Ancient China

The Huang He River Valley Civilizations

Zhou Dynasty

Big IdeaChinese civilization began with the Shang

dynasty along the Huang He (Yellow) river.

Main Ideas:

China’s physical geography made farming possible but travel and communication difficult

Civilization began in China along the Huang He and Chang Jiang (Yangzi) rivers

China’s first dynasties helped Chinese society develop and made many other achievements

GeographyPanku Creation 1:32

GeographyChinese civilization began around the area

between the two rivers, the Chiang Jiang (Yangzi) and the Huang He (Yellow)

China was separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Himalayas & separated from most of Asia by deserts

Separation resulted in China developing its on unique culture and sense of identity without much cultural diffusion

Even today, Chinese culture is very different from “western” society

Civilization BeginsThe rivers flood leaving behind a fertile silt that is

perfect for farming

7000 BC- farmers grow rice along the middle of the Chang Jang Valley

To the North on the Huang He, soil was better for growing cereals like millet and wheat

They also fished and hunted with bows and arrows

Domesticated animals such as pigs and sheep

Large towns grew along the Huang He

Burials like Egyptians with tombs filled with objectsWealthy were buried with jade

The Xia Dynasty• What is a dynasty?• Why do they exist?

Legend says the Xia Dynasty was the first dynasty in China but no one really know for sure. The were likely to be a Bronze Age society.

Later written stories of the time period tell of a horrible flood. Yu the Great, the founder of the Xia Dynasty, dug channels to drain the water back into the ocean. It took him over ten years to complete and created the major waterways of north China.• Other stories tell of how Xia rulers worked with the

people to solve problems

Shang Dynasty

Shang DynastyTook over China in 1600 BC

Ruled China for about 700 years

Took over 1800 city-states……America has 50 states

They divided their government into little bits controlled by loyal governors (Nobles appointed by the king to preform certain duties & land lords)

Shang Dynasty

• Head of political & religious lifeKing • Advisors to King

• Government & religious officials• Land Lords

Nobles

• From the far regionsWarriors leaders

• Pottery• Clothes• Tools• weapons

Artisans

• Worked long hours • Little pay• Over taxed

Farmers• Lowest rank• Important labor

resourceSlaves

AdvancementsThey farmed millet, wheat, barley, & rice

They grew silkworms, dogs, pigs, & sheep

They had accomplished metal metal workers & craftsmen (bronze containers for cooking & religious ceremonies, axes, knives, jade ornaments

Military developed bronze body armor, powerful bows, & war chariots

Astrologers created a calendar based on the cycles of the moon

The Legend of SilkA 14 year old queen of China supposedly

saw a worm spin its cocoon. She then took the cocoon, dropped it in hot water and watched it break up to threads. The thread was the used to sew and create silk garments.

What is silk?It is secreted from the silk worm’s mouth to make the cocoons. This “spit-up” hardens upon contact with the air.

Chinese Writing SystemMore than 2,000 symbols to express words or ideas

Today’s Chinese symbols are still based on the Shang Dynasty symbols

Archeologist have found these symbols on cattle bones and turtle shells

Priests carved questions about the future on the bones & shells, heated them up till they cracked, and then read the oracles or predictions from the cracks

Shang bones 2:48

The “Dragon Bones” StoryFu Hao was married to King Wu Ding. He was a great warrior king, but he made peace with the surrounding tribes by marrying one women from each tribe and he ended up with 60 wives. She was smart enough to earn his favour by working in his government and he trusted her to perform special rituals and offer sacrifices, which was very unusual for a woman at that time, anywhere in the world.It was also very unusual for a woman be so powerful and to lead military campaigns. She was in charge of up to 13000 soldiers and was the boss of two generals Zhi and Hou Gao. The Shang had been fighting with the Tu-Fang for ages until Fu Hao defeated them once and for all. Then she won major battles against the Yi, Qiang and Ba tribes, and led the earliest recorded large-scale ambush in Chinese history.

http://lisahillschoolstuff.wikispaces.com/Fu+Hao,+Woman+Warrior

King Ding must have been very proud of her because he built a magnificent tomb for her after she died. Her battle-axes and other weapons were buried with her, along with sacrificial bronze vessels and tortoise shells which are marked prepared by Fu Hao. This shows that she was a high priestess and could cast oracles (which means that they thought she could tell the future).Fu Hao died about 1200 BC, but her name survives because the Chinese word 'Hao' means 'good'.

ReligionPolytheistic

Top god was Shang Ti- the Founder of the Shang Dynasty

Ancestor worship began in this period, as did the sacrifices to the gods

When Kings died, thousands of slaves were executed to serve him in the afterlife.

The kings tomb would be filled with objects and food that he would need in the afterlife- like Egyptians.

Summary of Shang 2:14

Shang Dynasty

government

religion

society

achievements

Kings ruled, nobles advisedKing at center of religion, priests used oracle bones to make predictions

Royal family/nobles at highest level. Artisans at middle level, farmers, slaves at lower levelsWriting system, use of bronze, calendar, ear chariots, and bows

The Zhou DynastyThe longest lasting

Dynasty in Chinese history- 900 years

Nomadic farmers settled near the Shang Dynasty’s kingdom

They were skilled fighters & farmers

They used iron weapons (stronger than the Shang’s bronze weapons)

Textbook page 167

Chinese Bronze Bells Music & Dance 2:53

Mandate of HeavenAfter the Zhou overtook the Shang Dynasty- they had to get the people to accept them as the new kings.

They claimed that heaven granted the emperors the right to rule based on their ability to govern well and fairly.

The Son of Heaven gives the right to a just ruler

The overthrow of a ruler meant he had lost the Mandate of Heaven because he was no longer worthy of it.

Zhou Government Structure

King gives land to the Lords

Lords preform military service

Lords protect the Peasants

Peasants work the farmland & service

Nobles

Zhou Accomplishments Huge public works, new dikes,

dams and canals, better agriculture, transportation, and communication

Civilization grew, more people than anywhere else

Road to ChaosInvasions from central

Asia (Warring States)

Lords began fighting

against each other

They lacked loyalty to anyone but themselves

Chaos began to reign

Ruling system crumbled as the Lords began declaring themselves kings

“Kung Fu-Tzu”or Confucius

Believed society should be like a family with everyone having roles & responsibilities

Wanted a return to ethics- moral values of the ancients

Lords ignored Confucius

Confucius was a traveling teacher

with great respect, sharing his ideas with all

After Confucius’ death- his students wrote down his proverbs or Analects

ConfucianismKung Fu-Tzu lived 551-479 BC

It is not a religion, but an ethical code of morals for individuals, society, and government

Primary goals: order, harmony, peace and happiness on earth

Achieved through education, self-effort, and self-reflection

Confucianism’s Five Relationships Most important principles deal with the ideal

standard of conduct that controls social action.

1. Parent-child: kindness in the father & obedient in the son

2. Husband-wife: righteous behavior in the husband & obedience in the wife

3. Elder sibling- younger sibling: gentility in the eldest brother & humility and respect in the younger

4. Elder friend- younger friend: humane consideration in elders & deference in juniors

5. Ruler- subject: benevolence in rulers & loyalty of ministers & subjects

Confucianism ImpactInitially spread through the Analects after his

death by his students

Later, his students too positions within the government

Ideals formed the basis fro the civil service exam in China

Became foundation of Chinese

education

Teachings spread to Korea and

JapanConfucius & Confucianism 8:20

Origins Founder

Principles

Diffusion

China during the Zhou Dynasty

After the end of feudalism crime was rampant and Confucius spoke of returning to the moral standards of the ancients

Kung Fu-Tzu (Confucius) 551-479 BC

Ethical code dealing with moral character of individuals, society, and government

Goals: order, harmony, peace, and happiness on earth

Achieved through education, self-effort, and self-achievement

Standard of conduct- Five Relationships

Students/ followers obtained government jobs

Analects of his teachings

Basis for Chinese Civil Servant Exam

Foundation for Chinese education

Teachings spread through Korea & Japan

TaosimLao Tse was the founder of this philosophy.

He lived before Confucius, but his teachings took longer to take rootTaoism grew as a reaction to the spread of

Confucianism and Buddhism

Tao (Dao) means “The Way” or “The Path”

Focus on achieving balance and harmony in the universe and your life

Nature represents balance & the way you live

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Key concept: “Effortless doing” occurs when man’s efforts & actions are in harmony with the universe & not in conflict with the natural order

Harmony with nature

Reflects harmony and balance

Symbol emphasizes the Three Jewels:

compassion

moderation

humility

Tao Te Ching Text

Origins Founder Principles

Diffusion

Chinese philosophies merged into one basic teaching

Grew as a reaction to the spread of Confucianism and Buddhism

Lao- Tse “The Way” or “The Path”

Focus on achieving balance and harmony within nature

“effortless doing”- man’s actions are at one with nature

Symbol- Yin/Yang

The Three Jewels: compassion, moderation, & harmony

Tao Te Ching text

Spread to areas immediately near China

Incorporated into the teachings & beliefs of several philosophies and religions-most notable: Buddhism and Shintoism

Activity:Create a chart depicting the differences and similarities of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism

Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism 16:32