94. Ways that the Zhou dynasty was the foundation of Chinese though and society were that Chinese philosophy is written in the Chinese tradition of thought. Mostly, the philosophy of China originates in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States era, which was a period called the “Hundred Schools of Thought.” It characterized many intellectually and cultural advancements. During this time, the major philosophies of China such as Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism developed. Cultural advancements of China spread throughout a large geographical region in eastern Asia. Some cultural features that spread were literature, music, cuisine, and martial arts.…
Emergence of Eastern Zhou dynasty = Spring and Autumn period; ends with Warring states period…
The Ancient Civilizations of China are often compared to each other, probably due to their similar dynastic structure, and how many of them are very similar to other dynasties of different times. The primary dynasty of the time period called “Classical China” is the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 CE) which is the second imperial dynasty of China, the first being the Qin Dynasty. The major dynasties of the time period called “Post Classical China” are the Tang Dynasty (618 CE- 907 CE) and the Song Dynasty (960 CE- 1279 CE). These dynasties had great influence on the cultures, politics, and economics of the empires and nations following them, and they are perhaps…
The benefits of building the Great Wall of Ancient China does not outweigh the cost. Document C states that soliders were forced to leave their families. Due to the Chinese having to leave their families this shows that it does not outweigh the cost. According to document D soliders risked their lives for the protection of their country. Because of the soliders risking their lives their families will be…
In Ancient China, many people were poor. There were mostly farmer and peasants. Most of the Chinese were very religious. They often had ceremonies and practiced several traditions. Artisans and peasants were the lowest of the social pyramid.…
Differences: There was a dynastic cycle, the dynasties would rise and fall, and be taken over by a new person. India went back to independent city states when a ruler fell. China was generally able to be re-united through a ruler India was not, India was not able to be united in the north due to invasions from bordering countries. The only person to unite India was Ashoka Maurya…
The Zhou dynasty (1029-258 B.C.E.) expanded the territorial boundaries of China by seizing the Yangtze River valley. The territory from the Yangtze to the Huang is often called the “Middle Kingdom,” blessed with rich cropland. They promoted Mandarin as the standard language. The Zhou did not establish a strong central government but ruled instead through alliances with regional princes and noble families. This led to vulnerabilities that plagued the Zhou: the regional princes solidified their power and disregarded the central government. When the Zhou began to fail, philosophers sought to explain the political confusion. One of these, Confucius, became one of the most important thinkers in Chinese history. His orderly social and political philosophy became an important doctrine of the Qin and Han dynasties. The next dynasty, the…
The ancient Chinese culture was a male dominant society. Women were always treated beneath men because of the teachings of Confucius. Confucius referred to women as unworthy and incapable of a literary education. Women were in a position of servitude from when they were born to when they could no longer serve their man because of old age. Women were considered as men’s property. If women were to disrespect the husband, without a doubt, she would be killed.…
You might think, why would I choose the Zhou dynasty over something more commonly known? Well, I decided choose the Zhou dynasty, because I realize that there was a lot of changes that they made to China, some even crucial to disease prevention and protection of the civilization as a whole. I also chose the Zhou dynasty because I like how they used a lot of persuasion and useful trade tactics to fit in with the Chinese culture.…
1. Filial Piety (xiao) was a fundamental aspect of Confucius’s Analects. He said that a son is filial if he does not change his father’s ways for 3 years after he dies. This became a foundational value of “ren”, or humaneness. He also believed that uprightness lies in filial piety. According to Confucius, the beginning of filial piety is serving your parents, the middle is serving your ruler, and it ends with establishing yourself. According to Confucius, being filial and fraternal is the root of humaneness. Mozi used filial piety to justify “universal love”. His belief was that if one respects and provides for other’s parents, they will provide for yours in return. Your parents will then have more material benefits than if you were the only one taking care of them. In Mouzi’s Disposing of Error, the Chinese objected to Buddhism because they felt it promoted unfilial behavior. The Confucians held that the body is the gift of one's parents and that to harm it is to be disrespectful toward them. Mouzi defended this argument by saying that we do what is best at the time. He also gives an example of an early king who cut his hair short and tattooed his body, but was still praised by Confucius for being so virtuous. They also criticized the Buddhists for not marrying. They felt that this was unfilial because without marriage, they could not have children and keep their family name alive. Also, an important aspect of Chinese religion was devotion to the ancestors. Without descendents to make these offerings, the tradition cannot be fulfilled. Mouzi argued this by saying that pleasures such as wives, children, and property are the luxuries of the world, but living simply and doing nothing are the wonders of the Way. By practicing the Way, the monks are able to substitute other worldly pleasures for goodness and wisdom. The Yulanpen Sūtra tells the story of Mulian, who was far along the Buddhist path. He dreamt of his mother’s suffering, and was told by the Buddha that he…
Today's world is slowly developing one global culture. Countries share elements of their cultures with one another, and groups of people grow to understand one another better. The United States of America is a great example of a country whose culture is comprised of bits and pieces of many other cultures. One culture in particular that has had an effect on many Americans is the Chinese culture. China's long history has seen some extremely important inventions emerge, most noticeably gunpowder, paper making, compass, and silk.…
The civilizations of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and China were all different but were also developed similar ways of doing things. The political, economic and intellectual outlooks of these ancient peoples say a lot about their ways of life. The religious views of Egypt and Mesopotamia were rather different.…
It goes without question from 1800-1900 China was experiencing a decline, which had not been seen for quite some time. Problems such as overpopulation started to take its toll on the once-known elite nation, sending them into famine, lower standard of living, extreme mistreatment of females, especially at young ages and an unfit government that allowed chaos to unfold. Conflict arose in China, but was it due to internal affairs of the Chinese people and government, wanting to maintain its superiority over the West, or were outside forces to blame for the extreme change in culture? Both of these aspects united to form seemingly the perfect storm that sent Chinese culture into a downward spiral for excess of 60 years.…
Zhou’s main goal was to lay foundations for Chinese dynastic and to justify his family's dynasty the creation of another, he allegedly developed the idea of the Mandate of Heaven. This concept explains rightfully rule of China, a dynasty must have authorization from "Heaven," perceived not as place but as the god of the skies and ancestor of Chinese rulers. This man date empowered the ruler to reign as "Son of Heaven" but also required that he govern justly and humanely. If a ruler grew corrupt and oppressive and the people suffered, Heaven would withdraw the mandate and bestow it and on someone else. Whoever would take power and rule with virtue and benevolence. This principle helped Zhou overthrow…
The Civil Service Examination System of Imperial China served as a qualification system for scholars who wanted to become officials in the Chinese government. Many young men spent their entire lives studying the Four Books, the Five Classics, and memorizing Chinese characters in order to attempt to pass these examinations. The book, China's Examination Hell, written by Ichisada Miyazaki and translated by Conrad Schirokauer, describes the lengthy, and often rigorous process of taking Civil Service Examinations.…