History of China

Chinese civilization originated in various regional

centers along both the Yellow River and the
Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but
the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of
Chinese Civilization. The written history of
China can be found as early as the Shang
Dynasty (ca. 1700 BC ca. 1046 BC). Oracle
bones with ancient Chinese writing from the
Shang Dynasty have been radiocarbon dated to
as early as 1500 BC. The origins of Chinese

culture, literature and philosophy developed

during the Zhou Dynasty (1045 BC-256 BC).
Shang Dynasty (ca. 1700-1046 BC)

The earliest written record of Chinese past so

far discovered dates from the Shang Dynasty in
perhaps the 13th century BC and takes the
form of inscriptions of divination records on the
bones or shells of animalsthe so-called oracle
bones. Archaeological findings providing
evidence for the existence of the Shang
Dynasty, ca. 1600-1046 BC, are divided into
two sets. Those who lived during the Shang
Dynasty also believed that their ancestors their parents and grandparents - became like
gods when they died, and that their ancestors
wanted to be worshipped too, like gods. Each
family worshipped its own ancestors.

Around 1500 BC, the Chinese began to use

written oracle bones to predict the future. By
the time of the Zhou Dynasty (about 1100 BC),
the Chinese were also worshipping a natural
force called tian, which is usually translated
as Heaven. Like Shangdi, Heaven ruled over all
the other gods, and it decided who would rule
China, under the Mandate of Heaven.
The ruler could rule as long as he or she had
the Mandate of Heaven. It was believed that
the emperor or empress had lost the Mandate
of Heaven when natural disasters occurred in
great number, and when, more realistically, the
sovereign had apparently lost his concern for
the people. In response, the royal house would
be overthrown, and a new house would rule,
having been granted the Mandate of Heaven.
Chinese historians living in later periods were
accustomed to the notion of one dynasty
succeeding another, but the actual political
situation in early China is known to have been
much more complicated. Hence, as some
scholars of China suggest, the Xia and the
Shang can possibly refer to political entities
that existed concurrently, just as the early
Zhou is known to have existed at the same time
as the Shang.

Zhou Dynasty (1066-256 BC)

The Zhou Dynasty was the longest-lasting

dynasty in Chinese history, from 1066 BC to
approximately 256 BC. By the end of the 2nd
millennium BC, the Zhou Dynasty began to
emerge in the Yellow River valley, overrunning
the territory of the Shang. The Zhou appeared
to have begun their rule under a semi-feudal
system. This would be the first of many
population migrations from north to south in
Chinese history.

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)

Historians often refer to the period under Qin

Dynasty as Imperial China. Though the unified
reign of the Qin Emperor lasted only 12 years,
he managed to subdue great parts of what
constitutes the core of the Han Chinese
homeland and to unite them under a tightly
centralized Legalist government seated at.
The Qin Emperor presided over the brutal
silencing of political opposition, including the
event known as the burning of books and
burying of scholars.

Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army was discovered in the

spring of 1974 in the eastern suburbs of Xian
Province by local farmers named Yang who
were drilling a water well 1.5 miles east of
Mount Li.
The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art
buried with the First Emperor of Qin in 210-209
BC. The Army's purpose was to help rule
another empire with Qin Shi Huang in the
afterlife. Consequently, they are also
sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies."

Construction of this mausoleum began in 246

BC and involved 700,000 workers. Mount Li had
been chosen as a site for its auspicious
geology: it once had a gold mine on its north
face and a jade mine on its south face,
demonstrating not only its sacred value, but
also perhaps how the tunnels had come to be
dug in the first place. Qin Shi Huang was 13
when construction began. He specifically stated
that no two soldiers were to be made alike.

Construction
The terracotta figures are life-like and lifesized. They vary in height, uniform and
hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored
lacquer finish, individual facial features, and
actual weapons and armor from battle used in
manufacturing these figures created a realistic
appearance. The original weapons were stolen
by robbers shortly after the creation of the
army and the coloring has faded greatly.
However, their existence serves as a testament
to the amount of labor and skill involved in
their construction. It also reveals the power
the First Emperor possessed, enabling him to
command such a monumental undertaking.

The Qin Dynasty is well known for beginning

the Great Wall of China, which was later
augmented and enhanced during the Ming
Dynasty

Han Dynasty (202 BCAD 220)

The Han Dynasty (202 BC AD 220) emerged

in 206 BC, with its founder Liu Bang proclaimed
emperor in 202 BC. It was the first dynasty to
embrace the philosophy of Confucianism, which
became the ideological underpinning of all
regimes until the end of imperial China. Under
the Han Dynasty, China made great advances in
many areas of the arts and sciences. Emperor
Wu consolidated and extended the Chinese
empire into the steppes of modern Inner
Mongolia.

Ming Dynasty (AD 13681644)

Hong-Wu, the founder of the dynasty, laid the

foundations for a state interested less in
commerce and more in extracting revenues
from the agricultural sector. Perhaps because
of the Emperor's background as a peasant, the
Ming economic system emphasized agriculture,
unlike that of the Song and the Mongolian
Dynasties, which relied on traders and
merchants for revenue.

The deadliest earthquake of all times, the

Shaanxi earthquake of 1556 that killed
approximately 830,000 people occurred during
the Jiajing Emperor's reign.
During the Ming dynasty the last construction
on the Great Wall was undertaken to protect
China from foreign invasions. While the Great
Wall had been built in earlier times, most of
what is seen today was either built or repaired
by the Ming. The brick and granite work was
enlarged, the watch towers were redesigned,
and cannons were placed along its length.
Facts about the Great Wall of China
The construction of the Great Wall of China was
started in circa 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, and
continued till rule of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
The Great Wall of China is more than 7 meters high
and over 5 meters wide.
The aim behind the construction of the wall was to
protect the agricultural lands from invasion and to

keep the people from moving out of the Chinese

empire.
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven
Wonders of the World.
The construction of the wall was the result of the
labor of over a million people, who comprised of
peasants, prisoners and soldiers.
Thousands of people are believed to have died
during the construction of the Great Wall of China.
Earlier, the wall was known as Ten Thousand Li
Wall, referring to the walls length.
The sections of the wall, in the eastern part of
China, have been made of bricks and stones, while
the western sections of wall have been constructed
out of earth and grass.
The Great Wall is actually made up of a number of
interconnecting walls and is not a single wall in
itself.
The wall was not constructed at one go. Several
different dynasties, which ruled over the 2,000
years of its construction, claim the credit for it.
There are more than 10,000 watchtowers and
beacon towers on the Great Wall of China.
The average height of the Great Wall of China is
somewhere around 25 feet.
The Great Wall of China was declared as a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO, in the year 1987.
The Great Wall of China stretches over an area of
approximately 6700 km in total.

The Forbidden City

Construction for the Forbidden City began in

1406 and lasted 15 years, and required more
than a million workers.
After being the home of 24 emperors
fourteen of the Ming Dynasty and ten of the
Qing Dynasty the Forbidden City ceased being
the political centre of China in 1912 with the
abdication of Puyi, the last Emperor of China. Under
an agreement with the new Republic of China
government, Puyi remained in the Inner Court, while
the Outer Court was given over to public use, until
he was evicted after a coup in 1924.

Description

Plan of the Forbidden City.

A. Meridian Gate
B. Gate of Divine
Might
C. West Glorious Gate
D. East Glorious Gate
E. Corner towers
F. Gate of Supreme
Harmony
G. Hall of Supreme
Harmony

Walls and gates

H. Hall of Military
Eminence
J. Hall of Literary Glory
K. Southern Three
Places
L. Palace of Heavenly
Purity
M. Imperial garden
N. Hall of Mental
Cultivation
O. Palace of Tranquil
Longevity

The Meridian Gate, front entrance to the

Forbidden City, with two protruding wings

The northwest corner tower

Outer Court

The Hall of Supreme Harmony

The sign of the Hall of Supreme Harmony

The throne in the Hall of Preserving Harmony

The Hall of Central Harmony (foreground) and

the Hall of Preserving Harmony
Traditionally, the Forbidden City is divided into
two parts. The Outer Court or Front Court
includes the southern sections, and was used
for ceremonial purposes. The Inner Court or
Back Palace includes the northern sections,
and was the residence of the Emperor and his
family, and was used for day-to-day affairs of
state.

Inner Court
It was the home of the Emperor and his family.
In the Qing Dynasty, the Emperor lived and
worked almost exclusively in the Inner Court,
with the Outer Court used only for ceremonial
purposes.

The Palace of Heavenly Purity

At the centre of the Inner Court is another set
of three halls. From the south, these are the
Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and
the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. The Emperor,
representing Yang and the Heavens, would
occupy the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The
Empress, representing Yin and the Earth,
would occupy the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
In between them was the Hall of Union, where
the Yin and Yang mixed to produce harmony.

The throne in the Palace of Heavenly Purity

Taoism

Taoism (modernly: Daoism) is a philosophical and religious

tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao.
The term Tao means "way", "path" or "principle", and can

also be found in Chinese philosophies and religions other

than Taoism.

Daoism is one of Chinas major religions indigenous to

the country. The primary belief is in learning and
practicing The Way (Dao) which is the ultimate
truth to the universe.
Also known as Taoism, Daoism traces its roots to 6th
Century BC Chinese philosopher Laozi wrote the iconic
book Dao De Jing on the tenets of the Dao.
Daoism as a religion didnt really flourish until
hundreds of years later around 100 AD, when Taoist
hermit Zhang Daoling founded a sect of Daoism known
as the Way of the Celestial Matters. Through his

teachings, Zhang and his successors codified many

aspects of Daoism.
Conflicts with Buddhism:
Daoism grew quickly from 200-700 AD, where more
rituals and practices emerged. During this period,
Daoism faced competition from the growing spread of
Buddhism which came to China via traders and
missionaries from India.
Unlike Buddhism, Daoists do not believe that life is
suffering. Daoism believes that life is generally happy
but that it should be lived with balance and virtue. The
two religions often butted heads when both vied to
become the official religion of the Imperial Court.
Daoism did become the official religion of the Tang
Dynasty (618-906 AD), but in later dynasties it was
supplanted by Buddhism.

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