Notes on Korean and Vietnamese Experiences with Chinese Influence

Warm Up

• Powerful empires influence neighboring cultures.
• Consider modern examples of cultural influence.

Sinification

• Sinification: The spread of Chinese culture and practices to neighboring regions.
  • Consider the differences between North and South China.
  • Korea's geographic position in relation to China: Physically closer.
  • Vietnam's geographic position in relation to China: Further away.
  • Geographic context impacts the relationships between Vietnam, Korea, and China.

Relationships Summarized

• Korea:
  • Tributary state, willingly absorbed more aspects of Chinese culture.
  • Geography: Physically closer to China.
  • Mountainous terrain helped protect against direct conquest.
• Vietnam:
  • Directly ruled by China, more resistant, maintaining its distinct identity despite Sinification.
  • Geography: Further away from China.
  • North Vietnam (closer to China) more open to Chinese influence, South Vietnam less impacted.
  • Dense forests, mountainous terrain, and monsoons created logistical challenges for China.

Vietnam Incorporated into China (111 BCE - 939 CE)

• The elite adopted Chinese culture.
  • Confucianism
  • Buddhism & Taoism
  • Chinese writing system
  • Architecture & urban planning
  • Legal system
• Expectation of complete assimilation.
• Many resisted assimilation, leading to numerous rebellions.
• Cổ Loa Citadel influenced by Chinese administrative structures during the Han rule.

Vietnam Gained Independence from China

• Gained political independence during a strategic rebellion during the weakening of the Tang Dynasty.
  • Maintained a tribute relationship with China, which they found to be beneficial.
• After Gaining Independence:
  • Styled rulers as emperors like the Chinese.
  • Adopted a Confucian bureaucracy.
  • Used Chinese court rituals.
  • Kept their existing village-based governance, which had the greatest impact on the majority of citizens.

Korea

• Compromised of states and city-states resisted Chinese political control.
• The Silla Kingdom: unified Korean state that embraced China & their culture in 668 CE to avoid getting conquered by other Korean states.
  • Puppet regimes were established.
  • Well-to-do Koreans were forced to assimilate to Chinese culture, which provoked military resistance.
  • A tributary relationship with a larger independent Korea was established.

Korea

• The elite adopted Chinese culture:
  • Adopted Confucian bureaucracy, but kept a hereditary aristocracy.
  • Embraced neo-Confucianism.
  • Chinese writing system.
  • Buddhism.
  • Wealthy students from Korea sent to study in China.
• $\frac{1}{3}$ of Korea’s population were slaves or serfs, many living and working on Buddhist monasteries.

Compare & Contrast: How Women’s Roles Evolve

• Vietnam: Maintained more power and freedom.
  • Women involved in Chinese resistance movement (ex: Trung Sisters).
  • Women held prominent economic roles, especially in village-based society.
  • Female deities and a "female Buddha" were common in popular Vietnamese religion, even as Confucian-based ideas took root in elites.
  • Buddhism was comparatively much more popular than Confucianism.
  • Local customs allowed women to choose their own husbands.
• Korea: Lost power and freedom as Confucianism gained influence.
  • No more free choice marriage.
  • Ended practice of women singing & dancing together late at night.
  • Now families live with the husband’s family instead of the wife’s family.

Venn Diagram: Evaluate the similarities & differences in the influence China had on Korea & Vietnam

• Consider geography, political, cultural, and religious practices adopted.

Wrap Up

• Lesson Aim: How did Korea & Vietnam experience Chinese cultural & political influence, and in what ways did they either resist or adopt?
• Extension: World Geography Games: Countries of Asia
• Next Lesson: What was life like in feudal Japan?