Ancient ChinaAncient ChinaUnit 4Unit 4

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The Environment - ChinaThe Environment - China

The Land• 4th Largest Country in

the world. (area)

• 12% of the land is suitable for farming despite the large size.

Desert• Gobi Desert

Bodies of Water• The Huang He

(Yellow) River ‘Yellow soil’

• Yangtze River

Mountains• Himalaya Mountains

The Climate•Varies from region to region.

The Huang (Yellow) RiverThe Huang (Yellow) River

CHINA CHINA “Climate “Climate Control”Control”

1.1. NORTH CHINA PLAINNORTH CHINA PLAIN ~ ~ warm hot summers/cold warm hot summers/cold winters. Chief crops are winters. Chief crops are wheat and millet. wheat and millet.

2.2. SOUTH CHINA PLAINSOUTH CHINA PLAIN ~ ~ richer in farming and more richer in farming and more industrialized. They grow industrialized. They grow rice, cotton, tea, veggies and rice, cotton, tea, veggies and more.more.

3.3. MANCHURIA MANCHURIA ~ (North ~ (North East) very cold climate East) very cold climate makes it pretty unpopulated. makes it pretty unpopulated.

4.4. MONGOLIA MONGOLIA ~ (The Far ~ (The Far North Region) encompassed North Region) encompassed by the Gobi desert, its by the Gobi desert, its climate is very hot in the climate is very hot in the summer and summer and coldcold in the in the winter.winter.

The The Yangtze RiverYangtze River serves as serves as China's official dividing line China's official dividing line between north and south between north and south

What is the only continent without a desert?Europe

Dynasty in ChinaDynasty in China1)1) The Xia over four thousand years The Xia over four thousand years

ago?ago?

2)2) The Shang (1750 to 1122 B.C.) The Shang (1750 to 1122 B.C.) (628y)(628y)

3)3) The Zhou (1122 to 256 B.C.) The Zhou (1122 to 256 B.C.) (866y)(866y)

4)4) The Qin (221 to 206 B.C.) (15y)The Qin (221 to 206 B.C.) (15y)

5)5) The Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to The Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.)220 A.D.)

6)6) The Sui Dynasty (589 to 618)The Sui Dynasty (589 to 618)

Xia DynastyXia Dynasty • Legend says Legend says earliest Chinese earliest Chinese ruled by Xia ruled by Xia dynastydynasty

• Little written, Little written, archaeological archaeological evidence Xia evidence Xia dynasty existeddynasty existed

• Most historians Most historians date beginning date beginning of Chinese of Chinese civilization to civilization to rise of Shang rise of Shang dynastydynasty

• 1st civilization in China to write things down. • They used pictographs, or pictures, to represent objects. • They also used ideographs to represent ideas such as beauty, joy, and justice. • They are also responsible for developing an accurate calendar.• Finally, they are also responsible for improving the art of bronze-making.

Oracle BonesReligion

• Veneration of ancestors - ancestor worship. Belief was spirits of family ancestors could bring good or evil fortune to the living members of the family.

• Spirits were worshipped to persuade divine forces to do good.

• Sought advice through use of oracle bones

• As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice

• Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone’s surface

• Trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer

The Shang DynastyFu Hao

• queen and military general who led military campaigns

Excavating Fu Hao's tomb 

The Zhou The Zhou DynastyDynasty

• The Zhou overthrow the Shang Dynasty

• Lasts for nearly 900 years• The use of iron c. 550 B.C.

assisted farming methods (plow).

• The plow increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew and thus, population grew under Zhou

• Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication

• Introduced coins, use of chopsticks, and silk

• New ideas in government emerge… Next Page

The Zhou Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty Continued…Continued…

The Mandate of HeavenThe Mandate of Heaven• Mandate means = order, permission, authorization

The The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles: is based on four principles:1) The right to rule is granted by Heaven. 2) There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. 3) The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. 4) The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty.

Positive and Negative sides Mandate of Heaven for a Dynasty

1) It gives the ruler prestige and religious importance. 2) It gives the ruler supreme power. 3) It allows a new ruler to gain power quickly because everyone believes he

has the “Mandate of Heaven”. 4) The ruler’s power must be kept in check by virtue. 5) It justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful.

OLD DYNASTYOLD DYNASTY•Taxes people too muchTaxes people too much•Stops protecting peopleStops protecting people•Lets roads and walls fall apartLets roads and walls fall apart•Treats people unfairlyTreats people unfairly

Old Dynasty Old Dynasty losesloses

The Mandate The Mandate of Heavenof Heaven

PROBLEMSPROBLEMS•Floods, EarthquakesFloods, Earthquakes•Peasants revoltPeasants revolt•Invaders attack empireInvaders attack empire•Bandits raid provincesBandits raid provinces

New Dynasty claims New Dynasty claims The Mandate of HeavenThe Mandate of Heaven

NEW DYNASTYNEW DYNASTY•Brings peaceBrings peace•Builds roads and canalsBuilds roads and canals•Gives land to peasantsGives land to peasants•Protects peopleProtects people

Generations go by…Generations go by…New DynastyNew Dynasty becomes…becomes…

Dynastic CycleDynastic Cycle• Period of wise and efficient rulersPeriod of wise and efficient rulers

• Leaders begin to decline intellectually Leaders begin to decline intellectually and morallyand morally

• Central government begins to collapseCentral government begins to collapse• Rebellion or invasion take place Rebellion or invasion take place

creating a new dynasty.creating a new dynasty.• The Dynastic cycle lasts until The Dynastic cycle lasts until

1912 A.D. 1912 A.D. • (Yes, really!)(Yes, really!)

The Zhou Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty Continued…Continued… Family Life

• Loyalty to the family was vital to the Chinese people.

• Filial Piety• All members of the family

had to subordinate their needs and desires to those of the male head of the family.

““The Five Relationships”The Five Relationships”1. Son was subordinate to the

father2. Wife was to husband3. Younger brother to older

brother4. All were to the king5. Friend to friend

Confucius• ConfuciusConfucius is considered by

the Chinese as the first teacher.

• Interest was political and ethical, not spiritual

• Belief was: The universe was made in such a way that, if humans would act in harmony with its purposes, their own affairs would prosper.

• To be good, you had to behave according with the Tao (Way)Tao (Way)

• Two Concepts of TaoTao- - DutyDuty and HumanityHumanity

HumanityHumanity• Belief in the concept:• Treat others the way you

want to be treated” or…• “Don’t do something to

others that you would not want done to yourself”

DutyDuty• People had to follow the Five

Relationships Rule• Belief in 100% Work Ethic• If everyone does their duty to

the fullest, then society will prosper. If not…

• Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe

Wisdom

Cultivate Virtue in your own person, And it becomes a genuine part of you. Cultivate it in the family, And it will abide. Cultivate it in the community, And it will live and grow. Cultivate it in the state, And it will flourish abundantly. Cultivate it in the world, And it will become universal.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit

Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

ConfuciusConfuciusIf there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there be order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

TAOISMTAOISM

TaoismTaoism

• The Tao encompasses all opposite and complementary forces, which are collectively referred to as yinyin and yangyang. As represented in the familiar symbol (seen above)

• YinYin is associated with “darkness”• YangYang is associated with “light”• Neither can exist without other• Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony• The best way to act in harmony with the universal order is to act

spontaneously and let nature take its course by not interfering with it

FounderFounder• Lao TzuLao Tzu

TextText• Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching

(The Way of the Tao)(The Way of the Tao)

Taoist philosophy Taoist philosophy From From The House at Pooh CornerThe House at Pooh Corner

A clever mind is not a heart. "Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully."Yes," said Piglet. "Rabbit's clever.""And he has Brain.""Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."There was a long silence."I suppose," said Pooh, "that's why he never understands anything."

There is more to knowing than just being correct.

"Lot's of people talk to animals," said Pooh. "Maybe, but...""Not very many listen, though," he said. "That's the problem," he added.

The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not.

Roo and Tigger were walking along the forest one morning, and Tigger was talking about all the things that Tiggers can do...."I can swim," said Roo. "I fell into the river, and I swimmed. Can Tiggers swim?""Of course they can. Tiggers can do everything.""Can they climb trees better than Pooh?" asked Roo, stopping under the tallest Pine Tree, and looking up at it."Climbing trees is what they do best," said Tigger. "Much better than Poohs."And the next thing they knew, they were stuck in the tallest pine tree.

Taoism wrap upTaoism wrap up• Taoists believe it's very important to Taoists believe it's very important to

understand “The Way Things Are”. understand “The Way Things Are”. • This does not mean that there are not This does not mean that there are not

things we need to change about ourselves, things we need to change about ourselves, but it's important to recognize and trust but it's important to recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and discover who our own Inner Nature, and discover who we are. we are.

• In the story of "In the story of "The Ugly DucklingThe Ugly Duckling", ", when does the duckling stop feeling ugly? when does the duckling stop feeling ugly?

• When he discovers he's a Swan. When he discovers he's a Swan. • When he recognizes who he really is, a When he recognizes who he really is, a

beautiful swan, he finds his beautiful swan, he finds his WayWay to to happiness. happiness.

• Taoism eventually proved less influential Taoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese historythan Confucianism in Chinese history

The Qin DynastyThe End of the Dynastic

Cycle for the Zhou Dynasty

• Civil War will break out (403 B.C.)

• Becomes known as the “Period of Warring States”

• What happens? • And the winner of the

warring states is…• Qin Shi Huangdi- The first

Emperor of China • The Qin Dynasty will

emerge to take control

Huang di = King of the godsThe August most revered god.

The Qin DynastyThe Qin DynastyAchievementsAchievements

• Ordered the construction of the Great Wall of ChinaGreat Wall of China

• Divided the country into Divided the country into military districts, each ruled military districts, each ruled by an appointed officialby an appointed official

• Standardized coinage• Standardized weights• Standardized measurements• Repaired roads and canals• Legalism is the practiced

philosophy• Censorate

Other itemsOther items• Conducted first book

burning due to legalism

• Belief that human beings are innately evil.

• People can only be brought to follow the correct path by harsh laws and stiff punishments because people by nature were not capable of being good without incentive. (Incentive is they didn’t want to be punished!)

• Legalists obviously believe in strong authoritarian rule with strict rules

Beijing Great Wall -- In 221 BC, the Emperor Qin absorbed the other six states and set up the first unified kingdom in Chinese history. In order to strengthen his newly born authority and defend the Huns in the north, he ordered connecting the walls once built by the other states as well as adding some sections of his own.

The Long Wall

Qin Shi Huangdi’s TombQin Shi Huangdi’s Tomb

Han DynastyHan Dynasty• Liu Bang leads peasant revolt

• Confucianism is restored, removing Legalism.

• Buddhism is brought from India to China

• Paper is invented by Tsai Lun

Sui DynastySui Dynasty

• Gunpowder is invented• While attempting to create medicine (and an elixir

for immortality) alchemists discover gunpowder• Though many people wrote about the inflammable

mixtures during 300-650 AD, some historians claim that the invention of gunpowder was dated at 850 AD.

• Yang Di orders the construction of the Grand Canal linking the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.

The World’s Oldest NoodlesThe World’s Oldest Noodles

Scientists found the ancient noodles preserved in an overturned, sealed bowl at an archaeological site near the Yellow River in northwestern China.