china

The Tang Dynasty ( 618 – 907 BC )

The Tang Dynasty (618-907), covering a period of 289 years, was not long in relation to China’s 5,000-year civilization. It is nonetheless considered to be the greatest dynasty of ancient China. During its zenith of 140 years (618-765), the Tang Dynasty not only ushered into China a period of unprecedented development and prosperity but also contributed to the development and progress of humankind as a whole. The Chinese people are particularly proud of their two most resplendent dynastic periods — ...

Michael Streich

September 26, 2024

A Women of the Tang Dynasty

During China’s feudal epoch, society was male-centered. There was consequently a pervasive belief in man’s superiority over woman that continued as the ruling ideology throughout feudal society. Women were thus regarded as little more than bond servants in feudal China. At this time, male dominance was guaranteed and maintained by certain norms. The three cardinal guides (ruler guides subject, father guides son, and husband guides wife) and the five constant virtues (benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and sincerity) defined social behavior, ...

Michael Streich

September 26, 2024

The Earliest Humankind in China ( 1.6 Million BC ~ 20,000 BC )

China has played a pivotal role in the study of human evolution, providing some of the most significant archaeological discoveries that offer insights into the lives of our earliest ancestors. The history of humankind in China spans hundreds of thousands of years, showcasing the development from early hominins to modern Homo sapiens. 1. Yuanmou Man On May 1, 1965, Chinese scientists found two teeth and some coarse stone tools in Yuanmou County, Henan province. Scientists determined that these are leftovers ...

Michael Streich

September 26, 2024

The Neolithic Period in China

The Neolithic period marks an important turning point in the development of Chinese civilization, as recognizable cultural communities developed. This period marks the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities in China. The Neolithic period in China comes immediately before the establishment of the Xia dynasty in the 21st Century BC. It began around 12,000 BC, but good evidence of settlements from this period only dates back to between 6,000 and 4,000 BC. While hunter-gathererathering was still being ...

Michael Streich

September 24, 2024

The Xia Dynasty ( 2070-1600 BC )

The Xia Dynasty is traditionally acknowledged as the inaugural prehistoric dynasty in China, believed to have reigned from approximately the 21st to the 16th century BCE. According to ancient Chinese historical records, particularly the “Records of the Grand Historian” by Sima Qian, the Xia Dynasty was established by Yu the Great, a legendary figure renowned for his remarkable efforts in controlling the devastating floods of the Yellow River. Until scientific excavations were made at early bronze-age sites at Anyang, Henan ...

Michael Streich

September 6, 2024

Foundations of Chinese Civilization: Myths, Legends, and Legendary Figures

China has a history longer than that of any other present day nation. We have plenty of myths and legends. These ancient stories have been passed down through centuries, and these myths offer profound insights into how the Chinese people have perceived their world and their place in it over millennia. The universe’s originator and first living entity, Pangu, personifies the primordial forces that fashioned the planet. His story of the separation of heaven and earth represents the creation of ...

Michael Streich

September 4, 2024