Ancient Chinese
Imperial Far Eastern
Ancient Chinese refers to the Chinese language as spoken and written in early periods of Chinese civilization, roughly from the Shang dynasty through the Han dynasty.
The term also describes people, artifacts, or practices from that era: ancient Chinese philosophy, ancient Chinese medicine.
In casual use, it can mean anything incomprehensibly complex: This manual reads like ancient Chinese to me.
- Han dynastyMajor ancient Chinese empire
- oracle bonesInscribed Shang divination remains
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
- silkFine woven insect fiber
Confucianism · filial piety · Shang dynasty · Great Wall · Silk Road · Middle Kingdom · yin-yang theory · pictographs · terracotta · sacrificial rites · foot binding · ceremonial masks · philosophy · Daoism · feudal hierarchy · feudalism · jade carvings · Warring States
Ancient ChineseWestern civilization
Euro-American cultural tradition
Ancient Greek · Greco-Roman · Ancient Egyptian · Judeo-Christian