China

Dragons

Dragon gods believed to be responsible for the rains that made the fields fertile◦Dragon rain ceremonies

Saw them as respected spirits that brought good luck

Described their rivers as dragons◦Limbs were small streams◦Body was the main river◦Mouth was the delta

GeographyHuge country with multiple

climates◦North China Plain

Brief intense summer rainy season caused by monsoon winds

Very dry climate for the rest of the months

◦South China Monsoons bring heavy rains from March

to September Light rainfall the rest of the year

Towns rose up around fertile rivers

Middle KingdomMountains and seas acted as

geographic barriers ◦Isolated China from other

civilizations◦Little knowledge of one another

Middle Kingdom◦Chinese thought they lived at the

middle of the world

Huang River

Second longest river in ChinaMuddiest river in the world

◦“Yellow River” Due to Loess (yellow-brown soil) in the river

Fertile soil around the river◦Chinese grew a grain called millet

“China’s Sorrow”◦Floods could come without warning

Drowned people or crops Such force that they might redirect the riverbed

◦Dikes built to hold back flood waters

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty was first

civilization in China◦1760 BC◦Built first cities

Fine bronze workFirst writing system

Zhou Dynasty

Appeared 600 years after founding of Shang

Lived in Wei Valley to west of Shang People◦Sometimes peace, sometimes fighting◦Zhou conquered Shang around 1122BC

Ruled China for almost 1,000 yearsEarlier Western Zhou dynasty and later

Eastern Zhou dynasty◦Period of the Warring States began at end of

Eastern Zhou dynasty◦Qin Dynasty emerged

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven was the

gods’ blessing upon a particular ruler’s right to rule◦If a dynasty was struggling, it

appeared to the people that the gods were removing their mandate

◦Also gave the father authority over his family

Importance of the Family

Family was center of Chinese society◦More important than the individual or the nation◦Family was the source of each person’s wellbeing

Households might have 5 generations◦Status in the household depended upon age and

genderOldest man with the most power

◦Decided who his children and grandchildren should marry

◦He was in charge of discipline◦Lands divided among his sons when he died

Women in China

Women considered to be lower statusBound by three obediences

◦Obey fathers in youth◦Obey husbands after their marriage◦Obey sons in widowhood

Four virtues◦Morality◦Modesty◦Proper speech◦Domestic skills

Left her family and joined her husband’s◦Expected to obey husband and mother-in-law

Family NamesInherited family names along

with personal names◦Inherited name passed father to

child◦i.e. Mao, Chan, Lu

Family name comes first◦i.e. Reuwer Daniel

Confucius and the Lady

Confucius was walking and heard a crying woman

She was crying because a tiger had killed her whole family (multiple generations)

He asked why she hadn’t left ◦Said she hadn’t left because there were no

cruel rulers in that areaConfucius: “Remember this. A cruel ruler

is fiercer and more feared than a tiger.”◦Confucius told great stories with lessons

Confucius

Most important of Chinese thinkers Kong Fu Zi

◦ “Master Kong”◦ Confucius is Latinized version

Born in 551 to poor but noble family◦ North China◦ Taught himself

Wanted to work for a government job◦ Didn’t get it, so he went to teaching

China’s first professional teacher Charged his students to take classes Taught his views of life and government

Wanted to find a ruler to follow his teachings◦ Failed◦ Died at age 73 believing his life a failure

Confucianism

Confucius believed his role was to pass along forgotten wise teachings

His students wrote down his teachings◦Philosophy, not religion

Goal of the society was to bring peace and order

◦His teachings are recorded in the analectsPeople should know their place in family

and society◦Treat others with respect and justice

5 Human Relationships

5 Relationships all people fall under◦Ruler and Ruled◦Father and Son◦Husband and Wife◦Older Brother and Younger Brother◦Friend and Friend

People in higher position should set good examples and treat others fairly◦Similar to Golden Rule

Confucianism and Religion

Teachings of Confucius guided people’s livesPracticed Confucianism alongside other

religions◦Believed in harmony with nature and the

honoring of gods, ancestors, and spiritsTaoism

◦Happiness comes from living a balanced life◦Based on writings of Laozi

Chinese thinker of 500s BC

◦Loved nature and simplicity◦Rivaled Confucianism for popularity

Confucianism eventually had a stronger following

Civil Service Exam

Civil Service is the group of people who carry out the government’s work

Civil Service Exam assigned people to government posts◦Replaced a system where sons of

powerful people got jobs◦Based upon a test

Calligraphy Memorization of the analects of Confucius Application of the analects