Ancient China Quiz Review (Lessons 1-3)

Geography of China

China surrounded by natural barriers- slowed spread of info and ideas

Two main river systems - Huang (Yellow) and the Chang (Yangtze)

Huang - location of earliest Chinese civilization, yellow because of the loess

Floods deposit the loess (fine, dustlike material), which makes good soil for crops

Dynasty - ruling family that holds power for many years

Logograph - written character that represents a complete word or phrase

The Shang Dynasty (earliest dynasty with a written record)

Started as farming villages along the Huang River

Shang dynasty rose to power - rule passed in family from brother to brother

What we know about the Shang comes from oracle bones

Oracle bones - animal bones or turtle shells carved with written characters that

the Shang kings used to try to tell the future

Writing based on characters (pictographs and logographs) instead of alphabet

Bronze important for ceremonial purposes (like Fu Hao’s axe blades) and art

Zhou Dynasty

Conquered the Shang, said Shang rulers had grown corrupt - their troops wouldn’t fight

Mandate of Heaven - Heaven (highest force of nature) gave dynasties right to rule

Government - king as center but more power to states and their nobles- most peasants

Advancements - crossbow, iron weapons, roads, coins

States once part of Zhou became independent - led by warlords (military rulers)

The Warring States Period - brutal conflict between the warlords for control

Spiritual Traditions

Earth as a flat square with Heaven stretching above it - full of different spirits

Spirits ruled daily lives of people - both good and harmful

Ancestor spirits (most imp.) - protect and guide the living - honored by rituals

Confucianism

Confucius (First Teacher) said cause of disorder in Warring States was turning away

from traditional roles and values - return to those values could bring back order

Teachings and wisdom collected in the Analects

Heart of Confucianism - stable, orderly society based on 5 relationships

Father & son(most imp)-elders care & teach / children respect & obey (filial piety)

This relationship was the model for the other four

Best way for ruler to lead people was by setting a good, moral example

Daoism

Dao - means “the way” or the “the path” - the source of yin and yang, which are the two great forces at work in nature, balance between the yin and yang key to harmony

Laozi - possible founder of Daoism, his beliefs written in the Dao De Jing

Goals - Try to understand the Dao which is found in natural things like water / order

comes when people keep to a simple life instead of wealth and power

Different than Confucianism - not concerned with morals, rituals and education