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Ancient China

Ancient China. Unit 4. The Environment - China. The Land 4 th Largest Country in the world. (area) 12% of the land is suitable for farming despite the large size. Desert Gobi Desert. Mountains Himalaya Mountains. Bodies of Water The Huang He (Yellow) River ‘Yellow soil’ Yangtze River.

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Ancient China

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  1. Ancient China Unit 4

  2. The Environment - China The Land • 4th Largest Country in the world. (area) • 12% of the land is suitable for farming despite the large size. Desert • Gobi Desert Mountains • Himalaya Mountains Bodies of Water • The Huang He (Yellow) River ‘Yellow soil’ • Yangtze River • The Climate • Varies from region to region.

  3. The Huang (Yellow) River

  4. CHINA “Climate Control” The Yangtze River serves as China's official dividing line between north and south • NORTH CHINA PLAIN ~ warm hot summers/cold winters. Chief crops are wheat and millet. • SOUTH CHINA PLAIN ~ richer in farming and more industrialized. They grow rice, cotton, tea, veggies and more. • MANCHURIA ~ (North East) very cold climate makes it pretty unpopulated. • MONGOLIA ~ (The Far North Region) encompassed by the Gobi desert, its climate is very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. What is the only continent without a desert? Europe

  5. Dynasty in China • The Xia over four thousand years ago? • The Shang (1750 to 1122 B.C.) (628y) • The Zhou (1122 to 256 B.C.) (866y) • The Qin (221 to 206 B.C.) (15y) • The Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) • The Sui Dynasty (589 to 618)

  6. Xia Dynasty • Legend says earliest Chinese ruled by Xia dynasty • Little written, archaeological evidence Xia dynasty existed • Most historians date beginning of Chinese civilization to rise of Shang dynasty

  7. 1st civilization in China to write things down. • They used pictographs, or pictures, to represent objects. • They also used ideographs to represent ideas such as beauty, joy, and justice. • They are also responsible for developing an accurate calendar. • Finally, they are also responsible for improving the art of bronze-making.

  8. Oracle Bones Religion • Veneration of ancestors - ancestor worship. Belief was spirits of family ancestors could bring good or evil fortune to the living members of the family. • Spirits were worshipped to persuade divine forces to do good. • Sought advice through use oforacle bones • As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice • Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone’s surface • Trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer

  9. The Shang Dynasty Fu Hao • queen and military general who led military campaigns

  10. Excavating Fu Hao's tomb 

  11. The Zhou Dynasty • The Zhou overthrow the Shang Dynasty • Lasts for nearly 900 years • The use of iron c. 550 B.C. assisted farming methods (plow). • The plow increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew and thus, population grew under Zhou • Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication • Introduced coins, use of chopsticks, and silk • New ideas in government emerge… Next Page

  12. The Zhou Dynasty Continued… The Mandate of Heaven • Mandate means = order, permission, authorization The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles: • The right to rule is granted by Heaven. • There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. • The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. • The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty. Positive and Negative sides Mandate of Heaven for a Dynasty • It gives the ruler prestige and religious importance. • It gives the ruler supreme power. • It allows a new ruler to gain power quickly because everyone believes he has the “Mandate of Heaven”. • The ruler’s power must be kept in check by virtue. • It justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful.

  13. Dynastic Cycle • Period of wise and efficient rulers • Leaders begin to decline intellectually and morally • Central government begins to collapse • Rebellion or invasion take place creating a new dynasty. • The Dynastic cycle lasts until • 1912 A.D. • (Yes, really!)

  14. Family Life Loyalty to the family was vital to the Chinese people. Filial Piety All members of the family had to subordinate their needs and desires to those of the male head of the family. “The Five Relationships” Son was subordinate to the father Wife was to husband Younger brother to older brother All were to the king Friend to friend The Zhou Dynasty Continued…

  15. Confuciusis considered by the Chinese as the first teacher. Interest was political and ethical, not spiritual Belief was: The universe was made in such a way that, if humans would act in harmony with its purposes, their own affairs would prosper. To be good, you had to behave according with theTao (Way) Two Concepts ofTao- Dutyand Humanity Humanity Belief in the concept: Treat others the way you want to be treated” or… “Don’t do something to others that you would not want done to yourself” Confucius Cultivate Virtue in your own person, And it becomes a genuine part of you. Cultivate it in the family, And it will abide. Cultivate it in the community, And it will live and grow. Cultivate it in the state, And it will flourish abundantly. Cultivate it in the world, And it will become universal. Wisdom Duty • People had to follow the Five Relationships Rule • Belief in 100% Work Ethic • If everyone does their duty to the fullest, then society will prosper. If not… • Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe

  16. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

  17. Confucius If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there be order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

  18. TAOISM

  19. The Tao encompasses all opposite and complementary forces, which are collectively referred to as yinandyang. As represented in the familiar symbol (seen above) Yin is associated with “darkness” Yang is associated with “light” Neither can exist without other Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony The best way to act in harmony with the universal order is to act spontaneously and let nature take its course by not interfering with it Founder Lao Tzu Text Tao Te Ching (The Way of the Tao) Taoism

  20. Taoism wrap up • Taoists believe it's very important to understand “The Way Things Are”. • This does not mean that there are not things we need to change about ourselves, but it's important to recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and discover who we are. • In the story of "The Ugly Duckling", when does the duckling stop feeling ugly? • When he discovers he's a Swan. • When he recognizes who he really is, a beautiful swan, he finds his Way to happiness. • Taoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese history

  21. The End of the Dynastic Cycle for the Zhou Dynasty Civil War will break out (403 B.C.) Becomes known as the “Period of Warring States” What happens? And the winner of the warring states is… Qin Shi Huangdi- The first Emperor of China The Qin Dynasty will emerge to take control The Qin Dynasty Huang di = King of the gods The August most revered god.

  22. The Qin Dynasty Achievements • Ordered the construction of the Great Wall of China • Divided the country into military districts, each ruled by an appointed official • Standardized coinage • Standardized weights • Standardized measurements • Repaired roads and canals • Legalism is the practiced philosophy • Censorate Other items • Conducted first book burning due to legalism

  23. Belief that human beings are innately evil. • People can only be brought to follow the correct path by harsh laws and stiff punishments because people by nature were not capable of being good without incentive. (Incentive is they didn’t want to be punished!) • Legalists obviously believe in strong authoritarian rule with strict rules

  24. The Long Wall Beijing Great Wall -- In 221 BC, the Emperor Qin absorbed the other six states and set up the first unified kingdom in Chinese history. In order to strengthen his newly born authority and defend the Huns in the north, he ordered connecting the walls once built by the other states as well as adding some sections of his own.

  25. Qin Shi Huangdi’s Tomb

  26. Han Dynasty • Liu Bang leads peasant revolt • Confucianism is restored, removing Legalism. • Buddhism is brought from India to China • Paper is invented by Tsai Lun

  27. Sui Dynasty • Gunpowder is invented • While attempting to create medicine (and an elixir for immortality) alchemists discover gunpowder • Though many people wrote about the inflammable mixtures during 300-650 AD, some historians claim that the invention of gunpowder was dated at 850 AD. • Yang Di orders the construction of the Grand Canal linking the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.

  28. The World’s Oldest Noodles Scientists found the ancient noodles preserved in an overturned, sealed bowl at an archaeological site near the Yellow River in northwestern China.

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