Editing Chinese philosophy (section)

==Early beliefs==
Early [[Shang dynasty]] thought was based on cycles like the [[Heavenly Stems|10 stems]] and [[Earthly Branches|12 earthly branches]]. This notion stems from what the people of the Shang dynasty could observe around them: day and night cycles, the seasons progressed again and again, and even the moon waxed and waned until it waxed again. Thus, this notion, which remained relevant throughout [[Chinese history]], reflects the order of nature. In juxtaposition, it also marks a fundamental distinction from [[western philosophy]], in which the dominant view of time is a linear progression. During the Shang, [[Ancestor worship]] was present and universally recognized.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

When the Shang were overthrown by the [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]] a new political, religious and philosophical concept was introduced called the [[Mandate of Heaven]]. This mandate was said to be taken when rulers became unworthy of their position and provided a justification for Zhou rule it is said that the [[Duke of Zhou]] made the early solar terms by measuring with a [[gnomon]] that was added to make the complete [[solar term]]s. He is also said to have used [[try square]]s and wrote the ''[[Zhoubi Suanjing]]''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cullen |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOGpzgEACAAJ |title=Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing' |date=2007-01-18 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-03537-8}}</ref> with his astrologer. Several early beliefs might be found in the ''[[Guicang]]'' and perhaps the earliest Chinese book, the small calendar of the Xia in Da Dai Liji, though debated to exist the Xia dynasty is said to be its origin.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shaughnessy |first=Edward L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DcuJAwAAQBAJ&q=Guicang |title=Unearthing the Changes: Recently Discovered Manuscripts of the Yi Jing (I Ching) and Related Texts |date=2014-04-15 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-53330-0}}</ref>