China: A History of China and East Asia (Ancient China, Imperial Dynasties, Communism, Capitalism, Culture, Martial Arts, Medicine, Military, People including Mao Zedong, and Confucius)

By Adam Brown

Have you ever wondered how China became the most populous and one of the most industrially active nations today?

This is a historical rollercoaster that will take you from Ancient China and Imperial Dynasties to Communism and Capitalism. Discover the rich history of this superpower.
 

Here is a Sneak Peek of What you will Learn:

• Ancient Chinese Dynasties and Their Impact on Chinese History
• Communism, Capitalism and Its Role in Shaping China & East Asia
• Ancient Chinese Culture
• A History of Martial Arts in Ancient China
• A Comprehensive Look at Old World Medicine in Ancient China
• Analysis of the Military in Ancient China
• And much, much, more

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pluto King Publishing
• Release date: Nov 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781989711170

Adam Brown

Adam Brown is a Senior Lecturer in Media Studies at Deakin University, Australia, and a volunteer at the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Melbourne, where he initiated the digitization of the Centre’s survivor video testimony collection. He was awarded the Isi Leibler Prize for the best contribution to advancing knowledge of racial, religious or ethnic prejudice in any time or place for his dissertation, and has written widely on Holocaust representation across various genres, surveillance and film, mediations of rape, digital children's television, and gaming cultures.

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China: A History of China and East Asia [3rd Edition]

Ancient China, Imperial Dynasties, Communism, Capitalism, Culture, Martial Arts, Medicine, Military, People including Mao Zedong, Confucius, and Sun Tzu

Copyright 2016 by Adam Brown - All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Ancient Chinese Dynasties

Overview of Dynasties

1: Xia Dynasty (2200 – 1600 BC)

2: Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1046 BC)

3: The Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 256 BC)

4: The Qin Dynasty (221 – 207 BC)

5: The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)

6: The Six Dynasties (220 AD – 589 AD)

7: The Sui Dynasty (581 – 618 AD)

8: The Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD)

9: The Five Dynasties (907 – 960 AD)

10: The Song Dynasty (960 – 1297 AD)

11: The Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368 AD)

12: The Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644 AD)

13: The Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912)

Chapter 2: Communism, Capitalism and Its Role in Shaping China & East Asia

China

East Asia, Asia, and the Pacific

Indonesia

Indochina

India

Chapter 3: Ancient Chinese Culture

Yin and Yang

History of Confucianism

Language

Spirituality & Religion

Literature

Painting

Sculpture

Lacquer

Jade

Architecture

Chapter 4: A History of Martial Arts in Ancient China

The Beginning

Development

Classification

Chivalry

Heroic Novels of Chivalry

The Beginning of Wushu

Swords

Women Fighters

Official Examinations

Chinese Wushu and Japanese Judo

Armed Guards

Yin and Yang

The Theory of Five Elements

Wu De (Martial Virtues)

Chapter 5: Old World Medicine in Ancient China

Yin and Yang

Massage

Herbal Medicine

Exercise

Nutritional Therapy

Turmeric

Coconut

Cinnamon

Dates in History

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the Twenty-First Century

Chapter 6: Military in Ancient China

Xia Dynasty

Shang Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 7: The Development of Chinese Literature

General Characteristics of Chinese Literature

Historical Timeline of Chinese Writing

The Beginning of Chinese Writing

The Use of Literary Myths

Chinese Poetry

Chinese Prose

Chapter 8: Great Historical Figures

Mao Zedong (26th December 1893, Shaoshan, China – 9th September 1976, Beijing, China) and the Cultural Revolution

The Early Years

Mao Zedong and the CCP

The Nationalists and the Communists

Ascent to Power

The Establishment of the People’s Republic of China

The Development of Mao’s Path to Socialism

Retreat and Retaliation

The Cultural Revolution

The Summary

Deng Xiaoping

Early Life

Rise Tо Power

A Fаll from Grасе and a Rеturn tо Pоwеr

Culturаl Rеvоlutiоn

Finаl Yеаrѕ

Confucius

Mencius

Early Life

Theorist of the People

Principles of Human Nature

Sun Tzu

The Life of Sun Tzu

Laozi

Sima Qian

Conclusion

Introduction

I want to thank you and congratulate you for downloading the book China: A History of China and East Asia.

This book contains everything you need to know about China’s rich and exciting history.

China has become the world’s most populous nation with a powerful economy. As its landscape has changed over the years, so have the demographics and economy. It is known as one of the oldest recorded civilizations in history. With a vast landscape and a rich diversified culture, the country is famous for martial arts, Confucius philosophy, language, alternative treatment like acupuncture and herbal treatments, the Great Wall of China  and a recorded history that dates to as early as over 3000 years ago. Furthermore, China has a unique dynastic history with military development, medicinal breakthroughs and great legendary figures the likes of which, the world has never seen.

So how did it all come to be? How did The People’s Republic of China become what it is today? This book reveals the building process that caused a small group of people to become part of a full blown nation.  It will provide you with the details you need to have a good understanding of how the country was shaped into what it is today.

Thanks again for downloading this book, I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: Ancient Chinese Dynasties

Overview of Dynasties

A dynasty, in Chinese literature, refers to a series of rulers from the same family and historical periods named after the family that dominated the country at the time. Some dynasties lasted for many centuries while others were in power for only a few years. The earliest dynasty began with the first ruler in 2200 BC and ended in 1912 with the last Emperor of China. From 1912 to 1949, the country that was previously Imperial China became the Republic of China. Thus, more than 4000 years of dynasties came to an end when the last emperor was forced to leave his seat. From 1949 onwards, the country became known as the People’s Republic of China, which continues today.

1: Xia Dynasty (2200 – 1600 BC)

Around 2200 BC, the occupants of what is now Northern China near the Yellow River came under the rule of the Xia Dynasty. There is little evidence for this dynasty’s existence apart from some records that were compiled much later by reliable historians. It is theorized that the people began to use bronze during this time due to some evidence suggesting that bronze casting occurred at Erlitou during the Xia Dynasty.

Legend states that it was Yu the Great (2200-2100 BC) who began the dynasty. He was a hard worker among the early settlers who helped to ensure the safety of his people. It is documented that the Yellow River constantly flooded the land and caused great difficulty among the people. Crops would be ruined, homes would flood and the people would complain about the hardship that they were in. Yu the Great is known for building dams that ultimately helped to stop flooding in his community and he became well-known for his nobility, leading to the people choosing him as their ruler. Thus, the very first dynasty was founded. The Xia Dynasty had 17 kings and continued until 1600 BC when the Shang Dynasty came into power.

2: Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1046 BC)

Jie of the Xia Dynasty had begun to oppress the people through taxation and unjust laws that were enacted only to benefit the nobility. The people who suffered the most were peasants, who worked long hours and earned meager wages, and occupied the lower strata of society. Because of the hardship many suffered at the hands of the Xia rule at this time, a rebellion began. People threw their support behind Chen Tang, who convinced them they needed a new king. The revolt spread until Jie, the last Xia emperor, was overthrown by a final battle known as the Battle of  Mingtiao. Most of Jie’s army either deserted the plain of battle or surrendered to the stronger force of Chen Tang. Thus around 1600 BC, the Shang Dynasty came to power.

Western scholars previously used to debate the existence of the Shang Dynasty because much of the knowledge came only from Ancient Chinese literature. However during the 1920s, archaeological excavations unearthed considerable evidence for its existence. Scholars believe that the Shang Dynasty achieved much more progress than the Xia dynasty but this may be due to the minimal historical data about the Xia Dynasty. Nonetheless, major cities and urban hubs including Anyang and Zhengzhou were established during the Shang Dynasty. At its height, the Shang State only controlled a relatively small area of northern China but their rule became a model for other rival States including the Zhou State.

Manufacturing of bronze is known to have continued during this time period. Brass was made from the abundant suppliers of copper, tin and lead that were dug by the Chinese. The miners provided these metals to blacksmiths, who smelted them into bronze. Most bronze was used for ornaments and for ritual objects while only a small amount was used for weaponry and agriculture.

The Shang organized society in a form of feudalism in which relatives of the king and other nobles were granted land in return for their service and loyalty. This resulted in the kings having a great deal of power, and like the kings before thim, were more at risk of abusing that power. The last Shang king was accused of drunkenness, incest, cannibalism, sadism, and was considered evil. The virtues that had once led to the elevation of the Shang were decimated as a result. Once again, there was an uprising against the tyrant king. Sensing vulnerability, Wu Wang from the east attacked the Shang empire and came to