Chapter 13: The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

Flashcards covering the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties of China, as well as their economic, cultural, and regional influences on Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

Sui dynasty

The dynasty ($589$-$618$ C.E.) that restored centralized imperial rule in China after more than $350$ years of turmoil following the Han dynasty.

Yang Jian

The ruler who achieved the reunification of China in $589$, founding the Sui dynasty.

Grand Canal

A major Sui dynasty construction project that integrated the economies of northern and southern China.

Sui Yangdi

The Sui emperor assassinated in $618$, an event that marked the end of the dynasty following rebellions triggered by high taxes and forced labor.

Tang Taizong

The second Tang emperor ($627$-$649$) who was ruthless but extremely competent, leading China into an era of unusual stability and prosperity.

Equal-field system

A Tang dynasty land reform where land was allotted to individuals and families according to their needs.

Bureaucracy of merit

A system of government recruitment through civil service examinations used during the Tang dynasty.

Middle Kingdom

The political theory that China was the center of civilization, which shaped its tributary system as diplomatic policy.

An Lushan

A rebel leader who launched a rebellion in $755$ that weakened the Tang dynasty.

Uighurs

A group that became the de facto rulers of China during the Tang decline after the dynasty was weakened by internal rebellions.

Huang Chao

The leader of a large-scale peasant rebellion that lasted from $875$ to $884$ and contributed to the end of the Tang dynasty.

Song Taizu

The founder of the Song dynasty who reigned from $960$ to $976$ C.E.

Fast-ripening rice

An agricultural development that increased food supplies and helped the Chinese population grow from $45$ to $115$ million between $600$ and $1200$ C.E.

Foot binding

A practice that gained popularity in the patriarchal social structure of the Song dynasty.

Porcelain

A thin, high-quality pottery also known as chinaware that developed and diffused rapidly during the Tang and Song eras.

South-pointing needle

The magnetic compass, a piece of naval technology developed in China.

Flying cash

Letters of credit used as financial instruments in China's emerging market economy.

Dunhuang

A city on the Silk Road that helped transmit Mahayana Buddhism to China.

Chan Buddhism

A syncretic faith combining Buddhism with Chinese characteristics, known as Zen in Japanese.

Neo-Confucianism

A tradition where Confucians, influenced by Buddhism, began to explore logic and metaphysics alongside practical politics and morality.

Zhu Xi

The most prominent neo-Confucian scholar ($1130$-$1200$ C.E.).

Silla dynasty

The Korean dynasty ($669$-$935$ C.E.) that organized resistance against Chinese Tang armies and later entered into a tributary relationship with China.

Kumsong

The capital of the Silla kings in Korea, modeled on the Tang capital of Chang'an.

Nara Japan

A period in Japanese history ($710$-$794$ C.E.) characterized by heavy Tang influence, including a capital city modeled on Chang'an.

Heian Japan

A period ($794$-$1185$ C.E.) where Japanese emperors were ceremonial figureheads while the Fujiwara family held effective power.

Murasaki Shikibu

The woman who wrote The Tale of Genji during the Heian period.

Shogun

A military governor who ruled in place of the emperor, a title first claimed by the leader of the Minamoto clan.

Samurai

Professional warriors of provincial lords in medieval Japan who valued loyalty, discipline, and military talent.

Bushido

The code of conduct observed by the samurai.

Seppuku

A ritual suicide engaged in by samurai to preserve their honor.