Ancient China
China’s river valley civilizations built the foundations of a long-shared Chinese culture. The achievements of the Shang and Zhou dynasties can be felt to this day.

The first Chinese civilizations grew in river valleys created by:
The Chang Jiang river (AKA the Yangzi)
The Huang He River (AKA the Yellow River)
First civilization here was ruled by the Xia dynasty.
Annual floods left behind rich soil in both valleys.
The Huang He valley also benefited from losses
(a fine dusty soil carried into China by desert winds).
• Most of eastern China was covered with fertile soils; some regions were better suited than others for growing certain crops.
• Southern China: warm, receives plenty of rainfall, excellent region for growing rice.
• Northern China: climate cooler, drier; suitable for grains, wheat, millet

Mountains, hills and desert protected early Chinese civilizations from invaders.
Himalaya Mountains separate southern China from India, rest of southern
Asia; vast Gobi Desert prevented reaching China from west
• Archaeological discoveries suggest Chinese civilization began in
Huang He valley.
• People started growing crops there 9,000 years ago
• Developed small communities. With similar characteristics of other developed civilizations.
First civilization?
Xia Dynasty
•Legend says earliest Chinese ruled by Xia dynasty
•No written, archaeological evidence Xia dynasty existed
• Most historians date beginning of Chinese civilization to rise of Shang dynasty

Shang Dynasty
Since no evidence if the Xia dynasty has been found, most historians date Chinese civilization to the beginning of the Shang dynasty; around
1766 BC. Developed in the Hung He River Valley (Yellow River)
Most Shang kings ruled their capital of Anyang where they were surrounded by a court (gathering of wealthy nobles).
Shang rulers appointed governors to keep order in distant parts of the kingdom.
Shang Dynasty largely agricultural society
•Most citizens tended crops in fields
•Farmers called on to fight in army, work on building projects— tombs, palaces, walls
Leisure
The ruling elite had free time to pursue leisure activities, hunting for sport, and art and writing.
Wealthy enjoyed collecting expensive bronze, jade objects

What we know about the Shang comes from Artifacts
Afterlife was very important to the Shang: They believed in afterlife where their rulers would need riches and servants for their afterlife.
Studying royal tombs that contained valuable items made of bronze, jade, gold and other valuable items.
Were skilled at making items out of bronze learned how to build huge structures and created a precise calendar based on the cycles of the moon.
Shang Worshipped their Ancestors/relatives
Shang offered gifts to deceased ancestors to keep them happy in afterlife
For example people steamed meals in order to feed their ancestors’ spirits.

People of the Shang Dynasty believed in many Gods.
They believed in the concept of Heaven and Hell.
However, they believed in order to maintain good fortune it was very important to honor their relatives.
They would create shrines in their homes of deceased relatives.
They believed their relatives had interaction with the Gods and the looked out for them.
Through the use of Oracle bones they would preform rituals and try to communicate with ancestors.
Inscribed bits of animal bone, turtle shell
Living person asked question of ancestor: seeking help and not to offend them.
Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone’s surface
Specially trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer

Writing
• Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects, ideas
• Development of Chinese writing closely tied to use of oracle bones
• Earliest examples of Chinese writing are questions written on bones themselves
Bronze
• Shang religion led to great advances in working with bronze
• Highly decorative bronze vessels, objects created for religious rituals
• Also built huge structures like tombs; created calendar, first money systems
End of Dynasty
• Shang ruled for more than 600 years, until about 1100 BC
• Ruling China’s growing population proved too much for Shang
• Armies from nearby tribe, Zhou, invaded, established new ruling dynasty

Beginning around 1100 BC, the Zhou Dynasty rules China for several centuries. The dynasty is divided into two time periods. During the Western Zhou, kings ruled from
Xian in a peaceful period. Later conflict arose, kings moved east to Luoyang, beginning the Eastern Zhou period.
Government
• When Zhou conquered Shang, leaders worried Chinese people would not accept them.
• Introduced idea they ruled by
Mandate of Heaven
• Gods would support just ruler, not allow anyone corrupt to hold power
Dynastic Cycle
• Zhou said Shang overthrown because they lost gods’ favor
• Later rulers used Mandate of
Heaven to explain dynastic cycle , rise and fall of dynasties in China
• If dynasty lost power, it obviously had become corrupt
New rulers said, it was the will of the gods that that dynasty be overthrown and a new one take power.

• Before the Zhou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze. The Zhou learned to use iron, became backbone of economy
• Iron was strong, could be cast more cheaply, quickly than bronze
• Iron weapons strengthened Zhou army, as did new weapons like catapult and creation of China’s first cavalry
Growth
• Population grew under Zhou
• Farmers learned new techniques, increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew
• Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication
• Introduced coins, use of chopsticks
Decline of the Zhou
• Conflict arose during latter part of
Zhou dynasty
• Clan leaders within China rose up against king
• As time passed, more and more local leaders turned against Zhou, further weakening rule

Result of rebellions was Warring States Period
• 403 BC to 221 BC, number of small states fought each other for land, power due to poor leadership.
• The last emperor of the Shang dynasty, Shang Chou, was a cruel man known for his methods of torture. The dynasty had been weakened by repeated battles with nomads and rivaling tribes within China.
• Zhou still nominally in charge, but power almost nonexistent by mid-200s BC
• Shang Chou was ousted by the rebel leader Wu-wang in 1111
B.C.E
• Qin, new dynasty, arose to bring end to Warring States Period,
Zhou dynasty

Effort to make sense of chaos during the warring period led to creation of many new Chinese philosophies, or ways of looking at the world.
Of the many philosophies created during late Zhou period only two became influential in later Chinese history and world history:
• Confucianism
• Daoism

Confucius
• Confucianism based on teachings of scholar named Kongfuzi, better known as Confucius, who thought people should treat one another humanely.
• All people should express love, respect for others, and honor one’s ancestors
Love and Respect
• Believed that love, respect had disappeared and was responsible for violence in society; restoring respect for tradition would make society stable
• Thoughts on how to improve society collected in book, Analects
Analects: Collected writings on how to improve society
• Ruler should treat subjects fairly; subjects reward ruler with respect, loyalty
• People should respect members of family, devote selves to public service
• Confucian ideas spread elsewhere in Asia, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam

The name “Laozi” is best taken to mean “Old (lao) Master (zi),” and
Laozi the ancient philosopher is said to have written a short book, which has come to be called simply the Laozi.
He was among the first people in china to write about Daoist beliefs in his book called Dao De Jing.

Definition
• Unlike Confucianism, which focuses on improving society,
Daoism encourages people to retreat from laws of society, yield to law of nature
• Heart of Daoism is concept of the dao, or the way
• Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation
• Through the dao, all things in nature connected
• Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe
Yin and Yang
• Daoism embraced Chinese concept of yin and yang, representing balancing aspect of nature —male, female; dark, light; hot, cold
• Neither can exist without other
• Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony
• Origins of Daoist teachings attributed to philosopher named
Laozi
• Wrote book called Dao De Jing
• Laozi worshipped by some as a god

Definition
• Unlike Confucianism, which focuses on improving society,
Daoism encourages people to retreat from laws of society, yield to law of nature
• Heart of Daoism is concept of the
Dao, or the way
• Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation
• Through the Dao, all things in nature connected
• Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe
Yin and Yang
• Daoism embraced Chinese concept of yin and yang, representing balancing aspect of nature —male, female; dark, light; hot, cold
• Neither can exist without other
• Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony
• Origins of Daoist teachings attributed to philosopher named
Laozi
• Wrote book called Dao De Jing
• Laozi worshipped by some as a god

• Still played major role in later dynasties
• Idea of balance key concept in China for centuries as result of
Daoist teaching
• Daoist philosophy led many followers to work for preservation, protection of natural environment

Zhou dynasty began to decline around 400 BC, power shifted to local nobles.
• Several small states battled for land, power by 300s
• The state of Qin rose to power
• Located on China’s western frontier
• Conquered other states in military campaigns
• Last rival state fell, 221 BC
• Qin created the first true unified Chinese empire

Harsh Qin Rule
• First ruler of new empire took title Shi Huangdi , “first emperor”
• Unified China with help of two advisors, Hanfeizi and Li Si
• Founded school of Legalism
• Taught that powerful, efficient government key to maintaining order
Rejection of Confucianism
• Legalists rejected philosophy developed during Zhou dynasty
• Confucianists thought rulers should be virtuous, lead by example
• Legalists said rulers should be strong, govern through force
• Supported strict laws, stressed harsh punishment for even minor crimes

Strong, Centralized Government
• Shi Huangdi weakened rival nobles by taking land
• Forced nobles to move to capital so he could watch them
• Seized all private arms to prevent rebellions
• Divided China into 36 districts, appointed loyalists to govern them
Maintaining Order
• Shi Huangdi ruthlessly suppressed all criticism of his rule
• Ordered burning of books which conflicted with Legalist thinking
• Only books on practical subjects like agriculture, medicine spared
• Confucian scholars who discussed banned books, criticized Qin government tortured, killed

Qin Reforms
• Harsh Qin rule unified, strengthened China
• Standardized laws, writings, monetary systems, weights and measures
• Also standardized width of cart axles, so all carts could travel China’s roads
Massive Building Projects
• Improved irrigation system and increased farm production
• Expanded network of roads and canals to link capital to other parts of empire
• Improved transportation, increased trade, levied heavy taxes
Qin Growth and Defense
• Worked to protect empire from outside threats
• Qin army pushed nomadic warriors farther north, subdued areas to south
• Joined separate defensive walls, came to be known as Great Wall of China

• Dynasty’s policies fueled anger, resentment through out the
Empire.
• Qin dynasty crumbled after Shi Huangdi died, 210 BC
• Peasants fed up with forced labor, high taxes, rebelled
• Nobles eager to regain land, power, raised armies against new emperor
• Peasant rebel leader Liu Bang.
• Desert from his duty to put down rebels and then won over the rebels and defeated Qin forces
• He founded Han dynasty

The Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220 —more than 400 years. It would be the model for all later Chinese dynasties.
Restoring Control
• Liu Bang ruled with “mandate of heaven ”(approval of Gods)
• Ancient Chinese beliefs:
– Gods supported virtuous rulers
– Opposed corrupt ones
– Defeated ruler had lost support of the gods
– Qin ruler defeated by Liu
Bang
Gaining Loyalty
• Liu Bang softened harsh
Legalist policies
• Lowered taxes, earned loyalty of peasants
• Gave large blocks of land to relatives, military supporters
• Distribution of land earned military’s loyalty

Stability
• Liu Bang continued Qin’s strong, centralized government to weaken rivals
• Expanded bureaucracy-
Government positions
• Numerous officials appointed to oversee administration of Han government
• Helped restore stability to
Chinese empire
Confucianism
• Liu Bang not well educated, peasant origins
• Appointed Confucian scholars to advise, serve in government
• Confucianism regained popularity, shaped Han government
• Some Legalist policies remained, maintained firm control over empire

Liu Bang died 195 BC
• Young son took throne, but too young to rule
• His mother, Empress Lü, ruled in his place
• Only one of Liu Bang’s many wives, Lü plotted for son to be emperor
Family interests
• After son gained throne, Empress Lü promoted family’s interests
• Had series of infants named emperor after son died young
• Maintained power for 15 years
Power play
• Empress Lü died, 180 BC; officials had entire Lü family killed
• Power plays and court intrigues common during Han, later dynasties
• Court plots were distracting, made effective rule difficult

Height of Han Dynasty
• Emperor Wudi ruled from 141 to 187 BC
• Energetic, aggressive, considered greatest of all Han rulers
• Promoted economic growth
• New roads, canals made it easier to get products to market
• Monopolies on some products; limits on merchants to limit power, wealth
Government Philosophy
• Wudi wanted officials to hold
Confucian values
• Developed civil service system
• Candidates had to pass exam in
Confucian classics
• Wealthy, influential families continued to control government
Xiongnu
• Biggest threat to Wudi’s security from nomads in steppes north of
China, Xiongnu
• Excellent horse skills, fierce warriors
• Swept in from steppes, raided settlements along China’s frontier

Expansion under Wudi
• Wudi expanded empire through warfare
• Began to use force against southern Xiongnu tribes, 133 BC
• Formed alliances with Xiongnu enemies, began to weaken Xiongnu tribes
• Colonized parts of Korea, Manchuria to northeast, Vietnam to south; extended control into Central Asia to west, opened trade routes
Han Decline
• Brief crisis AD 9 when rebel Wang
Mang seized throne
• Han regained control, AD 25, start of Later Han dynasty
• Later Han weakened by court intrigues, gap between rich and poor, high taxes crushing poor
Revolt
• Yellow Turbans revolted AD 184
• Threw empire into chaos
• Power shifted to local warlords
• Warfare tore region apart
• China began turbulent era, Period of Division, which would last 350 years

Period of Brilliance
• Tang dynasty ruled 618 to 907; Chinese influence spread
• China experienced period of brilliance, prosperity, cultural achievement
• Government, other institutions served as models across East Asia
Built on Sui Foundations
• Established capital at Chang’an, Sui capital
• Second capital located at Luoyang
• Government control remained centralized, based on bureaucracy of officials
Civil Service
• To obtain talented officials, Tang expanded civil service examination system
• People had to pass written exams to work for government
• Created flexible law code; model for law codes in Korea, Japan

The study of medicine is one of the highest contributions of
Tang Dynasty as it is practiced worldwide. The use of herbs or organic materials for medicine was developed and spread by this empire.
Porcelain: used for Chinese artisans for ceramics and plate wear.
Magnetic compass: finding true north.
The study of Alchemy led to the development of Gun powder and fire works.
Wood block print. Leading to the beginnings of mass printing before Europeans invented the printing press.
Song Dynasty made improvements on this technology.

After Tang Dynasty Government and Civil Service
• China split apart after Tang dynasty
• Song established capital at
Kaifeng, restored centralized government control
• Did not reunify until 960 with
Song dynasty
• Song ruled for about 300 years, created achievement, prosperity
• Enlarged government bureaucracy, reformed civil service examination system
• Under Song, Chinese civilization became most advanced in world
• Neo-Confucianism gained favor, emphasizing Confucian ethics, spiritual matters