EARLY CHINA AND
CONFUCIANISM
Shang Dynasty
• Shang Dynasty (1532 to 1027 B.C.E.) – first important
civilization to leave written records
Early Cities• The Shang kings
built big cities with palaces and walls
• Why?– To protect themselves
against invaders
The Origins of Chinese Culture • Most important virtue:
respect for one's parents
• Obedience to authority and the king was emphasized
• The thought that divine approval was given to royal power was called? – Mandate of Heaven
Religious Beliefs
• Family was closely linked to religion – Believed that dead
ancestors continued to affect their lives
– Mulan anyone?
Oracle bones
Ancient Chinese used animal bones or tortoise shells to communicate with their ancestors and gods.
Chinese Record Keeping
• Each character stands for an idea, not a sound
• A person needed to know over 1,000 characters to be barely literate
Shang Technology
• Chinese invented silk making
• Was highly valued and wanted by other cultures
An Empire Unifies China
• The Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C. to 256 B.C)
• Established political, economic and social stability
Confucius Urges Harmony
• Confucius – lived when the Zhou
Dynasty was being torn apart by war
Confucianism• Was never a religion, but it
was an ethical system• 5 Relationships – code of
moral behavior• Became the foundation for
Chinese government and social order
• Emphasized a balance in nature
DAOISM • Definition: Search for
knowledge and understanding of nature.
• Like Confucianism, they believed in balance in nature
Legalists Urge Harsh Rule
• Legalists believed in a strong government.
• Legalist Rulers were usually extremely ruthless and harsh.
• Was later adopted by Shi Huangdi of the Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty • Zhou Dynasty was replaced by a new state called
Qin.
A New Emperor Takes Control
• Shi Huang Di which means "First Emperor."
• He took control and:- ended internal wars and
defeated invaders.- standardized money and
measuring- rejected Confucianism
and adopted Legalism
Great Wall of China
• Earlier, Zhou rulers built smaller walls to discourage attacks by northern nomads.
• Shi Huang Di connected the Great Wall of China.– It took great
engineering skill
Demarcation Line: Barbarians stay out!!
The Great Wall of China is so huge that it is one of the few human-made features on Earth visible from space.
The Fall of the Qin • The Qin Dynasty didn’t
last long• Shi Huang Di's son was
a terrible ruler. • People rebelled and
marched into the capital. • By 202 B.C.E., the harsh
Qin Dynasty gave way to the Han Dynasty.
Terra Cotta Army
Shi Huangdi was buried with his army (made of terra cotta): purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with over 600 horses