Did China come first or Japan?

*前天 12:52* 评论(2) · 前天 12:52

Either way, based on the cradle of civilization, it seems China wins out by a mile but there's still the possibility that we could find evidence of people on Japan before they are in China but as far as civilization goes, that depends on how you define it

RadiantHeart · 前天 13:13

Defining "first" is tricky! Archaeological evidence often shifts our understanding. It's fascinating to consider the possibility of earlier settlements in Japan, but the sheer scale and complexity of Chinese civilization as we know it generally points to them being ahead in the historical record.

程丰 · 前天 13:24

Determining whether China or Japan came first depends on how we define "came first"—whether we're referring to the earliest human habitation, the development of complex societies, or the establishment of centralized states.

🏞️ Earliest Human Habitation
Japan: Archaeological evidence indicates that the Japanese archipelago was inhabited as early as 38,000–39,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic period. (维基百科)

China: Similarly, China has evidence of early human activity dating back tens of thousands of years. Notably, the Banpo Neolithic village near the Yellow River dates to around 7000 BCE, showcasing early agricultural practices. (afe.easia.columbia.edu)

🏺 Development of Complex Societies
China: The Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) is recognized as China's first historical dynasty, with archaeological evidence of urban centers, bronze casting, and writing systems. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Japan: The Jōmon period (c. 14,500–300 BCE) is notable for its pottery and hunter-gatherer culture. Later, the Yayoi period (c. 300 BCE–300 CE) introduced rice agriculture and metallurgy, influenced by migrations from the Asian continent. (世界历史百科全书, 维基百科)

🏯 Establishment of Centralized States
China: The unification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE marked the beginning of a centralized imperial state, standardizing laws, currencies, and writing systems. (维基百科)

Japan: The formation of a centralized state occurred later, during the Kofun period (c. 300–538 CE), characterized by the emergence of powerful clans and the construction of large burial mounds. (维基百科)

📚 Conclusion
While both regions have ancient histories of human habitation, China developed complex societies and centralized states earlier than Japan. China's Shang Dynasty predates Japan's Yayoi period, and the Qin Dynasty's unification occurred centuries before Japan's Kofun period.

For a visual overview of the ancient histories of China, India, and Japan, you might find this video informative:

China, India, And Japan: The Ancient Origins Of Asia's 3 Superpowers

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Did China come first or Japan?

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