Ancient Chinese Compass and its Effects on Civilization
The Chinese culture is up to 5000 years old. Approximately 56 different ethnic groups live in China. Buddhism is by far the largest religion in China, significantly impacting their culture. Buddhism brought with it a whole new array of beliefs, such as a very detailed description of heaven and hell, the belief in reincarnation, and the idea of karma. Those three things made their way into the Chinese culture. A set of beliefs, called Confucianism, became social law in China around 400 B.C.E ("Chinese Culture, Tradition, and Customs."). Up until 1450 C.E., China was more technologically advanced than any other country in the world, beating out Europe and the Islamic territories. The Chinese invented hundreds of items, but papermaking, cast iron, canal locks, gunpowder, kites, silk, and the compass are some of the most prominent (Diamond 242-243). However, the compass was the most important technological advancement in ancient Chinese civilization, because it opened up opportunities for exploration and promoted the advancement of civilization as a whole. For over a thousand years, China was the most technologically advanced civilization. China could boast inventions and/or improvements to many other items, including paper, bronze items, gunpowder, and silk. Papermaking was developed in China around 105 C.E., and required a long and complicated process to make it. To make paper, you needed to put hemp paste in
Classical China was a breeding ground for new ideas, inventions, and most importantly, religions. Although Classical China was littered with different religions and beliefs, Confucianism was the most prominent. Confucianism is based on the teachings of a philosophical
China has been the home to various religions. At different times different dynasties endorsed certain religions while repressing others. While Buddhism flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasty, it faced opposition from the government during the Song dynasty. Confucianism lost government endorsement during the Sui and Tang but gained momentum during the Song as Neo-Confucianism. Yuan dynasty promoted Islam and Tibet Buddhism but ignored Confucianism. Different rulers sponsored and protected different religions but Confucianism and some form of Buddhism have always been alive in Chinese society from 600 to 1450.
“It is often said that, aside from the impact of Marxism on twentieth-century China, the only other time when the Chinese looked beyond their own borders for intellectual sustenance was during the period when Buddhism was absorbed from India” (LaFleur 23). Why did this religion appeal to the Chinese when they disregarded so many other external influences? After all, being tied to the rest of the world by the Silk Road meant they were constantly inundated with novel concepts from far and wide. The answer must lie in how Buddhism interacted with the other faiths already established in the country, namely Confucianism and Daoism (sometimes spelled Taoism). While at first glance it may appear that Confucian China would be the last place
Chinese culture is also greatly embedded in religious and philosophical beliefs. The way a relationship is developed between and individual and the society differs according to various beliefs. In China, two common philosophical and religious ideas are Confucianism and Taoism. Confucianism
Chinese Civilizations contributed massively to the development for future civilizations. Confucius developed a philosophy in which he explained how people should be live their lives. This philosophy teaches people that they should accept his/her role in society. Studying Confucianism is a very important for Chinese citizens. Chinese citizens have to take a “civil service” exams and the exam scores will determine whether or not they will get a good paying job (Doc 5). Confucianism is not a religion; it is a way of behaving. It also teaches how people should behave to develop moral
Ancient China and ancient India both consider religion to be very important. The main religions of China were Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. The central religions in India were Hinduism and Buddhism. Both Ancient China and India had religious teachers that invented these prevalent religions. Confucius invented Confucianism, Lao Tzu invented Taoism, and Hsün Tzu invented Legalism in China. In India, Hinduism had its roots in the religious beliefs of the Aryan people
China's ancient teachings and religion helped shape china to its current "Golden Age". Education is mandatory and prized both by the culture and by the state just like Islam believed in it "Golden Age". Hong Kong is the second smartest city in the world because, China believes education is too important. China has third best and the largest military in the world. Over the last 7 years China has developed the best new technology, including a
In china they had many valuable inventions ,The three most important things.People invented stuff that helped them out in their culture.A group in china invented gunpowder in the 9th century.They made gunpowder because they have to make guns,bombs,cannons and all this different stuff.They needed all the guns so they could defend themselves so there army can be stronger.In 206 B.C The chinese han
The region of China is extensive and profound. “In China lay people did not belong to an institutionalized sect, nor did their religious life have anything to do with signing articles of faint. Religion in China was so woven into the broad fabric of family and social life that there was not even a special word for it until modern times, when one was coined to match the Western term” (Thompson, 1). In China, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all blended. In the earliest period, Shang Dynasty (2000 BC), people in China had worshipped a lot of different gods (polytheism) such as weather god, river god. People in the Shang Dynasty believed that their ancestors become like gods after they died, so people worshipped their
The civilization of ancient China was the most successful civilization with their inventions,food,and religion. They had the best inventions like fireworks these were amazing because some inventions they’ve made are fireworks. Fireworks were used for many things in China, and now in many countries. reason we use them is for celebrations or 4th of July. China made fireworks around 2,000 years ago. people say that a chinese cook created it in a field kitchen and accidentally mixed, charcoal, sulphur, and saltpeter. Which he found in his kitchen all so commonly to make something so amazing that we use today.
Buddhism for centuries, has long been influencing the population all over the world, specifically in China . Buddhism first came to China as a result of merchant traders from India. From there it spread within the merchant community. It mainly expanded because it gave people a sense of hope and faith with the chaos they were experiencing from the collapse of the Han Dynasty. It also spread because it covered what Confucianism lacked; a more spiritual and emotional approach that appealed to many people of different classes. It is because of this that Buddhism spread and was able to influence and greatly affect China during the period of 300-900 CE. Buddhism influenced philosophy and moral teachings, kept the Chinese society peaceful and orderly, as well as affecting the overall economy. Buddhism had strong religious teachings that appealed to the lower class with the idea of afterlife and nirvana as well as an emphasis on following your own path that transformed Chinese beliefs causing a large portion of the population to convert (doc’s 1,4). Buddhism kept the Chinese society orderly by reminding all of Buddha’s life and teachings with statues and the influence it had on monks to spread charity and missionary work (doc’s 2,3,6). Buddhism also had an effect on the economy of China. As it spread from other regions, it caused more farmers and silk producers to convert and spread the religion as monks and nuns. (doc 7,5).
Confucian culture, also known as Confucianism, was founded by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period, which was developed gradually after the Han Dynasty with benevolence as the core. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was the official ideology and the basis of mainstream ideology in the vast majority of historical periods of China, and it also influenced many southeast Asian countries in history. After a variety of shocks, Confucianism was still the core values of China's social public, and represented the Chinese culture and national tradition in the world (Littlejohn, 2010). In the contemporary society, the Confucian culture in China increasingly spread, at the
practices. I must stress that this was not a formal or universal change in religion but a
At the core of any nation’s culture are its religious beliefs. In China there are the “Three Jewels” Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as described in Lopez (1996). There are small numbers of people practicing other religions such as Christianity and Islam, but these are the three dominant beliefs of the region. While they are separate in content, they have coexisted for several thousand years. Lopez (1996) goes on to say, “Historical precedent and popular parlance attest to the importance of this threefold division for understanding Chinese culture…Buddhism is the sun, Daoism the moon, and Confucianism the five planets…suggesting that although they remain separate, they also coexist as equally indispensable phenomena of the natural world.” Each belief system stands alone, and at the same time needs the other(s).
Chinese culture is truly one of the great civilization our world has come across. It boasts a vast geographic expanse, over 4000 years of written history, as well as a rich and profound traditional society. Many aspects of Chinese civilization can be traced back many centuries. It is so diverse and unique, yet harmoniously blended, and presents itself a priceless benefit to the world.