2013 Chinese Dynasties
Pronunciations
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•
•
•
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Huang He
Shang
Zhou
Loess
Henan
Wei
Qin
hwahng he
shong
Joe
less
hey – nahn
way
chin
Key Terms….
A Dynasty is a line of
rulers that come from
the same family
An aristocrat is a noble,
or upper class person,
whose wealth comes
from their land
China’s history is usually
divided into time periods based on
the rule of different dynasties.
A ‘dynasty’ is a ruling family that
passes the power to rule down
through the generations. These
rulers were thought to be ‘divine’,
or actual gods, and thus were
obeyed without question.
Four Chinese Dynasties
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty
According to ancient Chinese records, the Shang dynasty formed around 1766 BC,
although many archaeologists believe it actually began somewhat later than that.
Government and
Society
• China ruled by
strong monarchy
• At capital city,
Anyang, kings
surrounded by
court
• Rituals performed
to strengthen
kingdom, keep safe
Order
• King’s governors
ruled distant parts
of kingdom
• King also had large
army at disposal
• Prevented
rebellions, fought
outside opponents
Agricultural Society
• Shang China
largely agricultural
• Most tended crops
in fields
• Farmers called on
to fight in army,
work on building
projects—tombs,
palaces, walls
Shang Elite
Leisure
• Ruling elite had free time to
pursue leisure activities, hunting
for sport
• Wealthy enjoyed collecting
expensive bronze, jade objects
Afterlife
• Tombs held remains of
sacrificed prisoners of war
• Believed in afterlife where ruler
would need riches, servants
Artifacts
• Much of what is known comes
from studying royal tombs
• Contained valuable items made
of bronze, jade
Ancestor Worship
• Shang offered gifts to deceased
ancestors to keep them happy
in afterlife
• Steam from ritual meals
nourished ancestors’ spirits
Shang Dynasty 1750-1050 BCE
• Chinese civilization is
one of oldest,
continuous on earth
• 5,000 years of history
• Archaeologists believe the Huang
He valley was the center of
Chinese civilization.
• The Shang kings were part of a
dynasty that may have build the 1st
Chinese cities. They ruled from
about 1750 B.C. to 1122 B.C.
• The Shang Dynasty built the city of
Anyang which was China’s first
capital.
Shang culture characterized by:
Centralized government
Urban communities
Stratified social classes
Palatial architecture
Distinctive writing system
Elaborate religious rituals
Sophisticated art forms
Shang culture characterized by
Bronze metallurgy
Horse drawn chariot
Ability to mobilize human labor for huge
projects/corvee labor
Relatively accurate calendar
Money in form of cowrie shells
Pantheon of gods
Complex lineage structure
The Shang
• The Shang left written records and
extensive material remains,
especially bronze works.
• Bronze metallurgy, horses, chariots,
and other wheeled vehicles came to
China with Indo-European migrants.
• The Shang employed artisans to
make many weapons for the
government.
• They controlled access to copper and
tin ores.
The Shang
• The Shang kings had many
political allies who supported
the king in exchange for
agricultural output and access
to metal works.
• Several large cities were highly
fortified with thick, tall walls.
• This indicates a highly
centralized political power and
central rule of the Shang
kings.
Shang zun (wine vessel)
Made of Bronze
The Shang
• The Shang royal tombs
included thousands of
objects including
human material
remains.
Political and Religious Organization of the
Shang
• Ruled by specific internal clans,
each with its own king.
• Kingship and kinship were linked.
• As head of his biological clan and
geographical realm, the king:
– Performed rituals and sacrifices
– Waged war
– Constructed irrigation and flood
control
– Administered the government.
– Was thought to be descended from
the god of the spirits.
– Had divine rights.
Political and Religious Organization of the
Shang
• The ruler directly controlled a
growing network of towns.
• He ruled from his capital city.
• He designated representatives to
oversee regional cities. Most of
these representatives were blood
relatives.
• These relatives received title to
land, shares in the harvests, and
rights to build and control the
regional capital cities.
• In exchange, they represented and
served the king and his interests in
the provinces.
Cities: Shang
• Vast network of walled
towns whose local rulers
recognized authority of
the Shang kings
• Shang rulers moved their
capital six times
– Capital at Yin (near
modern Anyang)
contained a complex of
royal palaces and eleven
large and lavish royal
tombs
Royal tomb at Anyang
Class Organization under the Shang
• Inside the walled area lived the royal family, the nobility, and
their retainers.
• Outside this palace was a network of residential areas.
• To the north were the dwellings and graves of the wealthy
and powerful marked by ritual bronze vessels and sacrificial
victims.
• To the south were the dwellings of the commoners and their
burial places in trash pits.
• Occupations were inherited within specific family units.
• Many “zu” or lineage groups corresponded to occupational
groups.
• People of the Shang dynasty were divided
into groups…
• THE NOBLES: The king and his family
were the most powerful of this group.
Warlords and other royal officials were also
in the class. They were aristocrats, nobles
whose wealth came from the land they
owned.
• THE COMMONERS: Traders and artisans
were below the nobles. The commoners
did most of the specialized work including
farming.
•
THE SLAVES: Slaves captured during
wars were the lowest class of people.
Social Classes Under the Shang
• Royalty/ Imperial Court
The king (emperor) and his family were the most powerful
and wealthy people in Shang times.
• Nobles:
Warlords and officials loyal to the king were given land and
peasants. In return, they fought in the king’s army and
provided the king with soldiers & supplies.
• Craftsmen (Artisans):
These skilled workers made artifacts for the aristocrats.
• Traders (Merchants):
Like the craftsmen, traders were a very small class. They
bartered or sold goods.
The king was the ultimate ruler;
yet, to expand his power, he set
up smaller kingdoms under his
younger brothers and nephews.
• Farmers:
The largest social class, farmers often used simple wooden
and stone tools.
• Slaves:
Captured during wars, slaves were from opposing clans and
used as human sacrifices or laborers
New Technologies: Shang and Military
Success
• Shang ruling elites were
able to monopolize
production of bronze in the
Yellow River Valley by
controlling access to copper
and tin ores
• Allowed Shang forces to
defeat Xia forces who were
equipped with only stone,
wood, and bone weapons
• Shang nobles used bronze
to make fittings for horsedrawn chariots
New Technologies: Shang and Military
Success
• Shang were also able to
exert military might over
the Xia through bows
Shang pictograph of
composite bow
Shang Warfare
• Shang rulers used warfare
to control land and expand
their power.
• Conflicts between the
Shang and neighboring
clans to the west and south
were caused by boundary
disputes, the desire for
valuable resources, and the
need to capture prisoners
for human sacrifice or
forced labor.
Foot soldier
Axe man
Yi Captive
Shang
Noble
Shang Armies
• Many wars involved large
armies of more than 13,000
men.
–
–
–
–
Foot soldiers
Archers
Calvary on horses & elephants
Fighters in chariots
• Soldiers used bronze
weapons such as
arrowheads, spearheads,
helmets, and daggers
mounted on wooden shafts.
Shang Dynasty
1600 B.C.-1046 B.C.
The most advanced bronze-working civilization in the
world.
1500-1000 B.C.Greeks destroy Troy (c. 1193 B.C.).
Bronze Weapons—
Created by Craftsmen and Used by Nobles
• The bronze weapons of
the ancient Chinese
gave
Shang warriors an
advantage over their
enemies, who had less
technologically
advanced weapons.
Jade Weapons—
Placed in Emperor’s Tomb
• Jade copies of Shang
daggers and spears
were placed in imperial
tombs for use in the
afterlife.
Jade spearhead
set in bronze
Ceremonial daggers
with turquoise and jade
ornamentation
Ceremonial Axes—
Created by Craftsmen and Used for Kings
• Bronze ceremonial axes, which
were found in many Shang
emperor’s tombs, were symbols
of imperial authority.
• These axes were used to kill the
sacrificial victims who were
buried with the emperor.
• Early Chinese emperors had
complete power to make all
government decisions.
• Emperor’s owned the land, but
they gave some of it away to their
loyal supporters (nobles)
Jade Carvings—
Symbols of Noble Power
• When a Shang emperor gave
control of a town or land to a
nobleman, he also gave him
symbols of his new power.
• The emperor gave jade carvings
of lucky creatures, such as
dragons and tigers.
• Jade was a stone reserved for
nobility, and the Chinese saw the
hard stone as a symbol of wisdom
and charity/kindenss.
• Power symbols also included
chariots, flags, and drums.
Bronze Vessels—
Created by Craftsmen
• Shang people believed that
ancestors brought their families
good or bad fortune.
• They used bronze containers, or
vessels, to hold food items in
ceremonies honoring their
ancestors.
• They also placed such vessels in
the bombs so the dead could
continue these rituals and have
things to eat and drink in the
after life.
• Craftspeople designed some
vessels to hold wine and others
to hold meat or grain.
Writing Under the Shang
• Early Chinese writing used
pictographs, or characters
that stand for objects.
• By the Shang dynasty,
people used logographs,
characters that stand for
words.
• This differs from the
American alphabet system
(phonetic system) where
each letter represents a
sound.
• In the Chinese language,
each marking, or symbol,
represents a whole word.
• Early Chinese writing used pictographs, or characters that
stand for objects.
• Ideographs are two or more pictographs joined to
represent an idea.
– The Chinese language differs from the American alphabet system
because in the American alphabet, each letter represents a sound.
The letters, or sounds, are put together to make words. In the
Chinese language, each marking, or symbol, represents a whole word.
• Development of Writing
– Writing system uses symbols to represent
syllables, not ideas
– People of different languages can use same
system
– Huge number of characters make system difficult
to learn
Shang: Focus on the Family
• Multiple generations of the same family
lived in the same household, which was a
patriarchal institution headed by the
oldest male.
• Shang religion held that gods controlled
all aspects of peoples’ lives.
• People believed they could call on the
spirits of their dead ancestors to act as
their advocates with the gods. This was
called “veneration of ancestors.”
• This gave the extended family even
greater significance.
• Religious Beliefs
– Spirits of dead ancestors
can affect family
fortunes
– Oracle bones used to
consult gods; supreme
god, Shang Di
• Priests scratch questions
on animal bones and
tortoise shells
• People in the Shang dynasty
believed in many spirits and
gods and honored ancestors
with offerings.
• Shang kings believed they
received wisdom and power
from the gods, spirits, and
ancestors.
Early Chinese Dynasty Gods…
The river god, rain god, earth god.
They believed in many gods, but
the most powerful was the sky
god, T'ien, the king of gods. To the
peasants, T'ien was more brilliant
and more powerful than any
earthbound king.
Religion Under the Shang
• People believed in
many gods and
practiced ancestor
worship.
• They honored their
ancestors with
offerings.
• Shang kings believed
they received wisdom
and power from the
gods, spirits, and
The Sky God (T’ien)
The most powerful god was the
sky god, T'ien. He was the king of
gods. To the peasants, T'ien was
more brilliant and powerful than
any earthbound king.
Ancestor reverence
Ultimate source of political power was royal
ancestors
Deceased ministers had some influence
Dead went to Heaven
Intercede on behalf of descendants
So ritual life of Shang court was sequence of
sacrifices to ancestors
Ancestor worship; the belief that
your dead relatives control and guide
your destiny. Thus respect and honor
for them
is
necessary.
Shamanism;
Shang Religion
was based on
ideas of ancestor
worship, as well
as a belief in
nature gods,
demons and
magic.
Important ideas from Shang
Notion of supreme heavenly power—Shangdi
(god above)
Belief in power of spirits of ancestors to affect
events on earth
Importance of rituals venerating ancestors &
role of king in performing rituals
Oracle Bones
As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice
• Sought advice through use of oracle bones
– Inscribed bits of animal bone, turtle shell
– Living person asked question of ancestor
– 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
Oracle Bones—
Used by Kings and Nobles
• Shang emperors and priests used
oracle bones to predict the
future.
• Shang priests etched positive or
negative statements onto the
surface of the shell or bone.
–
–
–
Rainfall
Harvest
Sickness
--Sickness
--Childbirth
--Enemy attacks
• Then the priest applied a hot
poker to a groove on the bon so
the bone would crack.
• The cracks were analyzed to
reveal the answer of the gods or
ancestors.
Oracle bones were made from
tortoise shells or the shoulder
blades of cattle.
Tomb of Fu Hao
(Warrior Princess)
• Museums display
recreations of objects found
in royal burial tombs.
• Along with bronze vessels,
jade ornaments, and bronze
weapons, royalty were
buried with food, animals,
servants, and slaves to
serve them in the afterlife.
All were marched down a
ramp into the tomb.
Cowrie Shells—
Used by Traders
• During the Shang dynasty, people usually
traded, or bartered, for the goods they
wanted.
• However, cowrie shells were also used as
currency (money) during the Shang period.
• The ancient Chinese strung 5 to 10 shell
together and used them as coins are used
today.
• They were valuable because the source of
the shells was so far away.
• They closest supply of cowries was on the
east coast of China below the Chang Jiang,
or Yangtze River.
Farming Tools
• During the Shang
dynasty, the main
occupation of most
people was farming.
• Peasants used simple
wooden plows, stone
shovels, stone sickles,
and stone axes to work
the land.
Shang economic features
Tamed water buffalo
Cultivated rice in south
Grain grown in north
Shang musical instruments
• Music used as
“civilizing” influence
in state rituals
Drums
Bells
Chiming stones
ocarinas
Shang Accomplishments
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Made bronze by mixing copper and tin
United the clans of Inner China
Jade jewelry and sculptures
Ancestor worship
Logographs
What was special about the
Shang?
• Shang China had limited contact with the rest of the world,
though it did trade with Mesopotamia, a very long journey.
• The Shang were so isolated that they believed themselves to
be at the center of the world.
• The Shang had an ethnocentric attitude which means they
considered themselves superior to all others.
• The Shang were accomplished bronze workers, used horsedrawn chariots, developed the spoked wheel, and became
experts in the production of pottery and silk.
• They also devised a decimal system and a highly accurate
calendar.
Shang Achievements and Decline
Writing
• Development of Chinese writing closely tied to use of oracle bones
• Earliest examples of Chinese writing, questions written on bones themselves
• Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects, ideas
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
Last Shang King
• King Di Xin (aka Zhou Wang;
紂王).
• Added territory to Shang
empire.
• According to Sima Qian, he
was given to drinking,
women, festive orgies, and
“songs with crude lyrics.”
• Ignored affairs of state.
• Fall of Shang Dynasty, 1046
B.C.E.
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty
Beginning around 1100 BC, the Zhou rules China for several centuries.
The Zhou dynasty is divided into two 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
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
• Gods would support just ruler,
not allow anyone corrupt to hold • If dynasty lost power, it
In power
that case, they said, it was the will of obviously
the gods that
dynasty
be
had that
become
corrupt
overthrown and a new one take power.
The Zhou Dynasty
• The Shang dynasty fell
to the Zhou Dynasty
around 1122 B.C.E. but
it did not disappear.
• The Zhou survived for
more than 600 years,
making it one of the
longest lasting Chinese
dynasties.
Zhou Dynasty
• Zhou Dynasty (1045 – 256 B.C.E.), named after the
Zhou province, emerged in western Yellow River as a
principality of the Shang Dynasty.
• Founded by Ji Chang, son Ji Fa (aka King Wu) first
Zhou emperor; claimed Mandate of Heaven.
• Battle of Muye (1046 B.C.E.), Zhou army attacks
Shang capital; Di Xin sets his own palace on fire and
is burned alive.
• Dynasty divided into Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou
dynasties.
Zhou Dynasty
• Displaced the Shang
Dynasty
– China’s longest lasting
dynasty
– Located in NE China
– Increased the territory of
China
– Flourished until 700’s,
then began a slow
decline
http://www.artsmia.org/art-ofasia/history/images/maps/chinachou-large.gif
• Wu Wang and his followers
rebelled against the Shang
dynasty and created the Zhou
dynasty.
• The Zhou dynasty ruled longer
than any other dynasty in
Chinese history.
Wu Wang
The Zhou Dynasty
c. 1050 - 400 BC the leaders of a people who
came to be known as the Zhou (JOH) ruled
over a kingdom in China.
They joined with other nearby tribes and
overthrew the Shang dynasty.
Longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history
Zhou Politics
• Zhou Dynasty becomes “feudal”: Fengjian
system.
– Decentralized rule, emperor appoints lords and
vassals as territorial governors.
– Eventually results in instability.
• Mandate of Heaven elaborated on.
– Not only justifies rule, but also overthrow.
– “He who wins is the king; he who loses is the
rebel.”
– Permanent rule of statecraft.
Zhou Dynasty: Government
• No strong centralized government
– Feudal system
• Govt. dependent upon loyalty from nobles
• Rulers claimed to have a Mandate of Heaven
– Ruler chosen by gods to rule
– Gods can take away the mandate if the ruler is
unjust or unfit
The Zhou Political System
The Zhou kings claimed to possess the
• Mandate of Heaven - heaven gave power to
the king or leader, and no one ruled without
heaven’s permission.
• If a king was found to be bad, heaven would
support another leader
“T’ien Ming”
The Mandate of Heaven
1.The leader must lead by ability and
virtue.
2.The dynasty's leadership must be
justified by succeeding generations.
3.The mandate could be revoked by
negligence and abuse; the will of
the people was important.
The Mandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven developed during the
Zhou Dynasty and dominated Chinese thought
well into the 20th Century.
It is based on four principles:
• The right to rule is granted by Heaven.
• There is only one Heaven; therefore, there can
be only one ruler.
• The right to rule is based on the virtue of the
ruler, which serves as a check on the ruler's
power.
• The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty,
which justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion
is successful.
Start here
Emperor is
defeated !!
Rebels find
strong leader and
Rebel against
Emperior.
Poor lose
respect for govt.
They rebel.
A new
dynasty
comes to power.
The emperor
improves government.
The
Dynastic
Cycle
Droughts,
floods,
famines occur.
Govt.
corruption.
People’s lives
improved;
taxes reduced.
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Economic problems,
high taxes
The Dynastic Cycle in China
The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall of
dynasties.
Primary Source Description
• “Heaven, unpitying, has sent down ruin on Yin
[Shang]. Yin has lost the Mandate, and we Zhou
have received it. I dare not say that our fortune
would continue to prosper, even though I believe
that heaven favors those who are sincere in their
intentions. I dare not say, either it would end in
certain disaster. . . .
•
The Mandate of Heaven is not easy to gain. It
will be lost when men fail to live up to the
reverent and illustrious virtues of their
forefathers.”
•
– Duke of Shao
• Kings in the Zhou dynasty served at the head of
the government. In a bureaucracy, officials are
responsible for different areas of government
that all serve under the king.
• The Zhou kingdom was divided into smaller
territories. Each territory was led by an
aristocrat.
• Zhou kings were thought to be the link
between the gods and people. The Mandate
of Heaven was a heavenly law that gave
Zhou kings the power to rule. The Mandate
of Heaven also gave people rights.
• The Dao was the proper way kings were to
rule their people.
A mandate is a formal
command to rule or
do something
important
The Zhou Dynasty
• What was the Mandate of Heaven?
– It was a divine right given to the king to rule as long as he ruled
well. If he ruled poorly, others had the right to overthrow him!
• What is feudalism?
– System of government where the king owns all the land. He
gives land to loyal supporters & in exchange they have to
provide soldiers to fight for the king. Peasants, called serfs,
work the land for the king.
The Zhou
• The Zhou from an area to the west of the Shang
kingdom.
• Early Zhou rulers used the mandate of heaven to
justify their rebellion against the Shang.
• Later Zhou rulers expanded their territory to the
northwest and the east.
• Zhou soldiers then moved south, eventually
expanding their rule to the Chang Jiang.
Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Political Order
The Zhou king - highest level. Granted land to lords people of high rank - in return for loyalty, military
support, and other services.
• Lords paid taxes and provided soldiers to the king as
needed.
• Peasants, or farmers with small farms, at bottom of
the order.
-Each peasant family received a small plot of land
and had to farm additional land for the noble.
Zhou’s Contributions to Chinese Culture
• The Zhou transformed warfare.
• They developed the cavalry in which
soldiers fought with bows and arrows on
horseback.
• They introduced infantry troops of draft
foot soldiers.
• The Zhou expanded significantly, creating
a much larger state than what had been
ruled by the Shang.
• The Zhou created a decentralized
administration that left much power in
local hands.
Zhou’s Contributions to Chinese Culture
• “Book of Songs’ includes a
collection of China’s earliest
poetry which includes insights into
family life and gender relations in
early China.
• These poems make clear that men
pursue women in courtship and
not the other way around.
• Other poems speak of a deep
distrust of women in politics and
argue that men alone should be in
the public sphere and that women
belonged at home.
Book of Songs
• Collection of 331 poems
from the Zhou era
• Represent a variety of
subjects
–
–
–
–
–
–
Political themes
Ritualistic hymns
Life
Love and friendship
Family
Work and play
Book of Songs
“Everywhere under vast Heaven
There is no land that is not the king’s
Within the borders of those lands
There are none who are not the king’s servants.”
–from the Zhou Book of Songs
New Technologies: Zhou and Military
Failure
• Zhou kings were not able to monopolize bronze production as
the Shang had
• Moreover, iron technology was spreading rapidly throughout
China
– Iron ores were cheaper and more abundant than copper
and tin so Zhou could not monopolize iron
• Subordinates were able to outfit their forces with iron which
enabled them to resist the central government
• When nomads invaded the Zhou capital at Hao in 771 B.C.,
the subordinates refused to support the king
The Zhou system brought order to
China
• Ruling through lords helped the Zhou control
distant areas and helped ensure loyalty to the
king.
• Over time the political order broke down.
• Lords passed their power to their sons, who
were less loyal to the king.
• Local rulers gained power. They began to
reject the authority of the Zhou kings.
Economic
• Agriculture
• Cities are surrounded by agriculture
• North harvested millet grain
o Rain was hard to predict
• South harvested rice
o Predicted monsoons
o Rice patties must be flat and very wet
o Used channels to create controlled floods
o An acre of rice can feed more people then an acre of grain
o Cultivating rice is very labor intensive requires many people
o South eventually became more populated and important then the
North
• Trade
• Jade, ivory and bronze weapons were traded
• Silk was the most valuable innovation and was in high demand
• Traded as far as Mesopotamia
• Improvements in
Technology and Trade
– Zhou Dynasty builds
roads, canals to improve
transportation
– Uses coins to make trade
easier
– Produces cast iron tools
and weapons; food
production increases
Economic Exchange
• Somewhat limited by the mountain ranges and
deserts that stood between China and India and
southwest Asia
– Shipbuilding emerged during Zhou era and facilitated
trade
• Evidence of
–
–
–
–
Cowrie shells from Burma and the Maldives
Military technology from Mesopotamia
Jade from central Asia
Tin from Malay
Zhou Economy
• Feudal economy and land divisions: “well field
system” from Chinese character for well, jing (井);
slavery decreased.
• Development of an artisinal and merchant class in
the walled towns and villages.
• Improvements in agriculture = improved crop yields =
rise in population.
• Silk trade begins with ancient Mediterranean and
Middle East cultures.
• Barter system transitions into money system.
New Technologies: Silk
• During the Zhou era, the
Chinese discovered how to
make silk from the
cocoons of silkworms.
– Silk would become China’s
most valuable export,
eventually linking them
with most of the world
through trade.
New Technologies: Bookbinding
• Chinese artisans
learned how to
bind together long,
thin strips of wood
or bamboo to make
books
Poem from Late Zhou Dynasty
noting use of oracle bones in deciding the
location of a new city
The plain of Zhou was very fertile,
Its celery and sow thistle sweet as rice cakes.
“Here we will make a start; here take counsel.
Here notch our turtle.”
It says, “Stop,” it says, “Halt.
Build houses here.”
Zhou Dynasty: Society and Culture
• The family was the main social unit within
Classical China
– Headed by patriarch
• Zhou rulers attempted to create a greater
sense of unity within China
– Language: Promoted Mandarin Chinese
– Religion: outlawed human sacrifice
• However, feudalism made this unity difficult
Cosmological Beliefs
• Anthropomorphic god Shang Di evolves into
Heaven (tian, 天).
• Yang and Yin; harmony/balance.
• The Dao (道, Way): ethical way of living,
similar to Dharma.
• Competing schools of philosophy:
– Confucianism: more philosophy than religion.
– Daoism: more religion than philosophy.
Confucianism
• How did Confucius
(Kung Fuci) explain
Dao?
• First, duty to family and
community.
• Second, “humanheartedness”
compassion or empathy
for others.
• Third, deemphasize
gods, death, and the
afterlife.
Daoism
• Founded by Laozi (4th c.
B.C.E.), contemporary of
Confucius.
• Similar to Confucianism,
except:
– Inaction over action.
– Let nature take its
course.
– Stress on deities and
spirits.
Zhou (Chou) Dynasty
1027B.C. - 221 B.C.
It was philosophers of this period who first proclaimed the principles of the
“Mandate of Heaven," the notion that the ruler (the "son of heaven") governed
by divine right but his dethronement would mean that he had lost his mandate.
Agriculture in Zhou Dynasty was very intensive and in many cases directed by the
government. All farming lands were owned by nobles, who then gave their land to their
serfs, similar to European feudalism. Well-Field System was established. A piece
of land was divided into nine squares in the shape of the character jing (井), with the
grain from the middle square taken by the government and that of surrounding squares
kept by individual farmers.
Zhou Achievements
• Before Zhou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze
• 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
The Decline of Zhou Power
As the lords’ loyalty to the Zhou king lessened, refused to
fight against invasions.
• 771 BC invaders reached the capital.
• According to legend, the king had been lighting warning fires
to entertain a friend.
• Each time the fires were lit, the king’s armies would rush to
the capital gates to protect him.
• When the real attack came, the men thought the fires were
just another joke, and no one came.
• The Zhou lost the battle, but the dynasty survived.
Decline of Zhou
• After this defeat the lords began to fight each
other.
• By 481 BC, China had entered an era called the
Warring States period, a time of many civil
wars.
Fighting became brutal and cruel as soldiers
fought for territory, not honor.
Decline of Zhou
The decline of the Zhou took place as well as
• important changes in the Chinese family structure
• For many centuries the family had been the
foundation of life in China.
• Large families of several generations formed
powerful groups.
• When these families broke apart, they lost their
power.
• Close relatives became rivals.
Contributions of the Shang & Zhou Dynasties
• Two of the most important contributions of the Shang Dynasty are the use
of bronze and a system of writing.
– Warriors… were knights in bronze armor who went to battle in horsedrawn chariots made of wood and bronze. They wore bronze helmets,
and carried daggers, spears, and axes
• Chopsticks were invented, which changed the way people ate their food.
• Irrigation and flood-control systems were developed during the
Zhou dynasty. Farm tools, such as the plow, were developed.
• Silk was an important trade item during the Zhou dynasty.
Decline of the Zhou Dynasty
• Regional disunity caused Zhou Dynasty to decline
– Feudal lords began to assume more power, weakening the
dynasty
– Invasion from nomads to north
• China entered the Warring States Period
– 480-221 BCE
– Strongmen competed for power
– Eventually, one man was able to rise up and begin a new
dynasty