Birth of Chinese civilization and early dynasty

In China, it is said that farming began in the Yellow River basin and the Yangtze River basin by about 6000 BC.

This time, I will focus on the period from the Chinese civilization that occurred in such a large river basin to the establishment of a wide-area dynasty.

Outbreak of Chinese civilization

As described in "Let's take a look at the geography, climate, and characteristics of China," the Yellow River basin has a dry climate with little rainfall, and the main agricultural situation is wheat and other upland fields. ..

In addition, the fact that there was a large flat land on both sides led to the birth of civilization. Yellow River Civilization , Yangtze Civilization , The two civilizations are collectively called the Chinese civilization.

I want to read it together

Let's take a look at China's geography, climate, and characteristics.
China is next to Japan and has a deep connection with it since ancient times. The range of successive dynasties has changed each time, but this time we will focus on the current range of the People's Republic of China.

What is the Yellow River Civilization?

The Yellow River civilization began by growing plants mainly in upland fields such as millet and millet in addition to wheat. Millets such as millet and millet were eaten by "steaming" and "simmering".

As food acquisition means are established and the population increases, technology will eventually develop and culture will be born.

A typical culture born from it was discovered in Henan Province Yangshao (Gyosho / Yang Xiao) Culture (From 5000 BC to 3000 BC).

Yangshao culture The range of is confirmed in the part circled in red (around Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Gansu), and Banpo written on the map is a village / banpo in Shaanxi based on Yangshao culture. It refers to the ruins of Hanpa.

It is speculated that the village here lived a life centered on agriculture and hunting.

This Yangshao culture Speaking of the big feature of, Saibun pottery (= Saito )is.

The reddish-brown background is characterized by white, red, and black geometric patterns, human faces, and animal patterns. The surface is polished smoothly with a spatula without using a potter's wheel. The shape varies depending on the area, and pots, bowl-shaped vessels and vases are often found.

By the way, it seems that the excavation survey was conducted for the first time in 40 years in 2020 last year.

In addition, multiple cultures such as Hairikou culture [Henan Province], Beixin culture [Shandong province], Cishan culture [Hebei province], and Dawenkou culture [Shandong province] have been born and disappeared. increase.

Since "River =Yellow River", the names of Henan Province and Hebei Province often appear in the birthplace of the Yellow River civilization.

In addition, the mountains of Shandong and Shanxi provinces represent the "Taiko Mountains". The Taikou Mountains are located on the eastern side of the meandering part of the Yellow River, so this is also a modern place name that often appears in connection with the Yellow River civilization.

What is the Yangtze Civilization? ??

Around the same time as the Yangshao culture prospered, villages with man-made paddy fields began to appear in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Hemudu Culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (5000-3300 BC), Liangzhu Culture (3300 BC-2200 BC), but Sanxingdui culture in the middle basin (Around 2000 BC) etc. were born.

What is Hemudu culture?

The area of ​​the Hemudu ruins found in 1973 is the area circled in red.

In Hemudu culture, paddy rice has only been made, and even in Japan, I learned it as a set with rice cultivation stilt warehouse . Have been found a lot.

In addition to stone tools and ornaments, black pottery , Red pottery, red ash pottery, and other pottery have also been discovered (black pottery is known as the pottery that appeared next to Sai pottery).

What is the culture that followed the Hemudu culture? ??

As the times progressed, the exchange between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River gradually progressed. Black pottery, which is representative of the Hemudu culture mentioned earlier, can be seen not only in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River but also in the lower reaches of the Yellow River and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Of course, the black pottery of the Hemudu culture did not spread as it was, but there were traces made by using the potter's wheel, and ultra-thin pottery called eggshell pottery was found. Black pottery has been found.

The culture of the late Neolithic period from 2500 BC to 2000 BC, which is characterized by such black ceramics, is Ryuzan Longchamp culture . I call it.

Let's take a look at the culture of Sichuan

At the end of Longshan culture, Sanxingdui culture around Sichuan province between the middle basin of the Yellow River and the middle basin of the Yangtze River. Has also spread.

The Samsung culture is said to have originated in the Yangtze River basin, but since Sichuan is topographically surrounded by mountains and disconnected from other areas, it is a unique civilization that is different from the Yellow River civilization and the Yangtze River civilization. It seems that you may try to catch it.

The Sanxingdui culture has a fairly unique culture, with unforgettable masks being excavated once it is seen.

On the other hand, there are some relics called bronze gods, which are made of bronze ware. This object? Is believed to have been an "object of worship" related to Chinese mythology.

In this way, when unique cultures were born in various parts of China and exchanges between regions became active, conflicts began to occur. Conflicts between groups lead to the formation of political groups in each region. A large number of weapons were made in it, and villages of castle walls that tamped the soil began to be made.

In addition, a ruler class was born, political power was concentrated, and a hierarchical society was created.

Formation of the Early Dynastic Period

With the above flow, a city surrounded by walls developed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. When multiple cities begin to form, a wide-area country will be created that will further control these cities. The birth of a dynasty nation.

Legendary dynasty? About summer

The first nation in China for a long time was Yin It has been called a country, but wasn't there a nation before that? Some people questioned that.

The dynasty is summer (Or) dynasty is.

summer dynasty There was a description in Mr. Lu's Chunqiu (a book compiled at the end of the Warring States period in China, 239 BC) and a historical record (a history book compiled by Western Han and Sima Qian), but no evidence was found and it has existed for a long time. I have been wondering.

However, Yin was confirmed to exist in the late 1950s. A palace of the same size as the one found ( Erlitou Ruins ), The possibility of the Xia dynasty has emerged.

In addition, it is said that the founder of the Xia dynasty, Yu, was given the position by the prince Shun, who appears in Chinese mythology, because he was successful in hydraulic control, and the Xia dynasty began. Regarding hydraulic control, the fact that "there was a great flood in the Yellow River" was found at "the time when the Xia dynasty started about 4000 years ago".

From the above, although there are still many unclear points such as the time of establishment and the period of existence, the credibility of "the Xia dynasty actually existed" has increased considerably.

Currently, the existence of the summer dynasty is only mentioned in the textbook with the proviso "Legendary dynasty", but the description may change to "early dynasty =summer" in the near future.

From the birth to the end of the oldest dynasty "Yin" that can be confirmed

The oldest confirmed country, Yin (trade) , which is said to have existed around the 16th century BC to the 11th century BC. Is said to have been created after Tang of Shang (Yuou) exiled and destroyed the last king of summer, Jie of Xia. He expanded his control by repeating the relocation of the capital several times.

In addition, fence Is the King of Shang (King Zhou), Zhou's King Li Along with, it has become synonymous with tyrants, and on the contrary, Yin's Tang of Shang is Yu the Great in summer. , Zhou's Wen King ・ Takeo It is praised as the Holy King along with.

Yin is a country that was revealed by the excavation of the Yin burial mound in Henan Province, but the major feature is oracle bone script . is. Write down the results of fortune-telling such as rituals, farming, weather, war and illness using the oracle bone script, and politics based on the result Theocracy The we.

In Yinji, in addition to the large number of turtle shells and the oracle bone script engraved on the bones of beasts, bronze ware with complicated patterns (Sake sets and tableware used for rituals), royal tombs where many humans and animals were buried, and the remains of a large palace have also been found.

Depending on the fortune-telling result

• Give a large number of human sacrifice from other tribes
• Sacrifice the prisoners of war captured in the war at the ritual

There are many things, and it seems that such terrorism has lost its power due to antipathy from other tribes.

* It is not clear that there is a theory like ↑, but it seems that I will buy a grudge enough because there are 14,000 sacrificial human bones that have been found now.

Thus, around 1050 BC, around the time of King Zhou, he was destroyed by King Zhou and Yin was destroyed ( Dynastic Cycle . ).

What was Yin's political system?

A community based on a coalition of clan groups with the consciousness of having a common ancestor eup created a walled city around walls such as earthworks. Each eup was ruled by the patriarch.

Yin is a form in which this walled city takes a loose coalition and is subordinate to the royal family and the royal family. Since the name of the most influential city in this eup was commerce, it seems that it is sometimes called the commerce dynasty instead of the Shang dynasty.

Since there is a castle wall, there were many opportunities to be attacked or attacked by other forces. In such a situation, a monarch with strong control is needed to facilitate military activities, so the system allows the ruler to make decisions at his own discretion.

The birth of Zhou

The original week Is Yin It was only one of the leading eups based in the tributary and tributary basin of the Yellow River, which belonged to.

After King Zhou, who was originally a wise emperor, became a princess of Daji, the warlord who was at the top of Eup (Zhou) was in the Revolutionary War (Battle of Muye) while the national affairs were confused due to bad politics. ) Was caused to destroy the Shang dynasty, and it is said that the Zhou dynasty was born.

Let's take a look at Zhou's political system

Zhou is Hokyo near the current Xian It ruled North China with the city called Kokei as the capital. Not the theocracy that was done in the Shang dynasty,

Territory to royal clans, honorary vassals, and indigenous chiefs (Seal) Give to hereditary, and in return take tribute and military service

So-called feudalism Governed by.

The ruler given the territory is lords Due to its size and relationship with the royal family, public, prince, count, child, male Was given the title of.

The following countries have been founded in the seals given to Zhou's relatives and honorary vassals. You entrusted the rule of each region to the lords.

• King Wu's younger brother, Zhou, = Lu (Ro, southern Shandong)
• Taiko Nozomi (Jiang Ziya), who was also a warrior of Zhou = Qi (Northeastern Shandong Province)
• Duke of Shao = Swallow (Well, early details are unknown, northern Hebei, now around Beijing)
• Shu Yu of Tang = Jin (Shin, Shanxi)
• Shu of Wey-Kun = Mamoru (Part of Henan Province) etc.

↑ There are also names that appear in the post-week era / Spring / Autumn Warring States era

Also, Lord for kings and princes. (Kei) ・ Taifu (Taifu) ・ Shi Hereditary vassals such as () are serving, and the vassals, like the lords, are obliged to pay tribute and serve in the military in return for consecrating and conferring status.

In addition, the Zhou dynasty is a society in which the patrilineal family group (=sect) is emphasized. Sect method that defines the hierarchical relationship between relatives and the method of ancestral rituals Was made.

To put it simply, it seems that rules such as "the eldest son inherits the property", "people with the same surname cannot marry", and "the power relationship is the head family> the branch family" have been decided.

Soho The moral order of society based on " gratitude ], And by considering the Zhou royal family as the origin of the head family and keeping this order, the country was united. Yin's " Unity of rituals In contrast, Zhou said, " Religious agreement . It is called the political system of.