Ancient China

Artisans

skilled workers who make goods by hand; usually these goods are both beautiful and useful

Bronze

a mixture of copper and tin, used by artists in early China (Shang and Zhou dynasties) to make a variety of things, such as vases, bowls, bells, and drinking cups; sometimes lead was added to the copper and tin

Buddhism

a way of life based on the teachings of the Buddha, such as giving up worldly desires and seeking enlightenment (perfect wisdom) to achieve nirvana (a state of complete peace and being one with the universe); includes the concept of reincarnation as a wheel (suffering in life, death, rebirth) that people that can only escape through enlightenment

bureaucracy

\n a system of government with many departments and procedures, with bureaus led by appointed officials, who have fixed responsibilities within their specific rank

calligraphy

the art of beautiful handwriting; done with a brush and ink in ancient China

civil service

a system of government employees (officials) mainly selected for their skills and knowledge; in ancient China this required exams

Confucius/Confucianism

a Chinese philosopher ("First Teacher"); a philosophy focused on stable, orderly society based on 5 Relationships, honoring ancestors and elders; focus on leaders who set example by being kind and benevolent; valued education and traditions

Daoism

a philosophy of how to live simply, all things should follow the Dao ("the way"), or the flow of nature, to find peace; this means taking very little action or leaving society to live close to nature

dynasty

a powerful family or series of rulers that maintains its position of power for a long time; in ancient China, multiple generations of emperors from the same family formed a dynasty

feudalism

a political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king or emperor, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land; nobles profit from the farming that happens on this land

filial piety

when respect is shown by children and younger people for their parents and elders

Legalism

a philosophy that a strong leader and a strong legal system are needed to create social order

loess

yellowish light silt (dust/dirt) deposited by wind and water; it makes the fertile soil of the Yellow River Valley in northern China

logograph

a written character that represents a complete word or phrase, instead of a sound

Mandate of Heaven

the belief that the Chinese emperor's right to rule came from the gods, and could be lost if the dynasty did not act properly; meant new leaders could seize control by force

monopoly

when a single group controls the production of a good or service; bad for business because the consumer will have to pay high prices for poor quality as there is no competition

oracle bones

animal bones carved with written characters which were used for telling the future

philosophy

a set of beliefs about the world and how to live

porcelain

a thin, beautiful type of pottery, made of fine clay baked at very high temperatures; invented in ancient China

public works

large scale projects funded by a government to help or protect its citizens or to glorify the rulers

uniform

remaining the same in all cases and at all times; unchanging in form or character

warlords

military rulers of small states who claim loyalty to their king or emperor, but really want power for themselves

Yin and Yang

a Daoist idea of two opposing forces in the universe; Yin is the passive, quiet force, and Yang the active, bright force; people need to balance both to find harmony