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ANCIENT DYNASTIES OF CHINA. SHANG ZHOU QIN HAN. Geography and First Dynasty. Two major rivers Chang Jiang – also called the Yangzi Huang-He – also called the Yellow River or the River of Sorrows Xia Dynasty is considered to be the beginning of Chinese civilization.
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ANCIENT DYNASTIES OF CHINA SHANG ZHOU QIN HAN
Geography and First Dynasty • Two major rivers • Chang Jiang – also called the Yangzi • Huang-He – also called the Yellow River or the River of Sorrows • Xia Dynasty is considered to be the beginning of Chinese civilization
Shang Dynasty 1766 -1122 BC • Farming society ruled by an aristocracy whose major concern was war • Aristocracy = an upper class whose wealth is based on land ownership
Kings were buried in royal tombs along with their valuable possessions and sacrificed prisoners of war and servants • Belief in the afterlife • Shang religion centered on the idea of ancestor worship called veneration of ancestors • Used oracle bones to ask questions of the gods • Wrote questions on bones, inserted a hot piece of metal into the bone until it cracked, and then read the cracks to get an answer • Shang achievements • Development of Chinese writing, which used picture symbols
Zhou Dynasty 1100 – 256 BC • Longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history • The king was the head of the gov’t and was seen as a link between heaven and Earth • The Zhou dynasty claimed it ruled China because it possessed the Mandate of Heaven • Gods gave “permission” to rule China • Set up a “right of revolution” which led to dynastic cycles • Development of two Chinese philosophies = Confucianism and Daoism
Qin Dynasty 221 – 206 BC • First to create a unified Chinese empire • The word China is derived from the Qin • Ruler Qin Shi Huangdi became the “first emperor” • Regime = the gov’t in power • Shi Huangdi adopted Legalism as the official ideology to build a strong centralized gov’t
Anyone who opposed the policies of the new regime were imprisoned, tortured, or killed, especially Confucian scholars • A nomadic people in the Gobi desert called the Xiongnu threatened China • To deal with the threat and to keep them out of China, Shi Huangdi had workers join the separate defensive walls in northern China • This united wall became the Great Wall of China
Han Dynasty 206 BC – 220 AD • Model for later Chinese dynasties, the main population of China still calls itself the Han people • Exchanged Legalism for Confucianism and appointed numerous Confucian scholars
Qin and Han Dynasties Chapter 8, page 225
To create a regular system for new officials, the civil service exam was introduced • These officials gained gov’t jobs based on merit, how well they did on the test • A school was established to train candidates for the exam • Students were expected to learn the teachings of Confucius
Silk Road • Road that linked China to Rome, was 4,000 miles long • Traded in luxury goods such as silk, spices, teas, and ivory • Dangerous due to geography and bandits • Women • “raising daughters is like raising children for another family”
Confucianism • Based on the teachings of Confucius (Kongfuzi) • Main book is the Analects, which contains Confucius’ thoughts • Concerned about human behavior • People should treat one another with love and respect • Confucius believed that the disappearance of this love and respect was responsible for the violence in society • Focuses on improving society • Restoring a respect for tradition would make society stable once again
Proper behavior is to follow the Dao (the way) • Two elements to the Dao – duty and humanity • Everyone must work hard to fulfill their duties • Needs of the family and community come before personal needs • Five Relationships • Ruler and subject • Husband and wife • Parent and child • Older sibling and younger sibling • Friend and friend • Belief in filial piety = obedience and devotion to parents, especially the male head of the family
Honor one’s ancestors • A ruler must set a good example and lead by virtue • A ruler should be advised by qualified, well-informed people • Select advisors based on merit rather than birth • Spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
Legalism • Founded by Hanfeizi and Li Si, two advisors to Emperor Shi Huangdi of the Qin dynasty • Believed that human beings are evil by nature • Reject Confucius’ idea of leading by virtue • Instead need harsh laws and punishments to make sure people stay on the correct path • A ruler does not need to be compassionate or show mercy • People must be kept in line by fear of punishment
A powerful and efficient gov’t was key to maintaining order and control over an empire • Rulers should be strong and govern through force • Strong ruler = orderly society
Daoism • “The Way” • Main teachings by a philosopher named Laozi • Main book Dao De Jing • Also concerned with proper behavior • Encourages people to retreat from the laws of society and yield to the laws of nature • Promotes harmony with nature • By finding one’s place in nature, it is possible for a person to achieve harmony with the universe
The true way to follow the will of Heaven is not through action, but inaction • Let nature take its course • Embraced an ancient Chinese concept, the notion of yin and yang • Yin and yang represent the balancing aspect of nature • Male and female, dark and light, hot and cold • When balanced, yin and yang represent the perfect harmony of nature
