Chinese History Timeline Through The Early Ages

Article by James Tien

Chinese society went through five major periods; Primitive, Slave, Feudal, Semi-feudal and Semi-colonial through to Socialist Societies. The rise and fall of great dynasties were recorded for nearly 5,000 years. The Chinese History Timeline can be traced back to small tribes living in caves. The oldest hominoid in China in the Yuanmou Man and the oldest dynasty is the Xia Dynasty.

From prehistoric times dating back nearly 2 million years to the Xia Dynasty which began in 21 BC the Chinese people developed stone tools in the period know as the Stone Age. This period is divided into the Paleolithic Age when the Yuanmou Man lived to the Neolithic Age when man discovered fire, created rudimentary tools and began to build houses.

During the Xia Dynasty the Primitive Society ended and the Class Society began. It is the first known dynasty in China and lasted for 500 years. The calendar system with solar and lunar phases was created during this period. Bronze and jade craft work was developed during this time.

During the Xia Dynasty the Shang Dynasty was coming into being with King Tang in 1675 BC overthrowing Emperor Jie. The Shang Dynasty existed for over 600 years and is best know for ending persecution of the people. The fishing industry began during this reign of power and bronze work was finely honed as a craft. This period of time is when porcelain was first introduced and jade carvings were of the highest quality. Silk weaving began and musical instruments were created. Some of the earliest writings were discovered from this time period.

The Zhou Dynasty came into power in the 11th century. The Zhou clan produced King Zhou whose dying wish was that his son kill the reigning king of the Shang Dynasty which he did after his fathers death ending the Shang Dynasty in 1046 BC. Lasting over 800 years the Zhou Dynasty is the longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history.

The Qin Dynasty was the first multi-national power that unified the people. It was probably the shortest l! asting d ynasty being around only 15 years but it produced some of the greatest achievements in the Chinese culture. The round coin with the square center was developed. The Great Wall of China was built. And the famous Terra Cotta Army was created.

In 207 BC the Han Dynasty took power. The capital city of Xianyang was overthrown in 206 BC after a four year war. The Western Han Dynasty reigned from 206 BC to 24 AD and the Eastern Han Dynasty from 25 BC to 220 AD. There were 24 emperors and this was a time of peace and prosperity for the Chinese people. There are influences from this dynasty seen in the lives of Chinese people to this day. Chinese society progressed through five major periods, the Primitive Society, the Slave Society, the Feudal Society, the Semi-feudal and Semi-colonial Society and the Socialist Society of today.

About the Author

J. Tien is a Chinese society writer. He recommends Absolutely Feng Shui for additional information on Chinese Astrology and I Ching.

Martin Jacques: Understanding the rise of China

www.ted.com Speaking at a TED Salon in London, economist Martin Jacques asks How do we in the West make sense of China and its phenomenal rise? The author of "When China Rules the World," he examines why the West often puzzles over the growing power of the Chinese economy, and offers three building blocks for understanding what China is and will become.TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com

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Ancient China's Technology And Science

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The Dynasties of China: A History

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Yuan Mei: Eighteenth Century Chinese Poet (China: History, Philosophy, Economics)

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Fascinating Stage Arts (Culture of China) (Chinese Edition)

An overview of Traditional Chinese theater and Opera. Color Illustrations.

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Chinese Classical Furniture (Images of Asia)

Chinese hardwood furniture of the Ming dynasty is known the world over for its classical beauty and ingenious design. This beautifully illustrated introduction to Ming furniture opens with a short history of Chinese furniture styles; goes on to discuss the many varieties of chairs, tables, beds, cabinets, and stands included among Ming pieces; and uses woodblock prints of the time to explore how the pieces were arranged and used.

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The Rough Guide to China 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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The Chinese Army Today: Tradition and Transformation for the 21st Century (Asian Security Studies)

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Written by a retired professional military officer who has served in China, the text uses first-hand observation of the Chinese military and three decades of military experience to weave many disparate threads from official Chinese statements, documents, and media reports into an integrated whole. The author also conducts an in-depth exploration into the many forces that constitute the People's Liberation Army.

This is an essential book for all students of Chinese military and security affairs, and highly recommended for students of Chinese Politics, Asian Security, and International Relations and Strategic Studies, in general.

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Art in China (Oxford History of Art)

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The last twenty years have witnessed profound changes in art history, the greatest of which stem from the social and cultural perspectives now attached to art scholarship. Written by scholars at the forefront of new thinking, many of whom are rising stars in their fields, theOxford History of Art series offers substantial and innovative texts that clarify, illuminate, and debate the critical issues at the heart of art history today. Providing a fresh new look at art that moves away from traditional elitist approaches, the series makes use of new research and methodologies, as well as newly accessible and non-canonical works to offer comprehensive coverage of the art world from archaic and classical Greek art to twentieth-century design and photography, from the artistry of African-American and Native North Americans to the masterpieces of Europe, Polynesia, and Micronesia. Lavishly illustrated and superbly designed, the Oxford History of Art brings new substance and verve to the exciting and ubiquitous world of art.

China boasts a history of art spanning 5,000 years and embracing a wide diversity of images and objects--from jade tablets, painted silk handscrolls and fans to ink and lacquer painting, porcelain-ware, sculpture, and calligraphy. But this rich tradition has not, until now, been fully appreciated in the West where scholars have focused their attention on sculpture, while largely ignoring those art forms most highly prized by the Chinese themselves, such as calligraphy. Now, in Art in China, Craig Clunas marks a breakt! hrough i n the study of the subject. Taking into account all the arts practiced in China, and drawing on recent innovative scholarship, this rich text examines the production and consumption of art in its appropriate contexts. From art found in tombs to the state-controlled art of the Mao Zedong era, Art in China offers a novel look and comprehensive examination of all aspects of Chinese art.

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Peranakan Chinese Porcelain: Vibrant Festive Ware of the Straits Chinese (No)

Exuberant, ornate and colorful, Straits Chinese porcelain is a variety of polychrome enameled export ware made to specification in China during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This lovely porcelain was made for the Straits-born Chinese or Peranakan communities in Penang, Malacca and Singapore and was used on festive occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and Chinese New Year.

Peranakan Chinese Porcelain is illustrated with over 800 full-color photographs of these distinctive porcelain types. Supported by text and photographs on many related aspects of the characteristic Straits Chinese culture, such as architecture, dress and cuisine, Peranakan Chinese Porcelain is a wonderful contribution to the history of the Straits Chinese.

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The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappeared forever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.The Flower Phoenix is an ancient handscroll which has been created through generations of women artists. The original page of the handscroll was created by China's Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The Tang Dynasty is considered by many to be the height of Chinese artistic culture, and Li Bai is China's most renowned ancient poet. Li Bai was inspired by the beauty of Yang Mei. Yang Mei inspires the master painter Wu Daozi. Wu Daozi creates the second page of the Flower Phoenix handscroll. Legends say that Wu Daozi was a mystical painter, who at the end of his life painted a doorway in the side of a mountain, opened the door and disappe! ared for ever.
Each generation creates panels in the book. By telling the story, the storyteller creates a portal into the Realm of the Flower Phoenix. The "storybearer" reads the story and summons the power of the energy of all the generations.
The story opens with Mable "Peach Blossom" Yang's one hundredth birthday celebration. She is going to pass the book on to the next generation. Mable is the most potent storybearer in the family line.
Hand scroll paintings were rolled from one side to the other and as each painted section was revealed, the story of the imagery was viewed and discussed. The book unfolds over many generations and the lives of the long line of women artists who created the Flower Phoenix are brought to life by the telling.

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BK0271Y-Chinese Painted Fancy Basket , Vintage, China, Wood (Mu), Antique Asian Decor: Chinese Paint

  • Vintage
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  • Red / Gold
  • 13" wide x 13" deep x 16.5" high
Chinese painted fancy food basket with carved images of bats of happiness and deer on lid and other Chinese symbols on the bottom rim. Reed handles and red lacquered finish.

Price:

Chinese calligraphy writing and brush painting / sumi set

  • Great starter set
  • 5 brushes, ink well / stone, ink stick, signing ink, stone chop, brush rest, & water well
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  • Size: 8.5" x 6"
  • Made in China
Chinese character writing is a highly evolved discipline that relies as much on artistic craftsmanship, as it does on literary composition. Our basic writing set comes with two brushes, a black ink stick, ink stone and red ink for the "chop" or signature stamp. The ink is made by gently rubbing the ink stick in a small pool of water in the ink stone. This ancient method allows for very little waste. The same bushes and inks may be used both for writing and painting, as the two art forms are so closely linked. Our writing set comes from Shanghai, the literary capital of China. Also available on Amazon from REORIENT, is the traditional rice paper used for painting and writing.

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