The Tang (T’ang) Dynasty and the Beginning of Chinese Civilization

(left) Second emperor of the Tang Dynasty—Taizong (T’ai-tsung)

The Fourth Emperor of the Tang—Wuze Tian (Wu-tse T’ien)—or the First Empress in Chinese History

The Beginning of Chinese Civilization

Written records and archaeological Written records and archaeological discoveries indicate thatdiscoveries indicate that Chinese civilization appeared as early as Chinese civilization appeared as early as

5,000 years ago; although the first 500 5,000 years ago; although the first 500 years being legendaryyears being legendary

Legendary kings remain culture heroes in Legendary kings remain culture heroes in the eyes of common people: Yellow the eyes of common people: Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, YuEmperor, Yao, Shun, Yu

Three [Ancient] Dynasties

Scholars have proven the existence of the so-Scholars have proven the existence of the so-called “Three Dynasties”called “Three Dynasties” Xia (Hsia): its history and culture have Xia (Hsia): its history and culture have

been under reconstructionbeen under reconstruction Shang (Shang (1500-1045 BCE1500-1045 BCE): generally ): generally

regarded as China’s first historical dynasty regarded as China’s first historical dynasty characterized by rich cultural activities characterized by rich cultural activities

Zhou (Chou, Zhou (Chou, 1045-771 BCE1045-771 BCE; ; 770-256 BCE770-256 BCE): ): more elaborate cultural activities appearedmore elaborate cultural activities appeared

Fu Hao’s (Lady Hao’s ) tomb, dated ca. 1,200 BCE, unearthed in 1976

Fu Hao was one of King Wu Ding’s wives

One of 130 bronze weapons found in Fu Hao’s tomb

Artifacts found in Fu Hao’s tomb number nearly 9,000, most of which are bronze, jade, and bone objects.

6,900 pieces of cowrie shell were found in the tomb

Drinking vessels found in Fu Hao’s tomb

Ivory objects

Drinking vessels found in Fu Hao’s tomb

Taotie image/pattern on bronze vessels

Cauldron with taotie inscribed on it

Bronze: Shang Dynasty

Fragments of oracle bones in a pit

The Legacy of Shang A Bronze-producing culture A Bronze-producing culture

characterized by its bronze characterized by its bronze technologytechnology

Bronze used more for ritual Bronze used more for ritual than for warthan for war Bronze objects: cups, Bronze objects: cups,

goblets, steamers, cauldronsgoblets, steamers, cauldrons Other material objects: jade, Other material objects: jade,

silk, carved wood silk, carved wood Oracle bones used in divination; Oracle bones used in divination;

oracle-bone inscription oracle-bone inscription represented early writing represented early writing system: logographicsystem: logographic

Food: millet, wheat Food: millet, wheat were main stapleswere main staples

Rammed earth city Rammed earth city wallswalls

Revered Lord on HighRevered Lord on High Worshiped ancestorsWorshiped ancestors Chariot warfareChariot warfare

Bronze: Zhou Dynasty

The Legacy of Zhou

New system of Divination New system of Divination BasedBased onon The Book of Changes The Book of Changes virtue, correct way seen as important virtue, correct way seen as important

to meet auspicious sign and resultto meet auspicious sign and result The concept of Heaven--The concept of Heaven--

linked the Zhou king and heaven : linked the Zhou king and heaven : Mandate of HeavenMandate of HeavenSon of Heaven (Son of Heaven (tianzitianzi) )

used forused for reading and interpreting reading and interpreting historyhistory: The Book of History: The Book of History

The Book of Changes

The YijingThe Yijing (or (or I-chingI-ching)) A divinatory A divinatory

handbook; not handbook; not about cosmogonyabout cosmogony

Concerned with Concerned with human life, the human life, the structure of structure of universe, and their universe, and their interconnectioninterconnection

•Represented a new Represented a new form of divinationform of divination

•Replaced earlier Replaced earlier divination by divination by means of oracle means of oracle bonesbones

•Based on eight trigrams that were paired to Based on eight trigrams that were paired to yield sixty-four hexagrams to be consulted yield sixty-four hexagrams to be consulted through the casting of milfoil stalksthrough the casting of milfoil stalks

The Book of History

The Shujing (a.k.a. The Book of The Shujing (a.k.a. The Book of Documents)Documents) Teaches interdependent cosmology Teaches interdependent cosmology

of heaven, earth, and human beingsof heaven, earth, and human beings Record of historical events from the Record of historical events from the

third millennium to the 7th century third millennium to the 7th century BCE.BCE.A combination of history and A combination of history and

legend.legend.

Major themes of the book:Major themes of the book: Cultural heroes performed rituals and, Cultural heroes performed rituals and,

with ritual offerings, communicated with ritual offerings, communicated with spiritual beingswith spiritual beings

Shang people revered the Lord on Shang people revered the Lord on High High

((ShangdiShangdi) and ancestral spirits were ) and ancestral spirits were supplicated with sacrificial offeringssupplicated with sacrificial offerings

Zhou people revered HeavenZhou people revered Heaven

Other themes: Other themes: Human effort are much stressedHuman effort are much stressed People possessing radiant inner virtue and People possessing radiant inner virtue and

integrity are able to communicate with integrity are able to communicate with spirits and invoke their assistancespirits and invoke their assistance

Interrelatedness of all thingsInterrelatedness of all thingsIndividuals are figuratively conjoined to Individuals are figuratively conjoined to

the cosmosthe cosmosA sovereign should facilitate A sovereign should facilitate

harmonious relationship between harmonious relationship between heaven, earth, and human beingsheaven, earth, and human beings

The Book of Odes (Poetry, Songs)

Content:Content: Sacrificial hymns, praise songs—honor Sacrificial hymns, praise songs—honor

culture heroes, tutelary deities; celebrate culture heroes, tutelary deities; celebrate the virtues of King Wenthe virtues of King Wen

Love poems--written in the female voice, Love poems--written in the female voice, described everyday lifedescribed everyday life

Folk songs—tell of the joys and sorrows of Folk songs—tell of the joys and sorrows of the common peoplethe common people

The Book of Rites The Book of Rites (li)The Book of Rites (li)

Stresses the importance and function of ritualsStresses the importance and function of rituals Relates the purpose and import of different Relates the purpose and import of different

ritualsrituals Elaborates values and principles of rituals Elaborates values and principles of rituals

within the context of family and larger public within the context of family and larger public social network (i.e., self and others; internal social network (i.e., self and others; internal and external)and external)

Underscores the relationships between social Underscores the relationships between social classes, and between man and nature; classes, and between man and nature;

Layouts the goals of lifeLayouts the goals of life

The Rites of Chou (Zhou)The Rites of Chou (Zhou) Records the vocabulary, regalia, staffing of Records the vocabulary, regalia, staffing of

ritual proceedingsritual proceedingsGrand minister of rites; master of Grand minister of rites; master of

sacrifices, chief shaman; male shaman, sacrifices, chief shaman; male shaman, female shaman; grand invocator; female female shaman; grand invocator; female invocator; exorcist; diviner of dreamsinvocator; exorcist; diviner of dreams

Catalogues the administrative duties of the Catalogues the administrative duties of the officials officials

The Spring and Autumn Annals The Spring and Autumn AnnalsThe Spring and Autumn Annals

A chronicle ofA chronicle of important historical events important historical events occurred in the states of northern China occurred in the states of northern China from 722 to 481 BCE.from 722 to 481 BCE.

Master Zuo’s (Tso’s) CommentaryMaster Zuo’s (Tso’s) Commentary, or the , or the ZuoZuo ( (Tso) chuanTso) chuan An interpretive, narrative history An interpretive, narrative history

correlating with the accounts in correlating with the accounts in Spring & Spring & Autumn AnnalsAutumn Annals

Records historical tales, anecdotes, Records historical tales, anecdotes, legends…legends…

Reverence of ancestral spirits Human virtue or

integrity emphasized

Alcohol, animal flesh and blood used in sacrificial ceremonies

Model governmentModel government High leadership quality exemplified by High leadership quality exemplified by

King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of ZhouZhou military prowess, the morally based military prowess, the morally based

civil arts, and loyaltycivil arts, and loyalty Hereditary kingship and hierarchical Hereditary kingship and hierarchical

societysociety ““Son of Heaven,” feudal lords, Son of Heaven,” feudal lords,

ministers, officers…farmersministers, officers…farmers

BronzeBronze vessels’ motifs were vessels’ motifs were

more related to war more related to war

than ritualthan ritual

Poetry: Poetry: the Book of the Book of

Odes (Songs, Poetry)Odes (Songs, Poetry)

Paternalistic relationship Paternalistic relationship between ruler and common between ruler and common people, the majority of which people, the majority of which were peasantwere peasantRole of ruler: Role of ruler:

educate people and exhort them educate people and exhort them to comply with social moresto comply with social mores

Concerned about their welfareConcerned about their welfare

People’s role:People’s role: Revere ancestors, present sacrificial Revere ancestors, present sacrificial

offering to them and heavenoffering to them and heaven Develop a sense of filial piety and care Develop a sense of filial piety and care

for the needs of livingfor the needs of living Serve the lord as their parent (ruler)Serve the lord as their parent (ruler)

Confucianism and other schools Confucianism and other schools of thought of thought