Ancient Chinese Civilization

Chapter 4

Pages 74 - 97

Geographic and Cultural Influences

The Physical Setting China is very large with lots of variety Mountains

West, Northwest, Southwest Desert

North Open Plain

Southeast Coastline

East / Southeast

Major Rivers of China

Geographic and Cultural Influences

The Physical Setting Different Regions

Qinling Mountains – run across China from West to East

Separates two main rivers Divides China into North and South

Northern China Shorter growing season Wheat main crop More extreme temperatures

Southern China Rice Main crop Milder temperatures Longer growing season

Geographic and Cultural Influences

Physical Setting Heart of China is called China Proper Main River Systems

Huang – called Yellow River because of its loess Soil that has a yellow tint Also called China’s sorrow because of devastating floods

Chang Over 3,400 miles long

Xi Southern China

Throughout China’s history it has controlled entire region at one time or another

Geographic and Cultural Influences

China’s Isolation Had the least cultural diffusion of any ancient

civilization Mainly due to geographic location

Gave them strong sense of identity and superiority

Referred to themselves as Zhongguo or Middle Kingdom

Thought they were the only truly civilized people

The Shang Dynasty

The Shang DynastyTwo mythical theories of ancient belief Man named Pagu awoke from 18,000 years of

sleep to create the universe Yu drained floodwaters so people could live in

China Establish line of kings Line of kings called Xia

However is came to pass Ancient China started on the Yellow / Huang River and they were called the Xia

Invaded by Shang people, they started the first Chinese Dynasty(video)

The Shang Dynasty

Government and Culture Moved their capital several times Created a complete Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy – government with different levels and responsibilities

Had an advanced military Chariots Bronze weapons

The Shang Dynasty

Economy and handicrafts Economy based mainly on agriculture

Millet and rice Made silk from silkworms Bone crafts, ivory and jade Established foundations for later ceramic art Learned how to use white clay (kaolin) and

they would glaze it to make it stronger

The Shang Dynasty

Astronomy and calendars Used two calendars

Solar Used for planting Adjusted by priest off of the lunar calendar Important to king

• He got his popularity from the type of harvest

Lunar Personal events

The Shang Dynasty

Religion Believed in animism and ancestor worship

Spirits indwelled in everything Believed in an all powerful dragon that lived in the sea

Became the kings symbol

Also worshipped the sun, wind, clouds and moon Some had festivals to honor them

Believed on one main god called Shangdi who controlled everything

Priest used oracle bones to determine dream interpretations

The Shang Dynasty

Language and Writing Spoke many dialects Early forms of writing were pictographs Later developed into ideographs

Two parts Idea sign Phonetic sign Developed into modern calligraphy

The Shang Dynasty

Fall of the Shang People began to migrate towards China Proper Shang had to defend its borders against these

invaders Eventually the Zhou would align with others

neighboring peoples The Zhou justified their overthrow by saying

that the Shang were corrupt This would be a pattern for future overthrows in

China

Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty1050 B.C.No centralized government, gave control to members of royal familyBelieved God in heaven would determine who would rule China Mandate of Heaven

Leaders began losing controlThey were being attacked from outside invadersFalse alarms occurred about capital city being attackedLater a force actually did attack, no one came to helpCapital destroyed in 771 B.C. – became warring states

Warring States

Qin DynastyOne of the Warring States began to win (video) State of Ch'in (Qin)

Cheng was the leader Titled himself Shih Huang Ti (1st emperor)

Lasted 15 Years, but many changes Name for China came from Qin Established Autocracy (all power with emperor) Built walls to protect themselves, once connected would

be Great Wall of China (video)

Liu Bang would eventually conquer the emperor and start the Han Dynasty

Qin Dynasty

Han Dynasty

Chinese have called themselves Han ever sinceLongest ruling emperor was Liu Ch’e Commonly known as Wu Ti

Civil Service System Han established a centralized civil service system to govern

China (day to day business) Had a system of examinations to select the best for the job Theoretically it was open to anyone Really only people with money for training could get in the

program Video

Han Dynasty

Other Accomplishments Used process called leveling to help out in bad

agricultural times Use of price controls to help the economy

Expanded area through military outpost cities Developed Silk Road for trade (video) Population grew to about 50 million during Han Lasted until 220 A.D.

Han Dynasty

Philosophies of Ancient China

Philosophers in the Zhou dynasty were trying to harmonize the country Believed two force were at work

Developed into concept of dualism Yin – female, dark, passive Yang – male, bright, active Not in conflict, but interdependent Lead to a further belief that extremes do not last Extremely modern for the time in which they lived

Symbol of the Yin Yang

Yin Yang shows the balance between the Yin and Yang

Came of study of the stars

See next slide for astronomical deductions

Symbol of the Yin Yang

Philosophies of Ancient ChinaConfucius and Laozi Confucius was the leading philosopher of the times

Teachings came from Analects His teaching would eventually become Confucianism

Taught importance of family, respect, respect for elders, and respect of ancestry

Sought to end political disorder of the time Not concerned with life, death and life after death Concerned with political and social ideas Taught that people should accept roles and perform duties Taught only virtuous and moral leaders should be in office Taught people had a right to rebel against harsh or unjust

rulers Mencius was the most influenced person of the time by

Confucius Video

Philosophies of Ancient China

Confucius and Laozi Daoism

Founded by Laozi Dao is defined as the way Described as a force that governed the universe and

nature Shunned politics Appealed to many peasants because it dealt with

natural forces

Philosophies of Ancient China

Legalism and Buddhism Qin dynasty was the most legalistic

Probably the reason for its failure Han Dynasty adopted many but not all of the

legalities Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism all were

prevalent in Ancient China (video)

Chinese Life and Culture

Family and Social Life Each family kept a detailed genealogy (family

tree) Respect, honor, and family name were very

important to Chinese Many generations would live in the same house Women had very few rights, but were very well

respected

Chinese Life and Culture

Economy Mostly agricultural Trade not a significant factor

Arts and Sciences Five Classics (books)

Used to train civil servants Book of History – government Book of Changes – predicting future Book of Rites – ceremonies and manners Spring and Autumn Annals – history of city-state of Lu Book of Poems – poems

Chinese Life and Culture

Science and Technology Discovered the year was slightly longer than 365 days

Came up with system to fix it (Leap Year)

Observed sun spots Developed a system to track planet movements Invented paper Learned how to dye cloth Learned how to glaze pots Developed herbal and mineral medicines