Chinese Dynasties

Paper Summary:

This paper studies four ancient dynasties in Chinese history, the Xia, Shang, Zhou and Qin and how they characterize the early beginnings of the culture of politics and society of China, as well as the literature, religion, philosophies and other intellectual and cultural developments that have become the foundations of the contemporary Chinese society. It analyzes the dynamics of these four dynasties and attempts to identify any trends of similarities and differences that emerged during the ancient Chinese civilization. It also develops the stance that the ancient Chinese dynasties have portrayed similarities in political systems and social norms in the society while there have been developments in the cultural system of the Chinese throughout history.

Outline
Xia Dynasty (2200 B.C.- 750 B.C.)
Shang Dynasty (1750 B.C.- 1066 B.C.)
Zhou Dynasty (1066 B.C.- 771 B.C.)
Qin Dynasty (771 B.C.- 206 B. C.)

From the Paper:

"The political structure of the Zhou dynasty changed from being a feudal aristocracy into a bureaucratic government. Because of the division of political work in the governance of the dynasty, the Zhou tribe was able to develop different aspects that are significant to the improvement of human civilization. Although Zhou dynasty also subsisted to the ways and traditions of the Shang dynasty such as "Oracle bone divination, bronze casting for sacrificial purposes and burying rites," Zhou dynasty had developed a complex kind of culture, with the emergence of literature in the form of Confucianism's readings and teachings (Theobald 2000). Although Confucianism was already an established philosophical movement during the Shang dynasty, its teachings and philosophy became more popular during the Zhou dynasty."

More papers on Chinese Dynasties:

• Comparison Essay # 5344 : "The Roman Empire vs The Chinese Empire"
• Analytical Essay # 123214 : "Nobility and Civility in the Chinese Tradition"
• Analytical Essay # 124122 : "Landscapes in Chinese Painting"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: