The history of Eastern Asia is complex, full of cultural changes that are still practiced today throughout the world. China was isolated from the rest of the world due to mountain ranges, large deserts and vast grasslands. However, isolation from the rest of the world did not affect the growth and changes that occurred in China from the Neolithic Age to 1400. Chinese culture greatly influenced East Asia through trade and war with neighboring territories. Each new Dynasty strived to be greater and mightier than the one that preceded it. New governments, better militaries, more effective weapons, expanding trade routes and new ideologies were some of the changes that spread across China and into modern day Vietnam, Korea and China.
One of the biggest causes of change is war. It forces new ideas in how to govern a nation and more effective militaries. Conquered people forced kings to rethink how they would govern a larger kingdom. China’s history is divided into Dynasties, each one accomplishing great feats but eventually being defeated by opposing forces. Which each new Dynasty came a new concept of ruling a new nation. From the first dynasty, China’s region would grow larger and mightier than the one that preceded it. With the threat of war always on the horizon, the Chinese had to constantly rethink of ways to govern in order to keep stability and economic growth within the borders. War would deplete monies of the kingdom; war booty and trade with other nations were ways to keep the country economically afloat.
Great philosophers, written texts, military minds and leaders emerge out of necessity and the idea that change is needed. One of the most notable philosophers during the Zhou Dynasty was Confucius. Ethics was his main fo...
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...ound its way into Vietnam, Korea and Japan due to trade and commerce with China. Chinese culture had a great impact on these countries, they eventual became unique to each country but its roots can be traced back to China.
China’s history has been compared to the Roman Empire. It was a small nation that grew with each new Dynasty. Soon China became more economically and technologically advanced than any other nation. Through perseverance and the willingness to accept new forms of government and ideas a Country can became a great power house in the world. War, as it would seem, is a necessary evil in order for a nation to grow and excel in the world. China had great setbacks within its borders but as whole always overcame all obstacles and survived through all the changes to become one of the world’s great powers of today.
Works Cited
History of World Societies
Overall the Chinese from 100 CE to 600 CE was fulfilled with many cultural and political changes and continuities. The fall of the Han Dynasty brought political changes whereas the invention of paper brought about cultural changes. While there were a lot of changes, there were significant continuities, as well. Culturally, China saw Buddhism grow in power. Politically, they saw the wall of China go up as a way for their leader to protect them. Wither it was something changing or something that remained and grew, all of these things had a huge impact on China during this time period.
Confucius was a philosopher, political intellect and an educator whose philosophies have significantly prejudiced not only the Chinese principles but the entire world evolution. He lived through the “Spring” and “Autumn” epoch of Chinese history, when east central China was separated over a dozen fighting states. The inordinate ailment and grief he saw swayed his political thoughts, which highlighted command, grading and the rule of a compassionate self-governing state.
China has an extensive history that spans thousands of years and various dynasties. Each dynasty has made their own significant achievements which have contributed to the shaping of China. However, some historians believe that because China followed a "dynastic cycle" for so long, the society was unchanging and stagnant. But the fact of the matter is that China was actually undergoing massive changes within itself which would lead to the shaping of a new China.
Confucius’ impact on Chinese culture has withstood numerous generations and continues to be one of the most prominent philosophies found in Chinese culture. Firmly rooted in years of education, Confucius spent considerable time developing his set of values and principles. In his article entitled “Confucius and the Effortless Life of Virtue”, author Hagop Sarkissian adds to this by saying, “Confucius set his mind on a course of study or cultivation at the age of fifteen, and pursued such studies for a span of fifty-five years, and was thereby able to cultivate a state of being such that he could follow his immediate inclinations in all of life’s predicaments without transgressing social norms” (Sarkissian 1). Confucius’ extensive studies only added to the philosophy represented in the Analects. This includes the pas...
The history of Asia shows a transition from a period of conflicts and wars to a period of unification. The mergence of strong dynasties with sharp divisions of their political interests was the main reason for polarization of China to a long period of war. Also, Asian’s had loose coordination between different countries as they initially thought independently. Religion, especially Buddhism, played an important role of transforming Asia. Buddhism had wider spread than Daoism and its teaching showed that their beliefs were similar. Art and philosophy were also significant in unifying Asia. Art works combined ideas from different nations, making Asians to believe that they were a large family. Philosophy promoted a shift from political culture to artistic culture. Unification of Asia created leadership space for women who had not led during the chaotic past.
China emergence as a civilization is accomplished with little no contact with other empires due to its geographical isolation. This is evident by the lack of new people and languages. The term China during this period does not refer to the same geographical entity as commonly believed. China during this period is approximately one thousand miles north to South and East to West, occupying much of the temperate zone of East Asia. The land to the North is well suited for crops like Grain due to Loess: a fine wind-driven soil that is fertile and easy to toil with primitive tools. The region to the South is warmer, wetter and more suited to rice cultivation and double cropping. China is isolated from other civilizations by mountains, deserts and grasslands. The Bronze Age is marked by the Shang dynasty in their capitol of Anyang. Shang kings ruled for over two centuries. The royal tomb at Anyang was sixty feet deep and three hundred feet long. A tomb this size would have taken thousands of laborers and the advanced technology was evident as t...
Daily life was influenced in both Ancient India and China because of religion and philosophies. Their well being, their beliefs, and their caste system were affected by religion and philosophies.
In spite of this, China, by not being able to withstand western influence, incorporated imperialism and obtained a modern military and technology from the favored nations. Albeit, the western powers forced imperialism in East Asia differently than the rest of the world. Modern East Asia still emerges with parts of its ancient culture still intact. The unequal treaties, extraterritoriality, and other forms of discriminatory decrees created the Westernization of China, Japan, and Korea and gave these nations hope for the future that Western dominance would soon pass. Works Cited Ebrey, Patricia, Anne Walthall, and James Palais.
China is an extremely large country, and the customs and traditions of its people vary by geography and ethnicity. Since ancient times, China has been known as the “Celestial Empire.” This refers not only to China’s strength and position as East Asia’s Middle Kingdom, it also captures a more profound meaning. Chinese people, through various dynasties, created a rich and abundant culture to all over the world. And Chinese culture is the only culture in the world to have a continuous recorded history of 5,000 years. It has left behind countless literary classics, historical documents, cultural relics, and national records reflecting its immense scope. Culture includes religion, food, style, language, marriage, music, morals and many other things
...ther religions since they never really comitted to one main religion. Han China spread Confucianism by leading Confucius lives, they used Confucius ideas for their law codes and taught Confucius ideas to their children. The Confucian ideas spread by the Han helped rulers like Wudi have long reigns of power by embracing rule by morals and ethics. It also helped spread written exams as ways to determine peoples places and jobs in society based off of merit as opposed to putting anyone anywhere just to give people jobs. China also had a growing population of Daoists who believed in the power of nature. As time progressed both of their societies changed their religions. Rome slowly progressed from a basic Hellenistic polytheism to the once persecuted Christianity. Meanwhile China, which was mainly a Confucian and Daoist led society began to accept and embrace Buddhism.
Written during the Period of Warring States, The Analects consists of what Confucius and his disciples believed to be the key values required for a harmonious society. Through various exchanges between an entity only recognized as “The Master” and people of other backgrounds such as Dukes and students, the disciples define the fundamental Confucian values that everyone in society must conform to such as ren (kindness), yi (altruism), li (everyday norms), and zhi (morality). The discourses evince a very conservative stance when it comes to citizens conforming to these values in that “The Master”, or Confucius, is unrelenting in his criticism of the “small man” or anyone led astray from the traditional Confucian values. Centrally, Confucius argues
Confucius’s counsel and guidance recorded in The Analects instilled wisdom when they were first recorded and continue to provide a thought provoking analysis of life and the checkpoints that guide it. The Master’s commentary on restraint, diligence, decency, and citizenship are well intended and relevant. Politics and the role of government also come under scrutiny as Confucius offers his insights in bettering the organization of power. His proverb-like admonitions use clear examples of everyday life allowing them to be understood and easily digested. Confucius’s own eagerness and willingness to share goodness he experienced makes it easier to apply and practice in one’s own life.
The great Chinese civilization of that period, the Ydan dynasty, formed by Kublai Khan in 1271 is credited with sending many of China's innovations to the Western world via Marco Polo. Its cuisine, silk, spices, gun powder, rockets and other weapons of war are among the most famous.
Analects, a compilation of Confucius’ teachings, is greatly recognized as a work of utmost importance and influence in the Chinese culture. The book conveys Confucius’ beliefs on a wide variety of topics, including propriety, education, family relations, and government in efforts to enhance social order.
Confucius played a major role during the time of the Zhou dynasty. “Confucius was a thinker, a political figure, an educator” (“Confucius”). The Analects of Confucius contain information on how one should interact with others and conduct their daily lives, and how deeply people should participate in society and government. These ideas then spread to his students, and eventually to many regions of Asia. This