Legends, History, Archaeology, and Paleoastronomy,

Myths World uncreated – no creator god World uncreated – no creator god Nü Gua Nü Gua Pangu Pangu Yellow Emperor Yellow Emperor Yao, Shun, Yü Yao, Shun, Yü Heavenly archer Yi Heavenly archer Yi Queen Mother of the West- Queen Mother of the West-

Nü Gua Primeval Goddess of unknown origin Primeval Goddess of unknown origin Myth: made many transformations Myth: made many transformations Created humans from yellow earth, clay, mud Created humans from yellow earth, clay, mud Several hierarchical categories Several hierarchical categories Noble – yellow earth Noble – yellow earth People – clay People – clay Slaves - mud Slaves - mud

Pan Gu First born human First born human Myth much later than Nü gua Myth much later than Nü gua Separation of heavens from earth Separation of heavens from earth Pangu – giant born from an egg Pangu – giant born from an egg Went through nine transformations Went through nine transformations His body, arms and legs, became the dry earth His body, arms and legs, became the dry earth

Yellow Emperor Warrior god Warrior god Fought against evil emperors and monsters Fought against evil emperors and monsters Became major deity in Daoism Became major deity in Daoism Yellow – most auspicious color associated with Earth, agriculture Yellow – most auspicious color associated with Earth, agriculture Very powerful, benign, auspicious Very powerful, benign, auspicious

Three Sage Emperors Yao, Shun, and Yü Yao, Shun, and Yü Yao passed over own sons to appoint Shun Yao passed over own sons to appoint Shun Shun chosen for virtue Shun chosen for virtue Shun passed over own sons to appoint Yü Shun passed over own sons to appoint Yü as successor as successor Yü the great controlled the waters Yü the great controlled the waters

Yao First sage emperor in mythic Golden Age First sage emperor in mythic Golden Age Exemplar of virtue Exemplar of virtue Protected the people Protected the people Sent archer Yi to shoot down 9 suns Sent archer Yi to shoot down 9 suns Rejected own sons Rejected own sons Selected Shun as his successor Selected Shun as his successor

Ten suns and magical archer Yi Ten suns arose each day Ten suns arose each day Scorched the earth Scorched the earth So heavenly archer Yi sent to shoot down nine suns So heavenly archer Yi sent to shoot down nine suns Associated with totem of Black Bird w/ 3 legs Associated with totem of Black Bird w/ 3 legs Single sun came up ten times in a row Single sun came up ten times in a row Chinese week – ten days Chinese week – ten days

Shun Shun came of lowly birth Shun came of lowly birth Yao gave him his two daughters as wives Yao gave him his two daughters as wives Invented agriculture Invented agriculture exemplar of virtue exemplar of virtue Passed over own sons in favor of Yü Passed over own sons in favor of Yü

Yü the great Flood myth Flood myth Yü Yü received divine favor received divine favor Created dams Created dams Channeled the waters Channeled the waters Water for irrigation Water for irrigation Vanquished the storm god Vanquished the storm god Cast nine cauldrons Cast nine cauldrons

Archaeology Modern science Modern science Began in China in 1930s with European advisors Began in China in 1930s with European advisors Europeans stole as much as they helped out Europeans stole as much as they helped out Uncovered early Paleolithic sites Uncovered early Paleolithic sites Found the Shang city of Anyang and graves of last 12 kings of Shang Found the Shang city of Anyang and graves of last 12 kings of Shang Confirms historical record Confirms historical record

Archaeological discoveries Paleolithic hunter gathers sites Paleolithic hunter gathers sites Early settlements – agriculture Early settlements – agriculture Xia dynasty sites Xia dynasty sites Shang graves – names and sequence of kings matched the ancient lists Shang graves – names and sequence of kings matched the ancient lists New discoveries: warrior empress Fu Hao New discoveries: warrior empress Fu Hao

Examples of other archaeological discoveries Examples of other archaeological discoveries Early hunter-gather villages Early hunter-gather villages Xia dynasty towns Xia dynasty towns Shang dynasty capital city Shang dynasty capital city Shang kings and Lady Fu Hao Shang kings and Lady Fu Hao

Terra cotta soldiers Terra cotta soldiers City of Chang ’ an City of Chang ’ an Capital at Kaifeng Capital at Kaifeng Ming dynasty discoveries Ming dynasty discoveries Right up until present times Right up until present times

Neolithic Period Most of what we know of the Neolithic period is due to archaeological excavations: Most of what we know of the Neolithic period is due to archaeological excavations: Yangshao Culture at Banpo Yangshao Culture at Banpo Early ceramic technology Early ceramic technology

Banpo site

Yangshao Culture

Longshan culture Longshan culture Small towns Small towns Reducing kilns Reducing kilns Use of pottery wheel Use of pottery wheel

Shang Dynasty

Qin Dynasty – Terra Cotta Soldiers Qin Dynasty – Terra Cotta Soldiers

Tang Dynasty Tomb

Dancing horses of Emperor Ming Huang (c. 756) Dancing horses of Emperor Ming Huang (c. 756)

Paleo-astronomy Newest technological development Newest technological development Computer generated maps of past night skies Computer generated maps of past night skies Three crucial dates from early histories Three crucial dates from early histories Foundation of Xia (c B.C.E.) Foundation of Xia (c B.C.E.) Foundation of Shang (c B.C. E.) Foundation of Shang (c B.C. E.) Foundation of Zhou (c. 1020/1045 B.C.E.) Foundation of Zhou (c. 1020/1045 B.C.E.)

Alignment of Planets 1953 BCE Xia

Alignment of planets 1576 B.C. Shang

Alignment of planets 1059 BCE Zhou mandate

Mandate from Heaven Walking stars as omen to establish Xia c B.C.E. Walking stars as omen to establish Xia c B.C.E. Gathering of planets as a sign to overthrow Xia, establish Shang c B.C.E. Gathering of planets as a sign to overthrow Xia, establish Shang c B.C.E. Gathering of planets as a sign to overthrow Shang, establish Zhou c B.C.E. Gathering of planets as a sign to overthrow Shang, establish Zhou c B.C.E. Most important political principle in Chinese History Most important political principle in Chinese History “ Mandate of Heaven ” Government “ Mandate of Heaven ” Government