Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From Oracle Bones to Confucius
The earliest 'Chinese' dynasty, the Shang, was long considered apocryphal;
however, archaeological evidence (unearthed cattlebones and turtle shells
used for divination - called 'oracle bones' - covered in mysterious scratches,
recognised as an early form of Chinese writing) proved that a society known
as the Shang developed in central China from around 1766 BC.
Sometime between 1050 and 1045 BC, a neighbouring group known as the
Zhou conquered Shang territory. The Zhou was one of many states competing
for power during the next few hundred years, but developments during this
period created some of the key sources of Chinese culture that would survive
to the present day. A constant theme of the first millennium BC was conflict,
particularly the periods known as the 'Spring and Autumn' (722-481 BC) and
'Warring States' (475-221 BC).
From this disorder surfaced the thinking of Confucius (551-479 BC), whose
system of thought and ethics underpinned Chinese culture for 2500 years.
Confucius' desire for an ordered and ethical world seems a far cry from the
warfare of his age.
Early Empires
The Warring States period ended decis-
ively in 221 BC when the Qin kingdom
conquered other states in the central
Chinese region and Qin Shi Huang de-
clared himself emperor. Later histories
portrayed Qin Shi Huang as particularly
cruel and tyrannical, but Qin Shi Huang
also oversaw vast public-works projects,
including defences built by some
300,000 men, connecting fortifications
into what would become the Great Wall.
He unified the currency, measurements
and written language, providing the
basis for a cohesive state.
Confucius Temples
1 CONFUCIUS TEMPLE, QUFU
2 CONFUCIUS TEMPLE, BEIJING