China and the World Chapter 8 East Asian

China and the World Chapter 8 – East Asian Connections, 600 – 1300

A Third Wave of Civilizations � 1. Early Civilizations – Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, Nile Valley; China along the Huang He: 3500 B. C. E. – 600 B. C. E. � 2. Classical Era – Greece, Rome, Persia, Maya: 600 B. C. E. – 600 C. E. � 3. Third Wave Civilizations: 600 – 1300.

China as a Major Player in the Third Wave Civilizations �China-centered “world order” encompassed most of eastern Asia. �China’s borders reached far into Central Asia. �It’s wealth and cosmopolitan culture attracted visitors from afar. �All of China’s neighbors felt its gravitational pull. �China’s booming economy and technological innovation had effects throughout Eurasia.

The Re-emergence of a Unified China �The Han dynasty collapsed in 220 C. E. �Political fragmentation for over 300 years. �Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties emerged from 589 -1279. �Sui Dynasty (589 -618) – reunified China: -extend canal system, large government projects. -ruthlessness and failure to conquer Korea discredited the dynasty and exhausted state resources.

A “Golden Age” of Chinese Achievement �The Tang dynasty (618 -907) and Song dynasty (9601207) built on renewed unity. �The “Golden Age” of Chinese Arts and Literature: -poetry, landscape painting; ceramics of high order. �Birth of Neo-Confucianism (during Song dynasty): -revival of Confucian thinking with added insights of Buddhism and Daoism. �Politics: -civil service exams revived (printing press invented). -many more universities opened. -large landowners still powerful despite state efforts to re-distribute land.

A Cheat Sheet Used on Chinese Civil Service Exam

A “Golden Age” of Chinese Achievement (Cont’d) �Economic revolution under the Song dynasty. �Population growth: 50 million – 120 million by 1200. -Capital city, Hangzhou, had over 1 million people. �Improvements in agricultural production, iron production, waterways, and factories. �Best shipbuilding in the world. � 3 famous inventions: -compass, gunpowder, and printing press.

Chinese “Junk Ship” and Columbus’ Ships in Comparison

Chinese Inventions

A “Golden Age” of Chinese Achievement (Cont’d) �Cheap transportation allowed peasants to grow specialized crops for commercial markets. �Government demanded payment of taxes in cash, not in goods. �Growing use of paper money and financial instruments – contributed to the commercialization of Chinese society.

Women in the Song Dynasty �Not a very “golden” age for women. �More restrictions on women with a Confucianist revival and economic growth (patriarchy). �Foot binding became popular in the 11 th century: -new images of beauty; women restricted to the house. �Wealthy elite class – concubines. �Changing job opportunities: with the commercialization of weaving, many were pushed out of the textile labor force. �Women became educated to better raise their sons, and their property rights expanded.

Foot Binding

China and the Northern Nomads �Misconceptions: -China was “self contained. ” -China was “unchanging. ” �Nomads of the north: -nomads were in kinship groups. -occasional confederations or powerful states. -special pastoral societies needed grain from China. -leaders wanted luxury goods (silk) from China. -nomads threatened by Chinese attacks (Great Wall). -China needed nomads – horses; access to silk roads.

Map of China

The Tribute System in Theory �China’s “middle kingdom” – conceited superiority. �Chinese believed that they could “civilize” the nomads. �Tribute system – extortion: -foreigners were expected to send tribute missions of ceremonial gifts to the capital and perform the kowtow to show their recognition of China’s superiority. -for China, this was a way to manage inferior barbarians on the periphery.

The Tribute System in Practice �In reality, China was vulnerable to nomadic raids. At times, they not only raided but also conquered parts of China. �“Gifts” to Xiongnu and Turkic nomads: the Chinese paid protection to these raiders with large gifts of wine, silk, and grain. This allowed the Chinese court to maintain the fiction of its invulnerability. �Nonetheless, in times of weakness, China remained vulnerable.

Image of Tribute

Cultural Influence across an Ecological Frontier �While some aspects of Chinese culture made their way north, Chinese-style agriculture and material life was impossible in Central Asia. �In contrast, the indigenous people of southern China were almost completely absorbed into the great Chinese cultural world. �As both the Tang and Song dynasties had their origins in mixed Sino-Turkic families, there was a great influence in the court. �For some time in the Tang dynasty, there was a fad for things from the west such as: music, fashion, religion, and dancing. �The southern Chinese, who saw themselves as the heirs to the Han, were extremely critical of foreign fads.

Korea and China �China had a tribute system established with Korea after a period of colonization and invasions. -China provided legitimacy for Korean rulers. -Efforts to replicate Chinese court life and administration (Tang China). -Capital city Kumsong modeled on Chinese capital Chang’an. �Acceptance of Chinese culture: -Confucianism ended “equality” for women. -Korea maintained much of its culture.

Map of Korea

Vietnam and China �Parts of Vietnam were incorporated into China. �Serious effort to assimilate the Vietnamese: -provoked periodic rebellions. �Vietnamese rulers adopted the Chinese approach to government: -examination system helped undermine established aristocrats. -elite remained deeply committed to Chinese culture. -remained a tributary vassal state. �Much of distinctive Vietnamese culture remained in place: -language, cockfighting, and greater roles for women.

Map of Vietnam

Cockfighting

Japan and China �Never invaded or conquered by China. �Voluntary borrowing of culture: -large envoys sent to China. �Elements of Chinese culture took root in Japan -several schools of Chinese Buddhism. -art, architecture, education, medicine; religious views. -Chinese writing system. �Japanese borrowings were selective: -deliberate borrowings stopped after the tenth century.

Japan and China (Cont’d) �Japan does not become centralized like China: -political power became decentralized. -local authorities developed (samurais). �Japan kept its unique religious identity: -Buddhism never replaced Shintoism (spirit and ancestor worship). �Women escaped the oppressive elements of Chinese Confucian culture: -women wrote in the vernacular (everyday language).

Map of Japan

Spillovers: China’s Impact on Eurasia �Chinese advances spread to Europe: -salt production through solar evaporation. -papermaking. -printing (though resisted by the Islamic world). -gunpowder invented, ca. 1000, but used differently after it reached Europe. -Chinese textile, metallurgical, and naval technologies. -stimulated imitation and innovation (magnetic compass).

On the Receiving End: China as Economic Beneficiary �Learned cotton and sugar cultivation and processing from India. �Writing was stimulated by Buddhism. �China in Indian Ocean Trade: -foreign merchant settlements in southern Chinese ports during the Tang dynasty. -occasional violence, for example, massacre of foreigners in Canton in the 870 s. -transformation of southern China to production for export instead of subsistence.

Making Buddhism Chinese �Buddhism was India’s most important gift to China. �At first, Buddhism had little appeal in China: -Buddhist monasticism seemed to dishonor Chinese family values. -concern for individual salvation seemed selfish. �Collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 C. E. brought chaos and a discrediting of Confucianism, which paved the way for alternative understandings of the world.

Making Buddhism Chinese (Cont’d) �Nomadic rulers in northern China favored Buddhism. �Monasteries provided an increasing array of social services. �Buddhists appeared to have access to magical powers. �Serious effort to present Buddhism in a form accessible to the Chinese: -dharma was translated as dao. -“morality” was translated as filial submission. -it was the Mahayana form of Buddhism which became popular.

Spread of Buddhism

Losing State Support: The Crisis of Chinese Buddhism �Lushan rebellion (755 -763) created xenophobia. �Direct action against Buddhism in China: -Buddhism challenges Confucianism (celibacy of monks and Confucian-based family system). -thousands of monasteries, temples, and shrines were confiscated or destroyed. -Buddhists forbidden to use precious metals or gems for their images. �Buddhism did not vanish from China, it remained an important element of popular religion.