Sept. 3 Slides

The Foundations of Chinese Civilization: Ancestors, Dynasties, and Writing (Shang and Zhou)

Today’s topics • Chinese Geography: The Basics • Ruler, Heaven and Man • The concept of Wen （文）

Chinese Geography: The Basics

Land mass

Chinese Geography: The Basics

Topography

Chinese Geography: The Basics

Major waterways •Yellow River •Yangtze River (Long River)

Chinese Geography: The Basics

Regions •Temperate •Subtropical •Tropical

Think-Pair-Share • How might China’s physical geography have affected the way China developed as a civilization? (Make an educated guess, based on what you’ve just learned).

Ruler and people •

Dynasty: – Rule by a single clan – handed down through the father-son lineage of that clan – Set pattern for later periods

Timeline of Chinese History Chinese Dynasties

Europe

– Xia, Shang – Zhou Ancient – Han Roman Empire – Period of Division – Sui Medieval – Tang – Song – Yuan Early Modern – Ming Renaissance – Qing Late imperial

Timeline of Early Chinese History • Xia dynasty: 2205?-1554? B. C. • Shang dynasty: 1554?-1045/1040 B. C • Western Zhou: 1045/1040-771 B. C • Eastern Zhou: – Spring and Autumn: 722-481 B. C – The Warring States: 403-221 B. C

Heaven, gods and ancestors • Importance of Ancestors – Past as source of biological, political and religious identity – Ancestral rituals showed extent of ruler’s power over the living

Heaven, gods and ancestors: “Di” and “Heaven” • “Di” (Shang) – Highest deity in the pantheon – May have been a divinized ancestor – Not always benevolent – Very distant & awe-inspiring

• Heaven (Zhou) – Not at all anthropomorphic – Far removed from human realm – Agent of good & order – Very distant, but not as fearsome as Di

Ruler and people • No separation between religious and political responsibilities – Communication with spirits, ancestors – Link between heaven and earth

• Religious authority as political authority – Political stability – Maintain clan authority, social order

Ruler and authority: Oracle bones • Divination • Ruler’s access to truth, ability to communicate with heaven and ancestors

Oracle bones

Mandate of Heaven • A ruler and a dynasty’s virtuous conduct justifies his/its hold on power • If a formerly virtuous dynasty becomes unjust, it lays itself open to rebellion • Maintaining the Mandate requires constant self-review and selfcorrection

“Minute Paper” • Write for one minute on the following question:

• Why was lineage so important in early China? Your response will be counted as an in-class exercise for credit. Please be sure to put your name, date and section number on your paper and turn it in to the correct box in the back of the room before you leave.

Wen 文 : Meanings and Significance • “Pattern” (original meaning) – Patterns in nature • e.g. tiger stripes

– Human patterns • e.g. decoration on bronze vessels

• “Writing or script”, i.e., “patterns” of language (late Shang-early Zhou)

Wen 文 • “Culture” or “civilized” – wen (civil affairs) and wu 武 (military affairs)

Religion and politics

Religion and politics

Wen

Compare and contrast

Summary • What three main things should you remember from this session?