Ancient China Vocab

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  1. 4. The Chinese word means a way or a path. Confucians used the term to speak of the way human beings ought to behave in society. Laozi and Zhuangzi, living at a time of social disorder and great religious skepticism, created it.
  2. 6. The pinyin romanization for the Chinese characters which mean “Old Master.” He is also known as Lao Dan in early Chinese sources. In religious Daoism, He is revered as a supreme deity.
  3. 7. Used to communicate with ancestors and deities, who were believed to have the power to bestow fortune, disasters and guidance on the living world. Mainly used during the Shang Dynasty. The inscriptions on them and the bronze inscriptions mark the beginning of written Chinese history.
  4. 8. The earliest ruling dynasty of China to be established in recorded history. They ruled from 1600 to 1046 B.C. and heralded the Bronze Age in China. They were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and military technology.
  5. 11. Made up a very small portion of Chinese society and were often well-connected to the emperor. They were generally landowners who collected rent from their tenants and, in turn, paid tribute to the emperor as a show of allegiance. These families in China were never a single, unified group, It took centuries for a clearly defined aristocracy to emerge.
  6. 13. “a closed door, darkness and the south bank of a river and the north side of a mountain.” A symbol of earth, femaleness, darkness, passivity, and absorption. It is present in even numbers, in valleys and streams, and is represented by the tiger, the color orange, and a broken line.
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  1. 1. A royal dynasty of China (1046 BC – 256 BC) that followed the Shang dynasty. Known for significant cultural contributions to agriculture, education, military organization, Chinese literature, music, philosophical schools of thought, and social stratification as well as political and religious innovations. China underwent quite dramatic changes. Iron, ox-drawn plows, crossbows, and horseback riding were all introduced.
  2. 2. The Yangtze River is also known as the "long river" in Chinese. It derives from a fiefdom located near the river. The Yangtze is the longest river in China. Helped unify China by serving as a useful transportation and trade network within its borders.
  3. 3. The belief that the Chinese emperor had a divine right to rule given him by the god or divine force. It was believed that natural disasters, famines, and astrological signs were signals that the emperor and the dynasty were losing it. They used this to justify their overthrow of the Shang, and their subsequent rule.
  4. 5. This dynasty brought about what would become the foundation of Chinese rule, namely that of familial succession, with sons following fathers to the throne. They Developed new agricultural practices including irrigation. They also developed a calendar which is sometimes considered the origin of the traditional Chinese calendar.
  5. 9. Also known as the Yellow River, or the birthplace of Chinese civilization. The Yellow River is the second largest river in China and one of the longest river systems in the world. The earliest chinese capitals were near this river, because of the multitude of resources.
  6. 10. Made up a very small portion of Chinese society and were often well-connected to the emperor. They were generally landowners who collected rent from their tenants and, in turn, paid tribute to the emperor as a show of allegiance. These families in China were never a single, unified group, It took centuries for a clearly defined aristocracy to emerge.
  7. 12. “height, brightness and the south side of a mountain.” Is conceived of as heaven, maleness, light, activity, and penetration. Is represented by South, Fire, Active, Sun, Heaven, Warm, Young, Odd Numbers, Mountains, Rich, Hard.