Contents: Contents Government Law and Courts Writing Art Religion Architecture Economics Technology


Government: Government


Overview: Overview Definition: Ruling family that passed control from generation to generation The family was believed to possess the “Mandate of Heaven.” The Chinese people believed that their gods had given them the right to rule. If the dynasty became weak, people stopped supporting them; they believed that they had lost the Mandate of Heaven.


The Shang Dynasty: The Shang Dynasty 1766-1040 bce First dynasty to have written records Developments: 30-day lunar calendar Agricultural economy Bronze artistry


Chou Dynasty: Chou Dynasty 1040-256 bce Semi-nomadic people who overthrew Shangs Developments: Feudal system Extraction of iron from rocks Structural development


Age of Warring States: Age of Warring States Between Chou and Ch’in dynasties Nobles gained more power as Chou dynasty became weaker Two parties tried to gain control: Confucius Legalists


Ch’in Dynasty: Ch’in Dynasty 221-206 bce Stabilized China after Age of Warring States Influenced by legalists Developments: Weights and measures system Irrigation


Han Dynasty: Han Dynasty 206 bce-220 ce Influenced by Confucianism Developments: Paper Written history of land Chinese people first learned of Buddhism


Minor Dynasties: Minor Dynasties Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties unified China Yuan dynasty encouraged Westerners to travel to China Ming dynasty led by Buddhist monk and army of peasants; overthrew Yuan


Qing/Manchu Dynasty: Qing/Manchu Dynasty 1644-1911 ce Unable to stop China from being overrun by foreigners People believed that dynasty had lost Mandate of Heaven; began to support Nationalists


Law and Courts: Law and Courts


Overview: Overview In ancient China, there were very few set laws Laws were mostly “declared” by figures of authority whenever necessary


Writing: Writing


Overview: Overview Five main stages of Chinese writing Ancient system that has changed very little throughout last 3500 years


Jiaguwen: Jiaguwen Translation: “Oracle Bone Script” Pictographic symbols etched on turtle shells and animal bones Used for divination in royal courts


Dazhuan: Dazhuan Translation: “Greater Seal” Time of use overlapped with Jiaguwen Writing etched on bronze vessels rather than bones


Xiaozhuan: Xiaozhuan Translation: “Lesser Seal” Much like modern Chinese script Less pictographic than earlier Less angular than modern-day Still used for calligraphy and seals


Lishu: Lishu Translation: “Clerkly Script” Used by government bureaucrats to take notes during court


Kaishu: Kaishu Translation: “Standard Script” Widely used in modern-day China


Art: Art


Jade: Jade Believed to have magical properties Used to preserve dead


Bronze: Bronze Used to make ritual vessels Also used for common items: Pots Bells Mirrors Weapons


Silk: Silk Silk production unique to China Kept methods secret Silk coveted in many areas of world


Ceramics: Ceramics Chinese kilns very advanced Ceramics of very high quality Perfected during Shang dynasty


Religion: Religion


Taoism: Taoism Translation: “The path”, or “The way” Encourages followers to Achieve Tao Develop virtues Time cyclical


Confucianism: Confucianism Confucius Chinese philosopher Believed that problem with government was abandonment of tradition Uses of Confucianism Education Citizenship Government servitude


Buddhism: Buddhism Siddarta Gautana founder Called “Enlightened One”, or “Buddha” Goals To throw off self-interest To achieve Nirvana, or absence of suffering


Architecture: Architecture


Structure: Structure Horizon emphasized Buildings symmetrical Roofs Different designs had significance Curvedwarded off evil spirits Rafterssign of wealth


Materials: Materials Red or gray brick Wood Held up in earthquakes Vulnerable to fire


Privileges: Privileges Houses of common people Shrine for ancestors and gods Elders’ bedrooms in middle of house Wings for “junior members,” kitchens, living areas Some aspects of architecture reserved for upper class Rafters Yellow roof tiles


Religious Buildings: Religious Buildings Completely symmetrical Structure Front hall Great hall Rooms for devotees


Economics: Economics


Goods: Goods Citizens farmed wheat and rice Fishing was another food source Land irrigated


Trade: Trade Traders traveled west on Silk Road Uzbekistan Turkestan South to India


Money: Money Two types: Cowrie shells—Shang dynasty Paper money—Sung dynasty


Technology: Technology


Major Inventions: Major Inventions Compass Gunpowder Papermaking Printing


Medical Advances: Medical Advances Acupuncture Herbal remedies


Irrigation: Irrigation Dujiangyan Irrigation System Constructed in 256 bce Still supplies water Chain pumps hauled water Water provided for Palace gardens Residents Farmers


Military: Military


Weapons: Weapons Made of bronze or iron Iron extracted from rocks starting with Chou dynasty


Defense: Defense Chou dynasty Walls built around cities Ming dynasty Great Wall of China perfected


Great Wall of China: Great Wall of China Successful because of materials Mongol raids encouraged an even stronger structure When Manchus seized Beijing, Qing dynasty established


Shang Dynasty: Shang Dynasty Particularly military-oriented Strong system, large army Defensive structures and elaborate tombs constructed


THE END: THE END