Notes
Tradition and Change in East Asia
Content of the notes (4)
Page 1
The Quest for Political Stability
Ming Government
Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
founder: Hongwu
tightly centralized
mandarins: gov. officials that traveled empire & made sure imperial policies were being enforced
very trusting of eunuchs b/c they couldn't make families/bases of power
Yongle: emperor that launched naval expeditions through Indian Ocean
Yongle captured Nanjing to monitor Mongols
early emperors had powerful military to monitor Mongols until 15th century where Mongols destroyed many Chinese armies & captured emperor
Page 2
The Great Wall
Ming emperors constructed stone and brick wall on northern border to protect empire
w/ watch towers, signal towers, places to stay for troops
Ming wanted to eradicate foreign influences (ex. Mongol)
no Mongol names & dress
gov. promoted study of Chinese cultural traditions (ex. Confucianism)
restored system of civil service examinations (Confucianism-based exams)
pirates & smugglers along east coast & navy/coastal defense not equipped to handle situation
Forbidden City: great imperial city area in Bejing
emperors lived extravagant lives
eunuchs provided emperors w/ concubines to gain power and live grand lives
Page 3
Ming Collapse
gov couldn't provide for people during famines
peasants revolt across empire
Manchu invaded from north hoping to expand territory
Manchu forces allied w/ Ming to stop rebels from invading capital but then replaced Ming rule
The Manchus
Manchus came from the north into China
established Qing dynasty
mostly pastoral nomads but many became agriculturalists
Nurhaci unified tribes intro centralized state, created laws, and organized powerful military
army captured Korea & Mongolia & capital in Beijing from China
fought for 40 years against rebels and Ming loyalists until 1680 where they gained firm control
many Chinese generals supported Qing b/c of corruption & inefficiency of Ming
scholar-bureaucrats worked against Ming b/c they hated eunuchs
Manchu elites educated in Chinese language & Confucianism
outlawed intermarriage b/t Manchus & Chinese, forbade Chinese from travelling to Manchuria, & Chinese couldn't learn Manchurian language (to preserve Manchu culture)
men had to shave heads and grow hair specifically to show submission to gov.