Ancient History Lesson 7 - Shang Dynasty
These History Lessons are based on the Kingfisher History Encyclopedia and the History Activity Pages.
There are 21 lessons in the Ancient History section. They include Sumer & Akkad, Ancient Egypt, Megalithic Europe, Indus Valley, Ancient Crete, Mycenaeans, Shang Dynasty, Hittites, Babylon, Assyrians, Hebrews, Egypt II, Phoenicians, Africa, America, Aryan India, Rome, Babylon II, Dorians, Zhou Dynasty and Persian Empire. There is a link below for those who would like to purchase The Ancient World Activity Pages.
There are 21 lessons in the Ancient History section. They include Sumer & Akkad, Ancient Egypt, Megalithic Europe, Indus Valley, Ancient Crete, Mycenaeans, Shang Dynasty, Hittites, Babylon, Assyrians, Hebrews, Egypt II, Phoenicians, Africa, America, Aryan India, Rome, Babylon II, Dorians, Zhou Dynasty and Persian Empire. There is a link below for those who would like to purchase The Ancient World Activity Pages.
Corresponding Materials
This lesson corresponds to:
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia - Shang Dynasty 1766 - 1122 B. C.
History Activity Pages - The Ancient World page 7
This lesson corresponds to:
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia - Shang Dynasty 1766 - 1122 B. C.
History Activity Pages - The Ancient World page 7
China's three largest rivers are the Huang He (Yellow) River, the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River and the Xi Jiang (West) River.
The first small towns appeared around 3000 BC during the Longshan Period. Longshan comes from Lung-shan wen hua, meaning "Dragon Mountain". These towns were built around the Huang He (Yellow) River.
China's First Emperor
Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor
Tradition holds that Huangdi, not to be confused with Qin Shi Huangdi, was the first emperor of China around 2700 BC.
China's First Dynasty
According to Chinese historical records, the Xia Dynasty is the first dynasty to be described. For many years, the Xia Dynasty was thought to be a part of a myth that the Chinese tell as part of their history. The Xia Dynasty was in oral histories, but no archaeological evidence was found of it until 1959, which showed that the people were direct ancestors of the Longshan and were predecessors of the Shang.
An Ancient Chinese Story:
The Wise Woman, Loawnu
Once upon a time, a long time ago ..... On a warm spring day, in Xia times, some children went out in the fields to play.
Alarmed at what they saw in the fields, the children ran up the hill to Loawnu's house. In those days, if you had a problem you went to see the local wise woman. In this village, the wise woman's name was Loawnu.
"Loawnu," they shouted. "The sky is falling!"
Loawnu smiled at the children. "Don't be worried. Find all the pieces of sky that have fallen, and bring them to me. I'll sew them together again in time for the festival."
The spring festival was nearing. This was a time when the young people gathered from many villages to meet one another and to find husbands and wives. The children's village had been honored this year as the meeting village. It would be a horrible time for the sky to fall down. The village would be disgraced!
Off the children ran to pick up the pieces. But some were missing! "Loawnu!" cried the children, as they tore up the hill, to tell her about it. Loawnu only smiled.
The next day, the children ran outside and looked up. The sky looked as it always looked on a warm spring day, clean and fresh and blue. They were so happy.
That night, they were amazed! The sky had always been dark at night. That night, it was filled with light! Loawnu had patched the missing pieces of sky with bright twinkling light! How beautiful! How clever! We shall have the happiest spring festival in all the land! How lucky we are to know Loawnu! All the village agreed.
Alarmed at what they saw in the fields, the children ran up the hill to Loawnu's house. In those days, if you had a problem you went to see the local wise woman. In this village, the wise woman's name was Loawnu.
"Loawnu," they shouted. "The sky is falling!"
Loawnu smiled at the children. "Don't be worried. Find all the pieces of sky that have fallen, and bring them to me. I'll sew them together again in time for the festival."
The spring festival was nearing. This was a time when the young people gathered from many villages to meet one another and to find husbands and wives. The children's village had been honored this year as the meeting village. It would be a horrible time for the sky to fall down. The village would be disgraced!
Off the children ran to pick up the pieces. But some were missing! "Loawnu!" cried the children, as they tore up the hill, to tell her about it. Loawnu only smiled.
The next day, the children ran outside and looked up. The sky looked as it always looked on a warm spring day, clean and fresh and blue. They were so happy.
That night, they were amazed! The sky had always been dark at night. That night, it was filled with light! Loawnu had patched the missing pieces of sky with bright twinkling light! How beautiful! How clever! We shall have the happiest spring festival in all the land! How lucky we are to know Loawnu! All the village agreed.
The Shang Dynasty
Shang Civilization
According to tradition, Emperor Tang (pictured far right) founded the Shang Dynasty around 1766 BC.
Bronze & the Shang Dynasty
Bronze was used for money like these spade-shaped coins.
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Bronze was used to make household items like this vessel known as a Jue which was used for pouring wine.
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Bronze was used to make religious items like this Ding. Dings were used to make ritual sacrifices to ancestors, likely due to the belief in Shamanism and spirit worship. The sacrifices were meant to appease ancestors due to the Shang belief that spirits had the capability to affect the world of the living.
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