chapter 6 blog notes
TRANSCRIPT
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