China History
It is difficult to provide a synopsis on one page the history of a country which went back 5,000 years. Hence, what follows are highlights of the major historical events and themes which have created the China of today. Pre-historic human-like beings, Homo erectus, (so-called Peking Man) inhabited caves near Peking (now Beijing) around 500,000 years ago; Homo sapiens, the modern men, were found to have lived in the same area from about 20,000 years ago. They left behind stone tools, and evidence that they could build and control fire. Civilisation in China started mainly in the Yellow River basin on northern China, with its fertile land but periodic disaster floods. China with the semblance of a state probably began about 5,000 years ago; the first three known dynasties are called Tang, Yu and Xia. There was little archaeological evidence about the first two, but the Xia dynasty (around the 21st to 16th centuries BC) left behind bronze implements and tombs. Next came the Shang dynasty between the 16th and 11th centuries, which left behind archaeological and written evidence of human sacrifices, oracles’ ruminations about fate and Chinese characters written in pictorial form many of which resemble Chinese characters of today. Silk and bronze were already used during this period. The Chinese tradition of ancestral worships also started to spread. The founders of the Zhou dynasty rose against the Shang and ruled the country from about 1100 to 256 BC. During this period, Confucius, Tao Tse and other philosophers emerged. They and their disciples preached philosophies about life, social etiquettes, relationships between rulers and the ruled, and relationships between parents, children and their ancestors that have profoundly influenced China even to this day. The dynasty which united China was the Qin, which under its emperor ruled from 221 after he defeated six other kingdoms. The Emperor, Shi Huangdi (Huangdi means king), standardised the Chinese written language, legal system and bureaucracy. However, he died in 210 BC and his empire was replaced by the Han dynasty in 206 BC. For the next 2,000 years, China went through eight imperial dynasties, interrupted by periods when the country was broken into warring states. Two of the dynasties were brought about by invasion by the Mongols in 1279 to 1386, and by the Manchu Qings in 1644 to 1911. The common thread of Chinese history over the last few thousand years was an imperial and feudal system in a country inhabited by the majority Han ethnic race, under an emperor who was proclaimed to be the son of god, supported by a bureaucracy run by an educated class who reached their positions through competitive examinations, governing the masses who often suffered exploitation, famine and had little rights. The government was generally authoritarian, but sometimes benevolent. There was no democratic tradition or constitution holding the rulers accountable. Founders of dynasties came to power by force. The only way to induce change was through periodic bouts of revolts culminating (sometimes) in the overthrow of a dynasty which had become too corrupt, decadent or weak. The centuries of authoritarian rule, supported by Confucius teachings of respect of the ruling class created a subservient population, which especially in times of tragedy, brought to the fore poets and literary figures who produced master pieces of literary works which form an important part of Chinese culture. However, it has also resulted in migration of a significant number of Chinese to all parts of the globe seeking a better life. Throughout its long history, China was mainly an inward-looking country. Unlike the western imperial powers, few examples can be cited about it embarking on military expeditions to colonise other countries. If anything, it was more busy building barriers to keep invaders out; the Great Wall was a good example. The only time when its influence reached far away from Asia was in the 15th century when for a few decades, a Ming dynasty fleet sailed as far as the east coast of Africa; but it was not really a military venture. The lack of contacts with the outside world has produced a coherent Chinese culture, but was also the cause of its defeat, humiliation and near-dismemberment in the hands of the rising western powers and Japan in the 19th and 20th centuries, who had developed superior scientific, industrial and military prowess. The fall of the Qing dynasty and the rise of the Chinese republic in 1911 and the subsequent emergence of the Communist state are all reactions to the failure of the imperial and feudal systems. For the Communist state, traditional and Confucius philosophies were refuted at least for a while in an attempt to create a more progressive society; as an example during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s it exhorted the population to denounce their parents for the sake of the state. However, even the state has found it hard to obliterate the legacies of history. |
Travel Tips for History of China
Yinchuan, Ningxia Province, China
This provincial capital is a bit out of the way and hardly any tourists make it this far, but thats partly what makes it a fascinating place. 800 years ago it was the capital of the Xi Xia kingdom, a group of Tibetan decent who built some quite amazing tombs just outside the city. The city itself is built by the banks of the yellow river and there is a fantastic old pagoda in the town which you can climb (if you have a head for heights!)
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Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Be aware that SARS was first discovered in the Qingping market. It is right over the foot bridge from Shamian Island where a lot of Americans stay. I did not realize the history of the place until I had gone over there in my sandals. I scalded my feet with hot water for an hour.
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Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
Great city, lots of history, lots of culture. Tons of must see sites here.
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Beijing, Beijing Province, China
Beijing does a very good job at portraying the history of china. Beijing is all old school unlike Shanghi, from the square to great wall to forbiddin palace. Great place for single males as all the restraunts have "entertainers" and because of the exchange rate living expenses there is really low. Watch out for the kid beggers though, they hug on your leg and gets really annoying.
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Shanghai, Shanghai Province, China
I loved the Shanghai Bowuguan: the only decent art history museum i've seen in China
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