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Neolithic Period The homo erectus What is now China was inhabited by Homo erectus more than a million years ago. Recent study shows that the stone tools found at Xiaochangliang site are magnetostratigraphically dated to 1.36 million years ago. Homo Erectus was the first hominid believed to be part of the huntergatherer hominids. Known as "up-right" man, NEOLITHIC AGE • The Neolithic Age or the New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BCE in the Middle East that is traditionally considered the last part of the Stone Age. • The Neolithic followed the terminal Holocene Epipalaeolithic period, beginning with the rise of farming, which produced the "Neolithic Revolution" and ending when metal tools became widespread in the Copper Age (chalcolithic) or Bronze Age. • The Neolithic is not a specific chronological period, but rather a suite of behavioral and cultural characteristics, including the use of wild and domestic crops and the use of domesticated animals. Three sovereigns and five emperors • The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were a group of semimythological rulers and culture heroes from ancient China during the period circa 2500 BC to 2100 BC. This period preceded the Xia Dynasty. • In myth, the three sovereigns were demigods who used their abilities to help create mankind and impart essential skills and knowledge. • The five emperors were exemplary sages possessed of great moral character. Three sovereigns: FU XI • In Chinese mythology, Fu Xi or Fu Hsi was the first of the Three Sovereigns of ancient China. • He is a culture hero reputed to be the inventor of writing, fishing, and trapping. Three sovereigns: FU XI Fu Xi and Nü Wa were the original human who lived on the mythological Kunlun Mountain. One day they set up two separated piles of fire, and the fire eventually became one. Under the fire, they decided to become husband and wife. Three sovereigns: Nüwa Nüwa is a goddess in ancient Chinese mythology. She is best known for creating mankind and repairing the wall of heaven. Three sovereigns: Nüwa Nüwa is presented differently in so many myths, she is responsible for being a wife, sister, man, tribal leader (or even emperor), creator, maintainer, etc. Most myths present Nüwa as female in a procreative role after a calamity. Three sovereigns: Nüwa Relief of Nuwa at the Ping Sien Si Temple in Perak, Malaysia. Another Story: Long ago, when the world first began, there were two people, Nü Kua and her older brother. They lived on Mount K'un-lun. They talked about becoming husband and wife, but they felt ashamed. So the brother at once went with his sister up Mount K'un-lun and made this prayer: "Oh Heaven, if Thou would send us two forth as man and wife, then make all the misty vapor gather. If not, then make all the misty vapor disperse." At this, the misty vapor immediately gathered. When the sister became intimate with her brother, they plaited some grass to make a fan to screen their faces. Even today, when a man takes a wife, they hold a fan, which is a symbol of what happened long ago. Three sovereigns: shennong "Divine Farmer", also known as the Emperor of the Five Grains, was a legendary ruler of China and culture hero reputed to have lived some 5,000 years ago. Three sovereigns: shennong Shennong has been thought to have taught the ancient Chinese not only their practices of agriculture, but also the use of herbal drugs. Three sovereigns: shennong In Chinese mythology Shennong, besides having taught humans the use plow together with other aspects of basic agriculture, the use of the of medicinal plants, and having been a god of the burning wind. five emperors 1. The Yellow Emperor or Huangdi A legendary Chinese sovereign and culture hero. He was portrayed as the originator of the centralized state, a patron of esoteric arts, a cosmic ruler, and a lord of the underworld five emperors The term di on its own could also refer to the deities associated with the sacred mountains and five colors. Huangdi (黃帝), the "yellow di", was one of the latter. five emperors 2. Zhuanxu (a.k.a. Gaoyang) – is a mythological monarch of ancient China. A grandson of the Yellow Emperor, He made contributions to a unified calendar, astrology, religion, unified calendar, astrology, rel igion reforms and forbade close-kin marriage. five emperors 3. Kù or Dì Kù, (a.k.a. Gāoxīn Shì) – was a mythical Emperor of China during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Period. He was son of Jiăo JÍ, the grandson of Shăohào and the great grandson of Huang-di, the Yellow Emperor. five emperors 4. Emperor Yao – was a legendary Chinese ruler, His ancestral name is Yi Qi or Qi, clan name is Taotang given name is Fangxun, as the second son to Emperor Ku and Qingdu. He is also known as Tang Yao. Often extolled as the morally perfect and smart sage-king, Yao's benevolence and diligence served as a model to future Chinese monarchs and emperors. five emperors Yao is said to have invented the game of Weiqi. five emperors “Go” is an adversarial game with the objective of surrounding a larger total area of the board with one's stones than the opponent. As the game progresses, the players position stones on the board to map out formations and potential territories. five emperors The four liberties (adjacent empty points) of a single black stone (A), as White reduces those liberties by one (B, C, and D). When Black has only one liberty left (D), that stone is "in atari". White may capture that stone (remove from board) with a play on its last liberty (at D-1). five emperors 5. Shun was a 23rd-22nd century BC leader of ancient China, among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, whose half-century of rule was one of the longest in Chinese history. five emperors 5. Shun was a 23rd-22nd century BC leader of ancient China, among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, whose half-century of rule was one of the longest in Chinese history. five emperors Shun is also renowned as the originator of the music called Dashao, a symphony of nine Chinese musical instruments. five emperors LEGACY These semi-mythical kings are said to have helped introduce the use of fire, taught people how to build houses and invented farming. The Yellow Emperor's wife is credited with the invention of silk culture. The discovery of medicine, the invention of the calendar and Chinese script are also credited to the kings. After their era, Yu the Great founded the Xia dynasty. The xia dynasty The Xia Dynasty is the first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles such as Bamboo Annals, Classic of History and Records of the Grand Historian. The dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors gave his throne to him. The xia dynasty Bamboo Annals The Bamboo Annals, also known as the Ji Tomb Annals, is a chronicle of ancient China. It begins at the earliest legendary times and extends to 299 BC, with the later centuries focusing on the history of the State of Wei in the Warring States period. The xia dynasty HUAXIA - the ancestral people of the Han Chinese. It has been documented that the Huaxia tribe founded the Xia dynasty. Also known as the Yin Dynasty, according to traditional historiography, ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, succeeding the Xia Dynasty and followed by the Zhou Dynasty. The Yellow River at the Hukou Falls. The Shang Dynasty was established by Emperor Tang in 1675 BC after overthrowing the tyrannical rule of Jie, (the last emperor of the Xia Dynasty). The Shang Dynasty lasted over 600 years and was led by 30 different emperors. Politics of the shang Drawing from the 'lessons' of Jie, Emperor Tang (the first ruling king of the Shang dynasty) implemented a series of innovative measures with the help of his two ministers. Emperor Tang is best known for: 1. abolishing the persecution and oppression of the people carried out by Jie, and 2. for governing his people with benevolence and compassion. Politics of the shang • The dynasty flourished through the reign of the ninth (9th) emperor. • Social problems began to emerge and the emperor's power gradually declined. Economy of shang The rulers of Shang Dynasty attached great importance to agriculture, aquaculture and handicraft industry. 1. AGRICULTURE - farming 2. AQUACULTURE - fishing 3. HANDICRAFT: • bronze wares • porcelain wares were also invented during this time. • jade carving • woven silk fabrics - displayed the great skill and capabilities of the artisans. BRONZE Wares The bronze wares in particular reached a high level of artistry that signified the advanced civilization of Shang Dynasty. The most famous bronze work from this time is the Simuwu Quadripod – it is the largest and heaviest Chinese bronze vessel, weighing 832.84 kg (about 1836 pounds). A late Shang dynasty bronze ding vessel with taotie motif BRONZE Wares taotie The is a motif commonly found on Chinese ritual bronze vessels from the Shang and Zhou dynasty. The design typically consists of a zoomorphic mask, described as being frontal, bilaterally symmetrical, with a pair of raised eyes and typically no lower jaw area. BRONZE WEAPONS Shang infantry were armed with a variety of stone and bronze weaponry, including máo spears, yuè pole-axes, ge polebased dagger-axes, composite bows, and bronze or leather helmets. A bronze axe of the Shang dynasty Bronze yuè axe BRONZE WEAPONS Jade CARVING Objects made of jade are thought to have played a ceremonial role in many Late Neolithic cultures. During the Shang dynasty, artisans had full command of the artistic and technical language developed in the diverse Late Neolithic cultures that had jadeworking traditions. The carving of threedimensional animals, used as charms or decoration, is an innovation that may derive from the interest in natural forms found in the bronze art of the period. Jade Buffalo, late Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1050 B.C.) Jade CARVING In Chinese, "jade"(yu 玉) refers to a fine, beautiful stone with a warm color and rich luster, that is skillfully carved. In Chinese culture, jade symbolizes nobility, perfection, constancy, and immortality. Jade CARVed animal design Zhu-Que Bird jade sculpture of what most resembles a Hadrosaur dinosaur Jade carved tiger Jade phoenix from the tomb of Fuhao Oracle scripts Script on animal bones and tortoise shells. The Shang is very famous for its augury (signs/omen) and the existing Jiaguwen (inscriptions on animal bones and tortoise shells) is the witness of augury of the time. Oracle scripts Augury - A sign of what will happen in the future; an omen. The FALL OF SHANG DYNASTY During the final period of the dynasty, the country was in turmoil and vassals from other countries began to rebel. The FALL OF SHANG DYNASTY Despite the turmoil and the impending uprising, Emperor Shang Zhou (the last emperor of Shang Dynasty) led a luxurious life and tortured both his ministers and his people. This intensified conflicts across the kingdom. Most practically for an English speaker, "joe." The name Zhou used to be spelled Chou or Chow, depending on the Chinese region The ZHOU dynasty • The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. • Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history. • During the Zhou Dynasty, the use of iron was introduced to China, though this period of Chinese history produced what many consider the zenith of Chinese bronze-ware making. Bronze-ware A Western Zhou bronze gui vessel, c. 1000 BC A Western Zhou ceremonial bronze of cooking-vessel form inscribed to record that the King of Zhou gave a fiefdom to Shi You, ordering that he inherit the title as well as the land and people living there. Bronze-ware Western Zhou Dynasty musical bronze bell bronze ritual food vessel (ding) 5th-4th century BC Feudalism and the rise of Confucian bureaucracy Western writers often describe the Zhou period as 'feudal' because the Zhou's early rule invites comparison with medieval rule in Europe but apart from some similarities in the decentralized system there are a number of important differences. One obvious difference is that the Zhou ruled from walled cities rather than castles. The Chinese term for the Zhou system is fēngjiàn. When the dynasty was established, the conquered land was divided into hereditary fiefs that eventually became powerful in their own right. The fiefs or states themselves tended to become feudally subdivided. ZHOU dynasty philosophy During the Zhou Dynasty, the origins of native Chinese philosophy developed, its initial stages beginning in the 6th century BC. ZHOU dynasty philosophy The greatest Chinese philosophers, those who made the greatest impact on later generations of Chinese, were: • Confucius, founder of Confucianism, and • Laozi, founder of Taoism. ZHOU dynasty philosophy Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. ZHOU dynasty philosophy The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. ZHOU dynasty philosophy Golden Rule: "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." ZHOU dynasty philosophy Laozi Taoist myths state that Laozi was conceived when his mother gazed upon a falling star. He supposedly remained in her womb for 62 years before being born while his mother was leaning against a plum tree. ZHOU dynasty philosophy Laozi "Those who know do not say. Those who say do not know.“ "A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.“ "Without Darkness, there can be no Light." ZHOU dynasty philosophy Taoism, also known as Daoism, is a religious or philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao. ZHOU dynasty philosophy Taoism tends to emphasize various themes such as naturalness, spontaneity, simplicity, detachment from desires, and most important of all, wu wei. non-action or non-doing. An "attitude of genuine non-action, motivated by a lack of desire to participate in human affairs" The “li” Ritual system Established during the Western period, the Li ritual system encoded an understanding of manners as an expression of the social hierarchy, ethics, and regulation concerning material life; the corresponding social practices became idealized within Confucian ideology. The system was canonized in the Book of Rites, Zhouli, and Yili compendiums of the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), thus becoming the heart of the Chinese imperial ideology. The “li” Ritual system While the system was initially a respected body of concrete regulations, the fragmentation of the Western Zhou period led the ritual to drift towards moralization and formalization in regard to: • The five orders of Chinese nobility. • Ancestral temples (size, legitimate number of pavilions) • Ceremonial regulations (number of ritual vessels, musical instruments, people in the dancing troupe) Other contribution China's first projects of hydraulic engineering were initiated during the Zhou Dynasty, ultimately as a means to aid agricultural irrigation. The chancellor of Wei, Sunshu Ao, who served King Zhuang of Chu, dammed a river to create an enormous irrigation reservoir in modern-day northern Anhui province. Other contribution China's first projects of hydraulic engineering were initiated during the Zhou Dynasty, ultimately as a means to aid agricultural irrigation. Other contribution Hydraulic engineering as a subdiscipline of civil engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage. Terra cotta army an extensive terra cotta army was found at the emperor's burial site. The army consisted of 6,000 clay soldiers protecting the tomb a possible substitute for the living people who were previously buried with the rulers. Terra cotta army The figures, dating from approximately the late third century BCE,were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. Terra cotta army The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. The qin dynasty • the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. • The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. • The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC. • In the mid and late third century BC, the Qin accomplished a series of swift conquests, first ending the powerless Zhou Dynasty, and eventually destroying the remaining six states of the major states to gain control over the whole of China, resulting in an unified China. shihuang • The Qin came to power in 221BC as one of the western states that existed during the Warring States Period. • Its leaders conquered the other warring states and unified China for the first time. • A ruler, the First Emperor, or Qin Emperor Shihuang, was named inciting the long emperor tradition in China. Qin dynasty weponry The Qin, which was not the most culturally advanced of the Warring States, was the strongest in terms of military. The empire utilized many new technologies in warfare, especially the cavalry. Qin Dynasty composite bow arrows (top) and crossbow bolts (bottom) The legacy of qin dynasty • During its reign over China, the Qin Dynasty achieved increased trade, improved agriculture, and military security. This was due to the abolition of landowning lords, to whom peasants had formerly held allegiance. • The central government now had direct control of the masses, giving it access to a much larger workforce. This allowed for the construction of ambitious projects, such as a wall on the northern border, now known as the Great Wall of China. • The Qin is most likely where the name China originated. The legacy of qin dynasty The Great Wall was built in the north, to protect against invaders and roads and irrigation canals were also built throughout the country. Bronze at qin dynasty Bronze Chariot and Horses. The reforms of qin dynasty Qin Dynasty also introduced several reforms: • currency, weights and measures were standardized. • a better system of writing was established. • The Qin's military was also revolutionary in that it used the most recently developed weaponry, transportation, and tactics. Fall of qin dynasty Despite all of these accomplishments, the Qin Emperor was not a popular leader. The public works and taxes were too great a burden for the population. It seemed the emperor could not be satisfied. Also, the nobility disliked him because they were deprived of all of their power and relocated. Finally, the emperor attempt to wash out all traces of the old dynasties led to the infamous burning of books and burying of scholars incident. The writings of the great philosophers of the One Hundred Schools period were burned and more than 400 opponents were executed. Fall of qin dynasty • The Qin reign came to an end shortly after the First Emperor's death. • The Qin Emperor Shihuang only ruled for 37 years; he died suddenly in 210BC. • His son took the throne as the Second Emperor, but was quickly overthrown, and the Han dynasty began in 206BC.