Download China in Ancient and Classical Times

China in Ancient
and Classical Times
Times
World History,
Mrs. Bloom
I. Geography: most isolated ancient
civilization
A. Himalayan mountains
B. Gobi Desert
C. Pacific Ocean
*note*
• Chinese society has always required a
high degree of cooperation to feed its
people, since historically, its population
has been concentrated in the CENTRAL
and EASTERN regions.
• Look at the following two maps to
speculate why.
Population distribution today
II. Ancient China
A. Huang he/Yellow
River
B. Frequent
threat of
invasion by
nearby
nomads
C. China’s first dynasty:
Shang dynasty
1. Laid the foundation for Chinese
civilization
2. Tradition of prayers to the spirits
of their ancestors to bring good
fortune.
3. Some earliest
examples of
Chinese
writing are on
oracle bones
4. These
pictographs and
ideographs
evolved into
calligraphy
III. Classical China: The Zhou
Dynasty
A. Justified rebellion against the
Shang via the Mandate of
Heaven (claiming that the
gods gave them the right to
rule)
(note: Zhou is pronounced “Joe”)
B. The Mandate of Heaven became
adopted into Chinese culture to
explain why floods, famine, and
other catastrophes occurred
(evidence that the gods no longer
favored that dynasty, duty of the
people to overthrow them).
C. Middle Kingdom
China’s core: between the Yellow
and the Yangzi River
IV. The short-lived Qin Dynasty
A. Origin of the name
“China”
B. Strict rule brought
necessary order
C. Centralized power
to unite this vast
region
(Qin is pronounced “Chin”)
V. The Han Dynasty
A. Reaction to brutality of Qin
dynasty
B. “Golden Age” of early Chinese
civilization
C. “Silk Road” began in this period,
linking China to the west
D. Strong
bureaucracy
based on
Confucianism:
ethical and
political system
1. Civil service
exams: welleducated
government
officials
(scholar-gentry),
“meritocracy”
2. Loyalty and cohesion at all levels of
society
a. Central government directly appointed
officials
b. Local cohesion: civic duty
1. local leaders
2. *filial piety
i. importance of extended family
ii. patriarchal
VI. Philosophy and Religion
in China
A. Confucianism: a philosophy,
not a religion
1. Analects
2. Promoted
social
harmony via
rituals and
social
relationships
a. Treat those above you in the
social hierarchy with respect and
set a good example for those
below you. *This includes rulers!!
b. Proper behavior will bring order,
peace and stability to the
Chinese.
c. Confucianism is still very
influential in Chinese society
today
Confucius says, “Do unto others as your
status and theirs dictate.”
“When a prince’s personal conduct is correct,
his government is effective without the issuing
of orders. If his personal conduct is not
correct, he may issue orders, but they will not
be followed.”
Confucius says…
“Forget injuries, never forget kindness.”
“When we see men of a contrary character,
we should turn inward and examine
ourselves.”
“When anger rises, think of the
consequences.”
B. Daoism: “the way”
1. Lao-tzu
2. Sought to live
in harmony
with nature
(“go with the
flow”).
3. Chinese
worldview: the
universe reflected a
delicate balance
between yin (earth,
darkness and
female forces) and
yang (heaven, light,
and male forces).
Daoism…
4. not interested
in politics or the
government, or
other “worldly
affairs”
http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=NitBpJaom5k
Star Wars, Yoda and Daoism
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=qmGhSd
HJ41U&feature=relat
ed
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=fE8PieLJ
ttY&NR=1
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=E4hb7Nc
rJzQ
“The universe is sacred. You cannot improve
it. If you try to change it, you will ruin it. If
you try to hold it, you will lose it.”
-Lao Tzu
5. Daoist influence on Chinese
culture
a. Architecture:
feng shui
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=vXGvCHdYQM&feature=pl
ayer_embedded
b. Medical
theories/practices:
1. Tai Chi
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=OAe95N3T8q8
2. Acupuncture
C. Many people adopted a
blend of Confucianism and
Daoism
D. Legalism
1. Advocates
believed that
people are
inherently
(born) evil,
must learn how
to be good.
Legalism…
2. Promoted strict
laws and harsh
punishments.
Rulers should
be strong.
3. This
philosophy
is most
associated
with the Qin
dynasty
-Great Wall of
China laborers
VII. Technological
achievements:
A. Accurate
calendar
B. Silk making
(which became
China’s most
valuable export,
thus the name
of the Silk Road)
C. Paper,
Books
D. Regulation and
standardization
1. Coins
2. Weights
3. Measures
E. Astronomy
F. Shipbuilding
G. Stirrups
H. Terrace agriculture
VIII. Intellectual achievements
A. Art
B. Standardized language and
written script
C. Single law code
Ancient and Classical China:
Conclusion
• Period of growing pains; their
culture and institutions become
well-established throughout the
classical period
• Confucianism = glue
– Isolation, harmony
“No other government had the
organization and staff to reach
ordinary people so directly until
virtually modern times, except in
much smaller political units…”
-Stearns textbook
CHINESE DYNASTY SONG
Sing to “Frere Jacques” (repeat
each line twice)
Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han
Sui, Tang, Song
Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic
Mao and Deng