Shang and chou dynasties
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Transcript of Shang and chou dynasties
Shang Dynasty
1766- 1122 BC
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
Chou Dynasty1122- 256 BC
Classical Period of Chinese Civilization
Chou Achievements
• Before Chou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze
• Chou learned to use iron, became backbone of economy
Iron weapons strengthened Chou army, as did new weapons like catapult and creation of China’s first cavalry
Growth
• Population grew under Chou
• 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
New Philosophies
• The conflicts of the late Chou period led many Chinese thinkers to question the nature of society and people’s roles in it.
Confucianism
• Confucianism based on teachings of scholar named Kongfuzi, better known as Confucius, who believed people should treat one another humanely
• Should express love, respect for others, 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
• 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
Daoism
• 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 are 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
Daoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese history
• 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
Result of rebellions was Warring States Period
• 403 BC to 221 BC, number of small states fought each other for land, power
• Chou still nominally in charge, but power almost nonexistent by mid-200s BC
• Qin, new dynasty, arose to bring end to Warring States Period, Chou dynasty
Decline of the Chou
• Conflict arose during latter part of Chou dynasty
• Clan leaders within China rose up against king
• As time passed, more and more local leaders turned against Chou, further weakening rule