Developments in East Asia (1200-1450)

Flashcards about the developments in East Asia from 1200-1450.

Significance of China during 1200-1450

China was a major power in the ancient and post-classical world.

Main Focus regarding Song Dynasty

Focus on the Song Dynasty's consolidation and maintenance of power.

Themes of State-Building in Song China

Governance, Cultural Developments and Interactions, and Technology and Innovation

Confucianism Revival

The Song Dynasty revived Confucianism from the Tang Dynasty to maintain and justify their rule.

Teachings of Confucianism

That human society was ordered by nature and composed of hierarchical relationships.

Filial Piety

The practice of honoring one’s ancestors and parents, encouraged by Chinese rulers to promote loyalty to superiors.

How does confucianism work?

This philosophy dictates that the superior entity should treat the lesser entities with concern and care while the lesser entities should obey their superiors.

Neo-Confucianism

A new implementation of Confucianism with influences of Buddhist and Daoist philosophical ideas.

Fall and Revival of Confucianism

Confucian ideals worked to keep ancient Chinese society working for a long time, but once the Han Dynasty collapsed, Confucianism fell with it, and their cultural harmony turned into disharmony. However, starting with the Tang, the one right before the Song Dynasty, Confucianism experienced a revival, and that revival was carried into the Song rule.

Role of Women in Confucianism

Under the system of Confucianism, women were relegated to the inferior position in the hierarchy.

Restrictions on Women's Rights under Song Rule

Women's legal rights were restricted; a woman’s property became her husband’s, and widowed or divorced women were discouraged from remarrying.

Foot Binding

The practice of binding young girls' feet to make them smaller, limiting their mobility and symbolizing elite status.

Bureaucracy

A governmental entity that carries out the will of the emperor.

Imperial Bureaucracy during the Song Dynasty

The imperial bureaucracy grew in size and was staffed by men who passed a civil service exam based on Confucian learning.

Benefits of Civil Service Exam

Provided the government with qualified individuals based on merit rather than familial connections, increasing the bureaucracy's efficiency.

China's Influence on Neighboring States

States around China were significantly influenced by China.

Tributary Relationship between Korea and China

Korean officials would pay tribute to the Song court, acknowledging China's superiority in return for friendly political and economic relations.

Cultural Influence on Korea

The Korean court adopted a similar civil service examination and Confucian ideals, impacting social structures and marginalizing women further.

Confucianism in Korea

Korea adopted many Confucian ideals, which organized their family structures and went even further than China in marginalizing the role of women.

Japan's Selective Adoption of Chinese Culture

Japan adopted cultural practices selectively, without the threat of military force.

Chinese Buddhism

In the seventh to ninth centuries CE Chinese Buddhism became popular among the Japanese elite.

Influence on Vietnam

Vietnam's adoption of Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese administrative techniques, and the civil service exam system.

Status of Women in Vietnam

Women in Vietnam were not as marginalized as in China, reflecting a higher view of women in Vietnamese culture.

Origin of Buddhism

Buddhism originated in South Asia.

Four Noble Truths

Life is suffering, suffering is caused by craving, cessation of craving leads to cessation of suffering, and the eightfold path leads to the cessation of suffering and craving.

Eightfold Path

Outlines the principles and practices that a Buddhist must follow, most notably, a moral lifestyle and the practice of meditation.

Features carried over from the dominant religion of South Asia to Buddhism

Karma and rebirth.

Theravada Buddhism

Originated in Sri Lanka, and was pretty close to the original form of Buddhism with an emphasis on the cycle of birth and death.

Theravada Buddhism practice restriction

Buddhist practice was restricted to monks who devoted their entire lives to being monks, and therefore this kind of Buddhism was available to only a select few.

Mahayana Buddhism

Emphasized that Buddhist teachings were available to all, not just a select few.

God of Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism turned the Buddha into a god, or at least an object of devotion.

Tibetan Buddhism

Emphasized more mystical practices like lying prostrate and elaborate imaginings of deities.

Zen Buddhism

The Chinese developed their own distinct version of Buddhism known as Zen.

Song Dynasty Economy

The Song Dynasty was not completely responsible for their prosperity because that trend began in the dynasty before, namely the Tang Dynasty.

Commercialization Economy

China sold more goods than they needed to survive and then sold that excess on the world market.

Practices resulted in commercialization

Related practices were using money and credit.

Commercialization in China

China was increasingly commercialized.

Production of Iron and Steel

Large-scale and home-based artisans were producing enough iron and steel.

Agricultural Innovation

Innovations included iron plows, rakes, and the introduction of Champa rice.

Champa Rice

The introduction of champa rice form the Champa Kingdom in Vietnam.

Characteristics of Champa Rice

The introduction of champa rice which was drought resistant and could be harvested twice a year effectively increasing agricultural output.

Effect of Champa Rice Introduction

More people to feed led to a population boom.

Grand Canal

They expanded the Grand Canal which linked the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers and made trade among different regions much cheaper.

Magnetic compass

The perfection of the magnetic compass which improved navigation on the water and further facilitated maritime trade among various regions.

Ship Building Techniques

Song engineers improved the designs of the massive trade ships called junks by creating watertight bulkheads and using oars, which made navigation more stable.