Ancient China Confucianism Geography of China Using this

Ancient China & Confucianism

Geography of China Using this map as a guide, fill in the dominant physical features of China on your own map. Based on China’s geography, where do you think the majority of people in ancient China lived? Explain your answer. From which directions does China face the biggest risk of invasion? Taklimakan Desert e D obi G ) River (Yellow Huang He s na’ d i h C tlan r Hea Plateau of Tibet Him ala Ku yas nlu n. M Yellow Sea r ou ive tze R g n a Y nta ins South China Sea East China Sea

Geography of China (cont. ) Rivers: � Huang He (Yellow): north ◦ Frequent violent flooding ◦ Deposits of silt ◦ good for agriculture � Yangtze: south

Chinese Culture � Family ◦ main loyalty for Chinese ◦ respect, obedience & loyalty to ruler � Hierarchy ◦ strict social classes � Religion ◦ spirits of ancestors helpful or not ◦ Oracle bones � Writing ◦ characters ◦ written language same for spoken dialects all

Early Chinese Dynasties 1. Shang (1700 – 1027 B. C. ) overthrown by the … 2. Zhou (1027 B. C. – 256 B. C. ) ◦ justified conquest by Mandate of Heaven - ruler has approval of gods ◦ Dynastic cycle - loss of Mandate of Heaven leads to new dynasty ◦ lost power to nobles who gained power & fought ◦ move away from ancient values

Confucianism � Confucius wanted to restore social order & moral living through good family relationships � Sayings of Confucius - the Analects � Five 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Constant Relationships: Parent & child Husband & wife Older sibling & younger sibling Older friend & younger friend Ruler & subject � filial piety – respect for parents & ancestors

Confucianism (cont. ) Government: � Created the bureaucracy – trained civil service who run the government � Examination system (later)– education valued; had to pass an exam on Confucian texts to serve in the government Confucianism spreads: � spreads to Japan, Southeast Asia & Korea

Legalism � highly efficient & powerful gov’t was the key to social order � punishments used to maintain social order � thinkers & ideas should be strictly controlled by the gov’t

Qin Dynasty � Shi Huangdi � ended the fighting between Chinese states & united China � adopted legalism & burned Confucian books to prevent criticism � established an autocracy – government that has unlimited power � Forced peasants to work on the Great Wall of China