Ancient China
The (Huang) Yellow River valley in northern China was one of the cradles of civilisation, being one of the first areas were farming emerged six thousand years ago.
Ancient China's origins can be traced back 4000 years to when the legendary Xia dynasty was established in 2100 - 1600 BCE.
Ancient Chinese sources show that the Chinese saw themselves as civilised and that neighbouring people were described as barbarians.
Dynasties
Chinese history is divided up into periods called dynasties. Ruling families were called dynasties and ruled until they were overthrown by a new family who would start their own dynasty.
Overthrown dynasties were said to have lost the Mandate of Heaven.
We know about Chinese History because amongst other things, China was one of the four places were writing was invented.
The Mandate of Heaven
From the beginning, rulers of China based their authority on the 'Mandate of Heaven'. This was the idea that a ruler must be just to keep the approval of the gods. It was believed that natural disasters, famines, and astrological signs were signals that the emperor and the dynasty were losing the Mandate of Heaven. Losing the Mandate would lead to a change in the ruling dynasty who would then claim a new mandate to rule China.
Losing the Mandate of Heaven
The extravagance of the Xia court and the resultant burden on the populace is thought to have led to an uprising in 1600 BC. The Shang then assumed leadership of the land, lowered taxes, suspended the grandiose building projects begun by the Xie (which were draining the kingdom of resources) and ruled with such wisdom and efficiency that art and culture were allowed to flourish. Writing developed under the Shang Dynasty as well as bronze metallurgy, architecture, and religion.
Fun fact: The place of silk
The Romans and the Greeks knew the country as 'Seres', “the land where silk comes from”. The Ancient Romans loved Chinese silk textiles, but for a long time knew very little of both China and silk production. The silk arrived in Ancient Rome already spun and woven, transported through Asia along the Silk Road.
Daily life in Ancient China
Life in Ancient China was influenced by a mixture of belief in philosophy and religion. Everybody, including the Emperor, was subject to the influence of the philosophers, the Gods and the strict social hierarchy.
Part 1. Family life in Ancient China
In a Chinese family, the father had authority over his wife and children. Marriages were arranged by parents with the help of go-betweens. However many wealthy men kept concubines. Children were supposed to be obedient. In China, male heirs were very important as they carried on the family. Girls were valued less than boys and baby girls were sometimes left outside to die or were drowned. In any case, infant mortality was high
When girls grew up, they got married and left the house they had grown up in to go live in their husband’s house, with his family. This was often hard, because girls got married young, and when they went to live in their husband’s house they had to do whatever his mother told them to do.
Ancestor worship was an important part of life in Ancient China. Each family had a household shrine where they burned incense and made offerings. People believed the dead could help the living and prayed to them. The Chinese also believed in ghosts. (They believed they were people who died without descendants to care for them).
To do: Daily life questions
Describe the roles of the members of a typical Chinese family
Father
Mother
Children
After a girl got married where did she live? What do you think of this practice?
What purpose did ancestor worship serve?
The Chinese expectation of ghosts was different to ours. What did they expect?
Part 2. Farming and food
Life in Ancient China was hard. Most farmers were poor. They owned chickens and pigs and sometimes an ox or mule. In the North, people grew crops of wheat or millet while in the South they grew rice. Rich people owned vast estates but they usually rented them out as parcels of land. Rich people preferred to live in towns and rarely dwelt in the countryside.
The rich in Ancient China ate very well. They ate grains like rice, wheat, and millet. They also ate plenty of meat including pork, chicken, duck, goose, pheasant, and dog. Vegetables included yams, soya beans, broad beans, and turnips as well as spring onions and garlic. They also ate plenty of fish. Soup was made with shark fins, bird nests, bear paws, and sea slugs. People drank wine made from rice or millet. They also drank tea.
Poor people ate a boring diet. In the South of China, they ate rice. In the North, they ate wheat in the form of noodles, dumplings, or pancakes. However, famines occurred periodically and they caused great suffering.
To do: Farming and food questions
What is the difference between faring in the north and south of China?
Why do you think rich people preferred to live in the cities?
What are some of the interesting things rich people ate in Ancient China?
Why do you think there were periodic famines?
Part 3. Using old photos to study history.
It is believed that Chinese society was remarkably consistent over the last 2000 years and the beliefs of this family have changed little since the time of Confucius.
Historians use old photos to better understand the culture and beliefs of other societies
Examine the two pictures.
To do: Using old photos questions
List some of the beliefs that are evident in these photo's
The father in the first photo is reading. Is he being rude or might he be trying to show us something.
What might he be reading? (Hint, a philosopher who thinks fathers are the centre of the family)
What are the beliefs that are being represented by the second family portrait?
Do you think a Chinese person from 2000 years ago would have recognised the intentions of the people in the photograph?
2. Sources: Ancient China Myths
A brief introduction to Chinese mythology.
For historians to understand an ancient culture, they need to know about the beliefs and myths of that culture.
Like the Greeks, the Ancient Chinese had their own myths and stories to explain their world.
Chinese myths start with Pangu and the Jade Emperor.
Complete the following stations to learn about Chinese mythology
Station 1. The three Sovereigns
Chinese mythology tells us about the first legendary rulers of Ancient China. These wise men and demigods ruled long before the first Chinese dynasty, the Xie.
The Three Sovereigns were powerful demigods who lived to be very old and brought peace and prosperity to the land during their rule.
Fu Xi - Fu Xi was said to have invented fishing, trapping, and writing. His sister was Nuwa. It was Fu Xi and Nuwa who crafted the first humans out of clay.
Nuwa - Nuwa was the sister of Fu Xi. She helped him to create humans and also repaired the wall of heaven.
Shennong - Shennong's name means "Divine Farmer". He brought the knowledge of agriculture to the Chinese people. He invented the plow, axe, hoe, irrigation, and the Chinese calendar.
Questions
What did the three sovereigns bring to the land?
Do you think there is any truth in these myths?
Can you remember any similar myths from our study of the Greek Gods?
Station 2.The Five Emperors
The Five Emperors were the perfect kings who ruled wisely and with honour.
The most famous of the Five Emperors was the Yellow Emperor. He ruled for 100 years and brought about the start of the Chinese civilization.
The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), is a legendary ruler and ancestor of the Chinese people who is said to have lived in the third millennium B.C. for 118 years.
He is credited with having invented Chinese medicine; religious practices, including worship of the sun, moon, and five planets; and technological inventions, like the compass and calendar. He also found time to invent music, writing, ships and silk production.
Questions
What did the three sovereigns bring to the land?
Do you think there is any truth in these myths?
Can you remember any similar myths from our study of the Greek Gods?
Station 3. Dragons
The greatest creature in Chinese mythology is the legendary dragon. The dragon is a long snake-like creature with four legs each with long and dangerous claws. The Yellow Emperor is said to have ridden a dragon or turned into a dragon when he flew to Heaven to join the immortals when he died. The dragon was the symbol of the emperor. His throne was even called the Dragon Throne.
Some dragons are drawn with small wings, but they all have the magical power to fly. Dragons were thought to have power over water and the weather. They can control storms, tornadoes, the ocean, and floods.
Fun Fact: Only the emperor could have a dragon represented on his (always silk) clothes
Questions
List the qualities of the Dragon in Chinese mythology
What is their magical power?
Why would the Emperor want to be associated with the Dragon
Station 4. The Mandate of Heaven
The Jade emperor created the universe and achieved omnipotence and illumination he became supreme Heavenly Ruler and Emperor of the Universe.
The Jade Emperor is the law and he rules all Heaven and Earth with a vast company of civil servants and bureaucrats to assist him.
The human imperial ruler of China was merely a manifestation and vassal of the Jade Emperor. Earthly Emperors were allowed to rule by the mandate of heaven, as long as they ruled according to the laws of the Jade emperor. The mandate of heaven was the permission to rule on the Jade Emperors behalf. When Emperors lost power it was said that they had lost this mandate.
Questions
Who assisted the Jade Emperor in running the universe? What were their tasks?
Explain the mandate of heaven?
What happened to emperors who lost the mandate of heaven?
How might being thought of as the Jade emperors representative on Earth might have been quiet useful.
Activity 3. Two minute teaching - Ancient China
In this activity you will work with your fellow historians to create an engaging and informative two minute presentation to explain your topic to the class.
Use the slides to guide your research.
Confucius and his philosophy
Laozi and his philosophy
The Legalism philosophy
Chinese Cosmology
The social structure in Ancient China
Life of a farming family
3. The Silk Road
Activity 4. Silk Road -Trade Fair Planning
The Silk Road is not a road …….
The Silk Road is not a single route. The term refers to a network of trade routes stretching between China and Europe. Traders carried goods, ideas and culture along these routes for more than 1,500 years, starting when the Han dynasty of China began to trade with Ancient Rome in 130 B.C.E. until 1453 C.E., when the Ottomans captured Istanbul (Turkey) and closed the trade routes with Europe.
…..and it is not just for silk
An abundance of goods travelled along the Silk Road. Merchants carried silk from China to Europe, where it was much in demand amongst royalty and the wealthy. Other commodities from Asia included jade and other precious stones, porcelain, tea, and spices such as cinnamon and pepper. In exchange, Europe and the Middle East sent horses, glassware, textiles, and manufactured goods eastward.
Fun Facts: The Silk Road
It was over 6437 km long.
Marco Polo travelled to China along the Silk Road.
It wasn’t all positive. It is thought that the bubonic plague, or Black Death, travelled to Europe on the Silk Road.
Very few merchants travelled along the entire route. Goods were traded at many cities and trade posts along the way.
Silk Road -Trade Fair Planning
You have been chosen by the emperor to travel from Rome to China to attend a trade fair in Chang' an.
This is your opportunity to get rich, so you will need to plan your trip.
Make a list of the goods you will take with you to trade in China and along the trade routes? (Include photos)
How will you get to Chang an? (The end of the Silk Route in China) Describe the route you will take. (Include an annotated map)
List 5 cities were you can stay on your journey.
What can you trade on the way to China? List the products you could buy in the following locations along the Silk Road.
Damascus (Arabia)
Persia
India
The Pamirs
Kashgar
Dunhuang
5. List the five (5) products you will buy in China for your return to Rome. Explain why these are the goods you have selected.
6. Explain the risks that you will face on your hazardous journey. (For insurance purposes)
Interactive Map of the Silk Roads
Use the interactive map to explore the Silk Roads, discover new routes, learn what resources and goods are traded, or find an outpost or town to explore.
Task: Daily life in Ancient China
In this task you will create a visual guide to daily life in Ancient China.
Create a Poster that uses text and images to explain what life was like for the people of Ancient China.
Include the following elements in your project:
Use a map to show the extent of the Chinese empire.
Describe the roles of the members of a typical Chinese family
Use examples to show what people did for work
Use examples to show how people farmed
Use examples to show what life was like in the towns of China
Explain the three main philosophies of the people of Ancient China
Explain the importance of Ancestor worship
Use examples to show the arts and crafts of the people of Ancient China
