Ancient China

The oldest found remnant of silk (non-cloth) 4000-3000 B.C. Mastered weaving, expensive for the west to get. Formed a lot of the economy, famous silk road.

(Legend) Lu Ban, a Chinese carpenter and an inventor created the first umbrella in China. Inspired by children using lotus leaves for rain shelter. Oil paper and bamboo (usually colorful.)

First discovered by Shennong. Tea was a big hit in Ancient China and enjoyed by every social class. Cha Jing or the book of tea was written by Lu Yu In the Tang Dynasty. He explained how to cultivate tea, tea drinking and classification of different types of teas.

Alcohol = Jiu, used as offerings to ancestors or gods. 4-5% beers widely consumed in ancient China. 9000-year-old pottery from Henan province revealed presence of alcohol before Arabian Peninsula brewers.

Oldest Chinese medicine book Niejing or “The Classic of Internal Medicine of the Yellow Emperor” says acupuncture was widely used as therapy in China long before. Acupuncture needles found in tomb of Prince Liu Sheng who died around 200 B.C.

The symbols were etched onto turtle shells and animal bones, they were later maintained as historical documents in the reign of the Shang Dynasty.

Formal style used for seals and records for government officials due to its even thickness and fewer direction changes.

A major Neo-Confucian thinker, elevated two chapters from the Book of Rites, namely, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean; the Analects, and Mencius. This (The Four Books) and the five classics became the foundation of Confucianism.

The script was mostly found on cast bronze vessels.

5th century BC Zhou Dynasty. Flourished Spring & Autumn and Warring States periods 776-221 B.C. Han Dynasty central government monopolized iron smelting, remarkable development.