Download Society and Culture in Ancient China

Chinese Philosophies
• Chinese thinkers
developed 3 major
philosophies:
Confucianism, Daoism,
and Legalism.
• Confucianism is a system
of beliefs based on the
teachings of Confucius.
• He believed people
should place their family
and community above
themselves, rulers should
rule justly and set an
example, and subjects
should obey the law.
• Golden Rule:
“Do unto others as you would
have others do unto you.”
• He believed government
jobs should be open to all
people, not just nobles
(civil service test).
• Work hard
to make the
world better.
• Daoism- a Chinese
philosophy concerned
with obtaining long
life and living in
harmony with nature.
• Started by Laozi.
• Believes people
should live free of
worldly desires and
live simply.
• Many Chinese
followed
Confucianism and
Daoism (felt they
supported one
another).
• Legalism- a Chinese
philosophy that stressed the
importance of laws.
• Started by Hanfeizi.
• Believed humans are
naturally evil.
• Strict laws and punishments
were necessary to force
people to do their duty.
• Nobles supported Legalism
and it did not require leaders
to consider their people.
• Cruel punishments for small
crimes.
Chinese Life
• 4 social classes:
1. Aristocrats: wealthy land
owners
2. Farmers: rented fields
from Aristocrats. 9/10
Chinese were farmers.
3. Artisans and
4. Merchants: Provided
goods and services.
• Merchants were looked
down on because they
worked for their own
gain, not the good of
society.
• Chinese families
were big. Kids
worked in fields.
• Practiced filial pietythe responsibility
children have to
respect, obey, and
care for their
parents.
• Men
worked/women ran
the household.
• The Great Wall of China was constructed to keep
nomads across the Gobi desert from invading.
• Dynasty ended after Qin’s death.
The Silk Road
• Exploration west of
China brought trade
of silk, spices, and
luxury goods on
horses.
• The Silk Road was a
network of roads
stretching to the
Mediterranean: the
main trade link
between China and
the Roman Empire.
• Buddhism spread to
China from India.
• Civil war destroyed
the Han Empire and
China divided into
many small
kingdoms.
Society and Culture
in Ancient China
Chapter 10
Sections 2 and 3
Zhou Dynasty
• Ruled with the help of a bureaucracy – officials who
carry out the task of government
• Divided the civilization into territories
• Zhou dynasty claimed they had a Mandate of
Heaven- Kings right to rule came from the God’s
• Zhou expanded Chinas system of trade and with
improved irrigation were able to farm more crops
then ever before.
• Over time aristocrats power became larger and
would ignore the Kings for their own good.
The Qin Dynasty
• Before the Qin dynasty,
China was ruled by
• Absolute power/harsh
punishments.
• Appointed Censors- an
official who watches
other for correct
behavior, to watch the
government.
• Created currencymoney.
• His tomb housed the
Terracotta Warriors.
Han Dynasty
• The first Han leader wanted to end family members and
aristocrats running the government.
• He chose dedicated people for civil service- the
administrative service of a government.
• The system ended up
favoring the educated
rich.
• Education was
important to prepare
for civil service, study
law and history, and the
ideas of Confucius.
• When farmers died land was divided among their
sons.
• Land plots got smaller each generation.
• Farmers could not raise enough food on their lands
and became tenant farmers.
• Tenant farmers- a farmer who works land owned by
someone else and pays rent in cash or as a share of
the crop.
• Land owners became
more wealthy/
tenant
farmers grew
poorer.
Chinese Inventions
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Cast iron plow- break up soil better than a wooden plow.
Drainage systems made swampy lands farmable.
Waterwheels could grind more grain.
Iron drill bits mined salt.
Wheelbarrows could carry heavy items.
• Silk/paper.
• Improved the sailboat.
• Acupuncture- A practice
of inserting fine needles
through the skin at
specific points to relieve
pain and treat disease.
• New medicines with
herbs.