Shang Dynasty

1766- 1122 BC

Writing

• Development of Chinese writing closely tied to use of oracle bones

• Earliest examples of Chinese writing, questions written on bones themselves

• Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects, ideas

Bronze

• Shang religion led to

great advances in working with bronze

• Highly decorative bronze vessels, objects created for religious rituals

• Also built huge structures like tombs; created calendar, first money systems

End of Dynasty

• Shang ruled for more than 600 years, until about 1100 BC

• Ruling China’s growing population proved too much for Shang

• Armies from nearby tribe, Zhou, invaded, established new ruling dynasty

Chou Dynasty1122- 256 BC

Classical Period of Chinese Civilization

Chou Achievements

• Before Chou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze

• Chou learned to use iron, became backbone of economy

Iron weapons strengthened Chou army, as did new weapons like catapult and creation of China’s first cavalry

Growth

• Population grew under Chou

• Farmers learned new techniques, increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew

• Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication

• Introduced coins, use of chopsticks

New Philosophies

• The conflicts of the late Chou period led many Chinese thinkers to question the nature of society and people’s roles in it.

Confucianism

• Confucianism based on teachings of scholar named Kongfuzi, better known as Confucius, who believed people should treat one another humanely

• Should express love, respect for others, honor one’s ancestors

Love and Respect

• Believed that love, respect had disappeared and was responsible for violence in society; restoring respect for tradition would make society stable

• Thoughts on how to improve society collected in book, Analects

Analects

• Ruler should treat subjects fairly; subjects reward ruler with respect, loyalty

• People should respect members of family, devote selves to public service

• Confucian ideas spread elsewhere in Asia, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam

Daoism

• Unlike Confucianism, which focuses on improving society, Daoism encourages people to retreat from laws of society, yield to law of nature

• Heart of Daoism is concept of the dao, or the way

• Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation

• Through the dao, all things in nature are connected

• Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe

Yin and Yang

• Daoism embraced Chinese concept of yin and yang, representing balancing aspect of nature—male, female; dark, light; hot, cold

• Neither can exist without other

• Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony

Daoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese history

• Still played major role in later dynasties

• Idea of balance key concept in China for centuries as result of Daoist teaching

• Daoist philosophy led many followers to work for preservation, protection of natural environment

Result of rebellions was Warring States Period

• 403 BC to 221 BC, number of small states fought each other for land, power

• Chou still nominally in charge, but power almost nonexistent by mid-200s BC

• Qin, new dynasty, arose to bring end to Warring States Period, Chou dynasty

Decline of the Chou

• Conflict arose during latter part of Chou dynasty

• Clan leaders within China rose up against king

• As time passed, more and more local leaders turned against Chou, further weakening rule