Ancient ChinaAncient China

I.I. Xia (Hsia) and Shang China Xia (Hsia) and Shang China A.A. Yellow River Yellow River

1.1. Cradle of Chinese civilization Cradle of Chinese civilization 2.2. Flows through a plain of loess soil Flows through a plain of loess soil

a.a. Sandy soil hundreds of feet deep Sandy soil hundreds of feet deep b.b. Produced by winds off the Gobi and floodsProduced by winds off the Gobi and floodsc.c. Very fertile Very fertile d.d. Loose, very flat - devastating floods Loose, very flat - devastating floods e.e. Frequently changes course after a flood Frequently changes course after a flood

3.3. Fertile soil and dangerous river spurs Fertile soil and dangerous river spurs growth of civilization growth of civilization

B.B. Xia (Hsia) Dynasty Xia (Hsia) Dynasty

1.1. Traditionally dated 2205-1776 BC Traditionally dated 2205-1776 BC

2.2. Semi-mythical - only a small amount of Semi-mythical - only a small amount of archaeological evidence archaeological evidence

C.C. Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC) Shang Dynasty (1766-1050 BC) 1.1. Capital at An yang Capital at An yang 2.2. Tortoise shell oracle bones main source of Tortoise shell oracle bones main source of

informationinformation3.3. City-state based society recognizing the City-state based society recognizing the

overall authority of the Shang king overall authority of the Shang king 4.4. Cities built mostly of wood -- frequently Cities built mostly of wood -- frequently

moved due to war, floods moved due to war, floods 5.5. Highly stratified - king lived in great Highly stratified - king lived in great

opulence opulence a.a. Hundreds of servants, soldiers, Hundreds of servants, soldiers,

sacrificed to be buried with king sacrificed to be buried with king b.b. Military kept power - monopoly on Military kept power - monopoly on

bronze weapons bronze weapons

6.6. Religion -- shamanistic religion Religion -- shamanistic religion a.a. Recognized a Deity Above Recognized a Deity Above b.b. Several lesser deities of nature Several lesser deities of nature c.c. Sacrifice and prayers made to Sacrifice and prayers made to

ancestors, who interceded with gods ancestors, who interceded with gods d.d. Kings were high priests but not divine Kings were high priests but not divine e.e. Religion closely tied to astronomy, Religion closely tied to astronomy,

celestial occurrences celestial occurrences f.f. Emphasis on magic, fertility -- religious Emphasis on magic, fertility -- religious

rites included drinking, dancing, human rites included drinking, dancing, human sacrificesacrifice

g.g. Kings constant drunks – used human Kings constant drunks – used human sacrifice for entertainment. sacrifice for entertainment.

II.II. The Western Zhou (Chou) (1122-771 BC.) The Western Zhou (Chou) (1122-771 BC.) A.A. Zhou kings invaded from western China, killed Shang Zhou kings invaded from western China, killed Shang

king king 1.1. King Wen, King Wu, Duke of Zhou -- semi-mythical King Wen, King Wu, Duke of Zhou -- semi-mythical

founders of dynasty founders of dynasty B.B. Large land and no communications. How rule? Large land and no communications. How rule?

Feudalism Feudalism 1.1. King gave land and its contents to a vassal King gave land and its contents to a vassal

a.a. Usually a relative Usually a relative b.b. Someone who had shown valor, intelligenceSomeone who had shown valor, intelligence

2.2. The Vassal The Vassal a.a. Pledged allegiance to king (provide protection) Pledged allegiance to king (provide protection) b.b. Paid taxesPaid taxesc.c. Defended king's lands for him Defended king's lands for him

3.3. King had the Mandate from heaven --King had the Mandate from heaven --a.a. King received power from heaven, not King received power from heaven, not

from descent from descent b.b. King had to act morallyKing had to act morallyc.c. More rational than the magic-based More rational than the magic-based

thought of Shang period thought of Shang period

C.C. Feudalism: BASED ON LOYALTY AND Feudalism: BASED ON LOYALTY AND TRUST TRUST

D.D. Social Hierarchy Zhou feudal system Social Hierarchy Zhou feudal system

1.1. King ("son of heaven“) King ("son of heaven“)

2.2. Vassals (almost complete local Vassals (almost complete local power) power)

3.3. Fighting men, political leaders Fighting men, political leaders

4.4. Artisans Artisans

5.5. Farmer/peasants Farmer/peasants

E.E. Feudalism unified "Chinese" culture Feudalism unified "Chinese" culture

1.1. Cornerstones of Chinese Cornerstones of Chinese development development

a.a. kinshipkinship

b.b. moral codemoral code

III.III. The Eastern Zhou (771-256 BC) The Eastern Zhou (771-256 BC) A.A. Feudal relationships deteriorated Feudal relationships deteriorated

1.1. Time creates distance in loyalty and trustTime creates distance in loyalty and trust2.2. Vassals gained more and more political Vassals gained more and more political

power power 3.3. Vassals gain more riches than the kings Vassals gain more riches than the kings 4.4. Vassals (not King) control military power. Vassals (not King) control military power. 5.5. King became a figure head with no power.King became a figure head with no power.6.6. King forced to leave his capital, move King forced to leave his capital, move

eastward to safety eastward to safety B.B. Two periods of the Eastern Zhou Two periods of the Eastern Zhou

1.1. Spring and Autumn period 771-481 BC - Spring and Autumn period 771-481 BC - feudal system breaks down and states feudal system breaks down and states competed competed

• Not always open rebellionNot always open rebellion2.2. Warring States period 481-256 BC - three Warring States period 481-256 BC - three

of every four years were taken up in of every four years were taken up in warfare warfare

• Civil War – open rebellionCivil War – open rebellion

I.I. States of the Early States of the Early Eastern Zhou Eastern Zhou (around 500 BC), (around 500 BC), also Spring & also Spring & Autumn Period, but Autumn Period, but the actual existence the actual existence of such coherent of such coherent states is doubtful, states is doubtful, dozens - if not dozens - if not hundreds - of hundreds - of smaller principalities smaller principalities existed & were only existed & were only swallowed by the swallowed by the bigger states in the bigger states in the Warring States Warring States Period. Period.

C.C. State view themselves as INDEPENDENT State view themselves as INDEPENDENT 1.1. Stronger states to take over weaker ones Stronger states to take over weaker ones 2.2. Originally 70-100 feudal states Originally 70-100 feudal states 3.3. Warring States period, seven major states Warring States period, seven major states 4.4. At end of Warring States period, there was At end of Warring States period, there was

only one central state only one central state 5.5. CHIN: How would it be ruled??????CHIN: How would it be ruled??????

a.a. Iron Fist: strong centralized political Iron Fist: strong centralized political systemsystem

b.b. End of feudalism End of feudalism D.D. Land and people scarred after 225 year of Land and people scarred after 225 year of

WAR WAR

E.E. Growth of philosophy: attempting to heal Growth of philosophy: attempting to heal 1.1. Confucianism: Confucius (551-479 BC)Confucianism: Confucius (551-479 BC)

a.a. Interested in political and ethical Interested in political and ethical behavior (not religious)behavior (not religious)

b.b. ““It is all about the relationship”It is all about the relationship”c.c. Take Take Action Action and seek to achieve the and seek to achieve the

Dao (way) Dao (way) d.d. Two key aspects:Two key aspects:

• Duty: family and communityDuty: family and community• Humanity: compassion and empathy Humanity: compassion and empathy

2.2. Daoism (Taoism): Laozi???Daoism (Taoism): Laozi???a.a. Achieve the way through Achieve the way through inactioninactionb.b. Act spontaneously, let nature take its Act spontaneously, let nature take its

course. course.

F.F. Legalism as the Answer (mandates healing) Legalism as the Answer (mandates healing) 1.1. Developed in Qin (Ch'in) state Developed in Qin (Ch'in) state 2.2. ““People are not capable of being good”People are not capable of being good”3.3. Legalism - highly rationalistic Legalism - highly rationalistic

a.a. Strict and detailed laws, impartially Strict and detailed laws, impartially applied applied

b.b. All serve the state All serve the state 4.4. Regimented society Regimented society 5.5. Feudal lords replaced with bureaucracy Feudal lords replaced with bureaucracy 6.6. War is good War is good 7.7. Makes people disciplined, submissive Makes people disciplined, submissive