Chapter 3 Section 3

The Huang He (or Yellow River) is more than 2900 miles long and extends from Mongolia to the Pacific O.

The Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) is over 3400 miles long and flows across central China to the Yellow Sea

Both valleys became one of the greatest food-producing areas in the ancient world.Only 10% is farmableOther is deserts and mountains

Mountains and deserts important in Chinese historyBarriers from other Asians

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Yellow River

Yangtze River

What role have the mountains and deserts played in Chinese history?The mountains and deserts served as barriers

that separated the Chinese people from other Asian people.

Chinese civilization started with the Xia (SYAH) dynasty over 4000 years agoNot much know about it

Replaced by the Shang dynasty in 1750 B.C. til 1122 B.C.

Primarily a farming societyAn aristocracy ruled society

- an upper class whose wealth is based on land and whose power is passed from one generation to another

Evidence of impressive cities in Shang ChinaHuge walls, royal palaces, large royal tombs

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King ruled from capital city, Anyang

Kingdom divided into territories with aristocratic warlords (military leaders) in charge of eachChosen or removed by

kingKing controlled large

armiesOften fought on the

fringes of kingdom

Rulers believed they could communicate with the gods for help

Priests scratched questions on bones to get answers from the godsOracle bones

Heated metal rods into the bones causing them to crack

Priests interpreted cracks as answers from gods

Early Chinese had a strong belief in life after deathAncestor worship

Humans were sacrificed to win the favor of the gods and provide companions for the king and his family on their journey to the next world

Believed that the spirits of ancestors could bring good or evil to living members of a familyImportant to treat spirits well

King and family at top of Shang society

Aristocratic families helpedWaged war, served as

officials, chief landownersMajority were peasants

Farmed land of aristocratsSmall number of

merchants and artisansWell known for mastery of

the art of bronze castingSome of the most admired

creations of Chinese art

What were some of the religious beliefs during the Shang dynasty?Rulers believed they could communicate with

the gods to help with their affairs. Priests could read oracle bones as answers

from gods.The spirits of ancestors could bring good or

evil to living members of a family (treat them well!)

Revolted against Shang, established new dynasty which lasted almost 800 years (1045 to 256 B.C.)Longest dynasty in Chinese history

Continued political system of ShangKing head of governmentAppointed officials (were aristocrats)Controlled large armies

Some changes were made…

Mandate of Heaven –a belief during the Zhou dynasty that kings received their authority to command, or mandate, from Heaven

King was chosen by Heaven because of his talent and virtueExpected to rule according to the proper

“Way” or the DaoMandate had strong political side effects

“right of revolution” to overthrow corrupt or evil ruler

What was the Mandate of Heaven and how did it lead to dynastic cycles?The belief that kings received their authority to

command, or mandate, from Heaven. It was the king’s duty to keep the gods pleased to protect people from bad harvest and disasters. If he failed, he could be overthrown. Led to pattern of dynastic cycles.

Important part of Chinese historyStudied by nearly all students until 20th century

Duty of human beings to work hard to improve life here on Earth

Two main concepts : duty and humanityDuty: all people had to subordinate their own

interests to the broader needs of the family and the communityParent & child, husband & wife, older sibling &

younger, older friend & young, ruler & subject: Each person has a duty to the other

Humanity: compassion and empathy for others

Daoism - a system of ideas based on the teachings of Laozi (LOW DZUH)Don’t know if Laozi actually existedIdeas became popular in 5th and 4th centuries B.C.

Discussed in Tao Te Ching (The Way of the Dao)Scholars have argued for centuries over its

meaningTries to set forth proper forms of behavior for

humans on EarthBelieve the true way to follow the will of

Heaven is not action but inactionThe best way to act in harmony with the

universal order is to act spontaneously and let nature take its course by not interfering with it

Proposed that humans were evil by nature could only be brought to follow the correct

path by harsh laws and stiff punishmentsRejected Confucian views and argued for a

system of impersonal lawsNeeded strong ruler to create order by threat

of punishment and have no compassion

Contrast the three philosophies that developed in China near the end of the Zhou dynasty.Confucianism concentrated on dutyDaoism emphasized spontaneityLegalism stressed the value of harsh laws