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Ancient China

Ancient China. Xia (Hsia) and Shang China Yellow River Cradle of Chinese civilization Flows through a plain of loess soil Sandy soil hundreds of feet deep Produced by winds off the Gobi and floods Very fertile Loose, very flat - devastating floods

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China

  2. Xia (Hsia) and Shang China • Yellow River • Cradle of Chinese civilization • Flows through a plain of loess soil • Sandy soil hundreds of feet deep • Produced by winds off the Gobi and floods • Very fertile • Loose, very flat - devastating floods • Frequently changes course after a flood • Fertile soil and dangerous river spurs growth of civilization

  3. Xia (Hsia) Dynasty • Traditionally dated 2205-1776 BC • Semi-mythical - only a small amount of archaeological evidence

  4. Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC) • Capital at An yang • Tortoise shell oracle bones main source of information • City-state based society recognizing the overall authority of the Shang king • Cities built mostly of wood -- frequently moved due to war, floods • Highly stratified - king lived in great opulence • Hundreds of servants, soldiers, sacrificed to be buried with king • Military kept power - monopoly on bronze weapons

  5. Religion -- shamanistic religion • Recognized a Deity Above • Several lesser deities of nature • Sacrifice and prayers made to ancestors, who interceded with gods • Kings were high priests but not divine • Religion closely tied to astronomy, celestial occurrences • Emphasis on magic, fertility -- religious rites included drinking, dancing, human sacrifice • Kings constant drunks – used human sacrifice for entertainment.

  6. The Western Zhou (Chou) (1122-771 BC.) • Zhou kings invaded from western China, killed Shang king • King Wen, King Wu, Duke of Zhou -- semi-mythical founders of dynasty • Large land and no communications. How rule? Feudalism • King gave land and its contents to a vassal • Usually a relative • Someone who had shown valor, intelligence • The Vassal • Pledged allegiance to king (provide protection) • Paid taxes • Defended king's lands for him

  7. King had the Mandate from heaven -- • King received power from heaven, not from descent • King had to act morally • More rational than the magic-based thought of Shang period

  8. Feudalism: BASED ON LOYALTY AND TRUST • Social Hierarchy Zhou feudal system • King ("son of heaven“) • Vassals (almost complete local power) • Fighting men, political leaders • Artisans • Farmer/peasants

  9. Feudalism unified "Chinese" culture • Cornerstones of Chinese development • kinship • moral code

  10. The Eastern Zhou (771-256 BC) • Feudal relationships deteriorated • Time creates distance in loyalty and trust • Vassals gained more and more political power • Vassals gain more riches than the kings • Vassals (not King) control military power. • King became a figure head with no power. • King forced to leave his capital, move eastward to safety • Two periods of the Eastern Zhou • Spring and Autumn period 771-481 BC - feudal system breaks down and states competed • Not always open rebellion • Warring States period 481-256 BC - three of every four years were taken up in warfare • Civil War – open rebellion

  11. States of the Early Eastern Zhou (around 500 BC), also Spring & Autumn Period, but the actual existence of such coherent states is doubtful, dozens - if not hundreds - of smaller principalities existed & were only swallowed by the bigger states in the Warring States Period.

  12. State view themselves as INDEPENDENT • Stronger states to take over weaker ones • Originally 70-100 feudal states • Warring States period, seven major states • At end of Warring States period, there was only one central state • CHIN: How would it be ruled?????? • Iron Fist: strong centralized political system • End of feudalism • Land and people scarred after 225 year of WAR

  13. Growth of philosophy: attempting to heal • Confucianism: Confucius (551-479 BC) • Interested in political and ethical behavior (not religious) • “It is all about the relationship” • Take Action and seek to achieve the Dao (way) • Two key aspects: • Duty: family and community • Humanity: compassion and empathy • Daoism (Taoism): Laozi??? • Achieve the way through inaction • Act spontaneously, let nature take its course.

  14. Legalism as the Answer (mandates healing) • Developed in Qin (Ch'in) state • “People are not capable of being good” • Legalism - highly rationalistic • Strict and detailed laws, impartially applied • All serve the state • Regimented society • Feudal lords replaced with bureaucracy • War is good • Makes people disciplined, submissive

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