Ancient Chinese Dynasties

Hsia - 2205 - 1751 BC

Shang/Yin - 1750 BC

Chou - 1050 - 245 B.C

Spring & Autumn - 770 - 403 BC

Confucius - 551 - 479 BC; Mo-ism

Warring States (Chan-kuo) Period 403 - 221 BC

Ch’in Dynasty (221 - 206 BC)

Western Han (206 BC - 8 AD)

Hsin (8 - 23 AD)

Eastern Han (25 -220)

Buddhism introduced to China in the 1st century

Wade Giles: Hsia, Chou, Tao

Pinyin: Xia, Zhou, Dao

Lord on High (Shang-ti) - god of gods?

shaman (wu)

Tortoise shell divination; pyromancy; scapulomancy

  • In chou period we see evidence of the emerging attitude or ideal of humanism

  • humanism in essence is confucianism

  • a more rationalistic tendency emphasizing human endeavor and ingenuity

  • humaneness; emphasis on virtue; kindness toward fellow humans

Mandate of Heaven (T’ien)

  • tien is another word for God (Shang- Di)

  • in the chou period, we see evidence of the emerging attitude or ideal of humanism

  • a more rationalistic tendency emphasizing human endeavor and ingenuity

  • humaness; emphasis on virtue; kindness toward fellow humans

  • turtles were considered sacred and special because of their long lifespan

First Emperor of China: thought that too many schools of thought were not good, Legalist

  • Yao + Shun: pre-Hsia, legendary leaders in China that had a lot of integrity

  • Shun - filial piety

  • Chieh, last king of Hsia, was real bad

    • got overthrown which lead to the Shang Dynasty (1750 - 1050 BC)

T’ang

  • T'ang - founder of the Shang Dynasty, known for his virtuous rule and significant contributions to the development of early Chinese civilization.

  • felt like heaven was on his side and he was carrying out filial piety when he overthrew Chieh

Chou - another tyrannical ruler that was overthrown (pronounced super quick like small つ）

  • Zhou Dynasty replacing Shang dynasty was the Mandate of Heaven

    • King Wu beating Chou

    • central to Confucianist worldview

Confucianism (ju-chia; school of the scholars)

  • Confucius aka K’ung Ch’iu

    • Confucius was a name Christian missionaries came up with

  • Confucius serves as Police Commissioner (ssu-kou), 502 - 497 B.C

  • Moves about various states, 497 - 484 B.C.

  • Returns to Lu; serves as low level Counsellor from 481 till death in 479; 484 - 479 B.C

  • Confucius left because the ruler of the state at the time (Chi Huan Tzu) was a gooner and fell into temptation for female entertainers so he dipped from his responsibilities and made Confucius clock out because bro lost the way

  • He saw the world as corrupt, model was always in the past

    • in older times, there were sages who embodied virtue and wisdom, guiding society towards harmony and righteousness.

  • he was pretty conservative, basically said that he doesn’t come up with new ideas but he just conveys the messages of past scholars

  • he loved music/art

    • was a musician himselfxw

  • duke of zhou was considered a peak ruler

    • State of Lu was established specifically for his descendants?