What happened in ancient China. History of ancient China. The emergence of Chinese philosophy
Chinese ancient civilization, there are about 5000 years... Found ancient sources prove that China is no less 3500 years... For several centuries after the death of the first emperor, China was torn apart by wars. By 626 BC. a golden age has reappeared in the country. Power passed to the first emperor of the dynasty Tan
- Taizunu
... To the capital of the empire, moved to Chang'an, merchants arrived along the Great Silk Road. Bazaars were noisy all over the city. Different religions coexisted peacefully. For the first time, ordinary people, and not just the nobility, were able to occupy government posts. Everyone who hoped to get a place in the public service had to pass an exam. The population worked in the production of salt, paper, iron. Arts and crafts flourished. Peasants sold their goods on the streets, many were drafted into the army.
First emperor
Before 221 BC China was divided into several kingdoms, each with its own ruler, who fought among themselves for over 250 years. The victory was won by the state Qin(from this word comes the name of China in European languages). His ruler took the title Qin shihuangdi which means "the first Qin emperor". He ascended the throne at only 13 years old. A brilliant commander and politician, he swept away anyone who stood in his way. For his cool temper he was nicknamed " Qin tiger". Qin ordered to burn books that contradicted his ideas, and to throw dissenting scientists into a pit. But the emperor was afraid to die. In his lush palace, there were more 1000 bedrooms, and every night he changed where he slept, afraid of being killed in his sleep.
Qin shihuangdi sought to preserve the unity of the empire. He removed the former rulers from power, settling them in the capital Chang'an, re-divided the country into regions and appointed his own officials. On his instructions, a network of roads and canals was built. For the safety of the northern border, the emperor ordered to build giant structure- The Great Wall of China, part of which has survived to this day. The emperor undertook to restore the strength and wealth of the country after long wars. The writing was unified. All products, even bricks, had to bear the name of the manufacturer: the craftsmen could be punished for poor work. The length of the bogie axles had to be the same, corresponding to the track stamped in the roads. The Chinese kingdoms minted their own coins. At Qin shihuangdi all coins were round, with a hole for a cord.
Despite all efforts, the empire collapsed shortly after death. Qin shihuangdi, v 210 BC
the great Wall of China
For a long time, China was threatened by the nomadic tribes of the Sünnu (Xiongnu, or Huns) who lived to the north of it. Local rulers tried to defend themselves by building large walls. V 214 BC the emperor ordered to combine them into one giant boundary wall more than 3460 km The construction was supervised by a military leader Meng Tian, which sent officials to oversee the work. The wall was built by thousands of peasants. The overseers with the whip constantly monitored the pace and speed of the work. The soldiers guarded the construction site from enemy attacks. Cold, dampness and hazardous working conditions ruined people. The dead were buried right where they fell.
The workers used simple tools - picks, shovels, baskets and cargo, hand wheelbarrows. Scaffolding made of tied bamboo poles was used to lift huge boulders, slabs and stones. A mound of stones and earth was covered with stone slabs.
The height of the wall was 9 meters, and the width was such that a chariot could ride on it. Watchtowers were built in the upper parts of the fortification. Slit-like openings for shooting bows and crossbows were also designed in the wall.
It was ultimately believed that Great Wall has a silhouette chinese dragon
head west and tail east.
Capital of China - Chang'an
Under the Tang dynasty Chang'an became the largest city in the world. Chang'an means " forever safe". The city was home to more than a million permanent residents and many foreign merchants, travelers and scientists. The clothes were of colored silk. Only the emperor could wear yellow clothes. The emperor's palace, surrounded by a high wall, was located in the northern part of the city. Musicians performed on the city square. dancers. Wooden houses were varnished. Roof tiles were constructed.
The life of a wealthy noble
The rich lived in grand style. Wealthy families had beautiful 2-3-storey houses. Lush silk robes, sumptuous feasts where servants served pork or venison and drinks made from millet and rice. Long hours were devoted to enjoying music and poetry, playing chess and cards. The houses were decorated with luxury items of gold and silver, jade and porcelain. Lacquerware and silk painting were popular. Noble Chinese moved around the city in a stretcher - a palanquin.
Great inventions
The Chinese were great inventors. In 2nd century BC they invented paper, later printing with wooden stamps. They also designed an instrument to measure the strength of earthquakes. During the Tang Dynasty, a mechanical water clock, a magnetic compass, paper playing cards and fine china. Gunpowder was invented, with the help of which fireworks were arranged. The Chinese invented typography. The pages were joined in a long strip, the book was rolled up.
The great silk road
The Tang emperors encouraged trade. Caravans of camels and horses carried silk, porcelain, salt, tea and paper along the Great Silk Road more than 7000 km... He connected China with the Mediterranean and went through Central Asia, Persia, Syria. The Chinese bought furs, horses, gold, and spices from their neighbors. Fur products were brought from the north.
The journey along the Great Silk Road was long. The merchants set off in caravans. They set up camp for the night. The Great Silk Road was named so because of the enormous importance of the silk trade.
Handicraft and art of China
The Chinese have learned to extract salt from underground salt water. The brine was raised to the surface and sent through bamboo pipes to the vats, where the water was evaporated. In the II century BC. in China began to make paper. Pulp was made from mulberry wood and dried on wooden frames. For the first time, Buddhist monks brought tea bushes from the Himalayas, which soon began to be grown. Farmers plowed their fields before sowing millet and cultivated rice. Irrigation allowed to develop new lands for crops .Around VI century BC... the Chinese have learned to make silk from silkworm cocoons. Craftsmen have learned to build blast furnaces and smelt steel. Their weapons and tools have become stronger. The road workers rammed the ground to build the road.
Was very popular in China calligraphy- the art of beautiful writing. Artists decorated ceramic dishes with colored glaze. The outlines of the superb, beautiful cliff landscape in South China have become a favorite subject for painters and painters.
Philosophy and the path of knowledge
The Chinese have never had faith in one god. They deified nature, worshiping the spirits of mountains, rivers and trees. They also developed two religious and philosophical schools, indicating the norms of human relations. These are the teachings of Laozi (Taoism) and Confucius (Confucianism). The basis of Taoism is the belief in harmony with nature. Confucians relied on virtue, family and social stability. However, when in 1st century BC... was borrowed from India Buddhism, it has spread very widely. Monk Xuan Zang returned to India with Buddhist treatises for his fellow scholars in 629 year... Pilgrims went to the sacred "Caves of a Thousand Buddhas". More than 1000 caves there were wall paintings, Buddhist sculptures and an extensive library.
Taoist sages contemplated the symbol Yin Yang... The Chinese believed that yin and yang have great power with the universe, and their balance ensures the harmony of the world.
The Chinese believed that in the human body there is a network of pathways along which energy flows. Needles inserted into special points affect the flow of energy and heal diseases. This method of treatment is called
Since ancient times, the Chinese have buried the dead along with items for the afterlife. In the graves of the rulers, they find not only food, drinks and personal property, but also the bodies of servants who were supposed to be in eternal service to their master. The Chinese revered their deceased ancestors, believing in their help and protection.
The princess Dou wan buried in a robe made of pieces of jade, combined with gold. Jade was supposed to protect her body from decay.
A life-size replica of his army was buried in the tomb of the emperor, made from terracotta: 7,500 infantry, archers, officers, chariots and horses. Crossbows were cocked to fire during a robbery attempt. There were models of palaces, and channels filled with mercury, set in motion by wheels, depicting a river. Yangtze... Thousands of people have worked to create this. V 1974 year the tomb was accidentally found by workers digging a well.
Imperial tomb with " terracotta army"They built on Mount Li. The bodies of the figures were made separately, then the head and hands were attached. Inside the tomb, in the underground corridors, soldiers and horses stood row by row. The face of each soldier was different from the other."
Hello, dear readers, today you will get acquainted with the history of the development of a state that has existed longer than any other country in the world. The history of China is divided into four main periods. It also influenced the East Asian regions, and the south of Asia, and more distant places.
The name of the country
The name of the country was first associated with the Khitan people who lived in its northern part, and came into the Russian language from the languages of the Central Asian peoples. Then it spread to the entire Chinese state. In the Middle East and in Western Europe the basis of the name was the word "chin", with which the Persians and Tajiks called the kingdom of Qin (in a distorted pronunciation also Shin, Jina, Hina).
Interestingly, the word "China" is also associated with porcelain first brought from there by Marco Polo. And the Chinese themselves have many names for their country:
- Han,
- Zhong Guo,
- Qin,
- Zhong Hua et al.
They are associated with dynasty names, locations and other points.
The oldest China
The first islands of civilization appear in the country in ancient times, in its eastern part, which is most suitable for living and farming, with its plains and lowlands. Since the most big rivers originate in the western part of the country and flow to the east, then the population was mainly concentrated in the basins of the Yellow River, Yangtze and Xijiang. Ancient China was rich in forests and minerals. The vegetation pleased with the richness and great diversity, and among the representatives of the fauna it was noted:
- the Bears,
- tigers,
- wild cats,
- boars,
- foxes,
- deer,
- raccoons.
Chinese engraving
Ethnic Chinese lived in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. But the composition of the population was extremely diverse. The tribes that make up it belonged to the following language groups:
- Sino-Tibetan,
- Mongolian,
- Tungus-Manchurian,
- Turkic.
And now fifty-six nationalities coexist in China, but one of them - Han makes up 92%, and the rest - 8%.
People of China - Han people
Primitive people appeared here about fifty thousand years BC. They lived in clans that were formed from the mother. In everyday life, they used products made of bones, stone, shells and wood. Summer and winter caves were located in different places. The primitive Chinese knew how to hollow boats out of wood and make "utensils" for carrying food.
Ten thousand years BC, the last ice age ended, and the development of civilization began. The Chinese who settled near the Yellow River began to build dwellings, domesticate animals, and process grain. This period is called the Neolithic. He laid the foundation for the development of weaving, the manufacture of ceramics, and spinning.
Yangshao culture
The Yangshao culture is famous for its painted clay products with primitive patterns, the most complex of which is the image of fish and a mask. At this time, people lived in dugouts with a hearth and, later, in above-ground dwellings. Pens were built for livestock, supplies were kept in barns.
It is known that already in the Yangshao era, the Chinese bred dogs for different purposes: some to help with the household, others to get meat.
The first workshops appeared, where they made tools, jewelry, weapons, and pottery. The material for their manufacture is still stone, shells, wood, animal bones. The Yangshao culture existed until the end of the third millennium BC.
Yangshao culture pottery
Longshan culture
Then black-and-gray pottery without painting appears, this time period is called the Longshan culture. Clay products are already made with the help of a potter's wheel, and metal objects also appear. Settlements made of round huts, inside of which there is a furnace, are surrounded by ramparts, which are reinforced with a palisade.
Longshan Chinese Ceramics
Livestock and agriculture are becoming priority occupations; preference is given to breeding horses, pigs, bulls, goats, and sheep. Scapulimantia - fortune telling on the bones, is hallmark in spiritual culture.
The era of Shan-Yin
From the middle of the second millennium, the Bronze Age begins - the Shan Yin era. It is marked by the disintegration of the primitive communal system and the strengthening of slave-owning relations. Slaves, in the main, are prisoners captured during civil strife.
Income inequality is becoming more pronounced. During this period, the country is experiencing external influences, due to which it is rapidly developing in all spheres of life:
- reaches a high level of bronze casting,
- hieroglyphic writing appears,
- palaces are being built
- the skill of stone carving is being improved,
- weapons are being improved.
The era of Shan-Yin. Bronze elephant
Ancient China
At the same time, the first Chinese proto-state, the Shang, appeared. In his foreign policy, the course was for peaceful coexistence with neighboring tribes and bloodless annexation of new territories. The state was subdivided into zones, in the main of which the ruler lived - the van.
The Shants were farmers, artisans, bred silkworms, mastered the art of irrigation, knew how to build, ramming the ground into the formwork. They had chariots of war, numerous well-trained warriors and weapons:
- bows with bamboo arrows,
- sling,
- battle axes,
- spears,
- daggers.
But even this did not save the Shang from conquering it by the Zhou tribe. And at the end of the second millennium, the Zhou era began, which lasted as much as eight hundred years. Only three hundred of these rulers had real power. From the 12th to the 8th century, there was the Western Zhou, and then, until the 3rd century BC, the Eastern Zhou.
In this era, statehood is strengthened, a bureaucratic system is formed, and the management system is being improved. Ranks and settlements appeared on a territorial basis - and. The Zhous were not allowed to drink wine. Those caught in this were executed personally by the ruler.
Zhou era, China
Noble people could receive one of five titles. They could be welcomed by one of the four types of external possessions or internal. The owners of the external possessions were loyal to the Wang, but they pursued a fairly independent policy, and the internal ones were top Dafu officials. The property was returned when the officer left the duty station.
A stratum of slaves was numerous in this era. In addition to captivity, it was possible to get into it as a result of punishment and by inheritance, since the slaves could have a family.
In beliefs, the priority was the veneration of the departed ancestors of the rulers and the cult of Heaven. Among the lower classes, animism, witchcraft and healing were popular. Now they began to guess using the stems of the yarrow.
Knowledge of rituals, ceremonies and rules of etiquette was mandatory for the nobility. But it was also possible for a lower-class representative to take some position if he possessed the above skills. The Zhou era left behind a developed criminal code. For any of the three thousand crimes, one of the following punishments could be received:
- ink stamp on the face,
- cutting off the nose, legs, or head
- castration or, if the criminal is a woman, turning her into a slave.
Chinese engraving
From the 18th century, various kinds of problems began to emerge in Zhou. There was a need for a reform in ideology. The ruler Zhou-gun put forward the doctrine of the Heavenly Mandate, which substantiated the change of dynasties and was dominant in Chinese political principles for several millennia.
The belief of the Shants in the spirits of their ancestors - the Shang-di and the Chzhous people in Heaven - was transformed into the fact that Shang-di became Heaven, and the supreme ruler on Earth became the Son of Heaven, and has been called that way ever since. And for the rest of the people, the concept of “te” was presented: grace is laid in each of them by Heaven, and it should be developed, but one can also lose if one does not worship Shang-di.
The heavenly mandate determined what the ruler should do, and contained the reasons for his removal from power in the framework of justice. It was the basis of Chinese statehood until the 20th century. The Chinese called the country Tianxia - Celestial, and the Son of Heaven, its ruler - Tian Zi.
But let's go back to ancient times. When Western Zhou was plundered by nomads, the heir to the throne moved and founded Eastern Zhou. The time of bloody wars and acute political struggle between the kingdoms and within their structural units began. Since the Zhou era coincided with the Iron Age, new weapons appeared: swords, crossbows, and halberds.
The peasants suffered the most from the turbulent times, so their uprisings and riots were frequent. The slaves also rebelled. This important period was called Chunqiu (Spring and Autumn), after the name of the Chinese chronicle, which spanned several centuries, which was edited by Confucius. , as well as legalism, moism and played an important role in solving the accumulated problems.
Zhou State
In the 6th century, representatives of about ten kingdoms gathered at a congress to resolve the issue of civil strife. After its end, the strife began to gradually subside, a tendency arose for unification, and China began to turn into an empire.
Since the 5th century, the era of the Struggling Kingdoms - Zhanguo was marked by the rivalry of the seven strongest kingdoms:
- Zhao,
- and Han.
Among them, the most powerful was the first. It was many times larger than the rest of the kingdoms in area, possessed reserves of timber, gold, tin, copper and iron. Crafts have been sufficiently developed here. Zhangguo was the heyday of Chu and all of South China.
Around 900 BC. the state of Qin appears. It had fertile lands, natural protection of the territory in the form of mountain ranges and riverbed. Important trade routes passed through the territory, and the state carried out intermediary functions in trade between the Chinese and Asian kingdoms.
The kingdom became famous for the reforms of Shang Yang, it conquered the territories of the Chzhous people, and the Zhou era sank into oblivion. In 221 BC. NS. the whole of China submits to this kingdom, and its ruler Ying Zheng forms a new Qin dynasty and proclaims himself its first emperor - Shi Huangdi. Strengthening the northern borders, the Qing people built the Great Wall of China, which at that time was about five thousand kilometers.
Qin Shi Huangdi (258 BC - 210 BC) - Chinese emperor of the Qin kingdom. He put an end to the era of the Warring States.
After the death of Shi Huangdi, after a while his dynasty also fell. And in 202, Liu Bang became the head of the new Han dynasty. It was interrupted by the interregnum, and therefore Han before him is called Early or Western, and after him - Late, or Eastern.
At this time, the Great Silk Road begins to operate, and along it from India to China it gets. After the death of the most famous emperor Wu Di, a period of stagnation of the kingdom began, and Wang Man ascended the throne as a result of a palace coup. He tried to carry out reforms aimed at strengthening the state and weakening the nobility, but was killed by the rebels.
His endeavors were continued by the emperor Liu Xiu, he is also Guan Wu-Di. The measures they took - he distributed land to ordinary people and lowered taxes - brought the country out of the crisis and contributed to its prosperity. Nevertheless, the dynasty fell in 220, largely thanks to the movement of the "yellow bands" - popular performances.
Guang Wu Di (13.01.5 BC - 29.03.57 AD). Chinese Emperor of the Han Empire
Conclusion
At this point, friends, we will interrupt our story, but it will be continued. You will learn about the last two saturated periods in the development of the Celestial Empire.
When examining the political system of any state, one should pay attention to its origins, because in the course of the historical evolution of civilization, social ties between people became more and more complicated. New needs and interests were formed, the natural and social environment, internal and external conditions for the existence of politically organized peoples changed. And it was in the political system, first of all, that the mechanisms of adaptation of society to the environment appeared, which changed, that is, it acted as the guarantor of a stable society.At present, the peculiarities of the development of the traditional political system of China are not clearly covered. It seems to us that the disclosure of the stages of the historical formation of the political system, in particular through the institutional and ideological components, will contribute to the understanding of the PRC phenomenon.
Depending on a certain historical period, a people, the type of its culture, the dominant elite or the dominant ideology, both methods and "slogans" of political modernization changed: the conquest of the barbarians; civilizing mission; decolonization and development of a sovereign state; "Christianization of the Gentiles"; "Islamization of the infidels"; export of the "world revolution", democratization of politics and liberalization of the economy, remission of market relations and others
The history of public administration, especially in the era of the Ancient East, when this institution arose, and the foundation of public service in the modern sense of the word was laid, and until that time has been insufficiently studied. This also applies Ancient China, where in the basin of the Yellow River, and later the Yangtze in the II-i millennium BC. NS. the ancient Chinese civilization with its religious and philosophical teachings (Confucianism, Legism, Taoism) was formed.
The first shoots of public administration and elements of public service emerged in ancient China during the period of the birth of the first Shang-Yin state (XVIII-XII centuries BC). On the basis of the tribal leadership, the hereditary royal power (the Vanans) was gradually formed, to which the rulers of the lands (the kings of the lands) were subordinate. In the Shang-Yin state, local rulers had unlimited rights in their domains. However, in the era of Shang-Yin, the centralized state apparatus did not actually exist, and the state was a union of Chinese tribes. The power of the Wang was limited to the council of the nobility and the people's assembly. In the XII century. BC NS. the Shang-Yin state was conquered by the Zhou tribes. Throughout the XII-VIII centuries. BC NS. on the territory of China there was a state of Western Zhou, and in the VIII-VII centuries. BC NS. - Eastern. At this time, 5 higher titles of the nobility were formed - gong, hou, bo, tsz, nan, which had 5 levels of land holdings for service - 4 external and 1 internal. External possessions were ruled by princes, internal - by dignitaries.
During the heyday of Western Zhou (10th-9th centuries BC), a hierarchical structure of power was gradually formed, when some officials were subordinate to others. The dignitaries (shanku) who were with Van headed the administration, the army. On the lands of the Van, the so-called "overseers of the lands" operated, which were owned by local departments and monitored the development of the ruler's economy. During this period, an office was created at the court of the Wang, headed by the chief. A separate department was responsible for collecting taxes. The lowest level of the administrative-territorial division of China, which included 5 and 10 villages, was headed by special officials appointed by the wang.
In the IV century. BC NS. in most of the kingdoms into which Ancient China disintegrated, reforms are being carried out, thanks to which the rich common people gained access to power. At the courts of the rulers, the leading role in governing the state belonged to professional administrators who received salaries for public service. In many kingdoms, administrative districts were formed, where trusted officials were appointed by the rulers. Gradually, a bureaucratic administrative apparatus is being formed in China.
During the V-IV centuries. BC NS. In ancient China, the main religious and philosophical trends emerged, a prominent place in the teachings of which was occupied by public administration and public service. An important place among them belonged to Confucianism and Legism. So, in the V century. BC NS. Confucius (Kun Fu-tzu, 551-479 BC) formulated the philosophical and ethical system of Confucianism, which over the next several millennia became the official imperial ideology and laid the foundations for building a system of government and civil service in Ancient China. Confucius' political ideas are aimed at achieving an internal connection between the top and bottom of society and stabilizing governance. The regulation of political relations according to the norms of virtue in the teachings of Confucius is sharply opposed to management on the basis of laws.
Confucius' disciple Meng Tzu (372-289 BC) formulated 12 principles of successful public administration: subordination of people not by force, but by charity; avoidance of debauchery; respect for the wise; reduction of customs duties, taxes and fees; inadmissibility of the people from their deeds; conquering the hearts of subjects; love for the people; respect for the respectful; preservation of the good nature of man; motivation of the people to do good; search for the lost consciousness; Justice. In general, the Confucians defended the doctrine of humane government and the right of hereditary aristocratic families to political domination.
Legists (legalists) criticized Confucianism. They developed their own teaching on the technique of exercising power, based on a rigid system of administrative orders. Legistsky's ideology, in addition to building a totalitarian state on the basis of blind fulfillment of laws, mutual responsibility, denunciations, total espionage of the population, defended the interests of civil servants in conditions of political omnipotence of the clan aristocracy. Having proclaimed the primacy of the law over moral and ethical norms, they entrusted the protection of the rule of law to the officials whom they recommended to recruit not necessarily from professionals, but so that civil servants were blindly loyal to the law.
Emperor Wu Di, when building a system of public administration, combined Confucianism with legism, invented an original system for the selection of administrative personnel, which consisted in the fact that a candidate for the position of a civil servant must enlist the recommendations of the local authorities and pass a competitive exam. ; For Emperor Wu, the huge power was divided into 13 districts, including regions. At the beginning of the i century. BC NS. the state consisted of 83 regions, which were led by a huge apparatus of civil servants, which was built on a complex hierarchical system.
In general, it can be traced that the state power of Ancient China was on pole positions from weak centralization, the presence of naval principalities to a pronounced form of totalitarianism with a high level of centralization state power(reign of Emperor Qin-Shi Huang).
In ancient China, for the first time, religious and philosophical currents (Confucianism, Taoism, Legism) were formed, a prominent place in the teachings of which was occupied by public administration and public service. The most influential among them was Confucianism, which developed especially in the Middle Ages and paid attention to the moral qualities of civil servants and the construction of an administrative hierarchy or unimportant attention. Finally, in ancient China, state exams were introduced for the first time, by passing which officials could advance in their careers. In addition, a system of training and retraining of civil servants was formed, for the purpose of which a special Academy was created, and the developed hieroglyphic writing created by the ancient Chinese only contributed to the further development of the system of public administration and civil service.
The agrarian, bureaucratic-authoritarian one appears as a bright stage in the development of China's political system. China, being a kind of center of the Asian world, was the focus of those values that determined the uniqueness of the industrialization processes in countries such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. The rulers of the Chinese Qing dynasty failed to achieve in the 19th century. the country's rapid economic growth, but China's fundamental Confucian values of group responsibilities, dedication, self-denial, knowledge, long-term planning undoubtedly had a decisive influence on its economic and political development in our era of global political transformations. The agrarian, bureaucratic-authoritarian regime of China collapsed only in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, when China survived foreign invasions and was defeated in the world war. Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist military regime appealed mainly to the conservative landed aristocracy, military leaders, stock speculators, bankers and local elites. However, its fall is not explained by the huge amount of resources, but by the way they were used. The overthrown power was based on personal rule, and not on firmly organized and functioning institutions of the political system, the population was alienated from political decision-making, therefore, finally, the deinstitutionalization of government institutions took place. "Political paralysis" led to a weakening of the legitimacy of the Chiang Kai-shek authorities in China and contributed to the overthrow of the bureaucratic-authoritarian regime, where the state exercised strict control over social groups; material interests and moral (including political) values were sharply separated from one another. It is worth noting that the state policy of China was based on a family that fostered a loyal attitude to the state, the political elite was characterized by isolation and hierarchy, dynasties, feudal lords, and Confucian scholars had great influence [8, p.105-106].
It is pertinent to note that the ideological direction of Confucianism is still promising. Thus, according to A. Toynbee, traces of the Confucian system dating back more than two thousand years are also found in the life of post-revolutionary China.
Consequently, religious and philosophical teachings, which were involved in government, the cult of a charismatic ruler, and deep reverence for the traditions and customs of ancestors, played a significant role in the formation of the political system of China.
The first Chinese civilization formed in the basin of the Yellow River (Yellow River), where the Shang (Yin) dynasty ruled for almost 500 years, until around 1057 BC. it was not conquered by the Zhou tribe, which established the rule of the Zhou dynasty. The first farmers in North China cultivated millet, and also raised cattle and pigs. They may have lived in holes dug in the ground and covered with thatched roofs. Noble Chinese during the Zhou Dynasty rode chariots of war. The chariot did not have a seat; you could only stand in it.
Writing
The oldest Chinese characters were carved on animal bones. These were records of oracular texts that were considered messages from the gods.
Burial
Recently, the Chinese have uncovered the tombs of the Shang rulers found near the city of Anyang. They found there the skeletons of horses and chariots along with chariots. The rulers of the Shang dynasty believed that their ancestors were gods. In such bronze vessels, they brought them meat and wine as a gift. Many Chinese people still honor their distant ancestors. Such jewelry made of jade was sewn onto the clothes of the wiped one, and such decorative daggers were placed in the tombs of noble and wealthy Chinese.
European treasures
These drawings show some examples of the art of people who inhabited Europe in ancient times. These rock carvings have been found in Sweden and Norway. They often depict boats with the sun floating across the sky. This bronze helmet is from Vikso in Denmark. It may have never been used in a real battle because it is too heavy and unwieldy. This is a bronze model of a chariot carrying. She was thrown into a swamp in what is now Denmark as an offering to the gods. There were very skilful craftsmen in Europe who worked on
Ancient China is the most ancient culture, which has practically not changed the way of life to this day. Wise Chinese rulers were able to lead a great empire through the millennia. Let's take a quick look at everything in order.
Ancient humans probably reached East Asia between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. Currently, pieces of pottery, pottery have been discovered in a Chinese hunter-gatherer cave, the approximate age of the cave is 18 thousand years, this is the oldest pottery ever found.
Historians believe that Agriculture appeared in China about 7,000 BC. The first crop was a grain called millet. Rice also began to be grown around this time and, perhaps, rice appeared a little earlier than millet. As agriculture began to provide more food, the population began to increase, it also allowed people to do other jobs than constantly searching for food.
Most historians agree that Chinese civilization formed around 2000 BC around the Yellow River. China became home to one of four early civilizations. China is different from other civilizations, the culture that developed has remained to this day, of course, changes have occurred over the millennia, but the essence of culture has remained.
The other three civilizations disappeared or were completely absorbed and assimilated by new people. For this reason, people say that China is the oldest civilization in the world. In China, the families who controlled the land became the leaders of family governments called dynasties.
Dynasties of China
The history of China from ancient times to the century before last was divided into different dynasties.
Xia dynasty
The Xia Dynasty (2000 BC-1600 BC) was the first dynasty in Chinese history. Its period lasted about 500 years and included the kingdom of 17 emperors - the emperor is the same as the king. The Xia people were farmers, possessing bronze weapons and pottery.
Silk is one of the most important products China has ever created. Most historians agree that the Xia Dynasty produced silk garments, with silk production possibly beginning much earlier.
Silk is produced by extraction from silk insect cocoons. Each cocoon yields one silk thread.
Not all historians agree that Xia was a real dynasty. Some believe that Xia's story is just a mythical story, because some points do not correspond to archaeological discoveries.
Shang dynasty
The Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC) was originally a clan living along the Yellow River during the Xia Dynasty. A clan is a group of very close families that are often viewed as one large family. The Shang conquered the Xia land and gained control of the Chinese civilization. The Shang Dynasty lasted for over 600 years and was led by 30 different emperors.
The Shang was the oldest Chinese civilization, leaving behind written records that were inscribed on the shells of turtles, cattle bones or other bones.
Bones have often been used to define what nature wants or wants. If the emperor needed to know the future, for example, what “the king will have a son” or “whether to start a war,” the assistants carved questions on the bones, then heated them to cracks. Fissure lines told the desires of the gods.
During the Shang dynasty, people worshiped many gods, probably like the Greeks in ancient times. Also ancestor worship was very important as they believed that their family members became godlike after death.
It is important to realize that other smaller Chinese families also existed in different parts of China at the same time as the Shang, but the Shang was apparently the most advanced as they left behind a lot of writing. The Shang were eventually defeated by the Zhou clan.
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-256 BC) lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history. Due to a split in the dynasty, over time, Zhou split into parts called Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou.
The Zhou fought the invading armies from the north (Mongols), they built large mounds of mud and stone as barriers that slowed down the enemy - this was the type of the Great Wall. The crossbow was another invention of this time - it was extremely effective.
During the Zhou, China's Iron Age began. Iron-tipped weapons were much stronger, and the iron plow helped increase food production.
All agricultural land belonged to the nobles (the rich). The nobles allowed the peasants to cultivate the land, similar to the feudal system that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages.
The emergence of Chinese philosophy
During the Zhou Dynasty, two major Chinese philosophies developed: Taoism and Confucianism. The great Chinese philosopher Confucius developed a lifestyle called Confucianism. Confucianism says that all people can be trained and improved if an approach is found.
Basic tenets: people should focus on helping others; family is the most important value; the elders of the community are the most revered. Confucianism is still important today, but it did not become widespread in China until the Han dynasty.
The founder of Taoism was Laozi. Taoism is everything that follows "Tao", which means "the way." Tao is the driving force behind all things in the universe. The Yin Yang symbol is commonly associated with Taoism. Taoists believe that you should live in harmony with nature, be humble, just live without unnecessary things and have compassion for everything.
These philosophies differ from religions because they have no gods, although the idea of ancestors and nature is often viewed as gods. The strength of the emperor was also associated with religious beliefs. Zhou spoke of the Mandate of Heaven as the law that allowed the Chinese emperors to rule - he said that the ruler was blessed by Heaven to rule over the people. If he has lost the blessing of heaven, he should be removed.
The things that proved that the ruling family had lost the mandate of Heaven were natural disasters and riots.
By 475 BC. the provinces of the Zhou kingdom were more powerful than the central government of Zhou. The provinces rebelled and fought each other for 200 years. This period is called the Warring States Period. In the end, one family (Qin) united everyone else into one empire. It was during this period that the concept of Imperial China appeared.
Qin dynasty
From 221 BC NS. Until 206 BC NS. the Qin dynasty gained control of civilized China. Qin's reign did not last long, but it had an important impact on the future of China. The Qin expanded their territory and created the first empire of China. The brutal leader Qin Shi Huang declared himself the first true emperor of China. This dynasty created a currency (money) standard, a wheel axle size standard (to make roads all the same size) and uniform laws applied throughout the empire.
Qin also standardized various spelling systems into one system that is used in China today. Qin Shi Huang imposed the philosophy of "Legalism", which focuses on people who follow the law and receive instructions from the government.
Mongol invasions from the north were a constant problem in China. The Qin government ordered that the walls built earlier be merged. This is considered the beginning of the creation of the Great Wall of China. Each dynasty built a new wall or improved the wall of the previous dynasty. Most of the walls of the Qin period have been destroyed or replaced today. The wall that exists today was built by a later dynasty called the Ming.
An amazing tomb was made for the emperor, larger than a football field. It is still sealed, but legend has it that there are rivers of mercury inside it. Outside the tomb is a life-size clay army discovered in 1974.
The terracotta army has more than 8,000 unique soldiers, more than 600 horses, 130 chariots, as well as acrobats and musicians - all made of clay.
Although the Qin dynasty did not rule for long, its standardization of Chinese life left a deep influence on later dynasties in China. It was from the period of this dynasty that we got the name "China". The first emperor of this dynasty died in 210 BC. NS. he was replaced by a weak and small son. As a result, a rebellion began, and a member of the Qin army took control of the Empire, which began a new dynasty.
Han dynasty
The Han Dynasty began in 206 BC and lasted 400 years until 220 AD. and is considered one of the greatest periods in the entire history of China. Like the Zhou Dynasty, the Han Dynasty is divided into Western Han and Eastern Han. Han culture defines Chinese culture today. In fact, most Chinese citizens today claim Han as ethnicity. The government made Confucianism the official system of the empire.
During this time, the empire grew greatly, conquering land in modern Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam and even Central Asia. The empire had grown so much that the emperor needed a larger government to rule it. During this time, many things were invented, including paper, steel, compass, and porcelain.
Porcelain is a very tough type of ceramic. Porcelain is made from a special clay that is heated until it melts and becomes almost glass. Porcelain dishes, cups and bowls are often called "Chinese" because a few hundred years ago, all porcelain was produced in China.
The Han Dynasty was also known for its military power. The empire expanded westward to the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, allowing the government to guard trade flows in Central Asia.
The caravan route is often called the "Silk Road" because this route was used to export Chinese silk. The Han Dynasty also expanded and fortified the Great Wall of China to protect the Silk Road. Others important product The Silk Road was a religion of Buddhism that reached China during this period.
Chinese dynasties will continue to rule China until the Middle Ages. China has retained its uniqueness because from time immemorial they honor their culture.
Interesting facts about ancient China
