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HarvardX: ChinaPhil The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life

ca. 2070 BCE–256 BCE

The Three Dynasties Period

The period of time that includes the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties.

2070 BCE — 1600 BCE

Xia Dynasty

The first period in Chinese historiography

ca. 2070 BCE–ca. 1600 BCE

Bronze Age in China

Generally thought to occur during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

1600 BCE — 1046 BCE

Shang Dynasty

The second of the Three Dynasties of the Three Dynasties period and the first dynasty to be attested to in the archaeological record.

1046 BCE — 256 BCE

Zhou Dynasty

The third of the Three Dynasties of the Three Dynasties period. The Zhou Dynasty is divided into two periods. The first is the Western Zhou (1046–771 BCE), when the ruling Zhou acted as the supreme authority over lesser rulers, called Dukes, in Central China. In the second, the Eastern Zhou (770–256 BCE), the Zhou rulership waned and the territories were divided into competing states. The Eastern Zhou period can further be divided into the Spring and Autumn period (770–ca. 476 BCE) and the Warring States period (475–221 BCE).

1046 BCE — 771 BCE

Western Zhou

770 BCE — 256 BCE

Eastern Zhou

770 BCE — 476 BCE

Spring and Autumn period

ca. 6th century BCE

Laozi/老子/Lǎo​zi

Also known as “Old Master,” an ancient Chinese philosopher who wrote the Dao de jing and the founder of Daoism.

trad. 551–479 BCE

Confucius/孔子/Kǒngzǐ

A philosopher, teacher, advisor, editor, and reformer, he is considered a fundamental thinker in East Asian history. Further information: plato.stanford.edu/entries/con…

475–221 BCE

Warring States Period/ 戰國時代 / Zhànguó Shídài

A period in ancient Chinese history in which seven states--Qin, Han, Wei, Zhao, Qi, Chu, and Yan--as well as smaller states were often in conflict or in outright war with one another. The period ended with the unification of China under the state of Qin in 221 B.C.

469–399 BCE

Socrates

More information: plato.stanford.edu/entries/soc…

fl. circa 450 BCE

Buddha

The thinker whose teachings form the basis of the Buddhist tradition. His teachings are preserved in texts known as the Nikāyas or Āgamas which focus on the quest for liberation from suffering. More information: plato.stanford.edu/entries/bud…

429?–347 BCE

Plato

More information: plato.stanford.edu/entries/pla…

ca. 4th century BCE

Zhuangzi/莊子/Zhuāngzi (the person)

An ancient Chinese philosopher who is credited with writing all or part of the famous eponymous philosophical text. After his death, he came to be known as one of the two major Daoist figures, the other being Laozi.

ca. 4th century BCE

Zhuangzi/莊子/Zhuāngzi (the text)

A significant text attributed to Zhuangzi containing allegories, fables, and other educational stories, as well as anecdotes. One significant theme of this text is spontaneity.

ca. 4th century BCE

Lord Shang/商君/Shāngjūn

The first legalist thinker who was the prime minister for the state of Qin. His reforms enabled Qin to conquer six other kingdoms. The Book of Lord Shang/商君書/Shāngjūn shū (3rd century BCE), based on the visions he put together in Qin, is attributed to him and his followers, but was probably written later.

ca. 300 BCE

The Mencius/ 孟子/ Mèngzǐ

A series of anecdotes, sayings, and stories of or by Mencius These were collected by his disciples and are divided into seven chapters or “books.” The first two books detail Mencius’ great hopes and failure in becoming a political advisor to a ruler, and the remainder of the books are about him reconstituting himself and learning from this failure. Note: the name “Mencius” and the title of the text The Mencius are written and pronounced the same in Chinese.

3rd century BCE

The Book of Lord Shang/商君書/Shāngjūn shū

3rd century BCE

Xunzi/荀子/Xún​zǐ

An ancient Chinese Confucian philosopher who, in his writings, attempts to return to the philosophy of Confucius, but also synthesizes the works of other thinkers who came after Confucius to create a fuller, more elaborate philosophy.

ca. 3rd century BCE

Hanfeizi/韓非子/Hán​ Fēi​zǐ

A major Legalist theorist whose philosophy is recorded in an eponymously titled book of philosophy and whose ideology influenced the policies of the unified state of Qin. He was a student of Xunzi/荀子/Xún​zǐ (3rd century B.C). More information: plato.stanford.edu/entries/chi…

 
Xunzi/荀子/Xún​zǐ
3rd century BCE
Timeline JS

The Three Dynasties Period

Xia Dynasty

Bronze Age in China

Shang Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty

Western Zhou

Eastern Zhou

Spring and Autumn period

Laozi/老子/Lǎo​zi

Confucius/孔子/Kǒngzǐ

Warring States Period/ 戰國時代 / Zhànguó Shídài

Socrates

Buddha

Plato

Zhuangzi/莊子/Zhuāngzi (the person)

Zhuangzi/莊子/Zhuāngzi (the text)

Lord Shang/商君/Shāngjūn

The Mencius/ 孟子/ Mèngzǐ

The Book of Lord Shang/商君書/Shāngjūn shū

Xunzi/荀子/Xún​zǐ

Hanfeizi/韓非子/Hán​ Fēi​zǐ

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