china: a brief background introduction. early china in eastern hemisphere context chinese...
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China: A Brief Background Introduction
Early China in Eastern Hemisphere Context
Early China in Eastern Hemisphere Context
Chinese Agriculture = c. 4000 BCE; Chinese Civilization = 1766 BCE
Early Traditional Chinese Yin/Yang Values
Early Traditional Chinese Yin/Yang Values
Earliest Chinese Civilization: Warrior Aristocratic Rule in Shang (1766-
1122 BCE) and Western Zhou (1122-700s BCE)
Earliest Chinese Civilization: Warrior Aristocratic Rule in Shang (1766-
1122 BCE) and Western Zhou (1122-700s BCE)
Oracle BonesWar Chariot
Shang Oracle Bone on Lady Hao’s Childbirth
Shang Oracle Bone on Lady Hao’s Childbirth
Que divined: Lady Hao will give birth and it will be good
Prognostication: The King read the cracks and said: “If it be on a ding day that she give birth, it will be good. If it be on a geng day that she give birth , it will be prolonged auspiciousness.”
Verification: [After] thirty-one days, on jiajin, she gave birth. It was not good. It was a girl
Early Zhou Continue Shang Aristocratic Ways, But Late Zhou
(770 – 200s BCE) China Really Divided into Warring States
Early Zhou Continue Shang Aristocratic Ways, But Late Zhou
(770 – 200s BCE) China Really Divided into Warring States
Late Zhou = Roots of New, Classical China
Late Zhou = Roots of New, Classical China
• Great Thinkers try understand what makes best world:
– Legalists say must have harsh rule for order
– Daoists say small or no government best
– Confucius says rule by excellent men, for sake of all, is best (eventually becomes China’s ruling belief – but not for several centuries)
• All assume patriarchal family, some male dominance
Basic Confucian IdeasBasic Confucian Ideas
• Ruler & state should serve all the people• Educated gentlemen make the best officials• Peasants are foundation of state; craftspeople are OK; merchants have little value• Women should submit to men
Qin Shi Huangdi Unifies, Rules China 221-210 BCE
Qin Shi Huangdi Unifies, Rules China 221-210 BCE
• Marks end of aristocrat-dominated era Early Chinese Civilization
• Creates unified bureaucratic-centered state – needed to end wars among small states, be able withstand nomad attacks
• Later Scholars say fell because of its harsh Legalist philosophy
Qin Emperor’s Great Terracotta Army
Qin Emperor’s Great Terracotta Army
Qin Army CloseupsQin Army Closeups
Han China Follows Qin, Adopts Confucianism as “Good” Ruling
Philosophy
Han China Follows Qin, Adopts Confucianism as “Good” Ruling
Philosophy
Confucian Era Lasts 2000+ YearsConfucian Era Lasts 2000+ Years
Han Era, 206 BCE – 220 CE
(Era of Disunity = 220 – 581)
Tang Era, 618 - 906
Song Era, 960 - 1276
(Mongol Conquest Era = 1200s – 1368)
Ming Era, 1368 – 1644
Qing Era, 1644 - 1911
Confucian China = Increasing Urbanism, Prosperity, Arts, Culture
Confucian China = Increasing Urbanism, Prosperity, Arts, Culture
Tang Era Elite Women: Some Freedom of Movement, Public
Beauty
Tang Era Elite Women: Some Freedom of Movement, Public
Beauty
Women Increasingly Constrained: Footbinding
(10th–20th C CE)
Women Increasingly Constrained: Footbinding
(10th–20th C CE)
Interesting Note: Qing (Manchu – 1644-1911) Shoes Look Bound,
But Aren’t
Interesting Note: Qing (Manchu – 1644-1911) Shoes Look Bound,
But Aren’t