Reading Guide 1B China

We will be starting Topic 1B next week. Here is the reading guide for it:

Reading Guide 1B
The Shang dynasty was once thought to be mythical. However, archaeological findings later proved its existence. How does this relate to the Xia dynasty?
Did Chinese civilization rise independently or did it have other influences?
How did animal and human sacrifice relate to Shang religion? What did the Shang believe about the afterlife and ancestors?
What is an aristocracy?
What factors led to the downfall of the Shang dynasty?
How did the Zhou explain their overthrow of the Shang? How is this is similar to what we see in the Vedas?
What is Feudalism?
What led to the weakening of the Zhou dynasty? How did its accomplishments help lead to its weakened state? Why do you think the Shang dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou but the Zhou dynasty officially continued even though it had very little power?
Can we call any of the various Warring States “China”? What were they like?
How did aristocracy become weaker during the Warring States period?
How did Confucius react to this chaos? What sort of society did he want to establish? How did he think this could be done?

Sourcebook
King and State

Duties of a King
What is the relationship between personal suffering and being a good kingdom?
What is the relationship between morality and being a king?
How do the “small people” react to the morality of the king? What does this say about the king’s responsibility?

The Authority of a King
What is the relationship between the King, Heaven, and obedience?

The Chou King
What are the virtues of a good king? What is the king’s relationship to his ancestors?

Warriors and Battles
How does this poem make you feel? What does it say about the emotions of the soldiers?
Why is it that the Chinese commaner Nan-chung is called “terrible”?

Sacrifice
At the bottom of number 3, why does “He who by whom all under the sky was held” sacrifice to all spirits but the princes sacrifice only to those in their own territories? Who is “He who by…”?
What parts of this text seem “feudal”?

People and Life
Agriculture
How is age viewed in this (both of people and the way things are done)?
What is wine used for? Why would people offer wine to their ancestors?
In the second part, why do you think they killed the bull?

Courtship and Marriage
What sort of emotions are displayed in these poems?
How do these songs show how men and women should relate to each other?