CHINESE EMPIRE

CATEGORY
1. POLITICAL SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION
Organization:
Ancient China had a government ruled by dynasties,
sometimes united under one dynasty but often competing
dynasties in controlling different regions.
The government these dynasties created tended to be very
autocratic and even despotic, ruthlessly enforcing their
rule and conscripting massive armies and labor forces.
The governments were monarchies, lead by the patriarch
of a ruling dynasty, and warfare was endemic.
Political leader:
Warlord kings ruled different states.
When one of these regional dynasties became dominant,
their king would become the emperor.
Emperors had three councillors of state namely the
Chancellor over the Masses, the Imperial Counsellor and

2. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

the Grand Commandant.

How it is developed?
Social classes are based on wealth.
The social structure was very rigid; there was virtually no
possibility of upward (or even downward) mobility. In
other words, if your father was a farmer, chances were you
were going to be a farmer, too.
Boys were valued than girls more because they were the
ones that passed down the family names to their families.
Women were largely domestic creatures, and even aristocratic

3. SOCIAL CLASS

women were not allowed to attend school.

Four Major Classes
a)
b)
c)
d)

4. ECONOMY/TRADE

Shi scholars and officials

Nong farmers and peasants
Gong Artisans and Craftsman
Shang merchants

ECONOMY AND TRADE SYSTEM DURING:

SYSTEM
Pre-Imperial era
the tribes living around the Yellow River area,
were practising agriculture.
A merchant class dominated during the Warring
States Period, resulting in increased trade.
An agricultural revolution, caused by the adoption
of new iron tools, led to a large population
increase during this period.
Early Imperial era
During this period, self-sufficient peasant farmers
and artisans ruled the economy.
Commerce was relatively frequent, increasing
after the Han Dynasty with the development of the
Silk Road
The Silk Road was opened up, allowing trade
between China and its western regions to flourish.
Confuciuss philosophy, and Taoism and its values
gained prominence in China during the Han
Dynasty.
However, the economy was crippled by an
uprising and did not recover until the Tang
Dynasty.
The states withdrawal encouraged economic
growth and helped Chinas economy to develop
into the mercantilism of the Song and Ming
Dynasties in the next era
Late Imperial era
began with the Song Dynasty
It brought an economic revolution to China.
Encouraged by technological advancement, China
saw the beginnings of large-scale enterprise,
waged labour and the introduction of paper
money.
Overseas trade flourished under the Ming
Dynasty.
Investment, capital and commerce were liberalised
as technology advanced and the central state

weakened.
Government manufacturing industries were
privatised. The emergence of rural and urban
markets, where production was geared towards
consumption, was a key development in this era.
5. TECHNOLOGIES

Military innovations include the crossbow and the grid

sight, crossbow stirrup, repeating crossbows, poison gas
(smoke from burning dried mustard), tear gas made from
powdered lime, relief maps for battle planning, manned
kites, fire lance, rockets, gunpowder incendiaries,
gunpowder grenades, proto-handguns, various gun-related

ammunition types and the cannon.

At first, the seeds were placed by hand in furrows, in a
ridge-and-furrow pattern. Around the Second Century
B.C., the Chinese introduced the seed drill, which became
almost universally used in northern China.
Harness for horses: Harness is a set of straps by which a
horse can be fastened to the cart. Throat harness was first
invented. The drawback of the throat harness was that it
presses the back on the neck, thus limiting the full strength
of the animals. Later horse collar was invented. With this
invention the horse could run faster than ox.
Wheelbarrows were in use in China right from the Ancient
times during the Han dynasty. Chuko Liang is the inventor
of wheelbarrow. Liang was a general who used the
wheelbarrows to transport supplies and injured soldiers.
The Chinese wheelbarrows had two wheels and required
two men to drive and steer.
6. KNOWLEDGE/
INVENTIONS/WRITINGS

KNOWLEDGE
The ancient Chinese achieved excellence in the field of
education.
They were apt in arithmetic and geometry.
They developed a lot in the field of astrology by observing
the position of planets and stars in the sky and had
acquired knowledge on solar eclipse and lunar eclipse.
They prepared calendar and counted year, month and day.

They invented 16 musical instruments including drum

water clock and lute.
The ancient Chinese were well aware about different limbs

of a human body.
They fully knew about the function of heart, liver and

bile- cell.
They knew how to treat fever, diarrhoea, weakness and
blindness.
They prepared powder from animal bones and used for
treatment of various diseases.
INVENTION
Acupuncture
Alchemy - was Taoist chemistry, very different from
modern chemistry.
Anesthetic - third century found a wine that acted like
anesthetic, and they also used herbs before the age of
written history
Astronomy - Planetarium - They produced the first
planetarium, which was actually made by an emperor. The
planetarium was a big enclosed place with stars and
constellations on the inside. The person using the
planetarium would sit in a chair that was hanging from the
top of the enclosed dome.
Astrology - Chinese astrology and constellations were
often used for divination
Bamboo - They made most toys, machines, houses, and
other things from bamboo.
Blast Furnace - which was water powered
Block Printmaking / Printing Technology
Clocks - The first clock that they devised was for
astronomical uses. In the first clock ever, there was a
puppet that would hold up a plaque that would tell the
time. They also invented giant water clocks, which rang
every fifteen minutes.
Gunpowder - In the T'ang dynasty gunpowder was
accidentally invented in an attempt to make the elixir of
life, to make the emperor immortal.
Cannon - were just bamboo cases holding gunpowder and
were put in a big iron cannon

 The first to make bombs for war, in the 17th Century.

WRITINGS
Like most languages, the Chinese writing system was
originally pictographic.
But it soon developed a huge vocabulary of sign that had
no picture equivalents and were not related to the spoken
word, it was called Logographs or Words in Sign.
Chinese spoken languages is monosyllabic.
STAGES OF CHINESE WRITING:
Jiaguwen (), or Oracle Bone Script.
This is the earliest form of Chinese writing, used
from the Middle to Late Shang dynasty. This
script was etched onto turtle shells and animals
bones, which were then used for divination in the
royal Shang court, hence the name "oracle bones".
Dazhuan (), or Greater Seal.
This stage of Chinese writing flourished from the
Late Shang to the Western Chou dynasties (1100
BCE to 700 BCE). Unlike Jiaguwen, which was
carved on bones, Dazhuan mainly appeared on
cast bronze vessels
Xiaozhuan (), or Lesser Seal.
This elegant script is the direct parent of the
modern, unsimplified Chinese script.
Lishu (), or Clerkly Script.
As its name implies, this script was used by
government bureaucrats.
Kaishu (), or Standard Script,
is essentially the traditional script used today
(except in the People's Republic of China). It is
very similar to Lishu, but slightly more cursive
and contains serif-like (hook or anchor-like)
elements at the corners and end of strokes.
Xingshu (), or Running Script,
can be considered a cursive version of Kaishu.
Caoshu (), or Grass Script,
is the most cursive Chinese script. It appeared during the Qin
7. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

dynasty.
What they believed?

 The Chinese conception of the afterlife is based on a

combination of Chinese folk religions, Taoism and
Mahayana Buddhism.
In Chinese thinking, everything that exists flows out of the
Tao, and human beings are simply a tiny component of the
Tao.
Chinese Buddhism has many beliefs in common with
other forms of Mahayana Buddhism, including many of
the same bodhisattvas and other religious figures.
In Chinese thought, the world is populated by a vast
number of spirits, both good and evil.
The idea of Heaven (T'ien) plays a prominent role in
indigenous Chinese religion.
Confucianism, not a real religion, is just an ethical and
philosophical system, which developed from Confucius
thoughts and later was treated as a kind of belief to
educate common people.
Religious practices:
Ancestor Worship - (also called ancestor veneration) is a
ritual practice that is based on the belief that deceased
family members have a continued existence, take an
interest in the affairs of the world, and possess the ability
to influence the fortune of the living.
Prayer- Chinese Buddhism and Taoism both incorporate
prayer into their daily religious rituals. In addition to the
prayer accompanying offerings, the monastic prayer (muyu) is said morning, noon and night to the sound of a small
bell.
Longevity practices - rituals and lifestyles aimed at
gaining a long life or even immortality - have long been a
part of Chinese religion. Even before the development of
Taoism, several "hygiene schools" were teaching various
techniques for achieving longevity.
Divination, Prophecy and Astrology- Divination was
commonplace in ancient China. The famous "Classic of
Changes" (composed before the third century BCE)
involved divination.

Gods:
San Qing (Three Pure Gods)
They are Yu Qing (Jade Pure)
Shang Qing (Upper Pure)
Tai Qing (Great Pure).
Religions:
Buddhism
Han Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Southern Buddhism
Taoism - This religion pursues immortality and
preservation of health; its uttermost goal is to become an
immortal being.
Islam - introduced into China in the 7th century in Tang
Dynasty
Christianity - was first introduced to China in Tang
Dynasty, which was named as Nestorianism during that
time.
8. ART AND
ARCHITECTURE

ART:
Bronze Vessels - delicately decorated with a diverse range
of designs and motifs and were widely used in many
aspects of life
China Calligraphy - a highly stylized form of writing
Chinese Cloissone - is an enamel artwork with the primary
color being blue
Chinese Jade - used both to decorate rooms, and as
jewelry by people hoping for a blessing
Chinese Embroidery - originated in the Shang Dynasty
(16th - 11th century BC), and now has four major
traditional styles: Su, Shu, Xiang, and Yue.
Folk Toys - items that have a long history and a
combination of artistic appreciation and playful
enjoyment, and endowed with numerous meanings that
express the people's wish for a happy and contented life.
Shadow Puppetry - All of the vivid shadow puppets,
including the figures and the scenes, are plane and made
from leather.
China Music - Featured with unique melodies within

different dynasties and accompanied with traditional

musical instruments.
China Opera - It is a combination of music, art and
literature and is characterized by the unique facial makeup, excellent acrobatics and has many different regional
variations.
Chinese Painting - divided into three genres - figures,
landscapes, and birds-and-flowers
Chinese Pottery - has a history of over 8,000 years and
known as the oldest artwork of human beings
ARCHITECTURES
The most significant characteristic is the use of timber
framework. Paintings and carvings were added to the
architectural work to make it more beautiful and attractive.
Great Wall of China one of the greatest wonders of the
world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in

1987
White Horse Temple
Mogao Caves
Summer Place (yiheyuan)
Forbidden City (palace museum)
Chinese Imperial Architecture: it features the highest
achievement of the Chinese ancient architecture that
includes imperial palace, mausoleum and garden

architecture.
Traditional Chinese residences- reflect the national
culture, the sub-culture of a specific region and that of the
ethnic group within it. The traditional domestic
architecture of China has five major styles: Courtyards in
Beijing (Siheyuan) or compounds with courtyards in
northern China, Farmers' Caves (Yaodong) in Northern
Shaanxi Province, Earthen Buildings of Hakkas (Tulou) in
southeast China's Fujian Province, Seal-like
Compound (Yikeyin) in Yunnan province, Stilt Houses
(Diaojiaolou) on steep inclines or projecting over water in
southern China.
Chinese Garden Architecture - divided into two groups,
the Imperial Garden Architecture in north China and the

Private Garden Architecture in south China. Imperial

gardens are noteworthy for their grand dimensions,
9. RIVER SYSTEM

luxurious buildings, and exquisite decorations.

TWO MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS: YELLOW RIVER &
YANGTZE RIVER
The early people called the rivers in China "The Great
Sorrow". That's because each spring the rivers would
overflow their banks.
The Yangtze River had high banks which kept the homes
built on high ground safe. But not all homes were built on
high ground.
The other major river system, the Huang He (the Yellow
River), has low banks. Some early people built homes on
stilts, to try and keep their homes safe during the flooding
season. It was not until the early engineers of ancient
China learned the techniques of flood control that the
homes along the Yellow River survived more than one
season and called Mother River of the Chinese people.

10. CITY-STATE

Ancient Chinese were typified by variously sized city

states and territories that existed in China prior to its
unification by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BCE. In many cases
these were vassal states characterized by tribute paid to the
ruling Zhou dynasty (1046256 BCE). Such states
and fiefdoms would again emerge during later dynasties as
a political expedient when required.
During Western Zhou, the State of Cai was founded
following a grant of land by the first Zhou King to his
younger brother. Other states founded at this time
included Cao, Yan, Jin, and Chen. The central State of
Song was created as a land grant to the nobility of the
defeated Shang dynasty. On the periphery, the states
of Yan, Qi, and Jin in the north and northeast had more
room to expand and grew into large states. In the
south, Xiong Yi was granted the fiefdom of Chu, which
grew powerful and its later rulers declared themselves
kings.

 Warring States Period (476-221 BCE) occurred in which

seven states fought with each other for control. The seven
states were Chu, Han, Qi, Qin, Wei, Yan, and Zhao all of
whom considered themselves sovereign but none of whom
felt confident in claiming the Mandate of Heaven still held
by the Zhou of Luoyang.

References:
http://www.ancientmilitary.com/ancient-china-government.htm
http://www.hierarchystructure.com/chinese-social-hierarchy/
http://study.com/academy/lesson/social-class-in-early-china-aristocrat-farmer-craftsman-merchant.html
http://www.ancientscripts.com/chinese.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/chinascience.html
http://www.historydiscussion.net/history/chinese-civilization-and-its-characteristics/1909
http://www.activeukchina.com/china-overview/china-economic-history/2/
http://www.chinatravel.com/facts/china-rivers.htm
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/architecture/styles/buddhist.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/chinese-religion/beliefs
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/taoism/
http://china.mrdonn.org/rivers.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Chinese_states