Transcript Culture of Early Cina

Culture of Early China
Ping Yao City Hall Gate, Shanxi
Province
Qing dynasty Corner Tower,
Forbidden City, Beijing
I. The Hwang Ho (Yellow River)
1. 3,000-2,500 BC
2. Agricultural lifestyle
a. Water regulation dams
b. Irrigation canals
c. Rice cultivation
d. Wheat
3. Purpose of Government (role)
a. Regulate agricultural production
b. Manage farmers who
produce enough food
for all people.
II. The Shang Dynasty
1. Northern China
a. Hwang Ho (Yellow) River Valley
b. over 700 years
2. Bronze weapons
3. Use of Calligraphy
a. Written symbols
3. Improved architecture
4. Ornate artwork
III. The Chang Dynasty
1.
2.
3.
4.
Increased trade
Use of currency
King = “Son of Heaven”
Incorporate concept of Revolution
a. People have a right to
overthrow an unjust King
5. Mastered Calligraphy
III. The Chang Dynasty continued…
6. Advanced Philosophy
a. Standards of human conduct
b. Explain natural world
*Confucius
-most influential Chinese Philosopher
Confucian Practice
1. Respect Elders
2. Self-Control
3. “Golden Rule”
“Treat others as
you wish to be
treated…”
-Famous texts
1. Analects
2. 5 Classics
III. The Chang Dynasty continued…
6. Philosophy continued…
*Lao Tzu
-Founder of Taoism
-blend of Philosophy and Religion
Taoism in Practice
1. Be humble and kind
2. Live simply
3. Don’t try to
change your life
4. Follow “The Way”
or “Tao”
-Meditation =
Yin and Yang. Life is a balance of
extremes.
Without evil, there can be no good.
Inner Peace
Without darkness, there can be no
light.
Without sickness, there can be no
health.
Taoism's origins are obscure, and
many of its practices go back to
the shamanic traditions of China,
but 'formal' Taoism started with
a book called the Dao De Jing
(The classic of the Way and
Virtue), or the Lao Zi, after its
author. This book was written
around 500-470 BCE, during the
Warring States period, a time of
great upheaval in China. Later
Taoist sages wrote other books
on Taoism, such as Zhuang Zi and
Lie Zi, as well as treatise on
alchemy and meditation but the
Dao De Jing was the first and is
still the most famous.