CHINA OVERVIEW A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINESE DYNASTIES

CHINA OVERVIEW: A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINESE DYNASTIES Based on Student Handouts, Inc.

DISCUSSION OF INTRODUCING CHINA, THE VIDEO CLIP Site http: //www. csulb. edu/lats/itss/design/video/flash/aa as/xie/china. html What are the basic facts about China? 2. List some dynasties in Chinese history and major historical persons. 3. Describe some aspects of modern China, e. g. economy, life, education, etc. 1.

ANCIENT HISTORY By 4000 BC Village settlements along Huang He River Farming, stone tools, weapons (bow and arrow), animal domestication, pottery About 1500 BC Picture writing (oldest writing in existence) Now about 40, 000 characters

WHAT ARE DYNASTIES? A dynasty is a series of rulers from the same family. Historically, royal rule was descended from father to son. DYNASTIC CYCLE 1. Emperor comes to power and gains the Mandate of Heaven. 2. Upward rise (wealth and population increase) to peak. 3. Downward spiral (natural disasters, corruption, etc. ). 4. Emperor loses the Mandate of Heaven. 5. Civil war until a new emperor, with the Mandate of Heaven, comes to power. MANDATE OF HEAVEN – Described by philosopher Mencius Belief that the emperor was chosen by heaven to rule 天

XIA (A. K. A. HSIA) DYNASTY (2070 -1600 BC) China’s first dynasty Founded Built by Yu 禹 roads and irrigation projects 大禹治水

SHANG DYNASTY (1600 -1046 BC) Writing began Developed bronze, glazed pottery, and silk industries

ZHOU (A. K. A. CHOU) DYNASTY (1045 -256 BC) Invaded China from the northwest Set up a loose central government Feudal power held by strong nobles Philosophers Confucius

QIN 秦 (A. K. A. CHIN) DYNASTY (221 -206 BCE) Military dictatorship centralized China Emperor Shih Huang Ti （Qin Shihuang 秦始皇）Destroyed nobles’ feudal power System of taxation Established weights and measures Great Wall (1500 miles)

HAN DYNASTY (206 -220 AB) Conquerors Empire – central Asia to China Sea, Indochina to Korea Trade Chinese fruits, silks, and spices in Rome (1 st century ) Buddhism came from India Civil service system First paper made

TANG DYNASTY (618 -906 BC) 400 years of warfare between Han and Tang dynasties Tang reunited China T’ai Tsung (唐太宗) Emperor in 627 BC Education and government reforms Extended boundaries Alliances and peace treaties with neighbors Industry and trade Jade porcelain, and silks to Arabia, India, Japan, and Persia

SONG (A. K. A. SUNG) DYNASTY (960 -1279) Disorder between Tang and Sung dynasties Culture superior to that of medieval Europe Powerful only in southern China

YUAN DYNASTY - MONGOL RULE (1259 -1368) Central Asian nomads Genghis Khan 成吉思汗 Conquered Asia, including China Kublai Khan 忽必烈汗 Grandson of Genghis Visited by Marco Polo ( 馬可波羅 Venetian) Ruled for about 100 years Capital – Peking (Beijing) Trade with Europe begun

MING DYNASTY (1368 -1644) Overthrew Mongols Chinese natives Beautified Peking (Beijing) Encouraged trade with Europe Gave Europeans: Gunpowder Jade Playing cards Porcelain Silk Tea

QING DYNASTY (MANCHU RULE) (1644 -1912) Manchurians conquered China, Indochina, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, eastern Turkestan China prospered Western pressure brought about Manchu overthrow in 1912 Ended with birth of Chinese Republic

THE BOXER REBELLION The Boxer Rebellion (1899 -1901: against European and US control of China) is defeated in 1901. Chinese Republic proclaimed in 1912 after the abdication of the child-emperor Yuan Shikai (a warlord) seizes power from 1912 to 1916 Dr Sun Yat-Sen, leader of the Kuomintang Party, attempts to establish the republic despite feuding warlords but dies in 1925 In 1928 Chang Kai-shek seizes Beijing for the Kuomintang Civil war with Mao Zedong’s Communist Party begins in 1929. The 6000 -mile Long March sees Mao’s army escape the Kuomintang forces in 1934 -35 (Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping are all comrades on the March)

2 ND SINO-JAPANESE WAR The Empire of Japan begins attacks on China in 1937 and quickly seizes many northern and coastal areas The US gunboat Panay is sunk by Japanese bombers whilst peace still exists between the US and Japan With the attack on Pearl Harbour on Dec. 7, 1941, Japan captures European and US territories in China e. g. Hong Kong and Macau The Chinese capital is moved far up the Yangzi river to Chongqing but comes under attack Chinese, US and British forces fight back from western and central China, with supplies carried by the Burma Road to Kunming The Japanese are eventually defeated in 1945 but many areas of northern, southern and eastern China are devastated by the war

THE CIVIL WAR & COMMUNISM Despite partial alliances against the Japanese, a state of war exists between the Kuomintang and Communist forces for over 20 years from 1926 The Civil War fully breaks out in 1946 The Communist Party of China seizes power on October 1 st, 1949 (although some parts of China are not captured until 1950) Various offshore islands stay loyal to the Kuomintang and Chang Kai-Shek re-establishes the Chinese Republic on Taiwan Several offshore islands are captured by the Communists between 1949 and 1960

REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 1911 - Revolution 辛亥革命 （Xinhai Revolution） 1912 - Founding of the Republic of China (ROC) 中 華民國 1949 – Founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) 中華人民共和國 (Communist)

LEAPS FORWARD (AND BACK) The Great Leap Forward (1958 -60) saw Mao attempt to turn China from an agrarian economy to an industrialized society. Between 14 and 43 million Chinese starved to death. The Cultural Revolution (1966 -69) saw Mao Zedong unleash the Red Guards to stamp out liberal economic and political thought. Death of Mao Zedong in September 1976 In October 1976, The pro-Mao Gang of Four - led by Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing - were arrested by the new Party chairman, Hua Guofeng.

MODERN CHINA Deng Xiaoping was restored to Party positions he had lost during the Cultural Revolution. He quickly removed Hua Guofeng from power but allowed him to retire peacefully. Deng stayed as the most influential Chinese leader until the mid 90 s. The Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 highlighted China’s growing clamour for democracy. Third Generation leaders, under President Jiang Zemin, took power in the 90 s and moved Chinese economy more toward a market economy. Fourth Generation leaders, under President Hu Jintao, took power early in the 21 st century and now control China.

PHILOSOPHIES Late Zhou (Chou) period (1100 -256 BCE) Suffering produced influential philosophers Lao-Tse (6 th century BCE) Men should be left alone to work out their own lives with the fewest possible laws of government Follow the course of nature, flow with life. Men should make their own lives simple and desire nothing, but should submit to all that comes in life Taoism (Daoism)

CONFUCIUS (551 -479 BCE) Considered China’s greatest philosopher Ethics – correct way to live Human nature – good Men should be kind, tolerant, and love their elders and ancestors (filial piety) Golden rule: “Do not do to others what you would not have others do to you. ” Analects Confucianism – code of behavior and religion Education, good manners, right morals, respect for others, love of tradition, obedience to one’s parents Women must obey men as children obey parents. Men must obey emperor.

CULTURE Literature, poetry, history, philosophy Tang dynasty – poet Li Po Printing invented – books produced cheaply in great numbers Paper – 1 st century BCE “China” or “Chinaware” Known for glazed pottery and porcelain Music Paintings

SCIENCE 1000 -1500 CE – civilization superior to that of medieval Europe Paper and ink “India” ink really Chinese ink Movable type Movable blocks with cut-out raised characters Compass Gunpowder Originally for firecrackers Silk manufacturing Irrigation and farming techniques