Ancient China

1. Ancient China Presented By: Lexi & Will Designed By: Rebecca

2. Overveiw • Ancient China contributed much to the Western World. • Accomplishments in Philosophy, Religion, Arts, Architecture, Technology, and Medicines • Without many Chinese inventions our society would vary greatly from how we perceive it today • Ancient China lasted from the beginning of the Neolithic Period in 12000 B.C.E. until the end of the Classical Imperial Era in 1234 C.E Chinese Temple Yin Yang Mortar and Pestle

3. The Religions - Taoism • Taoism (Daoism) • The founder of Taoism was Lao-Tzu (604-531 B.C.E), a contemporary of  Confucius • He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted life during his lifetime • This resulted in his book: Tao-te-Ching • Taoism started as a combination of  psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religion in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion • This marked Lao-Tzu ascension into godhead (venerated as a deity) Yin Yang • Taoist Beliefs & Practices • Tao is the first-cause of the universe - it is a force that flows through all life • Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking • Yin (dark side) is the breath that formed the earth, Yang (light side) is the breath that formed the heavens • They symbolize pairs of  opposites which are seen throughout the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female • Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang • The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment Lau Tzu

4. Taoism - Continued • Five main organs and orifices of  the body correspond to the five parts of  the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. • Each person must nurture the Ch'I that has been given to them • Goal of  everyone is to become one with the Tao • Development of  virtue is one's chief task • The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility • Taoists follow the art of  wu wei; which is to achieve action through minimal action • One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it • Taoists are kind to other individuals, largely because such an action tends to be reciprocated • Taoists believe that people are compassionate by nature World Tai Chi Day Symbol • Tai-Chi • Long history involvement by Taoists in various exercise and movement techniques • Tai chi works on all parts of  the body • Stimulates the central nervous system, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress and gently tones muscles without strain • Enhances digestion, elimination of  wastes and the circulation of  blood • Tai-Chi's rhythmic movements massage the internal organs and improve their functionality • Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that illness is caused by blockages or lack of  balance in the body's chi (intrinsic energy) • Tai Chi is believed to balance this energy flow Examples of Tai Chi

5. The Medicines • Alchemy • Discovery of medicine in Ancient China started more than 2,000 years ago • Goal of medicine was to make an Elixir of Life for the Emperors • Elixir of Life is a potion that the Chinese believed would make you live forever; become immortal • Idea to discover an elixir and the science of medicine was influenced by Tao Ch'ien who was a famous poet and philosopher • Stated that if one discovered the method of turning metal into gold they would at the same time discover the elixir of life • Tsou Yen who was a pharmacologist, formed a theory on how he thought diseases were caused • Stated that two spirit-like life forces (Yin and Yang) flowed through the body • Believed diseases were thought to be caused when either Yin or Yang were out of balance • Used herbs, minerals, and animal organs Bian Que • Medicine to Science • Tsou Yen wrote theories about elements and made a system of rules of classifying large and small objects • Shen Nong contributed to Tsou Yen’s work by organizing herbal medicine into two categories: "Four Spirits" and "Five Tastes“ • “Four Spirits” - Medicines that made your body respond to cold, hot, warm, or cool • “Five Tastes” – Medicine that is sour, bitter, hot, sweet, or salty when tasted Chart of Medincal Properties

6. Finer Medicines • Acupuncture • About a century after the discovery of medicine acupuncture was invented • Needles are put in certain parts of the person's body • Believed that if you put needles in specific spots, Yin and Yang would be become balanced • Relieve pain and wouldn't catch any illness when balanced • Chinese believed that two dragon spirits lived in one’s heart; the Black Dragon and the White Dragon • Black Dragon represented bad luck and evil • White Dragon spirit represented eternity and good luck • Doctors had to inspect one’s tongue to determine which Dragon resided in on’es heart • Yellow Tongue – Meant fire from the Dragon had risen in your stomach • Purple Tongue – Meant that one’s heart is pumping unhealthy blood • Red Tongue - Healthy • Yellow or Purple Tongue - Black Dragon • Red Tongue – White Dragon Meridians of the Body • Important Figures • Li Shao-Chun was the first doctor/pharmacologist mentioned in early Chinese records • Bian Que was recognized as the ‘Shaman of Life’ as he reportedly brought a ‘dead’ prince back to life • Prince was actually in a coma; the use of acupuncture rekindled blood flow in certain points of the body • In 100 B.C.E. Shen Nong invented the first set of herbal medicines • made a graph full of herbs and their uses • Li Shizen travelled through China to find every medical achievement • Listed 1,892 herbs and 11,000 prescriptions in a book • Also corrected mistakes in some medicine uses and classified all the herbs used in medicine Face Acupuncture

7. The Architecture • Great Wall of China • Construction of the wall started in 227BC, lead by emperor Qin • The Great Wall of China is 6700 kilometers long • Runs from east to west crossing over 5 provinces.One of the Seven Wonders of the World • Main purpose of the wall was to block out the Mongolians from invading • The wall is about 2300 years old • Small watch towers were built in sections of the wall for warriors/generals to watch for any invading forces • Symbolizes the power and might of the ancient Emperors Great Wall of China • Temple of Heaven • The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifices to the heavens • Surrounded by a long wall and its size is three times larger than the Forbidden City • Northern part of the wall is semicircular; symbolizes the heavens • Southern part of the wall is square; symbolizes the earth • There are many temples within the Temple of Heaven • Grandest one is the The Hall of Annual Prayer.These temples were very important back in ancient China, because emperors would pray on good things to happen to China through these temples • Today these temples are still standing in Beijing an are open to the public Temple of Heaven

8. More Architecture • The Stone Lions • Ancient Chinese believed that the lion was a special/sacred animal • Believe that lions were the king of the animal world • Represent power and courageMost houses back in Ancient China had two stone lions guarding them • One was male and the other was female • Stone lions had lumps on their head; lumps represented the ranking of the owner of the house • Believed that the main purpose of having stone lions guarding their homes was to protect against evil • Even today some homes in China and even North America have stone lions in front of their houses to protect and guard the home Stone Lion Hall of Annual Prayer