China, this ancient and mysterious land, has nurtured a rich history spanning five thousand years, boasting a cultural depth rarely seen in the world. From the dawn of prehistoric civilizations to today's modern nation, every page of China's history is filled with legends and glories.

Prehistoric Civilizations: The Sprouting of Civilization

Around five thousand years ago, China entered the late Neolithic Age, where the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins nurtured numerous prehistoric cultures such as the Yangshao Culture and Hemudu Culture. Characterized by exquisite pottery, stone tools, and the beginnings of primitive agriculture and animal husbandry, these cultures demonstrated the initial achievements of ancient human wisdom and diligence, marking the initial formation of Chinese civilization.

Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties: The Birth of the Nation and the Establishment of Etiquette

In the 21st century BCE, the establishment of the Xia Dynasty marked the birth of China's first slave-based state. Subsequently, the Shang Dynasty became renowned for oracle bone inscriptions, which recorded the economy, politics, and culture of that time. The Zhou Dynasty, on the other hand, created the feudal system and patriarchal clan system, forming a relatively comprehensive system of rites and music, laying the foundation for Chinese feudal society.

Chinese history, Song Dynasty's Army

Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States: The Prosperity of Hundred Schools of Thought

During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, China entered the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States era, a time of great social transformation and ideological liberation. Figures like Confucius, Laozi, and Mencius emerged, and the Hundred Schools of Thought flourished, forming the first wave of ideological liberation in Chinese history, which had a profound impact on later generations.

Qin and Han Dynasties: The Establishment of Centralized Power

Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, founding China's first centralized feudal dynasty—the Qin Dynasty. He implemented a series of measures to strengthen central authority, such as unifying writing, currency, and measures. The Han Dynasty inherited and developed Qin's system, ushering in the "Han Wu Prosperity." The opening of the Silk Road further promoted cultural exchanges between China and the West.

The Golden Age of Tang and Song Dynasties: The Peak of Culture and Economy

The Tang Dynasty was one of the most prosperous periods in Chinese history, characterized by cultural flourishing, economic development, and frequent foreign exchanges. Chang'an became an international metropolis. The Song Dynasty reached new heights in science and technology, literature, and art, with inventions like movable type printing and gunpowder leading the world. Song poetry is a treasure of classical Chinese literature.

Administrative officers of Ming Dynasty

Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties: The Consolidation and Development of a Multi-ethnic Country

The Yuan Dynasty was China's first centralized feudal dynasty established by an ethnic minority, with an unprecedentedly vast territory. During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas demonstrated China's powerful naval capabilities, while capitalist shoots began to sprout. The early Qing Dynasty saw the Kangxi-Qianlong Reign of Prosperity, pushing Chinese feudal society to its last peak, but the closed-door policy gradually weakened the country's strength.

Modern Times: From Humiliation to Renaissance

Since the mid-19th century, China gradually fell into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, but the Chinese nation never gave up its struggle. From the overthrow of feudal monarchy through the Xinhai Revolution to the victory of the new-democratic revolution led by the Communist Party of China, and finally to the founding of New China and the implementation of reform and opening-up, China has achieved a great leap forward from standing up, getting rich, to becoming strong, standing tall among the nations of the world with a brand-new posture.

China's 5,000-year history is a magnificent epic that records the suffering and glory of the Chinese nation, and also bears witness to the indomitable and courageous spirit of the Chinese people.