Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
Chapter Outline
I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.
II. The Qin and Han Empires, 221 B.C. E.–220,
B.C.E.
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.
A. Neolithic Age, c. 6500–c. 1600 B.C.E.
Homo erectus, Homo sapiens
Huanghe River
Yangzi River
Yangshao (5000–3000 B.C.E.)
oracle bones
Sages:
Fu Xi
Shen Nong
Huang Di
Five Sovereigns:
Huang Di
Yao
Shun
Xia Dynasty
Yu
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
I.
The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221
B.C.E.
B. Bronze Age: The Shang Dynasty
(c. 1600–c. 1027 B.C.E.)
Capitals:
Zhengzhou
Anyang
Culture
taotie
pictographs
Rule
oracles
Di, supreme diety
Magic
yin and yang
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.
C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)
Book of Documents
idea of “heavenly mandate”
king as “son of heaven”
King Wen — founder
his brother, Duke of Zhou, regent for:
King Wu
son of Wen
moves capital to Luoyang
by 8th century B.C.E., weakness
> 771 B.C.E., overthrown
dynasty survives at Louyang to 250 B.C.E.
[1027-771 B.C.E. — “Western Zhou”
771-250 B.C.E. — “Eastern Zhou”]
from 335 B.C.E. — wang, rival kings
Warring States (402–221 B.C.E.)
Qin ruler establishes empire by 221 B.C.E.
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
I. The Origins of China, 6500 B.C.E.–221 B.C.E.
C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)
Zhou Economy and Society
Technology
iron
plow, better irrigation, fertilization
canals
Religion
ancestor worship
The Book of Songs (1000–600 B.C.E.)
Clever men build cities,
Lady Hao, wife of King Wu
(c. 1200 B.C.E.)
Clever women topple them…
Disorder does not come down from heaven,
It is produced by women.
from The Book of Songs
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
I. The Creation of China, 7000 B.C.E.–1027 B.C.E.
C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)
The Philosophical Schools
Confucianism
Kong Fuzi (c. 551–479 B.C.E.)
Analects — selected sayings
jinzi - gentleman
li — correct behavior
Dao = the way, “moral personality”
stressed ethical values
Mozi (c. 490–391 B.C.E.)
universal love, less emphasis on family
“The way (Dao) of learning to be great
consists in shining with the
illustrious power of moral
personality, in making a new people,
in abiding in the highest goodness”
“Never do to others what you would not
like them to do to you”
“The noble man understands what is
right; the inferior man understands
what is profitable”
from the writings of Confucius
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
I. The Creation of China, 7000 B.C.E.–1027 B.C.E.
C. The Zhou Dynasty (1027?–221 B.C.E.)
The Philosophical Schools
Mencius (Mengzi, c. 372–c. 289 B.C.E.)
political philosophy
land reform
“well-field” system
“removing the Mandate”
Xunzi (c. 310–c. 220 B.C.E.)
Legalism
Lord Shang (d. 338 B.C.E.)
follower, Han Feizi (d. 233 B.C.E.)
Li Si (d. 208 B.C.E.)
Qin minister
Doaism
Zuangzi (c. 369–c. 286 B.C.E.)
Texts: Daodejing, Zhuangzi
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
II. The Qin and Han Empires,
221 B.C.E.–220 C.E.
A. The Qin Dynasty
Lord Shang
minister from 361 B.C.E.
legalist
King Zheng (247–210 B.C.E.)
supported by Lu Buwei and Li Si
conquest of Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Qi
> 221 B.C.E. Unification
title: Shi Huangdi = emperor
program:
weaken nobles
re-structure society
nobility replaced by 20 ranks
single legal system
influenced by Legalism
unified currency
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
II. The Qin and Han Empires
B. The Han Dynasty
Xiang Yu v. Liu Bang
following death of Zheng
Liu Bang victorious, 206 B.C.E.
> Gaozu (202–195 B.C.E.)
1. Former Han (206 B.C.E.–8 C.E.)
balance of wu (military power) and
wen (ethical civilian rule)
centralization
use of Confucian scholars
Emperor Wudi (141–87 B.C.E.)
university for government officials
> 30,000 students in Later Han
Ever-Normal Granary Policy,
by 51 B.C.E.
to ensure supplies
Expansion
trade with West
development of “Silk Roads”
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
II. The Qin and Han Empires
B. The Han Dynasty (cont’d)
Decline
Wang Mang — regent for minors
takes over in 9 C.E.
reforms unsuccessful
2. Later Han (23–220 C.E.)
184 C.E. — “Yellow Turbans”
rebellion
messianic: Taipingdao
C. Han Scholarship, Art and Technology
rediscovery of the Zhou period
Sima Qian (c. 145–90 B.C.E.)
The Historical Records (Shiji)
Ban Gu (d. 92 C.E.)
History of the Former Han
Dong Zhongshu (c. 179–104 B.C.E.)
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
II. The Qin and Han Empires
B. The Han Dynasty (cont’d)
Decline
Wang Mang — regent for minors
takes over in 9 C.E.
reforms unsuccessful
2. Later Han (23–220 C.E.)
184 C.E. — “Yellow Turbans”
rebellion
messianic: Taipingdao
C. Han Scholarship, Art and Technology
rediscovery of the Zhou period
Sima Qian (c. 145–90 B.C.E.)
The Historical Records (Shiji)
Ban Gu (d. 92 C.E.)
History of the Former Han
Dong Zhongshu (c. 179–104 B.C.E.)
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins
Chapter 2: Ancient China: Origins to Empire
II. The Qin and Han Empires
D. The Confucian Woman of the Han
Liu Xiang, (79–8 B.C.E.)
Biographies of Heroic Women
Ban Zhao (45–116 C.E.), Lessons for
Women
E. Religious Daoism and Buddhism
F. China and Foreign Trade
silk for horses, woolens
especially trade with Rome
Brummett et al , Civilization, Past & Present, Part One; Classical Origins