2013 Chinese Dynasties

1. 2013 Chinese Dynasties

2. Pronunciations • Huang He hwahng he • Shang shong • Zhou Joe • Loess less • Henan hey – nahn • Wei way • Qin chin

3. A Dynasty isa line of rulers that come from the same family An aristocrat is anoble, or upper class person, whose wealth comes from their land Key Terms….

4. China’s history is usually divided into time periods based on the rule of different dynasties. A ‘dynasty’ is a ruling family that passes the power to rule down through the generations. These rulers were thought to be ‘divine’, or actual gods, and thus were obeyed without question.

5. Four Chinese Dynasties

6. Shang Dynasty

7. Government and Society Order Agricultural Society • China ruled by strong monarchy • At capital city, Anyang, kings surrounded by court • Rituals performed to strengthen kingdom, keep safe • King’s governors ruled distant parts of kingdom • King also had large army at disposal • Prevented rebellions, fought outside opponents • Shang China largely agricultural • Most tended crops in fields • Farmers called on to fight in army, work on building projects—tombs, palaces, walls The Shang Dynasty According to ancient Chinese records, the Shang dynasty formed around 1766 BC, although many archaeologists believe it actually began somewhat later than that.

8. Shang Elite • Leisure • Ruling elite had free time to pursue leisure activities, hunting for sport • Wealthy enjoyed collecting expensive bronze, jade objects • Artifacts • Much of what is known comes from studying royal tombs • Contained valuable items made of bronze, jade • Afterlife • Tombs held remains of sacrificed prisoners of war • Believed in afterlife where ruler would need riches, servants • Ancestor Worship • Shang offered gifts to deceased ancestors to keep them happy in afterlife • Steam from ritual meals nourished ancestors’ spirits

9. Shang Dynasty 1750-1050 BCE • Chinese civilization is one of oldest, continuous on earth • 5,000 years of history

10. Archaeologists believe the Huang He valley was the center of Chinese civilization. The Shang kings were part of a dynasty that may have build the 1st Chinese cities. They ruled from about 1750 B.C. to 1122 B.C. The Shang Dynasty built the city of Anyang which was China’s first capital. Shang Dynasty

11. Shang culture characterized by: Centralized government Urban communities Stratified social classes Palatial architecture Distinctive writing system Elaborate religious rituals Sophisticated art forms

12. Shang culture characterized by Bronze metallurgy Horse drawn chariot Ability to mobilize human labor for huge projects/corvee labor Relatively accurate calendar Money in form of cowrie shells Pantheon of gods Complex lineage structure

13. The Shang • The Shang left written records and extensive material remains, especially bronze works. • Bronze metallurgy, horses, chariots, and other wheeled vehicles came to China with Indo-European migrants. • The Shang employed artisans to make many weapons for the government. • They controlled access to copper and tin ores.

14. The Shang • The Shang kings had many political allies who supported the king in exchange for agricultural output and access to metal works. • Several large cities were highly fortified with thick, tall walls. • This indicates a highly centralized political power and central rule of the Shang kings. Shang zun (wine vessel) Made of Bronze

15. The Shang • The Shang royal tombs included thousands of objects including human material remains.

16. Political and Religious Organization of the Shang • Ruled by specific internal clans, each with its own king. • Kingship and kinship were linked. • As head of his biological clan and geographical realm, the king: • Performed rituals and sacrifices • Waged war • Constructed irrigation and flood control • Administered the government. • Was thought to be descended from the god of the spirits. • Had divine rights.

17. Political and Religious Organization of the Shang • The ruler directly controlled a growing network of towns. • He ruled from his capital city. • He designated representatives to oversee regional cities. Most of these representatives were blood relatives. • These relatives received title to land, shares in the harvests, and rights to build and control the regional capital cities. • In exchange, they represented and served the king and his interests in the provinces.

18. Cities: Shang • Vast network of walled towns whose local rulers recognized authority of the Shang kings • Shang rulers moved their capital six times • Capital at Yin (near modern Anyang) contained a complex of royal palaces and eleven large and lavish royal tombs Royal tomb at Anyang

19. Class Organization under the Shang • Inside the walled area lived the royal family, the nobility, and their retainers. • Outside this palace was a network of residential areas. • To the north were the dwellings and graves of the wealthy and powerful marked by ritual bronze vessels and sacrificial victims. • To the south were the dwellings of the commoners and their burial places in trash pits. • Occupations were inherited within specific family units. • Many “zu” or lineage groups corresponded to occupational groups.

20. People of the Shang dynasty were divided into groups… THE NOBLES: The king and his family were the most powerful of this group. Warlords and other royal officials were also in the class. They were aristocrats, nobles whose wealth came from the land they owned. THE COMMONERS: Traders and artisans were below the nobles. The commoners did most of the specialized work including farming. THE SLAVES: Slaves captured during wars were the lowest class of people.

21. Royalty/ Imperial Court The king (emperor) and his family were the most powerful and wealthy people in Shang times. Nobles: Warlords and officials loyal to the king were given land and peasants. In return, they fought in the king’s army and provided the king with soldiers & supplies. Craftsmen (Artisans): These skilled workers made artifacts for the aristocrats. Traders (Merchants): Like the craftsmen, traders were a very small class. They bartered or sold goods. Farmers: The largest social class, farmers often used simple wooden and stone tools. Slaves: Captured during wars, slaves were from opposing clans and used as human sacrifices or laborers Social Classes Under the Shang The king was the ultimate ruler; yet, to expand his power, he set up smaller kingdoms under his younger brothers and nephews.

22. New Technologies: Shang and Military Success • Shang ruling elites were able to monopolize production of bronze in the Yellow River Valley by controlling access to copper and tin ores • Allowed Shang forces to defeat Xia forces who were equipped with only stone, wood, and bone weapons • Shang nobles used bronze to make fittings for horse-drawn chariots

23. New Technologies: Shang and Military Success • Shang were also able to exert military might over the Xia through bows Shang pictograph of composite bow

24. Shang Warfare • Shang rulers used warfare to control land and expand their power. • Conflicts between the Shang and neighboring clans to the west and south were caused by boundary disputes, the desire for valuable resources, and the need to capture prisoners for human sacrifice or forced labor. Foot soldier Axe man Shang Noble Yi Captive

25. Shang Armies • Many wars involved large armies of more than 13,000 men. • Foot soldiers • Archers • Calvary on horses & elephants • Fighters in chariots • Soldiers used bronze weapons such as arrowheads, spearheads, helmets, and daggers mounted on wooden shafts.

26. Shang Dynasty 1600 B.C.-1046 B.C. The most advanced bronze-working civilization in the world. 1500-1000 B.C.Greeks destroy Troy (c. 1193 B.C.).

27. Bronze Weapons—Created by Craftsmen and Used by Nobles • The bronze weapons of the ancient Chinese gave Shang warriors an advantage over their enemies, who had less technologically advanced weapons.

28. Jade Weapons—Placed in Emperor’s Tomb • Jade copies of Shang daggers and spears were placed in imperial tombs for use in the afterlife. Jade spearhead set in bronze Ceremonial daggers with turquoise and jade ornamentation

29. Ceremonial Axes—Created by Craftsmen and Used for Kings • Bronze ceremonial axes, which were found in many Shang emperor’s tombs, were symbols of imperial authority. • These axes were used to kill the sacrificial victims who were buried with the emperor. • Early Chinese emperors had complete power to make all government decisions. • Emperor’s owned the land, but they gave some of it away to their loyal supporters (nobles)

30. Jade Carvings—Symbols of Noble Power • When a Shang emperor gave control of a town or land to a nobleman, he also gave him symbols of his new power. • The emperor gave jade carvings of lucky creatures, such as dragons and tigers. • Jade was a stone reserved for nobility, and the Chinese saw the hard stone as a symbol of wisdom and charity/kindenss. • Power symbols also included chariots, flags, and drums.

31. Bronze Vessels—Created by Craftsmen • Shang people believed that ancestors brought their families good or bad fortune. • They used bronze containers, or vessels, to hold food items in ceremonies honoring their ancestors. • They also placed such vessels in the bombs so the dead could continue these rituals and have things to eat and drink in the after life. • Craftspeople designed some vessels to hold wine and others to hold meat or grain.

32. Early Chinese writing used pictographs, or characters that stand for objects. By the Shang dynasty, people used logographs, characters that stand for words. This differs from the American alphabet system (phonetic system) where each letter represents a sound. In the Chinese language, each marking, or symbol, represents a whole word. Writing Under the Shang

33. Early Chinese writing used pictographs, or characters that stand for objects. Ideographsare two or more pictographs joined to represent an idea. The Chinese language differs from the American alphabet system because in the American alphabet, each letter represents a sound. The letters, or sounds, are put together to make words. In the Chinese language, each marking, or symbol, represents a whole word.

34. Development of Writing • Writing system uses symbols to represent syllables, not ideas • People of different languages can use same system • Huge number of characters make system difficult to learn

36. Shang: Focus on the Family • Multiple generations of the same family lived in the same household, which was a patriarchal institution headed by the oldest male. • Shang religion held that gods controlled all aspects of peoples’ lives. • People believed they could call on the spirits of their dead ancestors to act as their advocates with the gods. This was called “veneration of ancestors.” • This gave the extended family even greater significance.

37. Religious Beliefs • Spirits of dead ancestors can affect family fortunes • Oracle bones used to consult gods; supreme god, Shang Di • Priests scratch questions on animal bones and tortoise shells

38. People in the Shang dynasty believed in many spirits and gods and honored ancestors with offerings. Shang kings believed they received wisdom and power from the gods, spirits, and ancestors. Early Chinese Dynasty Gods… The river god, rain god, earth god. They believed in many gods, but the most powerful was the sky god, T'ien, the king of gods. To the peasants, T'ien was more brilliant and more powerful than any earthbound king.

39. People believed in many gods and practiced ancestor worship. They honored their ancestors with offerings. Shang kings believed they received wisdom and power from the gods, spirits, and ancestors. Religion Under the Shang The Sky God (T’ien) The most powerful god was the sky god, T'ien. He was the king of gods. To the peasants, T'ien was more brilliant and powerful than any earthbound king.

40. Ancestor reverence Ultimate source of political power was royal ancestors Deceased ministers had some influence Dead went to Heaven Intercede on behalf of descendants So ritual life of Shang court was sequence of sacrifices to ancestors

41. Ancestor worship; the belief that your dead relatives control and guide your destiny. Thus respect and honor for them is necessary.

42. Shamanism; Shang Religion was based on ideas of ancestor worship, as well as a belief in nature gods, demons and magic.

43. Important ideas from Shang Notion of supreme heavenly power—Shangdi (god above) Belief in power of spirits of ancestors to affect events on earth Importance of rituals venerating ancestors & role of king in performing rituals

44. Oracle Bones As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice • Sought advice through use of oracle bones • Inscribed bits of animal bone, turtle shell • Living person asked question of ancestor • Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone’s surface • Specially trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer

45. Oracle Bones—Used by Kings and Nobles • Shang emperors and priests used oracle bones to predict the future. • Shang priests etched positive or negative statements onto the surface of the shell or bone. • Rainfall --Sickness • Harvest --Childbirth • Sickness --Enemy attacks • Then the priest applied a hot poker to a groove on the bon so the bone would crack. • The cracks were analyzed to reveal the answer of the gods or ancestors. Oracle bones were made from tortoise shells or the shoulder blades of cattle.

46. Tomb of Fu Hao (Warrior Princess) • Museums display recreations of objects found in royal burial tombs. • Along with bronze vessels, jade ornaments, and bronze weapons, royalty were buried with food, animals, servants, and slaves to serve them in the afterlife. All were marched down a ramp into the tomb.

47. Cowrie Shells—Used by Traders • During the Shang dynasty, people usually traded, or bartered, for the goods they wanted. • However, cowrie shells were also used as currency (money) during the Shang period. • The ancient Chinese strung 5 to 10 shell together and used them as coins are used today. • They were valuable because the source of the shells was so far away. • They closest supply of cowries was on the east coast of China below the Chang Jiang, or Yangtze River.

48. Farming Tools • During the Shang dynasty, the main occupation of most people was farming. • Peasants used simple wooden plows, stone shovels, stone sickles, and stone axes to work the land.

49. Shang economic features Tamed water buffalo Cultivated rice in south Grain grown in north

50. Shang musical instruments • Music used as “civilizing” influence in state rituals Drums Bells Chiming stones ocarinas