Transcript Shang Dynasty

Chapter 3
China in Antiquity
Early China: Shang on Hwang
• Shang Dynasty rose
on the Hwang Ho
River Valley (AKA
Yellow River Valley)
• Used its stable
agriculture surplus to
build trade-centered
civilization
Shang Dynasty
• 1600 to around 1100
B.C.E.
• Controlled large parts
of northern China and
military was quite
powerful
– Soldiers used chariots
to defeat their enemies
Shang Dynasty
• The Shang were so
isolated that they
considered themselves to
be the center of the world
• They called their
civilization “All Under
Heaven”- this contributed
to their idea of superiority
• Had limited contact with
the rest of the world
– Did trade w/ Mesopotamia
(very long journey!)
Shang/Technology
• Accomplished bronze
workers
• Horse-drawn chariots
• Spoked wheel
• Experts in pottery and silk
• Devised the decimal
system
• Highly accurate calendar
• Sophisticated writing
system
Shang/Family
• Extended family was
very important
• Patriarchal structure
(eldest male)
• Multiple generations
lived in the same
household
Shang/Religion
• The gods controlled all
aspects of peoples’ lives
– oracle bones
• Questions for the Gods were
scratched on the bones, which
cracked after being exposed to
fire. The cracks were then
interpreted by the sorcerers
• They believed they could call
on the spirits of the dead
ancestors to act as advocates
with the gods
• This gave the extended
family even greater
significance
Archaeologists have found over 100,000 oracle bones. Since many
questions were asked about daily life, we know something about this
civilization. The thing is, they didn't exactly ask "Will it rain
tomorrow?" Oracle bones say things like: "If we sacrifice 10 men or 5
oxen, will it rain tomorrow?"
The Shang kings sacrificed a great number of people to talk to their
ancestors. Some of those sacrificed were enemies, captured in war.
Some were slaves or people who were sick or deformed. Some were
merchants, craftsmen, or farmers who had upset the nobles. Some
were nobles who had upset the king.
Enter the Zhou
• Around 1100 B.C.E., the
Shang were ousted by Wu
Wang
– maintained customs that
developed under the Shang
(sound familiar?)
• Zhou ruled for nearly 900
years!
– Longer than any other
dynasty
• Mandate of Heaven- heaven
would grant Zhou the power only
as long as it’s rulers governed
wisely and justly
• The Mandate of Heaven is based
on four principles:
1. The right to rule is granted by
Heaven.
2. There is only one Heaven therefore
there can be only one ruler.
3. The right to rule is based on the virtue
of the ruler.
4. The right to rule is not limited to one
dynasty.
• Developed feudal system, similar
to that in Europe in the Middle
Ages
Zhou Dynasty
• The king was the ruler of
the entire empire but
because it was too large to
manage- nobles were
given power over smaller
regions within the empire
– This worked out for a time
period until the nobles
gained wealth and power
– They then broke off into
independent kingdoms
Zhou Dynasty
• Some of the complex
kingdoms developed
bureaucracies within
their governments
– Which was a way of
organizing
governments by
department or bureau,
so different parts of the
government could be
specialize and stable
Shang Dynasty
The kingship was very odd. Instead of
About 1600 BCE to going from father to son, it went from
1100 BCE
brother to brother or from brother to
nephew. Mandate of Heaven
Two of the most important
contributions of the Shang Dynasty
are the use of bronze and a system of
writing.
Chou (also called
Zhou) Dynasty
About 1100 BCE to
250 BCE
This dynasty was divided into feudal
states. Literature flourished. People
began to study astronomy. Roads and
canals were built to move supplies over
long distances.
Confucianism
(400 B.C.E.)
• Confucius spent much of
his life trying to gain high
position in the government
• Ended up serving as an
educator
• His followers collected his
teachings in Analets
• Come to have a profound
influence on Chinese
thinking , both politically
and culturally
Confucianism
• It is a political and social
philosophy- not a religion
• Does not deal with salvation or the
afterlife
• Focuses on 5 fundamental
relationships
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Ruler and subject
Parent and child
Husband and wife
Older brother and younger brother
Friend and friend
Confucianism
• When each person focuses on these
relationships lives up to his or her
obligations society is orderly and
predictable
• Confucius did not support any
particular political system but
favored good people running
whatever system was in place
• Women were considered secondary
but children were taught to honor
mother and father
Confucianism…broader impact
• Because it was a ethical belief system…a
person could be practice Buddhism and
Confucianism simultaneously
• Government leaders embraced it because
it leads to orderly society
• Established tight-knit communities
having duties from birth to death
• Did not impact the rest of the world,
because it evolved only within the
context of Chinese culture
Legalism
(Qin Dynasty)
• Legalist did not trust human nature,
thus advocated for tough laws
• Peace and order were achieved by
a tightly governed state
• They focused on what was
practical or that sustained society
– Two most worthy profession were
farming and military
Legalism… broader impact
• Unify China very
swiftly (Qin Dynasty)
• Completion of
massive projects
(Great Wall)
• Led to resentment and
greater acceptance of
Confucianism and
Daoism
Daoism
(500 B.C.E.)
• Defined as the way of the
nature, the way of the
cosmos
• Founded by Lao-tzu, a
legendary Chinese
philosopher
• The Dao is passive and
yielding; it accomplishes
everything yet does
nothing
Daoism
• Imagine the image of
water, soft and yielding,
yet capable of wearing
away a stone.
• Humans should tailor their
behavior as passive and
yielding
• Wuwei- disengagement of
worldly affairs
Daoism… broader impact
• Advocated for smaller
communities this counterbalanced
Confucianism
• Advocate of harmony with nature
• Daoism promoted scientific
discoveries
– Great astronomers
– Chemist
– Botanist
Qin Dynasty
(221 to around 209 B.C.E.)
• Strong economy based
on agriculture
• Organized a powerful
army equipped with
iron weapons
• Conquered the
surrounding territories
• Unified the region
under single emperor
Qin Dynasty
(221 to around 209 B.C.E.)
• Connected separate
fortification walls that
became the Great Wall
of China
• The empire was…
– Well organized
– Centralized
– Territorial
Qin Dynasty
• Qin Shihuangdi, first
emperor
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Standarized all the laws
Currencies
Weights
Measurements
System of writing
Refused to tolerate any
dissent
• Book=burned
• Mind of scholar= killed
Qin Dynasty
• Dominate belief
system was legalism
• Fell only one year
after Qin Shihuangdi’s
death
– At the hands of
peasants who resented
the dynasty’s heavyhandedness
Qin Shi Huangdi’s Tomb
• The terracotta figures, dating
from 210 BCE, were
discovered in 1974 by several
local farmers
• The figures include warriors,
chariots, horses, officials,
acrobats, strongmen, and
musicians. Current estimates are
that in the three pits containing
the Terracotta Army there were
over 8,000 soldiers, 130
chariots with 520 horses and
150 cavalry horses, the majority
of which are still buried in the
pits.
Han Dynasty
(200 B.C.E. to around 200 C.E.)
• During the Han Dynasty,
the Huns, a large nomadic
group from northern Asia,
invaded territories
extending from China to
Eastern Europe
– Successful due to the skills
of Wu Ti, often called the
Warrior Emperor
Han Dynasty
• Trade thrived along
the Silk Road to the
Mediterranean
• Buddhism spread
along the same route
• Trade routes carried
far more than luxury
items; they carried
culture
Han Dynasty
• Significant development
was the civil service
system based on the
teachings of Confucius
• Han believed that those
involved in government
should be highly educated
and excellent
communicators…
Han Dynasty
• To ensure strong
candidates, the Hans
developed a civil service
examination, a very
difficult test lasting for
several days.
• The exam was open to
everyone…but typically
only the wealthy could
afford to prepare for it.
Han Dynasty
• Consequently the
government
bureaucracy was
highly skilled and this
contributed to the
stability to the
government for
centuries
Han Dynasty…technology
• Invented Paper
• Highly accurate
sundials
• Calendars
• Continued to broaden
their use of metals
Han Dynasty…comes to an end
• The Han dynasty was
interrupted by the
reign of Wang Mang
(9-23 C.E.), he
established the Xin
Dynasty.
• He was a government
official and used the
Mandate of Heaven to
take control.
Han Dynasty…comes to an end
• Wang Mang caused chaos.
His attempt at land reform
and currency were
unsuccessful.
• Waged war on the edges
of the empire…this led to
resentment b/c of heavy
taxes
• A peasant uprising was
used the Mang’s enemies
advantage. The Xin
Dynasty came to an end
with the death of Wang
Mang in battle.
Han Dynasty…comes to an end
• The Han dynasty was
restored for a couple of
years, but full recovery
was impossible and in 220
C.E. the government
collapsed.
• For the next 400 years,
China was divided into
several regional
kingdoms.