EARLY CHINA AND

CONFUCIANISM

Shang Dynasty

• Shang Dynasty (1532 to 1027 B.C.E.) – first important

civilization to leave written records

Early Cities• The Shang kings

built big cities with palaces and walls

• Why?– To protect themselves

against invaders

The Origins of Chinese Culture • Most important virtue:

respect for one's parents

• Obedience to authority and the king was emphasized

• The thought that divine approval was given to royal power was called? – Mandate of Heaven

Religious Beliefs

• Family was closely linked to religion – Believed that dead

ancestors continued to affect their lives

– Mulan anyone?

Oracle bones

Ancient Chinese used animal bones or tortoise shells to communicate with their ancestors and gods.

Chinese Record Keeping

• Each character stands for an idea, not a sound

• A person needed to know over 1,000 characters to be barely literate

Shang Technology

• Chinese invented silk making

• Was highly valued and wanted by other cultures

An Empire Unifies China

• The Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C. to 256 B.C)

• Established political, economic and social stability

Confucius Urges Harmony

• Confucius – lived when the Zhou

Dynasty was being torn apart by war

Confucianism• Was never a religion, but it

was an ethical system• 5 Relationships – code of

moral behavior• Became the foundation for

Chinese government and social order

• Emphasized a balance in nature

DAOISM • Definition: Search for

knowledge and understanding of nature.

• Like Confucianism, they believed in balance in nature

Legalists Urge Harsh Rule

• Legalists believed in a strong government.

• Legalist Rulers were usually extremely ruthless and harsh.

• Was later adopted by Shi Huangdi of the Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty • Zhou Dynasty was replaced by a new state called

Qin.

A New Emperor Takes Control   

• Shi Huang Di which means "First Emperor."

• He took control and:- ended internal wars and

defeated invaders.- standardized money and

measuring- rejected Confucianism

and adopted Legalism

Great Wall of China

• Earlier, Zhou rulers built smaller walls to discourage attacks by northern nomads.

• Shi Huang Di connected the Great Wall of China.– It took great

engineering skill

Demarcation Line: Barbarians stay out!!

The Great Wall of China is so huge that it is one of the few human-made features on Earth visible from space.

The Fall of the Qin • The Qin Dynasty didn’t

last long• Shi Huang Di's son was

a terrible ruler. • People rebelled and

marched into the capital. • By 202 B.C.E., the harsh

Qin Dynasty gave way to the Han Dynasty.

Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi was buried with his army (made of terra cotta): purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with over 600 horses