Chinese History概要1.docVIP

Lecture 1 Chinese History What Is Culture? The system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation through learning. The Ancient Period (ancient times—1840) Significance of the Legend of Pangu “Since Pan Gu created earth and the heaven’ (自从盘古开天地)” “a very long time” 天人合一 “harmony between human being and nature” “human being synchronizing nature and environment” Emperor Huang and Emperor Yan Two emperors in ancient Chinese legends the earliest ancestors of the Chinese nation Huanghe River Basin (黄河盆地) The Xia Dynasty: Two tribes melted into one. “The descendants of Yan and Huang (炎黄子孙)” : the Chinese Nation “Middle Kingdom”: China Emperor Yan (炎帝) He taught people to cultivate crops establish markets for trading the god of Chinese medicine Emperor Huang (黄帝) He invented clothing language calendar land vehicles boat bow and arrow Lei Zu (嫘祖) Emperor Huang’s wife She developed sericulture (养蚕业). Three Clan-rulers and Five Emperors (三皇五帝) The three clan-rulers (5000-2500BC) Suiren Clan (燧人氏) [Fire Clan]: said to have invented the technique of creating fire from flint stones. Fuxi Clan (伏羲氏) [Fisherman Clan]: said to have invented the fish net for fishing. Shennong Clan (神农氏) [Farmers Clan]: said to have invented agriculture and farming. The Five Emperors (2500 –2100BC) Huangdi (黄帝): (Emperor Huang) Zhuanxu (颛顼): (grandson of Emperor Huang) Diku (帝喾): (great grandson of Emperor Huang) Yao (尧): Tang Yao (唐尧) Shun (舜): Yu Shun (虞舜) Fuxi (伏羲) He created the eight trigrams (八卦) figures made up of three elements that are either Yin or Yang symbolizing Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Water, Mountain, Wind, Fire and Lake Three Sage Kings (三圣) Yao尧/Shun舜/Yu禹 passing the throne to the worthy and the capable (禅让) Yao （尧） Yao is considered to be the dawn of authentic history. His issued an improved calendar. an ideal emperor in