Chapter 5. Early Society in East Asia

Transcription

1 Chapter 5 Early Society in East Asia

2 Chapter 5: Early Society in East Asia Political Organization in Early China Early Agricultural Society The Xia Dynasty The Shang Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty Society and Family in Ancient China Early Chinese Writing and Cultural Development Oracle Bones Thought and Literature Ancient China and the Larger World Chinese Cultivators and Nomadic Peoples of Central Asia

3 Geography of China Geographically isolated by natural barriers from the other river valley civilizations Himalayas to southwest Mountains and desert to west Gobi Desert and Mongolian steppe to northwest Pacific Ocean to east Wasn t vulnerable to influxes of new people and cultural breaks

4 Geography of China 2 great river systems China colder Yellow River (Huang He) 3000 miles Deposits fertile, light colored soil Agriculture dependent on irrigation Wheat and millet cultivation Vulnerable to periodic flooding and drought Natural resources timber, stone, metals China s Sorrow (Central) China warmer, wetter Yangzi River (Chang Jiang, Long River ) Benefits from the monsoon rains Rice cultivation (see B & Z, p. 129) Agriculture in both areas required organized labor

5 Neolithic China Agriculture was practiced from about 10,000 years ago probably developed independently from the ancient Near East by 5000 BCE, there were Neolithic villages in several regions of China Based on agriculture (millet in the north, rice in the south) and domesticated animals (dogs, pigs, cattle, sheep, water buffalo) from c BCE, many regional Neolithic cultures emerged E.g., Yangshao Society different regional pottery styles, jade objects, etc.

6 Chinese Dynasties Xia, B.C.E. Shang, B.C.E. Zhou, B.C.E. Warring States Period, B.C.E. Qin, B.C.E. Han, 206 B.C.E. 220 C.E.

7 The Xia Dynasty (Pre Dynastic China), c B.C.E. The 1st dynasty to be described in the Chinese historical record Rulers responsible for domesticating animals, inventing agriculture, the bow and arrow, boats, ceramics, writing, and silk According to tradition, the 14 th Xia ruler was a tyrant who was deposed by a subordinate who founded his own dynasty, the Shang Xia Dynasty used to be thought of as purely mythical now some archaeological evidence for its existence

8 The Shang Dynasty of China, B.C.E. Shang dynasty lasted 30 rulers until a tyrannical king was overthrown by the ruler of the vassal state of Zhou Firsts: Cities Writing Sophisticated Bronze Metalworking Horses, chariots Class stratification Shang kings had priestly roles the intermediaries with their royal ancestors and the high god, Di

9 The Shang Tombs Elaborate underground royal tombs our best source of information Kings buried with bronze ritual vessels Weapons Jade Sacrificial victims Some who went willingly; some didn t Belief in life after death Thousands of workers needed to dig the huge holes (up to 40 feet deep) and wooden burial chambers; then fill in with rammed earth Hierarchical social structure Live burials alongside deceased member of ruling class Sacrificial victims, mostly slaves Wives, servants, friends, hunting companions Later replaced by statuary, often monumental

10 Shang Royal Cemetery at Anyang 11 large tombs and more than 1000 small graves Human sacrifice Huge numbers of grave goods: Bronze ritual vessels, weapons, bells, etc. Jade objects Tomb 1001 believed to be for the king who reigned c B.C.E.: 74 human sacrifices beheaded, cut in two, or otherwise mutilated 90 followers some of whom had coffins and bronze ritual vessels of their own 12 horses; 11 dogs

11 The Tomb of Fu Hao, One of the wives of King Wu Ding (c B.C.E.) Discovered intact She was known to be a favorite wife and a military leader once leading 13,000 troops against the Qiang to the west One of the smaller tombs about 13 by 18 feet at the mouth and 25 feet deep Plan of tomb of Lady Hao

12 The Culture of the Shang Dynasty Evidence from Tombs Literate Oracle Bones used for Divination Tortoise shells Cow scapulas Importance of Bronze Jade Palaces (don t survive made of wood)

13 Shang Oracle Bones Used for communicating with spirit world, determining future Question written on animal bones, turtle shells Then heated over fire, cracks examined for omens Early archaeological evidence of Chinese writing

14 The Origins of Chinese Writing We don t know when it was invented probably a long evolution on perishable materials Logographic script: each word represented by one symbol Required reading about 3000 or more characters in Shang times (and about 8000 today) See chart in B & Z, p. 126

15 What did the other regions we studied use bronze for? Shang Bronzes Bronze metallurgy from 1200 B.C.E. State monopoly Bronze used for ritual goblets, basins, wine vessels, and offering vessels Very sophisticated casting technology Lost Wax casting Cast in sections and then soldered Designs include geometric motifs, figures of animals and demons, and representations of the human face Later they also featured written inscriptions, making the Shang bronzes some of the world's earliest historical documents.

16 Shang Dynasty Horse drawn chariots, other wheeled vehicles Large armies Political organization: network of fortified cities, loyal to center 1000 cities Capital moved six times Impressive architecture at Ao, Yin Other regional kingdoms coexist: Sanxingdui In Yellow River valley Sanxingdui Standing figure. Ca BCE. Bronze, 8 5 high,

17 Key Features of Chinese Civilization that began in Shang Period Writing System led to continuity in time and space Divination with cracked animal bones Sharp status distinctions Practice of ancestor worship patrilineal society Domestication of silkworm and use of silk fabrics for clothing Cooking vessels and cuisine

18 Zhou Dynasty, BCE About 1122 B.C.E., the frontier state of Zhou rose against the Shang and defeated them in battle No law codes: rule by decree Mandate of Heaven Decentralized, feudal system By 800 B.C.E., about 200 lords with territories Development of cheap iron weaponry ends Shang monopoly on Bronze Early money economy

19 Decline of the Zhou Dynasty Decentralized leadership style allows for building of regional powers Increasing local independence, refusal to pay Zhou taxes Iron metallurgy allows for widespread creation of weaponry Northern invaders weaken Zhou dynasty, beginning 8 th c BCE Internal dissention: the Period of the Warring States ( BCE) Constant fighting between the feudal lords Huge armies 200,000 foot soldiers armed with powerful crossbows Warring States Period, BCE

20 Warring States Period: Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy Confucianism Daoism Legalism (Chapter 8)

21 Social Order of Chinese Society Ruling classes great advantage Palatial compounds, luxurious lifestyle Supported by agricultural surplus, tax revenues Defended by monopoly on bronze weaponry Hereditary privilege Support class of artisans, craftsmen Evidence of long distance trade, merchant class Large class of semi servile peasants See Bentley & Ziegler, p. 121: Peasants Protest Slave class

22 Family and Patriarchy Devotion to family, ancestor veneration Connection of spirit world to physical world Ritual sacrifices Father ritual head of family rites Earlier prominence of individual female leaders fades in later Shang, Zhou dynasties See Bentley & Ziegler, p. 122: Family Solidarity in Ancient China

23 Zhou Literature Confucius (discussed in chapter 8) Book of Changes Manual for divination Book of History Book of Etiquette (Book of Rites) Book of Songs Little survived Often written on perishable bamboo strips Many destroyed by Emperor of Qin dynasty in 221 BCE

24 Nomadic Peoples of Central Steppe nomads Asia Poor lands for cultivation, extensive herding activities Horses domesticated c BCE, bronze metallurgy in 2900 BCE Extensive trade with sedentary cultures in China Tensions: frequent raiding