grains, taught the practices of agriculture and the use of herbal drugs and acupuncture.

Wu Di (Five Emperors)2700-2200 bce

Legendary, morally perfect sage-kings – inventors and giver of gifts to mankind. According to Sima Qian’s Shi Ji or The Records of the Grand Historian: Huang-di, The Yellow Emperor Zhuanxu Ku Yao Shun

Xia Dynasty 21st-16th c. bce

Xia Dynasty 21st-16th c. bce

First prehistoric dynasty: descendants of Lung-Shan culture

Urban sites, bronze implements, and tombs point to the existence of Xia civilization in the same locations cited in ancient Chinese texts

Evolutionary stage between the late Neolithic cultures and the urban civilization of the Shang dynasty.

HISTORIC DYNASTIES

ANCIENT

CHINA

Earliest Dynasties

Xia Dynasty 21st-16th c. bce

Shang Dynasty 16th-11th c. bce

first writing

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty1027 bc-221 bc

ConfucianismTaoism

Shang Dynasty16th-11th c. bce

Shang Dynasty Central Yellow River Valley Oldest examples of Chinese writing Hunters and farmers Brilliant bronze culture

casting of intricate ritual vessels tools

Cities Cheng Chow (16th c. bc) Anyang (C. 1384-1111 bc)

Shang Social Organization

City-states under the nominal rule of a high king

Proto-feudalism. The area under the

jurisdiction of the king quite probably was small, perhaps not more than 100-200 miles in any direction from Anyang.

Traces of a family ruling system and of ancestor-worship are discernible.

Rigidly patriarchal society. Shang Tang - the first ruling king of the Shang dynasty

Writing: Oracle Bones Oracle bones used for

divination. A question was written on the

bone, which was then fired and a T shaped crack was produced to be interpreted; the interpretation was then written on the bone.

After the predicted event occurred, the date of the occurrence was also written on the bone.

Astronomy and Calendar

Oracle bone with record of solar eclipse

Ox bone inscribed with a table of the Heavenly Stems and

Earthly Branches

ZhongqiShang Bronzes

Ritual bronze vessels

Range from the very small and light to very large

Bronze vessels are called "zhongqi" or heavy vessels in Chinese.

4 Elements of Zhongqi Sophisticated bronze

technology Li-qi: ritual art -- used

for worship, not utilitarian

Restricted decoration and shape

Shang bronze types were copied and reused later in Chinese history, even into the nineteenth centuryTaotie

Middle Shang Li , 14th or 13th century

BCE

Taotie

This pattern appears on nearly all Shang bronzes,

and has been interpreted as a

vague suggestion of an animal's

head. The animal is unclear, as are

many of the elements of the

decoration, so it is called zoomorphic:

shaped like an animal.

Bronze Ritual Wine Vessels

13th-12th c. bce

Shang Religion

The Shang worshipped the "Shang Ti," a supreme god over lesser gods

Highly ritualized, ancestor worship

Sacrifice to the gods and the ancestors

When a king died, hundreds of slaves and prisoners were often sacrificed and buried with him.

Ornament of the late Shang, 7 cm high The figurine shows the costume and

headdress usually worn by people in the Shang Dynasty

Woman Warrior: Fu

Hao13th c. bce

The tomb of Fu Hao is the only royal Shang tomb to have been found unlooted.  

The floor level housed the royal corpse and most of the utensils and implements buried with her. 

Below the corpse was a small pit holding the remains of 6 dogs, and the skeletons of 16 humans. 

Fu Hao was mentioned in oracle bone inscriptions as the consort of King Wu Ding and a general who participated in several campaigns. 

Shang Tomb of Fu Hao

Excavating Fu Hao's tomb

Objects from Fu Hao’s tomb

Ivory cup

BronzeWine vessel

Jade tiger

ZHOU (CHOU) DYNASTY 1027 bc-221 bc

Periods of Zhou Dynasty

771 bce -- Zhou invaded by barbarians allied with rebel lords; king killed. Capital moved eastward to Luoyang in Henan Province

Western Zhou: 1027-771 bce Eastern Zhou 770-221 bce

770-476 bce: Spring and Autumn Period 475-221 bce: Warring States Period

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty

Introduced organized agriculture Feudal society

Land grants in return for support in war and loyalty

Ruler: Tian or “Son of Heaven Principal of societal relationships illustrated

in the Book of Songs and the Book of Rituals Confucianism and Taoism introduced

Zhou Jade: Ornamental

Zhou Jade: Ritual The appearance of jade-piece

masks and jade burial suits signalled changes in funeral customs

Belief that jade could protect the corpse from decay, thereby providing the spirit with a "living" home.

The pieces of this jade mask were sewn on a silk veil to define the facial features of the deceased.

Zhou Bronzes

Not as intricate or elaborate as Shang bronzes

Often utilized animal shapes and motifs

Zhou bronze tigers

Musical Instruments

Bian zhong was the main ritual instrument played at sacrificial

activities or feasts of

aristocrats in the Western Zhou

Dynasty. Percussion instrument of

Western Zhou, height 38.5-48 cm

ConfuciusK’ung fu-tzu or Kongfuzi

551-479 bce Son of aristocrat,

raised in poverty Itinerant teacher Sayings collected

in The Analects Possibly edited

The Book of Songs

Confucian Canon of Texts

The Book of Songs The Book of Documents (Shang Shu) The Book of Changes ( I Ching) rituals Ch’un-ch’ iu: a chronicle The Analects By study and self-cultivation,

individuals can merge their instinctive beings and their social beings.

Followers of Confucius

Confucianism Importance of traditional values: self-

control, filial piety, propriety, ritual Individual virtue leads to societal virtue Contextual morality -- guided by

circumstances of a particular problem Obedience contingent upon

benevolence

Confucian Values Li: propriety, ceremony, civility. 4 basic rules of human

conduct: courtesy, politeness, good manners, respect (reverence for age)

Jen (Ren): respect for self and others:”Do not do to others what you do not want done to you.” Charity and courtesy

Te: virtue, the power of moral example as in a strong leader who guides by example or in the forces of nature

Wen: the arts of peace: music, poetry, art -- conducive to harmony and order and a model of excellence. Traditional Chinese art always strives for beauty.

The Six Relationships

Obedience in The Six Relationships is contingent upon the superior members observing their duty

to be benevolent and caring.

Ruler Teacher

Older Friend

Subject Student YoungerFriend

In society, the ancient

principles of Confucius

formed the basis of this order,

giving the Chinese a value system of stable

harmony

Lao Tzu or Lao Zi“Old Sage” or “OldMaster”

Born c. 604 bce Author of Tao te Ching or

Taodejing: The Way and Its Power

Legendary life: Lao Tzu means "old

sage“ or "old boy“ Native of Ch'ü-jen, in

the Honan Province.

Just as the Chinese sought harmony in society, they

sought harmony in nature through the philosophy of Taoism: following the way

of nature

Taoist Canon

Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) : Written supposedly by Lao Zi (81 chapters often divided into two parts) Book of Dao : Chapter 1-37 Book of De : Chapter 38-81

Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu) : Written supposedly by Zhuang Zi (inner chapters) and others (misc and outer chapters)

Hua Hu Jing: Unknown author (81 chapters) Lie Zi: Written supposedly by Lie Zi (111

chapters)

TAOISM Tao: the ultimate reality behind existence, a

transcendant essence. Highly individualistic and mystical character Existential skepticism Wu-wei: spontaneity -- to discern and follow

the natural forces -- to follow and shape the natural flow of events, not to struggle against nature

"Both heaven and earth endure a long time. The cause of their endurance is their indifference to long life. Thus the wise man, indifferent to himself, is the greatest among men." 

Yin and Yang

Negative and positive principles of the universe.

One cannot exist without the other, and they often represent opposites in relations to each other.

As there is more and more Yang, eventually, Yin will appear and replace this increase. Similarly in the opposite direction, Yang will appear to replace the increase in Yin

YIN YANG

Negative Female Dark Evil Earth

Positive Male Light Good Heaven

The yin - soft, female elements- complement the yang - hard, male elements - without

contradiction

Lao Tzu: “There is nothing weaker than

water but none is superior to it in

overcoming the hard…Weakness overcomes

strength and gentleness overcomes rigidity”

Three Jewels

Compassion - leads to courage Moderation - leads to generosity Humility - leads to leadership

The Mandate of Heaven

The moral order of the Universe: right and wrong

Fate: Life and death are beyond our control.

The right to rule is based upon knowing and observing the moral order of the Universe

The judgement of history: losing the Mandate of Heaven results in loss of power.

THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN

The Emperor, as father to his people,

commanded obedience as long as

he ruled with wisdom and justice

Warring States Period475-221 bce

Qin (Chin) Dynasty

221 bce -206 bce First unified the country

by subjugating the Warring States

Established central bureaucracy

Legalism supplanted Confucianism: scholars persecuted and books burned

Standardized writing, currency, weights and measures Qin Shihuangdi

Qin Building Projects

Used forced labor of convicts and peasants

Roads and canals Palaces Connected

fortification walls to build 5000 kilometer Great Wall

Mausoleum of Qin Emperor ShiHuangdi

(First Emperor)

Qin ShiHuangdi’s Mausoleum was discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well.

The 13 year-old emperor had ordered 800,000 workers to build his tomb.

Terra Cotta Army Rebellions broke out after

Emperor’s death in 210 bce: dynasty overthrown after only 15 years of rule

PRE-HISTORIC

CHINA

Neolithic 12,000-2000 bce

Yangshao Culture 5000-2500 bce

Hongshan Culture 4700- 2900 bce

Lung-shan Culture 2500-1000 bce Xia Dynasty

21st –16th c. bce

ANCIENT

CHINA

Earliest Dynasties

Xia Dynasty 21st-16th c. bce

Shang Dynasty 16th-11th c. bce

first writing

Zhou Dynasty1027 bc-221 bc

ConfucianismTaoism

CLASSICAL

CHINA

Dynasties

Qin (Chin) Dynasty

221 bc-206 bc

origin of name of China

The Han Empire206 bce-220 ce