Ancient China

Neolithic

Bi (Period)

Bi

Neolithic

Cong (Period)

Cong

Shang Dynasty

Fang Ding with Taotie Design (Period)

Fang Ding with Taotie Design

Qin Dynasty

Tomb of the Terracotta Soldiers (Period)

Tomb of the Terracotta Soldiers

Yellow River

Used for transportation, fishing, and agriculture; brithplace of Chinese civilization

Yangtze River

Used for transportation, irrigation, sanitation, industry, boundary-marking, and war.

Bi

Flat, circular disc made of jade; unknown purpose

Cong

Jade tube-shaped object with square corners; found in the tombs of people who held important positions; unknown purpose

Jade

Associated with royalty, high status, purity, moral integrity, and indestructibility

Taotie

Mythical creature and a zoomorphic mask; used to warn against greed

Oracle Bones

Used for divination and provide important information

Daoism

Chinese philosophy and religion; belief in living harmony with the universe and a rejection of human ideas and standards that lead to violence, ignorance, and unnecessary worldly goals.

Confucianism

Chinese philosophy and religion; emphasized the importance of social harmony, which could be achieved by respecting social mores and hierarchies.

Li

Central concept in Confucianism; standard of conduct based on traditional forms

Dao

Central concept of Daoism; the natural order of the universe

Warring States

A time in ancient China when several small kingdoms fought each other for control of the territory

Clerical Script

Style of Chinese writing that was used for official documents, public monuments, and private correspondence.

Fu Hao

Military general, high priestess, and wife of King Wu Ding during the Shang Dynasty.

Qin Shi Huangdi

First emperor of a Unified China