WHAP: Chapter 12- The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

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I Can...

Identify and Explain these features of the Song Dynasty:

Use of Confucianism

Imperial bureaucracies

Mandate of Heaven

Explain how Chinese Culture influenced areas nearby

Heian Japan

Spread of Buddhism

Split of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, & Tibetan

Describe China innovation increasing its economy

Dependence on Peasants and Artisan

More production of textiles & porcelains

Expanded Trade Netwroks (Grand Canal)

Champa rice increasing food amounts

innovation with Steel & Iron production

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Religions in China

Buddhism

Xuanzang (SHWEN-ZAHNG): young Buddhist Monk born in CHINA

Sought accurate info on Buddhism- traveled to INDIA (629 AD)

Emporer had mandated no one leave Chinese borders (had to sneak out)

Guide abandoned him in the Gobi Desert

Many other hardships (crossed three of the world's highest mountain ranges- Tian Shan, Hindu Kush, and Pamir)

Arrived India (630 AD), studied/lived there for >12yrs

brought books and knowledge back to China (645 AD)

Hero's welcome and meeting with Emporer

Devoted life to spreading Buddhism

Universal adoption throughout China

Foreign Religions in China:

Han Dynasty: Confucianism, Daoism and cults honoring family ancestors

Buddhism had little appeal at the time despite merchants traveling Silk Road (as early as 100 AD)

Fall of Han: introduction of other religion, including Nestorian Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam.

Communities (salvation religions) developed, but mostly for foreign merchants (not large following)

Mahayana Buddhism became popular

big community in Dunhang- built hundreds of cave temples w/ murals (600-1000 AD)

attracted Chinese because of high morality standards, intellectual sophistication, and promise of salvation

big community in Dunhang- built hundreds of cave temples w/ murals (600-1000 AD)

attracted Chinese because of high morality standards, intellectual sophistication, and promise of salvation

Conflict and Hostility w/ Buddhism:

Buddhism big on studying texts for metaphysics, Chinese on practical stuff, and Daoism hardly no studying

Buddhism emphasized abstanance from family and monastic lifestyle, while Chinese culture endorese fillial piety and having a family

Daoists and Confucians resented- diminished resource of following

Got gov. involed:(840 AD) Tang Emporers ordered closure of monestaries and expulsion of Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Nestorian Christians, and Manicheans

Not entirely eradicated

Buddhist missionaries altered message to Chinese audience:

"dharma" became the "dao" (daoistic 'the way') and nirvana (escape from reincarnation) "wuwei" (Daoistic noncompetition)

Chan Buddhism- Chinese school of Buddhism, focused on sudden flashes of insight in search for enlightenment (mix of Buddhism and Daoism)

Confucianism:

Zhu Xing

Neo-Confucianism: Confucianism returned, but with lots of Buddhist themes (studied metaphysics as well as political/moral thought, etc.)

Song Emperors didn't persecute Buddhists, but endoresed native Chinese cultural traditions

Influenced east Asia: shaped political, philisophical, and moral thought for half a millenium in China and surrouding areas (i.e. Korea, Vietnam, and Japan)

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Government: Sui Dynasty [Return of Centralized Imperial Rule](end of 500's AD)

Fall of Han Dynasty = war, invasion, conquest, foreign rule (disrupted Chinese Society)

Sui and Tang dynasties restored order

era of rapid economic growth

The Sui Dynasty (589-18 AD)

Yang Jian- Chinese ruler, military campaigns brought China under centralized rule

Established Sui dynasty (lasted less than 30 yrs), but centralized rule continued

started as duke of Sui (northern China)

(581 AD) claimed thrown and Mandate of Heaven for himself

(589 AD) Sui Dynasty had full control over China

Built strong centralized government

Infrastructure: ordered construction projects

Required high taxes and compulsory labor

Grand Canal: series of artificial waterways that boosted trade (still functional today)

Sui Yangdi (604-618) wanted to guide trade between north. and south. China

Intended for trade of food crops from the Yangzi River valley

established economic foundation that aided political and economic unity

required millions of conscripted workers to build

People revolt ( late 610 AD) from compulsory labor & high taxes

Emporer (Sui Yangdai) assassinated (618 AD) - dynasty ended

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Overview: Sui and Tang Dynasties- Prosperity and Culture

Sui and Tang dynasties= economic growth & stability

Interactions with other nations

Culture Spread

Korea, Vietnam, and Japan

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Government: Tang Dynasty [Return of Centralized Imperial Rule]

The Tang Dynasty: (618-907 AD)

Rebel leader seized power after the death of Sui Yangdai- established Tang Dynasty

organized China-powerful, productive, and prosperous society

Tang Taizong (627-649 AD)-

Ruthless- murdered brothers for thone

Established era of prosperity and stability- No banditry, low taxes, low cost of rice

saw himself a Confucian Ruler

Capital city of Chang'an, secondary capital of Luoyan

Policies-

Trade/communication Networks:

inns, postal stations and stables along main routes

Couriers, foot runners, and relay teams (information, news, and fresh food)

Equal-Field System: governed allocation of agricultural land

allotted according to land fertility and needs of a family

created stability and prosperity in Chinese countryside

Worked for until early 700's AD -> collapsed because of pressure caused by population growth, corruption of nobles cheating the system, and Buddhist monasteries using big parcels

Bureaucracy based on merit

recruited gov. officials based on intellectual ability in Confucian Educational System

Workers were thus loyal and hard-working

Concept survived beyond Tang dynasty (Qing dynasty)

Military Expansion

biggest territorial empire in Chinese history

Expanded- brought Silla Kingdom (Korea), northern Vietnam, high plateau of Tibet, and areas as far as the Aral Sea under control

Established order: Tribute System (from Han Dynasty)

Foreign Relations

Chinese Politcal Theory: China was the Middle Kingdom- must conquer/bring under control other lands (tributary states)

Neighbors (tributary states) had to recognize authority of Chinese emperors, give regular gifts, and perform kowtow

Kowtow: ritual prostration; knelt before the emperor, foreheads on the ground

Compliance= rulers of tributary states could remain 'in power'

tentative rule, but stabalized trade, cultural exchanges, and diplomacy

Decline:

careless emperor -> An Lushan (military commander) led a rebellion, capturing the capital and secondary capital (755 AD)

Tang forces recaptured capital (763 AD) by asking help of Turkish people (Uighurs)

Uihgurs demanded rights to Chinese capital and Luoyang

Tang house degraded- invasions of Turkish peoples, military commanders technically became leaders

Last Tang Emperor abdicated throne (907 AD)

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Government: Song Dynasty [Return of Centralized Imperial Rule]

The Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD)

Rule:

Warlords ruled until Song Dynasty imposed imperial rule (late 900's)

Not a very strong state

Mistrusted military leaders- focus on civil administration, industry, education, and the arts

Song Taizu (reigned 960-976 AD)

Military officer- honest & effective; proclaimed emperor by his troops

used his army- Subjected warlords to authority & spread control of Song dynasty

tried organizing central administration- military forces under tight supervision

rulers expanded bureaucracy; easier access to Confucian education, civil service examinations, more people, higher wages

Downfall

Finance- high salaries/more gov. = higher costs = higher taxes

Bureaucratic scholars not good leading Military

Confined to southern China (early 1100's AD) when Jurchen (nomads) captured capital of Kaifeng

Mongols ended empire (1279 AD)

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Economics: Tang and Song China [Land of Economic Prosperity]

Agricultural Development:

Fast-Ripening Rice: two crops per year

New Agricultural Techniques

Heavy iron plows, harnessed oxen (north) and water buffaloes (south), manure, compost

Extensive irrigation, and terraced mountainsides

Urbanization

population growth- From 45 million (600 AD) to 115 million (1200 AD)

Chang'an was world's mo. populated city of the time

Market Economy:

Commercial Market- inexpensive produce, exporting throughout and outside the empire

Gov. played important role- regulated dist. and production of military sensitive industries (e.g. iron)

Foreign demand for chinese products

Financial Instruments: used copper coins; shortage = introduced use of "letters to credit," then later some promissory notes, checks, and paper money

Disorder when people wouldn't follow through on promises on temporary notes: mandated only government could print paper money (11th cent. AD)

Accountability: see SOURCES FROM THE PAST below

Cosmopolitan Society: trade by land and sea attracted merchants- Abbasid empire (Muslim), (central) Asia, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Indian, Malay, etc.

Chinese developed taste for exotic goods

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Culture and Technological Developments: Tang and Song Dynasty

Social Structures:

respect of family ancestors: Sense of identity/connectedness in family

patriarchal

Foot-binding: tightly wrapping girls feet with cloth to prevent growth

couldn't walk- only used by wealthy families

Technological and Industrial Development:

Abundant food= pursuit of other things

Porcelain: pottery better adapted to versatile use, lighter, and thinner- high demand by wealthy and other countries

reputation: became known as chinaware

Metallurgy: resulted in surge of iron and steel production- went into weaponry and tools

Gunpowder: discovered highly flammable, military used in bamboo 'fire lances' (kind of flamethrower) and continued experimenting with potential use

Fireworks, called "Chinese Flowers" (7th century )and use of rockets in military

Seismograph

Printing: first used block-printing, developed until using reusable, movable type (mid 1000's AD

Allowed mass production of Buddhist texts, Confucuan works, calendars, agricultural treatises, and popular works

Popular in China, esp. SW

Naval Technology : aided in far nautical travel; magnetic compass,

Mariners used to stay close to land, but b/c of interest in spices/ecotic products from SE Asian Islands prompted innovations

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Chinese Influence in East Asia:

Chinese government/administration shaped public life in Korea, Vietnam, and Japan (inspiration)

large scale expansion by Tang into Korea and Vietnam

Silla Dynasty- chinese forces withdrew, Silla king recognized Tang emperor as overlord (tributary relationship)

Gifts, performance of kowtow, etc. bought them gifts from China and allowed merchants to trade

Korean interest in Chinese culture: began to model court after Chinese, scholars studied in China, Confucianism tradition, Buddhism

gov. sponsorerd Chinese schools and Confucian examination system

Vietnam: Tang armies tried to assimilate Viets into Chinese system. Adopted agriculture, irrigation, chinese schools, and administrative techniques, and entered tributary relationship

Viets resented Chinese authority

Women had more prominent role than in China: business ventures, markets, etc.

Early Japan: not invade by China, but culture still influenced.

Earliest inhabitants- nomads from NE Asia (ice age land bridges)

Agricultural society- small States (500 AD)

Nara Japan (710-794 AD): one state claimed imperial authority (influenced by China) and sought to centralize power in Japan with an imperial house

bureacracy, equal-field system, and official support for Confucianism and Buddhism

Made capitol of Nara (710 AD)

maintained Shinto (indigenous religon) ancestors, and nature spirits/deities

Heian Japan (794-1185 AD): local rulers on island of Honshu recognized emperor as supreme authority

Emperors: ceremonial figure (didn't really rule)

Fujiwara Family had power- controlled rule in background

longevity of house of emperors b/c no power= not deposed during turmoil

literature/official business written in Chinese

Decline: (late 1,000's AD) Heian court ended, equal-field system degraded, aristrocratic clans got mo. of land (estates)

Two clans mo. powerful- Taira and Minamoto engaged in war

Minamoto won (1185 AD) - claimed to rule in name of emperor (like Fujiwara family had)

Shogun: military governor ruling in place of the emperor

capitol at Kamakura

Medieval Japan: the Kamukara (1185-1333 AD) and Muromachi (1336-1573 AD) periods- middle era between chinese influence/court domination and modern age

Political decentralization: provincial lords had local authority (land and economic affairs)

Valued military talent and discipline over prev. ettiquite and courtesy-

Samurai: professional warriors- had role in politics and military, specialized in force and arts of fighting (riding, archery, hunting, and martial arts)

helped lords with enforce authority/territories, lords supported with food and labor service of peasants

Still ultimately influenced long term by what they'd borrowed from China (Confucian values, Buddhism, system of writing, and centralized imperial rule)

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Summary: The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

revival of centralized rule affected most of east Asia and eastern hemisphere

Sui and Tang dynasties laid foundation of strong rule that allowed for industrial/technological innovation, rapid economic development

Countries in region interconnected by trade routes- Silk Road, and Sea Lanes

Religions traded- Nestorian Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Manichaens, Muslims, and most especially, Buddhism

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In-Class Notes: Building on Chapter 12

Millennium Series:

The Century of the Sword (1000's AD):

Modern China v. America government

Federal System: government and states have power

Chinese communism: government controls production

American capitalism and balance of power: people control production, government keeps one another in check