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1400 BCE
1400-1100
earliest evidence of Chinese writing is found on Shang oracle bones. Oracle bones are pieces of ox scapula or turtle plastron, which were used for pyromancy in ancient China. -
900 BCE
A.D. 800
song lyrics sung by women entertainers became a major poetic form. Diamond Sutra, the first book with a printed date, is published. -
700 BCE
A.D. 400
many important writers/philosophers were born. Birth of Wang Wei, painter and poet. Birth of LiPo and birth of TuFu. -
690 BCE
A.D. 400
poetry writing is included in the civil service examination. The system continued to play a major role, not only in education and government, but also in society itself. -
551 BCE
551-479
Confucius teaches about ethical values such as honesty, loyalty, and respect for elders. Confucius viewed the Chou dynasty culture as a model society. -
500 BCE
500
lao-tzu, legendary founder of Taoism, develpos teachings of Tao Te Ching. The Shih Ching (book of odes), the first anthology of Chinese poetry, is complied. -
330 BCE
400 B.C.
Taoist philosopher CHuang Tzu writes the Chuang Tzu. Ssu-ma Ch'ien writes Records of the Historian, a history of China through Wu Ti's reing. -
100 BCE
A.D. 1
the first Chinese dictionary is compiled. Pan Ku writes History of the former Han Dynasty.
