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Explore the rich history of Ancient China, including its geography, Zhou and Shang dynasties, philosophical beliefs like Daoism and Confucianism, and spiritual practices like ancestor worship. Learn about the significance of philosophies and social structures in shaping Chinese civilization.
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Vocabulary Daoism Oracle Bones Pictographs • Loess • Philosophy • Filial Piety
China’s Geography • The land of China is covered with rugged mountains and vast deserts and depends heavily on 2 main rivers (Huang and Chang). Both begin in the mountains and both supply water and help with trade for China.
China’s Geography • The Chang River is China’s largest river and the Huang River is one of the most used rivers as it supplies loess which creates soil for the Northern Chinese Plains.
China’s Geography • The loess dust found in the Huang River comes from vast deserts in China as the winds blow it in to the river causing the water in the river to turn yellow and also gives it its nickname the Yellow River.
China’s Geography • China’s geography also caused for it to be isolated with the Taklimakan & Gobi deserts on its north and south, The Himalaya mountains shielding it from India, other mountain ranges to its south and the Pacific Ocean to the east.
The Shang dynasty • Around 1700 BCE villages led by chiefs began to take over near by villages and eventually turned into the Shang dynasty which ruled for 600 years. The dynasty organized a government, had farmers and soldiers, and built dikes to stop floods.
Shang Writing • The Shang dynasty first writings were oracle bones as they kept records and were used to predict the future. They also used pictographs which were used as their alphabet.
Shang Equipment • The Shang dynasty became experts using bronze for weapons, pots, cups, forms of arts, and tools.
Zhou Dynasty • The Zhou dynasty over threw the Shang dynasty, according to the Zhou it was the Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou dynasty ruled for the interest of the people and ruler was the Son of Heaven.
Zhou Dynasty • The Zhou dynasty governed its land by making family members the head of regions. This lead to some of those members joining invaders around 771 BCE. Even though the Zhou survived it led to more fighting between warlords.
Zhou Dynasty • The fighting between the warlords led to huge wars between 475-221 BCE causing millions to die and led to end of the Zhou dynasty. The last Zhou ruler was overthrown in 256 BCE.
Zhou Society • The Zhou dynasty adopted a lot of the Shang culture but stopped human sacrifices and using oracle bones. The population consisted of mostly peasants, merchants, artisans, and slaves.
Zhou Society • The leaders of the Zhou regions were nobles. The Zhou dynasty also put a lot of importance on family, older members had more power and men ruled over women.
Zhou Technology • The Zhou dynasty created new weapons and tools such as crossbows and iron tools and weapons. The new tools really helped the economy through farming, creating new roads and the use of coins.
Zhou Arts • During the Zhou dynasty Zhou poets and artist became important because warlords saw them as wise men who could help them as they ruled.
Beliefs of Ancient China • The Chinese believed that spirits lived in heaven and on earth. The sun, moon, stars and storms spirits lived in heaven ad spirits on earth lived in hills, rivers, rocks, and seas.
Beliefs of Ancient China • Chinese believed good spirits brought rain, happiness, and help sailors on the sea and bad spirits hid in houses bringing bad luck to whoever lived there.
Beliefs of Ancient China • China’s most important spirits were their ancestors as they believed if they take care of their ancestors then the ancestors would take care of them. To honor ancestors Chinese gave food, created shrines, inscribed tablets and burnt spirit money.
Use of Confucianism • Confucius is known as China’s first teacher. He believe that greed and cruelty led to China’s downfall so he worked to teach the traditions of the early Zhou dynasty.
Use of Confucianism • Confucius open a Zhou school where students recorded his teaching on analects and the students also taught others what they learned.
Use of Confucianism • Confucius taught and believe success lied in stable order and he used the 5 Relationships: • Ruler to Subject, Father to Son, Husband to Wife, Older to Younger, Friend to Friend
Use of Daoism • Daoism grew during the many wars in China and emphasized simple and natural existence. Daoism was said to be created by Laozi and he wrote the Dao De Jing but historians don’t know if he lived.
Use of Daoism • Daoism reflected Yin & Yang, Ying was dark, cool, quiet, and female and Yang was bright, warm, active and male. Daoism also believed good leaders took little action and people live simple lives didn’t focus on morals and rituals.
