Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Mythology and Archaeology
In traditional accounts, several cultural heroes are credited with
major contributions to Chinese civilization. Some of the most impor-
tant of them are listed below.
Cang Jie invented Chinese characters, or the written Chinese language.
Shen Nong invented agriculture.
Sui Ren discovered the use of flint to produce and use fire.
The Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) invented boats and the bow and arrow.
His wife discovered the secret for making silk.
You Chao shi invented houses and shelters.
Yao, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor, was the first great sage king. He
perfected a calendar and the means for tracking the movements of the
planets and stars. He eventually chose a competent government minister
named Shun, rather than his own son, as his successor.
Shun, as king, perfected the government bureaucracy and spelled out the
four classic punishments for criminals (fines, beatings, banishment, and
death). He struggled with a catastrophic flood that befell China during
his reign.
Yu, also known as Yu the Great, was chosen by Shun to deal with the flood-
waters. Unlike a previous minister, who failed at the task by attempting
to contain the floodwaters, Yu decided to channel them away through a
network of ditches and canals. Utterly dedicated to this task, he was ulti-
mately successful at it. Shun was so impressed that he made Yu his heir.
Yu was the founder of the Xia dynasty (2205 B.C.?-1766 B.C.?), and with
his reign we enter into the realm of credible recorded history.
These accounts of early cultural heroes are interesting because they
reveal what many Chinese historically have thought were most impor-
tant about their past: these cultural heroes introduced developments
that enabled people to live differently from the beasts.
Archaeologists look for evidence of the origins of government. The
most important clues for this question are, of course, written records.
In their absence, archaeologists and early historians can also consider
physical objects that suggest the presence of organization and hierarchy
in society. Such evidence might include burial patterns and practices as
well as armor and weaponry.
Archaeologists and early historians also consider the question of
writing and its origins. When indeed did writing first appear in
China? This is a fascinating and perplexing question. The earliest
known specimens of writing in China date to the Shang dynasty (1766
B.C.?-1122 B.C.?). These earliest Chinese documents are inscribed on,
of all things, tortoiseshells and the shoulder blades of cattle.
