HIS-1110 Lecture Notes - Zhou Dynasty, Ear Pain, Longshan Culture
Culture of Ancient China : Confucius
(Sep 18, 2017)
How have we defined culture so far?
-kinship
-religious development
-Sumerian culture is a good example of how civilization begins
ofarming – agricultural surplus – then other characteristics follow
Is there only one path to civilization? Or are there different paths ?
-Is there only one defn or only one way to get to civilization? Or can there be
many?
-Is Chinese civilization similar or different to Sumerian culture
Chinese society still exists : when we talk about this civilization from the beginning, we
are talking about ancestors of a culture/society that still exists.
-Great long lasting cultural continuity
CHINESE GEOGRAPHY: river systems
-lge territory far eastern Asian continent
-4 main river systems – all flow east to the Pacific
oyellow river
owest river
oYangtze
oRed river (in modern Vietnam)
~4000 BCE along yellow river = Neolithic farming settlements – when a people become
a civilization
Early Neolithic Societies in China
*look a lot like middle eastern societies*
Yangshao culture:
-farming villages
-burial of the dead
-egalitarian
-houses and cemeteries suggest kinship groups
- Evidence of religion : shawmanism
Key religious figures = the shawman
“Shamanism” implies belief in two worlds/realities: heavenly and
earthly
-Shaman:
oA religious “specialist”
oHas ability cross border between heavenly and earthly
worlds
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
oAssisted by animal “helpers
Longshan Culture
- begin 3000 BCE
Evidence of “civilization:
oHierarchy
oSpecialization
oSettlements protected by earthen enclosures
oWarfare: competition over land, forests, and other resources
ouse of jade as resource – artwork
Bi = Jade disk
Cong = jade square
^^^ the circle represent some sort of heaven (bi) cong represents earth – relation
between the spiritual( heavenly realm) and the earthly physical
realm
An Explanation : The Guoyu
otext 4th century BCE:
olong ago every house had its own shaman
ocommunication with divine was in chaos
oleader decrees separation of heaven and earth that only he can
communicate between them
Consiquence
oheaven not a part of earthy life anymore
oelites have “monopoly” on spiritual/magical power
EARLY CHINEESE DYNASTIES :
THE DYNASTIES : 1766 - 1911
Last Chinese dynasty comes to an end in 1911 – revolution in 1911
overthrows the dynasty to become a republic
The Shang Dynasty
1766-1150 BCE
#1 dynasty with historical evidence – prior to were “mythical”
-agricultural economy
-hierarchy
owarriors
okings
Ancestor Worship
male lineage
parents/elders held in respect
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Culture of ancient china : confucius (sep 18, 2017) How have we defined culture so far? kinship religious development. Sumerian culture is a good example of how civilization begins: farming agricultural surplus then other characteristics follow. Is chinese civilization similar or different to sumerian culture. Chinese society still exists : when we talk about this civilization from the beginning, we are talking about ancestors of a culture/society that still exists. Chinese geography: river systems lge territory far eastern asian continent. 4 main river systems all flow east to the pacific: yellow river, west river, yangtze, red river (in modern vietnam) ~4000 bce along yellow river = neolithic farming settlements when a people become a civilization. Yangshao culture: farming villages burial of the dead egalitarian houses and cemeteries suggest kinship groups. Shamanism implies belief in two worlds/realities: heavenly and earthly. Shaman: a religious specialist , has ability cross border between heavenly and earthly worlds, assisted by animal helpers.
