HISTORY 3EC3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Shang Dynasty, Xia Dynasty, Wu Ding
19 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
SeungJoon SUNG
East Asian Cultures (Chin)
TuTh 12:30-1:45pm
Sept/6/2012
#2 Reading & Class Notes for Sept 6
Xia Dynasty
No historical evidence (mythical dynasty)
“Golden Age” (everything was ideal)
Prominent Figures
Founded by Yu (brought civilization, irrigation, tamed Yellow R., govt.)
Yellow R. aka China’s sorrows b/c river changes course unexpectedly
Yao gave throne to the most worthy, Shun, not his son
Li
Li: a philosophical concept based on matter and etiquette
After Shang, philosophers tried to return to Li
Shang Dynasty
Shang: 1766-1122 BC
Regarded as the first historical dynasty (no written records of the Xia, which Shang succeeded)
Succeeded by Zhou (1045/1040-256 BC) and Han (206BC-220AD)
Intro
Over 150,000 oracle bones
Highly stratified society
Sophisticated bronze industry
Oracle Bone Inscriptions
21st king, Wu Ding, divined about many different topics
Many were about what the king should do; others told of his plans (seeking assurance)
Also searched for hidden meanings of events that had already happened
Religion – Emperor
King & supporters extracted agricultural surplus; mobilized peasants for public works & warfare
Crown passed from brother to brother, then next generation; later, became direct father to son
Only emperor can reach heaven (acts as an intermediary)
Emperor often labeled son of heaven; not actually divine but heaven gives right to rule
Emperor gives offering once a year @ CNY result is either “yes” or “no” (crop yield)
If yield was bad revolt successful (land redistributed), suppressed (heaven still with him)
Offerings involved lots of blood (animals & human captives)
2 type of spirits: Shen (good) & Guei (bad)
1
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Religion – Ancestors
The living king feared and respected the power of his dead descendants
Ancestresses had special judgment in child-bearing issues
Believed in many gods; constantly growing
Male Favoritism
Boys carry family name Boys needed to keep ancestors happy
Agricultural society Boys needed for labor
The High God (Di)
Di = High God
Other powers: nature, former lords, dynastic and non-dynastic ancestors
Other powers could also affect harvest, weather, king’s health, etc. but Di exclusively ordered
rain, thunder, and wind
Di’s allegiance was uncertain; he could afflict harm through foreign armies
Ancestral Cult
Approachable and comprehensible (because they were ex-humans)
Over time, rituals became more regular and fixed
Mandate of Heaven
No later than early Zhou: the idea of Heaven (power that governed all creation) arose.
Argument used by Zhou when taking over Shang: Heaven gave leadership to certain good men
who maintained religious/administrative rightness.
This Mandate of Heaven has been accepted since.
There was a strong hierarchical structure, which highly regarded religion and kin. The dead
was respected and feared as the Shang people believed they had the power to harm the king
personally and influence both the weather and harvest. There was and still is a large belief of
male favoritism.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
Strike in Boston Chinese take RR, work for lower wages Got “I will do anything” reputation
1882 Exclusion Act
No new naturalizations
No cross marriage (except with blacks)
BUT… US law says a child qualifies for naturalization after 5 years in the US
Those who were already citizens went back to China
9 months later: claimed he had a son, got a paper, then sold it others in China later
1943: Exclusion lifted (quota of 105 / year)
1964: Immigration Reform Act (20,000 people allowed)
Chinese Women
1945: War Brides’ Act (wives/families could be brought, no questions asked)
First Chinese communities formed
1920s: Garment industry began (Jews, Germans, etc.) 1950s: children moved to better jobs
2
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
#2 reading & class notes for sept 6. Founded by yu (brought civilization, irrigation, tamed yellow r. , govt. ) Yellow r. aka china"s sorrows b/c river changes course unexpectedly. Yao gave throne to the most worthy, shun, not his son. Li: a philosophical concept based on matter and etiquette. After shang, philosophers tried to return to li. Regarded as the first historical dynasty (no written records of the xia, which shang succeeded) Succeeded by zhou (1045/1040-256 bc) and han (206bc-220ad) 21st king, wu ding, divined about many different topics. Many were about what the king should do; others told of his plans (seeking assurance) Also searched for hidden meanings of events that had already happened. King & supporters extracted agricultural surplus; mobilized peasants for public works & warfare. Crown passed from brother to brother, then next generation; later, became direct father to son. Only emperor can reach heaven (acts as an intermediary)
