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Ancient Dynasties of China

Ancient Dynasties of China. East Asian Studies Unit One Mitchell. Founding Chinese States. 3 Sovereigns & 5 Emperors (c.2852-c.2070BC ) Semi-mythological rulers & culture heroes responsible for creating man and imparting essential skills Xia (“shy”) Dynasty (c.2070-c.1600BC)

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Ancient Dynasties of China

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  1. Ancient Dynasties of China East Asian Studies Unit One Mitchell

  2. Founding Chinese States • 3 Sovereigns & 5 Emperors(c.2852-c.2070BC) • Semi-mythological rulers & culture heroes responsible for creating man and imparting essential skills • Xia (“shy”) Dynasty (c.2070-c.1600BC) • First dynasty described in ancient historical chronicles • Established by the legendary Yu the Great • Legend states he successfully united the people in order to stop the floods by building canals for 13 years. • Strengthened his power, increased wealth of Xia clan • Reliability of information about Xia dynasty has been questioned due to a lack of primary sources and tradition of speculation among ancient and imperial historians.

  3. Shang (“shong”) Dynasty (1600-1046BC) • Yellow River Civilization • Technological Advances • Pictographic writing system • Stone ploughs, spades, sickles to improve farming yields • Bronze Age vessels • Political Structures • Dynasty had over 50 kings • Head priest, leader of military aristocracy, head of economy • 5-7 Capital Cities • Urban capital would move due to shifts in power

  4. Shang Dynasty (1600-1046BC) • The Oracle Bones • Inscriptions on turtle shells & ox bones have provided key insight on politics, economy, and religion of Shang • Over 20,000 artifacts have been recovered • Questions written on bones, bones would be fired, cracks would be interpreted to determine the future • Countless oracle bones lost when used as “dragon bones”

  5. Shang Dynasty (1600-1046BC) • Religion within the Shang • Worshiped “Shang Ti” or “Di” (The Lord on High) • Supreme God above all others, could command the elements • Royal ancestors were viewed to intervene with distant Di • Could also cast curses, send dreams, assist in battles • Wishes of ancestors determined through burning of oracle bones • Required extensive sacrifices to avoid disasters (floods, drought) • Human sacrifice very common, often slaves or P.O.W.s

  6. Zhou (“jyoe”) Dynasty (1050-256BC) • Conquering of the Shang • “Noble warriors supported by Heaven defeat decadent Shang court led by evil King” • 3 Conquering Rulers of Zhou • King Wen expanded domain • King Wu conquered the Shang • Duke of Zhou consolidated power • “The Mandate of Heaven” • Spiritual/Political theory used by early Zhou rulers to justify power • Heaven gives a king mandate to rule only as long as he rules in the interests of the people. If not…

  7. Western Zhou Dynasty • Zhou Political Structure • King head of royalty, nobility • Still head of ancestor worship, but less sacrifice & oracle bones • Sent trusted relatives to build garrisons in conquered lands • Quasi-Feudal system develops • Zhou society highly aristocratic • When king bestowed land, he often included labor to work it • Slave/serf labor = noble wealth • Manors divided into nine squares, king held middle for emergencies • Warrior class develops over time

  8. Eastern Zhou Dynasty • A Transition in Power • Over time, lords trade & sell feudal land thus gaining powerfrom the Zhou kings • Succession to throne became major issue due to concubines • Kings would occasionally name son from concubine as heir over eldest son from wife • Excluded sons would often ally w/ neighboring armies, lead warfare • King Yu of Ji family made such a move, fell to wife’s father, power moved from “West” to “East”

  9. Eastern Zhou Dynasty • Spring & Autumn Period • Lasted from 770 to 476 BC • Some vassal states grow in power, royal authority shrinks • Small feudal states absorbed by larger, stronger ones • Small-scale war, annexation • 36 kings dead, 52 states destroyed • Competition among low-level nobles to advise rulers brings rise of intellectual flowering • Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism all trace roots to this time period

  10. Eastern Zhou Dynasty • Warring States Period • Spanned from 475 to 221 BC • Long-term wars: 7 Kingdoms • Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, Qin • States focus on reform within realm, attack outside turf • Qin reforms the most quickly (see “legalism”), emerges as the most-powerful feudal state • 256 BC: Qin attacks and defeats all armies in Eastern Zhou • 221 BC: China becomes united under the Qin, ending Warring States Period

  11. Eastern Zhou Dynasty • Legalism “School of Law” • One of the major philosophical movements of warring states • Utilitarian political philosophy, fails to address higher questions of nature & meaning of life • Han FeiZiproposed leader should use three tools: • Fa (law): laws should be fair, equal, just, predictable • Shu (method): rulers need secrets, bureaucracy to protect power • Shi (legitimacy): the position, not the ruler, holds true power

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