AMSCO WH 1.1

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960–1279) that emphasized bureaucracy, Confucianism, and innovations like paper money and gunpowder; ruled a prosperous, urbanized society

Confucianism

Chinese belief system emphasizing filial piety, hierarchy, and order, reinforced through the civil service examination system

Imperial bureaucracy

System of government officials selected by merit (via civil service exams) that expanded under the Song and ensured centralized rule

Meritocracy

Government system where officials are chosen based on ability and merit rather than family or wealth; embodied by China’s exam system

Scholar gentry

Educated Confucian class in China that became the most influential social group under the Song Dynasty

Filial piety

Confucian principle requiring respect and obedience to one’s parents and ancestors; reinforced patriarchal social order

Grand Canal

Large canal system connecting northern and southern China, expanded under the Song, enabling internal trade and urban growth

Champa rice

Fast-ripening, drought-resistant rice from Vietnam introduced into China; allowed multiple harvests per year, boosting population

Proto-industrialization

Early shift in China where peasants produced goods for market rather than just subsistence, laying groundwork for later industrialization

Gunpowder

Chinese invention initially used for fireworks, adapted into military technology like guns and cannons, spreading through Eurasia via trade

Woodblock printing

Chinese technology that allowed texts to be mass-produced, supporting literacy, education, and cultural flourishing

Zen Buddhism

Buddhist sect (Chan Buddhism in China) blending Buddhist meditation with Daoist ideas; emphasized direct experience over scripture

Neo-Confucianism

Syncretic philosophy combining Confucian social values with Buddhist and Daoist ideas; dominant in Song China and spread to Korea and Japan

Heian Japan

Japanese period (794–1185) characterized by court culture, literature, and heavy influence from Chinese Confucianism and Buddhism

Korea and China

Korea adopted Chinese writing, Buddhism, and Confucianism but maintained distinct aristocratic traditions; civil service exams limited to elites

Vietnam and China

Vietnam adopted Chinese administrative systems and Confucianism but resisted Chinese control; maintained nuclear families and greater rights for women compared to Chinese societ