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The document summarizes the major dynasties of ancient China, including the Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It outlines key developments under each dynasty, such as the introduction of Confucianism and Taoism during the Zhou dynasty, the unification of China and development of infrastructure under Qin, the golden age of Chinese civilization during Tang, the influence of Buddhism and development of Neo-Confucianism during Song, and the foreign rule of the Yuan and Qing dynasties prior to the end of imperial rule in China.

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108 views2 pages

Chinese

The document summarizes the major dynasties of ancient China, including the Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It outlines key developments under each dynasty, such as the introduction of Confucianism and Taoism during the Zhou dynasty, the unification of China and development of infrastructure under Qin, the golden age of Chinese civilization during Tang, the influence of Buddhism and development of Neo-Confucianism during Song, and the foreign rule of the Yuan and Qing dynasties prior to the end of imperial rule in China.

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jaymarie1995
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Chinese/Japanese Lit & Culture 9/14-10/6/10

Chinese Lit and Confucius


China is the world’s oldest surviving civilization. Started in the Yellow River basin in
Northern China.

Dynasties
1. Shang
 Religion was 1st based of belief in # of gods and spirits in nature
 New bronzeworking
 Decimal sys.
 12 month calendar
 Fine pottery
 Silk textiles
 Jade ornaments
 3000 character writing sys.
2. Chou
 From central Asia
 Overthrew Shang dyn. Created longest dyn ever
 Time of turmoil. China was divided w/ a lot of civil wars b/t the states
 Breakthrough in philosophy; called Hundred Schools period b/c of many
competing philosophers of the time.
 Lao Tzu  Taoism  freedom, simplicity, mystical contemplation of nature.
 Confucious  Confucianism  code of social conduct and stressed
importance of discipline, morality, and knowledge
3. Ch’in
 Used to be a state, overthrew all other states
 Unified China, but dyn was overthrown in 15 yrs
 Strengthened central gov., divided China into provinces, built roads connecting
parts of empire.
 Patched up Northern Great Wall of China
 Standardized Chinese writing sys
4. Han
 Lasted 400 years
 Strengthened central gov., expanded borders, improved educational sys,
advanced in arts and sciences.
 Established trade with Europe and Western Asia, which intro. Buddhist religion
from India.
5. T’ang
 Followed period of disunity after end of Han dyn
 Lasted 300 yrs  Golden Age of Chinese Civilization; Golden Age of Chinese
Poetry
 Art flourished
 Empire extended to boarders of Persia and India
 Established world’s most effective sys of gov.
 Economy expanded dramatically; invented gun powder and block printing
 Ch’ang-an  Largest and most cosmopolitan city in world. People came and
spread Chinese influence back to Europe.
 Peasant revolts ended this dyn
6. Sung
 Era of delicacy and refinement
 Serene Black and White landscape paintings
 Philosophers in this era created Neo-Confucianism b/c of the prevalence of
Buddhiam. They wanted to go back to the main ideas of Confucius. It began to
combine w/ Buddhism by seeking enlightenment through combo of meditation
and moral action
7. Yuan
 Mongol invasion
oNorthern China was overran by Mongol invaders lead by Genghis Khan.
oKublai Khan (grandson) completed quest for China and established the
Yuan dyn, the 1st foreign dyn in China
8. Ming
 Chinese dyn that restored China and took over from Mongols
 China limited contact w/ outside world after the Mongols
9. Ch’ing
 Foreigners took over, but were like the Ming dyn
 This is when China’s overpopulation became a huge problem. It toppled the
Manchu regime and put an end to imperial rule. Imp rule had lasted 2000 yrs.

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