ancient china culture

7/30/2019 Ancient China Culture

1/18

1

The Shang:Chinas First Civilization


2/18

2

Shang Dynasty First people to establish an advanced

civilization in China Shang Civilization evolved in Yellow River

Valley

It established the basis of Chinese culture


3/18

Bronze Age Empires


4/18

Introduction to Shang Notes

The Shang were the firstpeople to establish a

civilization in China.

They originated in the

Yellow River Valley.

They were ruled by aseries of warrior kings and

land owning nobles called

aristocrats.


5/18

The last capital of the

Shang was Anyang. The city was

surrounded by

massive walls of

pounded earth.

Laid out in a grid

pattern.

5


6/18

The greatest Shang ruler was Wu Ding.

His wife, Fu Hao helped him govern.

Her tomb contained thousands of

bronze and jade artifacts and evidence

of human sacrifice.

6


7/18

7

Document A

Pictographs are pictures that represent objects andconcepts. (Ancient)

Ideographs are characters that represent an thing oridea. (Modern)


8/18

8

The Evolution of ChineseWriting during the Shang

Pictographs Ideographs

Mastery of Chinese writing required thememorization of over 10,000 characters, whichtook years to learn.


9/18

9

Doc B Ancestor Worship

The Chinese believed thatdead ancestors had greatinfluence with the gods.

Prayers were directedtoward these ancestors in

hopes of serving thecommunity.

Kings and nobles viewedthemselves as the importantintermediaries between thepeople and their gods andancestors.

Offerings of food and winewere often given to

ancestors during religiousceremonies.


10/18

10

Glor ious Ancestors

Ah, the glorious ancestors-

Endless, their blessings,Boundless their gifts are extended;

We have brought them clear wine; They will give victory.

Here, too, is soup well-seasoned,

Setting all quarrels aside, They make safe for us a ripe old age,

We shall reach the withered cheek, we shall go on and on.With eight bells a jangle

We come to make offering.

The charge put upon us is vast and mighty,

From Heaven dropped our prosperity,

Good harvests, great abundance.They come [the ancestors], they accept,

They send down blessings numberless.


11/18

11

Document C: Oracle Bones

This process is called divination.


12/18

12


13/18

13

Yin and Yang

The Chinese believed theuniverse reflected a delicatebalance between the forcesof Yin and Yang.

Yin is linked to earth,darkness, and female forces.

Yang stands for Heaven,light, and male forces.

These forces are not inopposition, but must remainin balance with one another.


14/18

14

Doc D: Shang Bronzes

By 2000 bce theChinese hadacquired bronzemetallurgy.

Possession ofbronze objectswas a sign of

authority andnobility, and oftenused in statereligious rituals.


15/18

15

Doc E: Filial Piety

Filial Piety meansshowing respect andloyalty for onesparents. It was aprimary virtue in

Chinese social life.

How does thefollowing document

represent the valuesof Filial Piety?


16/18

16

On Filial Piety

Meng Tzu asked about the treatment of parents. The Master said,

"Never disobey!" When Fan Ch'ih was driving his carriage for him, the

Master said, "Meng asked me about the treatment of parents and I

said, 'Never disobey!'" Fan Ch'ih said, "In what sense did you mean

it?" The Master said, "While they are alive, serve them according toritual. When they die, bury them according to ritual and sacrifice to

them according to ritual."

Tzu-yu asked about the treatment of parents. The Master said,

'''Filial sons' nowadays are people who see to it that their parents get

enough to eat. But even dogs and horses are cared for to that extent. Ifthere is no feeling of respect, wherein lies the difference?"


17/18

17

A Traditional Chinese House

This housewasdesigned tohave threeor fourgenerationsof aChinese

family underthe sameroof.


18/18

18

Silk Making

The process of

creating silk was

discovered by the

Shang. Silk worms, which spin

cocoons after eating

mulberry trees, were

raised for the preciousthread they produce.

ancient china culture

Documents