Chinese Dynasties

Chinese Dynasties

Shang 1700-1027 B.C.E. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/timeline.html

Shang (1700-1027 BCE) • Bronze weapons • Bronze fittings for chariots and harnesses • Used earthenware for vessels (metals were scarce in China) • Did not use ploughs, used hoes • Had tools of wood and stone • Descent was from older brother to younger brother Shang religiouspitcher 1300 BCE Mnsu.edu

ORACLE BONES • Oracle bones-made of turtle shells (question asked, it was fired. Crack it produced answered the question) • Writing was pictographic and then became ideographic • By 1200 BCE the Shang had a sophisticated system of writing http://www.logoi.com/notes/chinese_origins.html

Shang religious practices • Worshipped “Shang Ti” supreme god that ruled over lesser gods • Human Sacrifice-When a king died hundreds of slaves and prisoners were killed. Sometimes they were beheaded first, sometimes thrown in alive • For an event (I.e. the founding of a temple) there would be human sacrifice but with fewer victims Chinatravel1.com Mnsu.edu

Zhou Dynasty (1027-221 B.C.E.) http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/zhou.html

Mandate of Heaven • The Zhou told the people that the gods became angry at the Shang and had now chosen the Zhou to rule Brief Review in Global History and Geography

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/isa/ninvest/ming/dynasticcycle.htmhttp://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/isa/ninvest/ming/dynasticcycle.htm

Zhou Achievements • Made the first books • Astronomers studied planet movements and eclipses, developing an accurate calendar • Learned how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms • Silk became a valuable Chinese export A Brief Review in Global History and Geography

Similarities between the Shang and Zhou • Zhou vessels were nearly identical with Shang • Zhou adopted Shang writing system, administrative techniques, and rituals • Incorporated some Shang gods as lesser gods Msnu.edu

Differences • Zhou began a feudal system of land ownership-land was given to vassals of the king in elaborate ceremonies • The Zhou banned human sacrifice • Descent passed from father to son (patriarchal) • The capital was divided in two so the Zhou would not have to live directly with the conquered Shang Mnsu.edu

Era of Warring States 475-221 B.C.E. • Emergence of philosophies • Confucianism • Daoism • Legalism http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/warringstates.htm

Philosophies • Confucianism- Confucius (551-479 B.C.) • Legalism- Han Fei Zi (d. 233 B.C) and Li Si (d. 208 B.C.) • Daoism- Laozi (604-531 BCE)

Confucius saw five major human relationships that should be governed by li, or propriety. Those relationships are: 1. Ruler and subject 2. Father and son 3. Husband and wife 4. Oldest son and younger brothers 5. Elders and juniors (friends) www.faithresource.com Image-google

Legalism • Involved strict punishments for people who disobeyed laws, regardless of social standing • Laws had to be obeyed by everyone- administrators carried them out (but they were not “above” the law) Wsu.edu “The law does not fawn on the noble....Whatever the law applies to, the wise cannot reject nor can the brave defy. Punishment for fault never skips ministers, reward for good never misses commoners.” -Han Fei. A Legalist Writer:Selections from The Writings of Han Fei (c. 230 BCE) http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/hanfei.html

Daoism "The most traditional view is that 'yin' represents aspects of the feminine: being soft, cool, calm, introspective, and healing... and "yang" the masculine: being hard, hot, energetic, moving, and sometimes aggressive. Another view has the 'yin' representing night and 'yang' day. Source: "Where does the Yin Yang Symbol come from?"

Qin 221-207 B.C. Mnsu.edu

Shi Huangdi • Abolished old feudal states and divided country into military districts, each ruled by an appointed official • Standardized weights and measures • Created national coins • Repaired canals and roads • Standardized language and writing of China • Great Wall of China (about 214 B.C.E-204 B.C.E.) • Legalism Chinatravelguide.com Google images A brief Review in Global History and Geography Mnsu.edu

Army of Clay Soldiers from the Tomb of Shi Huangdi http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art101/Art101B-10-China/WebPage-Full.00012.html

Han Dynasty(206 B.C.E.- 220 A.D.) Mnsu.edu

Han Rulers • Liu Bang took control of China in 210 B.C.E. after the death of Shi Huangdi.He reduced taxes and eased the policies of the Qin dynasty. • Wudi became emperor in 141 B.C.E. He established the civil service system and administered civil service exams (based on Confucian philosophy). • Wang Mang (r. 8 C.E.- 23 C.E.) confiscated land from the rich to give it to the peasants and was executed by the Red Eyebrows, a secret society. Wsu.edu

Women in the Han Dynasty • Some religious recluses (like nuns) received an education and so did some noblewomen • Confucian philosophy held that men are superior to women • Women could not take civil service exams and were thus excluded from government Brief Review in Global History and Geography

Han Achievements • Chinese learned to make paper out of wood pulp • Invented wheelbarrow, the fishing reel, and the rudder (steers ships) • Developed acupuncture, discovered herbal remedies, and anesthesia. Scholars wrote texts on chemistry, zoology, and botany. • Artists created carvings of jade and ivory. Some worked in bronze, ceramics, and silk Brief Review in Global History and Geography

The Three Kingdoms (220-265 A.D.) • Period of disunity and civil war • Even though it had been there since the First century C.E., Buddhism spread throughout China • Tea discovered (became popular later) • Porcelain developed Mnsu.edu

Chin Dynasty (265-420 C.E.) • Disorder • Power Struggles • Defeated by Huns • Defeated Chin fled to Nanking (317 C.E.) where they ruled as Eastern Chin.

Northern and Southern Dynasties420-588 A.D • Period of disunity • Buddhism flourished in the North • Idea of an afterlife appealed to the peasantry (as well as reincarnation) • Non-Chinese rulers were not committed to Confucianism or Chinese shamanistic religions • Confucianism moved South Mnsu.edu

The Sui Dynasty 580-618 A.D. • Expanded empire • Built granaries • Fortified Great Wall of China near the northern border • Confucianism began to regain popularity as the nobles gained importance • Unsuccessfully tried to attack Korea four times • This defeat led the Eastern Turks to attack China and China was split into smaller states Mnsu.edu

T'ang 618-907 A.D.

T’ang Achievements • Forced Vietnam, Korea, and Tibet to become tributary states • Japan sent missions to China to study Chinese culture • Revived civil service system and exam • Redistributed land to peasants • Built canals • Poetry (I.e. Li Po)

THE SOCIAL SYSTEM OF THE TANG DYASTY SOCIAL ANDGENDERROLES Gentry Peasants (produced) Merchants (made $$ off of others) Many women held great authority. There were women who managed the family finances, Imposed discipline, and supervised servants. Still, boys were still superior and more valued Than girls. When a girl married she was required to become part of her husband’s family And could never remarry.

Song Dynasty 960-1279 C.E. • Used 4-deck ships that could carry 500 men • Performed the first autopsy on a Southern Chinese captive in 1145 C.E. • Administered civil service exam • Zhu Xi developed Neo-Confucianism • Song were not a strong military power, Confucianism did not hold military in high regard Mnsu.edu

Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368 C.E. • Mongols banned Chinese from government positions • Chinese were far better educated than Mongols • Mongols treated foreigners better than native Chinese • Marco Polo served as Kublai Khan’s envoy • As the Chinese became poorer and nobles revolted, the Mongols had less interest in holding onto China Mnsu.edu

Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 C.E. • Improved peasant life • Kept taxes low • Encyclopedias were written about geography, medicine, and music • Dictionaries were written, the Chinese language was simplified • 1405-1433 C.E. Zheng He explored as far as East Africa. After his last voyage his records were destroyed and ships were restricted to smaller sizes. Mnsu.edu Zheng He Mnsu.edu

Qing Dynasty 1644-1911 C.E. • Manchu were foreign rulers of China (from Manchuria-now northeastern China) • Required Manchu style of dress-and men had to shave their heads • Outlawed footbinding • Forbade intermarriage between Manchus and Chinese • Opium Wars-Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain (1842) • Spheres of Influence established by Europeans • Emperors became younger and had to rely on advisors • Empress Tzu Hsi was opposed to modernization reforms. Her two year old was placed on throne (1909-1911) • Revolutionaries took control of China and the republic of China arose. Mnsu.edu

Chinese Dynasties