Early Chinese Civilization: Rivers, Dynasties, and Confucian Values

Yellow River

A major river around which early Chinese civilization developed.

Yangtze River

A major river supporting agriculture and complex societies in China.

Sorrow of China

A nickname for the Yellow River reflecting destructive flooding.

Chinese geography

Supported agriculture but also provided relative isolation from outside interference.

Land ownership

Important in China because productive land was limited and population density was high.

Dynastic cycle

The pattern in which dynasties rise, rule, lose legitimacy, and are replaced.

Xia Dynasty

An early Chinese dynasty associated with flood control and King Yu.

King Yu

Ruler associated with controlling Yellow River floods and the ideal of a hardworking ruler benefiting the people.

Shang Dynasty

A dynasty associated with shamanistic rulers, oracle bones, bronze, and alliances.

Shamanistic rulers

Shang rulers with important religious roles and connections to the supernatural.

Tian

The Shang 'Deity Above,' connected to later ideas of Heaven.

Oracle bones

Inscribed bones used for divination and as evidence of Shang writing.

Bronze

A major Shang technological accomplishment used for weapons and ritual objects.

Zhou Dynasty

A dynasty associated with the Mandate of Heaven and feng-chien.

Mandate of Heaven

The Zhou belief that Heaven grants rulers legitimacy but can withdraw it from unjust rulers.

Tianming

The Chinese term for the Mandate of Heaven.

Feng-chien

The Zhou system of feudal relationships and alliances.

Feudalism

Political organization based on relationships and obligations between rulers and subordinate lords.

Warring States

A period about 403-221 BCE of conflict, consolidation, and growing bureaucracies.

Bureaucracy

Government administration using officials; Warring States bureaucracies were increasingly staffed by scholars.

Confucius

A thinker who emphasized social harmony, proper relationships, education, and moral behavior.

Chinese humanism

Confucian emphasis on human relationships, ethics, education, and social harmony.

Five Relationships

Confucian relationships defining proper social behavior and hierarchy.

Filial piety

Respect and duties toward parents and ancestors; xiao.

Ancestor worship

Honoring ancestors, important in early Chinese society and Confucian thought.

Xiao

The Chinese term for filial piety.

Social mobility

The possibility of changing social position; education could support mobility.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold greater authority and power.