CHAPTER 4: Ancient Chinese Civilizations

Geographic and Cultural Influences

A. The Neolithic Age

1. Three major river systems

a. Yellow (Huang Ho), “China’s Sorrow,” periodic flooding, North China

b. Yangtze, drains into rice-growing, silk, and tea lands of South China

c. Hsi (West), flows in South to Guangzhou (Canton)

The Shang Dynasty

A. Shang Dynasty

1. Built walled cities

2. Developed bronze metallurgy c. 2000 B.C.

3. Used pictographic writing system

a. 3000 characters, some still used today

b. writing on “oracle bones”

4. Scribes gained power, influence

5. Religion played connective role in maintenance of social order

a. Hereditary kings link between people and chief spirits

b. Animal, human sacrifices

c. Some engaged in magic, complementary forces of yang and yin

The Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties

A. The Zhou Dynasty: The “Feudal Age” (1122-256 B.C.)

1. Zhou tribe overthrew Shang claimed “Mandate of Heaven”

B. Zhou Economy and Society

1. Iron technology introduced, copper coins with square holes indicate moneyed economy

2. “Spring and Autumn Period”

3. “Warring States Period” (475-221 B.C.)

C. China United

1. Zhou ended 256 B.C., Qin united land, 221 B.C.

2. Shih Huang-ti, First Emperor, expanded holdings

a. Imposed single, central, harsh law code

D. Han Culture: The Empire Consolidated (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.)

1. Han marked high point under Wu Ti, laid foundations for Pax Sinica

2. Han Decline

a. Wang Mang faced problems similar to Octavian’s

b. Tried to revive society by blend of Confucian ethics and Legalist practices

Philosophies of Ancient China

A. Confucianism: Rationalized Hierarchy

1. K’ung-fu-tzu (551-479 B.C.) said to have written five classics, Analects for sure

a. Prime concerns: improve society, maintain order

2. Identified Five Relationships for social interaction

a. Father/son – Ruler/minister – Husband/wife - Elder brother/younger brother – Friend/friend

3. Jen/Shu/Yi/Li

B. Taoism: The Magic of Letting Go

1. Lao-tzu, semi-legendary philosopher, offered response to turmoil of late Chou period

2. Tao, “the way,” held to be the course of nature, all-regulating order of the Cosmos

a. Chinese often followed Confucian teachings in their social relations

b. Zhuang Zi

C. Mencius: The Confucian Mandate of Heaven

1. Meng-tzu (372-289 B.C.) (Mencius) brought Confucius’ thought to human nature and government

a. Expanded Confucius’ position; justified right to rebel against bad kings

D. Legalism

1. Legalists said that only harsh, inflexible law could achieve order and prosperity

a. Worked from premise that human nature was basically bad, advocated sweeping law code with fixed penalties

2. FA/SHU/SHI