Chapter 6Ancient China

Section 1Geography Shapes Ancient China

Geographic Features of ChinaCivilization centered around two rivers which

brought water and siltMade farming possible

Isolated by BarriersWater barriers: Yellow Sea, East China Sea, &

Pacific OceanDesert barriers: Gobi Desert & Taklimakan DesertMts.: Pamir, Tian Shan, & Himalaya mts.Geographically isolated

Made spread of ideas & goods difficult Few outside influences

Two River SystemsChang Jiang a.k.a. Yangtze Rivers

Central ChinaHuang He (or Yellow River)

North ChinaAncient farming

Done between Chang Jiang & Huang He Silt made fertile soil Center of Chinese civilization

A Varied ClimateHad varied climate

Western China: dry, mostly deserts & mts.; sparsely populated & usable farmland

Northeast China: cold winters & warm summers

Southeast China: mild winters & hot, rainy summers

Climate variety lead to variety of crops producedRice, wheat, soybeans, & millet

The Shang DynastyShang Kings

1766 B.C. Shang family began to control some cities Set-up dynasty (a family or group that rules for

several generations) Kings: responsible for religious activities

Ruled w/ god’s permission Ruled central North China Plain

Used chariots to defend themselves against nomads

Shang FamiliesRespect for parents & ancestors was

importantClose tie to religionSpirits of ancestors could bring good fortune

Animals were sacrificedMen ruled within the family

Developing LanguageKings claimed to be able to influence gods

Received messages through oracle bones Animal bones that were scratched to question the

gods (became early form of writing)Developed pictographs

Used huge # of symbols Could read Chinese w/o being able to speak it

Helped to unify a large varied land

The Zhou DynastyZhou moved down from the northwest

Clashed w/ Shang1027 B.C.

Wu Wang led forces & defeated Shang Adopted many Shang ways New ideas also introduced

The Zhou & the Dynastic CycleNew dynasty est.Dynasties rose & fell in a pattern

Dynastic CycleTrouble resulted from rulers losing heaven’s

favor Claimed last Shang ruler was bad & god took away

Shang right to rule & gave it to Zhou

Mandate of HeavenBad or foolish ruler = approval of the gods

would be taken away Examples: uprisings, invasions, floods, or

earthquakes

Zhou GovernmentCentral gov’t was weak

People w/ family ties or other trusted people were in charge

Local rulers (lords) owed loyalty & military service to king

King promised in return to protect their landsLords became more powerful as cities grew

More group under their powerLess dependent on kingLords began to fight with each other & other peoples

Added lands expanded Chinese territory

The Time of the Warring StatesInvasion was a constant theme800 B.C.

Nomads from the north & west invaded771 B.C.

Invaders destroyed capital city of Hao & king was killed

Kings were weakLords fought constantly

As their power grew they claimed to be kings of their own territories (Time of the Warring States)

Section 2China’s Ancient Philosophies

IntroDuring Time of Warring States Chinese

society experienced much disorderKings & Warlords fought over land, while

scholars wondered what it would take to bring peace

3 ways of thinking developedLegalismConfucianismDaoism

LegalismBelief that a powerful, efficient gov’t and a

strict legal system are the keys to social orderFeared disorderStrong gov’t & strict laws would restore order

Strict Laws & Harsh PunishmentsLegalists believed human nature was wicked

People do good only when forced toGov’t should pass strict laws to control

behavior in peopleNeeded to make people afraid to do wrong

An Increase in Government ControlLegalists believed rulers should reward those who

carried out their duties wellPunishment was, however, stressed more than

rewardsShang Yang (Legalist)

Wanted people to report lawbreakers Those who didn’t should be executed

LegalistsDid not want people ? or complain about the gov’t

Arrested those that didBurned books that contained different philosophies

or ideas

ConfucianismConfucius

Lived from 551-479 B.C. during time of unrest in China

Wanted to restore orderBelieved more in peace to end conflict

Respect for others was absolutely necessary for peace and order

Gov’t leaders should set good example for people to see

Ideas were collected in a book called the AnalectsBecame belief system of Confucianism

The Five RelationshipsCode of proper conduct/behavior for people5 basic relationships in Confucianism each

with its own duties and its own codeFather and sonElder brother and younger brotherHusband and wifeFriend and friendRuler and subject

*Two basic categories: proper conduct in the family & proper conduct in society

Proper ConductConfucius

Good conduct & respect began at home Husband good to wives, wives obeyed husbands, brothers

kind to brothers, younger had to follow wishes of older

Most important teachingFilial piety: treating parents w/ respect

Behavior in societyAuthority should be respectedRuler was to live correctly & respect subjects

Subjects should obey if they didPeace in society would come if followed

The Impact of ConfucianismChinese found ways to avoid conflict and live

peacefullyMany rulers tried to live up to Confucius’s

model for a good rulerGroundwork was laid for fair and skilled gov’t

officials

DaoismLaozi

500s B.C.Book of his teachings was Daodejing

The WayBelieved a universal force called the Dao (or Way) guides

thingsAll creatures, except humans, live in harmony w/ this force

Humans argue about right and wrong (arguments are pointless)To relate to nature humans had to find individual was to follow

Each should learn to live in harmony w/ nature & their inner feelings

Natural order was more important than social orderSocial order would follow if everyone learned to live in their

own individual harmony

Following the WayDaoists

Didn’t not argue about good and bad & didn’t try to change things Accepted things as they were

Didn’t want to be involved with gov’t Thought gov’t should leave people alone

Yin and YangTwo things that interact w/ each other and represent the natural

rhythms of life Yin (black): all that is cold, dark, & mysterious Yang (white): all that is warm, bright, and light

Forces complement each other; forces always change and evolve Helps people understand how they fit into the world

Daoists pursued scientific studiesAstronomy & medicine