China’s Classical Age to 221 BCE

HI 101 Origins of Civilization

Fall 2014

Study Questions:

1. In what ways did Shang rulers maintain control over their society?

2. What were the unique features of Chinese society under the Zhou Dynasty?

3. What was significant about the Warring States Period?

4. Compare and Contrast Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism

Emergence of Civilization in China

Agricultural villages appeared along the Yellow Riveraround 4000 BCE

Urban settlements appeared around 2000 BCE

Two Dynasties (ruling families) of Early Chinese History

Early Chinese History is usually divided into two dynasties:

1. Shang Dynasty (ca. 1500-1050 BCE)

2. Zhou Dynasty (ca. 1050-400 BCE)

Zhou is pronounced as chow or joe

Shang Civilization

Anyang (AHN-YAHNG) = central city of Shang Dynasty

Shang Kings = military chiefs who ruled over armies of 3,000-5,000 noblemen/warriors who fought using horse-drawn chariots

Items taken in wars provided slaves and wealth for Shang, as well as human sacrifices to ancestors

King Held all political, religious, social, & economic power

Shang Religion

Combination of Animism & Ancestor worship

King = high priest

Di = High or supreme god

Ancestors intervened between people and gods

Royal Tombs of Anyang

Most of what we know about the Shang comes from archaeology of the Royal Tombs of Anyang

11 large tombs + a thousand small graves filled with bronze, stone, pottery, textiles, and jade

Most famous is tomb of Lady Hao—included 500 bronze vessels & weapons, over 700 pieces of jade and ivory, and 16 people sacrificed to be her servants in the afterlife

Tomb of Lady Hao

Shang Society

Rigid Class distinctions:

King

Court officials

Warriors

Artisans

Agricultural laborers

Slaves—did most of building projects

Chinese Writing

Developed during the Shang Dynasty for religious purposes

Also used for government record keeping and correspondence

Royalty were the most literate in the society and education was a sign of prestige

Helped rulers to maintain control of lower classes

Logographic = style of writing when each word is represented by a single symbol

Zhou Dynasty, ca. 1050-400 BCE

1050 BCE Zhou (joe) rose up against the Shang and defeated them in battle

Zhou maintained Shang’s cultural and political systems including writing, ancestor worship

The Book of Documents

Ca. 900 BCE, Zhou Dynasty

Describes Zhou conquest of Shang and establishes Zhou rulers at the center of the universe

Describes relationship between the King and Heaven

Mandate of Heaven

The approval of the gods to govern—gave Zhou Kings political legitimacy & justified overthrow of the Shang— this idea survived into the 20th century CE!

Zhou Politics

Feudal System: Royal family members were granted lands in exchange for loyal military service to the king

Some feudal lords gained a lot of power over time and built city-states to fight with each other over land and power—this weakened the power of the king

Led to Warring States Period, 403-221 BCE

Warring States Period, 403-221 BCE

Following end of Zhou Dynasty

Characterized by different Chinese states warring with each other

Fueled by new military technology & tactics

Crossbow, invented ca. 650 BCE—allowed a foot soldier to shoot farther than with a bow and arrow

Led to wearing armor and helmets

Calvary = soldiers on horseback, introduced and became a key element of Chinese militaries

Also the Golden age of Chinese Philosophy

Early Chinese Crossbow, ca. 350 BCE

Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy

Confucianism

Daoism

Legalism

Confucius, 551-479 BCE

Chinese philosopher, Warring States period

Taught ethical ideas about civic morality—how people should live in their daily relationships with others—and good government

His followers became important government advisors

His teachings provide the moral basis for modern Chinese families

Confucius’ teachings: Five Fundamental Relationships:

Ruler and subjects

Father and son

Husband and wife

Older and younger brothers

Members of a community

Family is of fundamental importance

Respect elders and ancestors

People in superior positions responsible for setting a good example of moral behavior (example: father responsible for son’s behavior)

If a ruler did not act morally, then he lost the Mandate of Heaven and the people had the right to overthrow him

Daoism (or Taoism)

a response to Confucianism

Tao/Dao means the “Way” or the “Way of Nature,” an indescribable force that governs the universe and nature, it can only be sensed or felt

People should withdraw from acting in the world and contemplate nature to live in harmony with the Tao

People should abandon the pursuit for wealth. Political power and learning should be quiet, thoughtful, humble

Daoism appealed to peasant classes because of emphasis on nature and the arts

Legalism

Taught that people are by nature evil, selfish, and untrustworthy

People are motivated by fear and greed

A wealthy and powerful state with an absolute ruler is needed to control unruly people through harsh laws and punishments

Appealed mostly to rulers and public officials

Disfavored education in history or classics—these could teach people to be rebellious