Chinese civilization began around 5000 BC with three Neolithic cultures developing along the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and southeast coast. The Shang Dynasty from 1766-1123 BC was China's first dynasty, centered in Anyang with a stratified society and early writing system. The Zhou Dynasty from 1100-256 BC expanded the empire and established a system of feudal states. Confucianism emerged emphasizing ethics, righteousness, and humanism while Taoism advocated independence and living in harmony with nature. China developed a strong philosophical and cultural tradition during this ancient period.

1. CHINESE CIVILISATION
1. NEOLITHIC AGE - 5000 B.C
2. THREE NEOLITHIC CULTURES
A. ALONG THE YELLOW RIVER
VALLEY - MILLET
B. LOWER YANGTZE & HUAI RIVER
VALLEY - RICE
C. SOUTHEAST COASTAL AREA -
ROOTS & TUBES

2. 3. ALL THREE DEVELOPED BY
COMMUNITIES OF FARMERS
4. DIFFERENT TYPE OF POTTERY
5. XIA, SHANG & ZHOW DYNASTIES
6. XIA CULTURE REPRESENTED BY
ERLITOU CULTURE IN
ARCHAEOLOGY IN HONAN
PROVINCE

3. 7. LOESS - FINE GRAINED, FERTILE
SOIL DEPOSITED BY WIND AND
WATER
8. DRY FARMING & LACK OF
IRRIGATION FACILITY
9. CROPS - MILLET, HEMP, MULBERY,
RICE
10. CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHER
CULTURE

4. SHANG DYNASTY : 1766 –
1123 B.C.
1. FULL STATE
2. BRONZE METALLURGY, WRITING,
CHARIOT WARFARE, STRATIFIED
SOCIETY OF ARISTOCRAEY,
CRAFTSMAN, FARMERS
3. ANYANG - CAPITAL CITY IN HONAN
PROVINCE
4. TOOLS WERE PRIMITIVE - STONE,
AXES, KNIVES ETC.
5. AGRICULTURE, HUNTING, HURDING

5. 6. PIT HOUSES
7. CRAFT - BRONZE, IVORY, STONE,
BONE, SHELL
8. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS – DRUMS,
STONE, CHIMES , SMALL PIPES OF
HOLLOW BONES
9. CHARIOT WITH SPOKED WHEEL,
BOW & ARROW
10. RELIGIOUS OBJECTS - TRIPODS,
LIBATION BOWLS , DRINKING CUPS,
FIGURED MASK

6. WRITING
1. WRITING BRUSH AND INK MADE OF
SOOT
2. SILK CLOTH, WOOD, BAMBOO USED
AS MATERIAL FOR WRITING
3. SCRIPT PRESERVED ON PIECES OF
ANIMAL BONES, HORN, SHELLAND
POTTERY
4. ORACLE BONES USED BY KING &
PRIEST
5. SHANG SCRIPT WAS EARLIEST IN
EAST ASIA - 3000 SINGS

7. RELIGION
1. NATURE WORSHIP
2. SACRIFICES IN TEMPLE
3. SHANG TI
4. KING WAS WORSHIPPED AFTER
HIS DEATH
5. GRAND ROYAL TOMBS - PIT
TOMBS
6. ANCESTORS WORSHIP

8. CHOW DYNASTY :1100
– 256 B.C.
1. LEGITIMATE SUCCESSION –
MANDATE OF HEAVEN
2. CAPITAL CITY NEAR MODERN SIAN
IN SHENSI PROVINCE
3. LARGE STANDING ARMY
4. EMPIRE WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO
PARTS
5. CORE AREA SURROUNDED HIS
CAPITAL

9. 6. PROVINCE - APPOINTED
OFFICIALS
7. KING - SON OF HEAVEN

10. SOCIETY : FOUR CLASSES
1. WARRIORS & ADMINISTRATORS
2. PEASANTS OR PRIMARY PRODUCER
3. ARTISANS OR SECONDARY
PRODUCER
4. MERCHANTS.

11. ECONOMY
1. IRON – 500 B.C.
2. BOLT OF SILK & INGOTS OF
PRECIOUS METALS USED AS
MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE
3. COPPER COINS WERE IN SHAPE OF
AGRICULTURAL TOOLS IN WESTERN
PART
4. KINVES IN THE EASTERN PART
5. SMALL ROUND COINS WITH SQUARE
HOLE
6. AGRICULTURE & SERICULTURE

12. CLASSICS
1. VENERATION FOR THE
WRITINGS OF EARLY TIMES
2. CLASSICS - SPECIFIED SET OF
BOOKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
DOMINANT CONFUCIAN
TRADITION
3. EARLIEST DIVISON OF
LITERATURE

13. FIVE CLASSICE
1. CLASSIC OF SONGS - SHIH - CHING
305 SONGS, 10TH - 7TH CENTURY,
LOVE SONGS, POLITICAL POEMS &
RITUAL HYMNS
2. SHU - CHING - CLASSIC OF
DOCUMENT, BOOK OF HISTORY
FROM EARLY PERIOD TO - CHOW
PERIOD

14. 3. I - CHING - CLASSIC OF CHANGES,
BOOK OF DIVINATION 8 TRIGRAMS
AND 64 HEXAGRAMS
4. CHUN - CHIN - THE SPRING &
AUTUMN ANALS, CHRONOLOGICAL
RECORDS OF MAJOR EVENTS IN
THE STATE OF LU ( 722 – 481 B.C. )
5. LI – CHI – RECORD OF RITUALS,
DEALING WITH RITES AND RITUALS
( 2ND CENT. B.C. )

15. PHILOSOPHERS
1. CONFUCIUS - 551 – 479 B.C.
MORALIST
2. ANALECTS - DIALOGUE FORM

16. TEACHINGS
1. POLITICAL PROBLEMS
2. MISSION OF HEAVENS
3. STUDENT OF ANTIQUITY &
TRANSMITTOR OF KNOWLEDGE
4. ROLE OF DESTINY
5. ETHICAL TRADITION FOR
GENTLEMAN

17. 6. INNER INTEGRITY,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, LOYALTY,
RECIPROCITY, LOVE &
HUMANITY
7. MIDDLE PATH

18. TAOISM : ROAD OR WAY
1. PHILOSOPHY OF RETREAT &
WITHDRAWAL
2. PERPETUAL WARFARE, INSTABILITY
& STRUGGLE FOR POWER, STATUS
& WEALTH
3. IMPORTANCE OF COSMIC ORDER
4. INDIVIDUALS ARE PART OF SPACE
& TIME
5. CRITISE DESPOTISM OF RULERS &
RIGIDITY OF MORALIST

19. 6. INDEPENDENCE OF
INDIVIDUALS
7. THREE BOOKS
A. LAO - TZU OR TAO - TE - CHING
3RD CENT. B.C.
B. CHUANG - TZU 3RD CENT. B.C.
C. LICH – TZU 3RD CENT. B.C.

20. NATURALISTS
1. NATUR’S WORKING ON THE BASIS
OF COSMIC ORDER
2. DUALISM OF NATURE
3. YANG - MALE, LIGHT, HOT &
ACTIVE
4. YIN - FEMALE, DARK, COLD,
PASSIVE
5. COMPLEMENTING AND BALANCING
6. FIVE ELEMENTS – WOOD, METAL,
FIVE , EARTH & WATER

21. LOGICIANS
1. SYSTEM OF LOGIC
2. ANALYSIES OF MEANING OF
WORDS

22. MO –TZU
1. CHIEF OPPONENT OF
CONFUCIANISM
2. MO – TZU - ESSAYS & DIALOGUES
3. UTILITARIAN – ADVOCATED
POLICIES TO ENRICH THE COUNTRY
A. INCREASE THE POPULATION
B. BRING LOW & ORDER

23. 4. NOT USED ANY AESTHETIC
EXPRESSION
5. SUPRESSION OF ALL
EMOTIONS, MUSIC &
CEREMONIES

24. MENCIUS : 370 – 290 B.C.
1. MENCIUS - CLASSIC
2. TRANSMITTER OF CONFUCIEISM
3. MAN IS BY NATURE GOOD
4. GOODNESS CAN BE CULTIWATED BY
EDUCATION
5. GOVERNMENT AS ETHICS
6. CRITICISE UTILITARIANISM AS
OPPORTUNISM
7. GOVT. SHOULD BE GUIDED BY
RIGHT THING NOT BY PROFIT

25. LEGALISTS : 2nd
CENTURY B.C.
1. PRACTICAL POLITICAN
2. HAN – FEI – TZU
3. SEVERE LAWS & HARSH
PUNISHMENT
4. DISMISSED THE ANCIENT WAYS
OF LIFE
5. DIFFERENT TIME REQUIRE
DIFFERENT METHODS

26. 6. KING MUST CONTROL THE
BUREAUCRACY BY HIS VIRTUE
AND CONSCIOUSNESS
7. MAN MUST JUDGE NOT BY HIS
MOTIVES BUT BY HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENT