13 DYNASTIES OF CHINA - Invention of paper and porcelain

- Introduction to buddhism
1. Xia – yu (2070-1600 B.C.E.)
- 6,000 Buddhist temples
- Flood control
- Imperial civil service
- Eunuch
2. Shang (1600-1500)
6. Six dynasties/Jin dynasty (220 – 589
Advancement in:
C.E.)
 Mathematics - Six dynasties are the collective term
 Astronomy for the six successive Han-ruled
 Military Technology dynasties during this turbulent
 Arts period.
 Chinese Calendar 7. Sui (581 – 618)
 form of modern chinese
language - Confucianism disintegrated as the
dominant religion, making way for
3. Zhou (1046-256 B.C.E.) Taoism and Buddhism.
- the longest dynasty/ 8 century - literature flourished – it is thought that
- MANDATE OF HEAVEN(book) the legend of Hua Mulan was
(Tian Ming) – The rule of the rulers depends composed during this time.
upon the favor of the Gods.
8. Tang (618 – 906)
- Philosophy blossomed in China
 Confucianism - considered as the high point in Chinese
Filial Piety (Xia Shun) civilization

- Taizong, its second emperor, was

5 virtues (wu de)
regarded as one of the greatest
1) Rēn – benevolence Chinese emperors.
2) Yi – Justice
3) Li – Rituals - one of the most peaceful and
4) Zhi – Wisdom prosperous periods of Chinese history.
5) Xin – Faith
- During the reign of emperor Xuanxong
 Lao Tzu (712 – 756), china was the largest and
- Taoism (teaching of tao) most populous country in the world.
“Tao” - the unnamable, the way - some of the most beautiful pieces of
 Sun Tzu Chinese sculpture and silverwork
- The art of war originate from the Tang dynasty.
 Yin/ Yang
- Male and female principle - Empress Wu Zetian (624 – 705) was
4. Qin (221 – 206 B.C.E.) the only female monarch in the history
Qin Shi Huangdi of China.
- First emperor of unified China
- She organized a secret police force and
- Tyrant ang ruthless
spies across the country.
Great wall of China
- 1500 miles 9. Five dynasties/ten kingdoms (907 – 960)
- 6 meters wide
Terracota Army - 50 years between the fall of the Tang and
- Life-sized statue(8,000) establishment of the song dynasty were
dominated by internal strife and chaos.
5. Han (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.)
- Printing of books became popular.
Golden age of Chinese history
- Silk road 10. Song (960-1279)
 - reunification of China under Emperor
Taizu.
- Invention of gunpowder, printing, paper
money and compass.
- Eventually fell to the challenge of the
Mongols invasion and was replaced by
the Yuan dynasty.
11. Yuan (1279-1368)

- Established by the Mongols and ruled by

Kublai khan (1260-1279), grandson of
Genghis Khan.

- He was the first non-Chinese ruler to take

over the country.
12. Ming (1368 – 1644)

- Huge growth in population and general

economic prosperity.

- Construction of forbidden city

13. Qing (1644 -1912)

- Last Imperial dynasty in China,

succeeded by the republic of China in
1912.

- 5th largest empire in world history.

- opium wars ended with hongkong ceding

to Britain.

- February 12, 1912, 6 year old Puyi, the

last emperor of China was abdicated.