Ancient Chinese Civilization

1. Ancient Chinese Civilization

2. Geographic and Cultural • China Proper…”Heart of China” • Region that runs inland from the eastern seacoast • Contains The Huang, Chang, and Xi Rivers • The Huang or Yellow River • Chinese built dikes to help control the flooding • China’s isolation • Great distance, mountains, deserts separated China from the India and the West • Infrequent contact gave China a strong sense of identity and superiority • Regarded China as Zhongguo or Middle Kingdom

3. The Shang Dynasty • Objectives: • Examine how the Chinese explained their early history • Describe how the Shang government and economy were organized • Identify the religious beliefs held by the Shang • Explain why the Shang dynasty collapsed

4. Ancient China Legends • Pangu, the 1st man • Created the universe • Yu • Mythological figure • Drained away flood waters • Established line of Kings called Xia • Xia ruled over the Neolithic people in China

5. ShangDynasty • First historic Dynasty • Between 1750 BC and 1500 BC • Stretched over 40,000 sq miles • Shang strengthened rule by introducing irrigation and flood control systems

6. Shang Government • Stretched over 40,000 sq miles • Ruled by a bureaucracy- government organized into different levels and tasks • Well organized government allowed culture to spread

7. Shang Economy and Crafts • Based on Agriculture • Raised silkworms to make silk cloth • Artisans known for their use of kaolin- fine white clay • Artisans worked in bone, ivory, and jade

8. Astronomy & Calendar • Used 2 calendars • Sun and Moon • Lunar Calendar • based on the movements on the moon • Each month began with new moon (29 days) • 12 lunar months made a year with 365 days • Priest-Astronomers had control over planting times

9. Religion • Animism- the belief that spirits inhabited everything • Worshiped Gods of the sun, wind, clouds, and the moon • Believed in Shangdi- god who controlled human destiny and forces of nature • Priests tried to predict the future by reading oracle bones

10. Language and Writing • Spoke many dialects- variations of their language • Assigned symbols to words: a signifier and a phonetic sound • Writings became known as calligraphy

12. Fall of the Shang Dynasty • Wealth and Lifestyle of the China Proper • Created constant battles for the Shang Dynasty • Military efforts exhausted the Shang rulers around 1100 BC • The Shang Dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou (JOH) • Zhou justified their conquest by claiming the Shang was corrupt and unfit to rule

13. Zhou Dynasty 1050 BC- 256 BC • No centralized form of government • Granted territories to members of royal families and allies • Believed in the “Mandate of Heaven” • God determined who ruled China • Rebels would overthrow dynasty if “Mandate of Heaven” was lost • Decline of Zhou • Local leaders fought each other • Military attacks by outsiders

14. The Qin Dynasty: 221 BC – 206 BC • Came to power by military might lead by Cheng • Established an autocracy • Cheng suppressed and executed scholars • Great Wall of China • Walls built to protect from invasions • 1500 miles in length • Force labor policy for public works anger people • Liu Bang overthrew the Qin Dynasty • Founded the Han Dynasty

15. The Han Dynasty • Civil Service System • Runs the day-to-day business of Government • Created system of examinations • Established an imperial university to train peoples for Government service • Remained in China until early 1900’s AD

16. The Han Dynasty: Accomplishments • Began economic policy of leveling- price control to balance surplus and shortages • Silk Road • Trade route from China to the Mediterranean Sea • Traded jade and silk with wealthy Greeks and Romans • Population grew to about 50 million people • Invention of Paper • Spread from China to the Western World

17. Ancient Chinese Beliefs • Supported dualism • Everything in the world results from a balance between two forces • YIN- female, dark, and passive • Yang- male, bright, and active • Belief that balance in human affairs is a normal condition

18. Confucius551 BC- 479 BC • Followers collected his ideas in Analects • 3 factors of importance • Family, respect for ones elders, and reverence for the past and ones ancestors

19. Confucius Teachings • Concerned with the causes of social and political unrest • Concerned with how moral and ethical leadership would solve problems • 2 ways • Accept role in society • Government and leaders should be virtuous • Rulers should be honest and trustworthy

20. Confucius Teachings • Encouraged only moral, well educated officials lead government • Mencius (372 Bc – 289 BC) • Strong supporter of Confucianism • Believed rulers who ruled by strong moral and ethical guidelines would win support of people • Believed rulers who oppressed people would surrender the right to rule

21. Laozi • Founded the philosophy of Daoism • Dao = “the way” • Saw Dao as the force that governed the universe and all of nature • People should withdraw from the world and contemplate nature • Shunned politics • Advised not to seek power • People should be humble, quite, and thoughtful

22. Legalism • Believed in power and harsh laws • Believed people were by nature selfish and untrustworthy • Peace and prosperity could be achieved only by threatening severe punishment

23. Buddhism in China • Late years of the Han Dynasty brought violence and lawlessness • After the fall of the Han Dynasty people converted to Buddhism • Factors that lead to conversion • Temples and ceremonies offered a sense of peace and safety • Emphasized universal charity and compassion • Accepted Mahayana Buddhism

24. Family and Social Life • Most important factor in Chinese society was family • Each upper-class family kept a genealogy • Role of the Father • Ruler of the house • Arranged children’s and Grand Children's Marriages • Decided how much education the son would receive • Choose the son’s career • Women • Gained power by bearing children

25. Arts and Science • Five Classics • Texts used to train scholars and civil servants • Book of Poems, History, Changes, Summer & Spring Annals, and Rites • Early Inventions • Seismograph- warned of earthquakes • Paper- produced in 150 BC • Medicines from herbs and minerals • Acupuncture-developed by Daoists