1. Chinese Literature
1000 B.C. – A.D. 1890

2. Shang Dynasty
1600 B.C.
Divided northern China into many small regions, each governed by a king
Nature inhabited by gods and spirits
Developments:
New technologies in bronzeworking
Decimal system
12 month calendar
Creation of fine pottery, silk textiles, and Jade ornaments

3. Chou Dynasty 11th Century B.C. – 256 B.C.
Central Asian people who overthrew Shang dynasty
Severe political disunity
Hundreds of small feudal states with its own ruler
Many wars
The Hundred Schools period
Lao Tzu (Taoism – freedom, simplicity, and mystical contemplation of nature)
Confucius (Confucianism – code of social conduct and stressed discipline, morality and knowledge)

4. Ch’in Dynasty Lasted 15 years
A feudal state that overthrew other states by 221 B.C.
Intolerant of other views
Strengthened central government
Divided China into provinces
Built road system
Patched the Great Wall of China

5. Han Dynasty Lasted 400 years Strengthened central gov’t
Improved education system
Made important advances in science and art
Established trade with Europe and Southern Asia
Introduced Buddhism (advocates freedom from worldly desires)

6. T’ang Dynasty
Followed period of disunity and a time when fine arts and literature flourished
Golden Age
Chinese poetry
Empire stretched from Pacific Ocean to Persian and India
Most effective system of government
Gunpowder and block printing invented

7. Sung Dynasty Mid-tenth century
Peasant revolts brought about the dynasty
Era of “delicacy and refinement” (198)
Neo-Confucianism: originally, return to Confucius teachings, but blended Buddhist ideas of seeking enlightenment through mediation and moral action

8. Mongol Invasion
Late 12th, early 13th century A.D., the Yuan dynasty, first foreign dynasty established.
Conquest started by Genghis Khan; finished by Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis) in 1279
Had contact with other countries unlike other parts of Mongol empire

9. Ming Dynasty Mongols driven out in mid-1300’s
Ming emperors revived Chinese culture previous to Mongol invasion
Overthrown by foreign invaders

10. Ch’ing Dynasty Manchurians conquered China in 1644
Adopted many elements of Chinese culture
Government modeled that of Ming dynasty
Rapid population growth led to unrest in Chinese society
Ended early 1900’s

11. Poetry Important in Chinese culture
Civic service exams required a poetic composition
Oldest collection The Book of Songs
Written after Han dynasty fell; compiled 16 century B.C.
Students expected to memorize it
Shih form: emotive versus, rigid form
T’ao Ch’ien, master of this form
Greatest during T’ang dynasty
Tz’u form: lyrical, written to music – varying line length

12. Philosophical Text Highly valued like poetry Confucius’ The Analects
Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching
Chuang Tzu ’s, disciple of Lao Tzu, Chuan Tzu:
witty, imaginative style
Animal fables and anecdotes teaching Taoist philosophy and questioning Confucius’ principles

13. Chinese Drama and Fiction
Inferior to poetry
Golden age of drama during Yuan dynasty; included a consistent plot
Drama included singing and dancing
Fiction gained popularity during the Ming and Ch’ing dynasties
Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, a historical tale
The Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en, a comic novel
The Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xeuqui, long work filled with psychological insights, about the decline of a prominent aristocratic family