i. the origins of china, 6500 b.c.e.–221 b.c.e

Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present

Chapter Outline

Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire

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I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.II. The Qin and Han Empires, 221 B.C. E.–220, B.C.E.

Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins


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I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.

A. Neolithic Age, c. 6500–c. 1600 B.C.E.

Homo erectus, Homo sapiens

Huanghe River

Yangzi River

Yangshao (5000–3000 B.C.E.)

oracle bones

Sages:

Fu Xi

Shen Nong

Huang Di

Five Sovereigns:

Huang Di

Yao

Shun

Xia DynastyYu



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B. Bronze Age: The Shang Dynasty

(c. 1600–c. 1027 B.C.E.)Capitals:

ZhengzhouAnyang

Culturetaotiepictographs

RuleoraclesDi, supreme diety

Magicyin and yang



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I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)

Book of Documentsidea of “heavenly mandate”king as “son of heaven”

King Wen — founderhis brother, Duke of Zhou, regent for:

King Wuson of Wenmoves capital to Luoyang

by 8th century B.C.E., weakness> 771 B.C.E., overthrowndynasty survives at Louyang to 250

B.C.E.

[1027-771 B.C.E. — “Western Zhou” 771-250 B.C.E. — “Eastern Zhou”]

from 335 B.C.E. — wang, rival kingsWarring States (402–221 B.C.E.)

Qin ruler establishes empire by 221 B.C.E.



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C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)

Zhou Economy and Society

Technology

iron

plow, better irrigation, fertilization

canals

Religion

ancestor worship

The Book of Songs (1000–600 B.C.E.)

Lady Hao, wife of King Wu

(c. 1200 B.C.E.)

Clever men build cities,

Clever women topple them…

Disorder does not come down from heaven,

It is produced by women.

from The Book of Songs



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I. The Creation of China, 7000 B.C.E.–1027 B.C.E.

C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)The Philosophical SchoolsConfucianism

Kong Fuzi (c. 551–479 B.C.E.)Analects — selected sayingsjinzi - gentlemanli — correct behaviorDao = the way, “moral

personality”stressed ethical values

Mozi (c. 490–391 B.C.E.)universal love, less emphasis

on family

“The way (Dao) of learning to be great consists in shining with the illustrious power of moral personality, in making a new people, in abiding in the highest goodness”

“Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you”

“The noble man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what is profitable”

from the writings of Confucius



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I. The Creation of China, 7000 B.C.E.–1027 B.C.E.

C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)The Philosophical Schools

Mencius (Mengzi, c. 372–c. 289 B.C.E.)

political philosophyland reform

“well-field” system

“removing the Mandate”

Xunzi (c. 310–c. 220 B.C.E.)

LegalismLord Shang (d. 338 B.C.E.)follower, Han Feizi (d. 233

B.C.E.)Li Si (d. 208 B.C.E.)

Qin minister

DoaismZuangzi (c. 369–c. 286 B.C.E.)Texts: Daodejing, Zhuangzi



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II. The Qin and Han Empires, 221 B.C.E.–220 C.E.

A. The Qin DynastyLord Shang

minister from 361 B.C.E.legalist

King Zheng (247–210 B.C.E.)supported by Lu Buwei and Li Siconquest of Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu,

Qi> 221 B.C.E. Unificationtitle: Shi Huangdi = emperorprogram:

weaken noblesre-structure society nobility replaced by 20

rankssingle legal system

influenced by Legalismunified currency



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II. The Qin and Han Empires

B. The Han DynastyXiang Yu v. Liu Bang

following death of Zheng

Liu Bang victorious, 206 B.C.E.> Gaozu (202–195 B.C.E.)

1. Former Han (206 B.C.E.–8 C.E.)balance of wu (military power) and

wen (ethical civilian rule)centralizationuse of Confucian scholars

Emperor Wudi (141–87 B.C.E.)university for government officials

> 30,000 students in Later Han

Ever-Normal Granary Policy, by 51 B.C.E.to ensure supplies

Expansiontrade with Westdevelopment of “Silk Roads”



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B. The Han Dynasty (cont’d)Decline

Wang Mang — regent for minors

takes over in 9 C.E.reforms unsuccessful

2. Later Han (23–220 C.E.)184 C.E. — “Yellow Turbans”

rebellionmessianic: Taipingdao

C. Han Scholarship, Art and Technology

rediscovery of the Zhou periodSima Qian (c. 145–90 B.C.E.)

The Historical Records (Shiji)

Ban Gu (d. 92 C.E.)History of the Former Han

Dong Zhongshu (c. 179–104 B.C.E.)



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B. The Han Dynasty (cont’d)

Decline

Wang Mang — regent for minors

takes over in 9 C.E.

reforms unsuccessful

2. Later Han (23–220 C.E.)

184 C.E. — “Yellow Turbans”

rebellion

messianic: Taipingdao

C. Han Scholarship, Art and Technology

rediscovery of the Zhou period

Sima Qian (c. 145–90 B.C.E.)

The Historical Records (Shiji)

Ban Gu (d. 92 C.E.)

History of the Former Han

Dong Zhongshu (c. 179–104 B.C.E.)



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D. The Confucian Woman of the Han

Liu Xiang, (79–8 B.C.E.) Biographies of Heroic Women

Ban Zhao (45–116 C.E.), Lessons for

Women

E. Religious Daoism and Buddhism

F. China and Foreign Tradesilk for horses, woolensespecially trade with Rome