Holcombe Chp 1 (12-30)

Page 1: Origins of Civilization in East Asia

Hwanung and Tan'gun in Korea

• Mythological Beginning: According to "Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms", Hwanung descended from heaven to Mount T'aebaek.

• Tan'gun's Birth: Hwanung mated with a she-bear turned human, leading to the birth of Lord Tan'gun around 2333 BCE.

• Significance: Tan'gun is celebrated as the founder of Old Choson and the father of the Korean nation.

Creation Myths in Japan

• Japanese Kojiki: The story of Japan begins with the grandson of the sun goddess, Amaterasu, bringing the sacred regalia to establish the Japanese imperial line.

• Imperial Lineage: This lineage reportedly continues to the current emperor of Japan.

Ancient Chinese Royal Houses

• Assertion of Divine Origins: Ancient Chinese royal houses also claimed divine origins, though Western scholars found fewer creation myths.

• Cultural Heroes Timeline: Major figures include Fuxi (2852 BCE), Shennong (2737 BCE), and the Yellow Emperor (2697 BCE), emphasizing the human lineage of these legends.

Historical Perspective on Divinity

• Declined Belief in Divine Kingship: Post-WWII Japan saw the emperor renounce divinity, although the cultural charm of these myths remains.

• European Perceptions: Early Europeans had differing interpretations of East Asian origins and sometimes linked them to biblical narratives.

Page 2: European Theories of Asian Civilization

Early Speculations by Europeans

• Athanasius Kircher's Theory (1667): Suggested Chinese descended from Noah’s son Ham, linking writing systems superficially to Egypt.

• Diffusion Model: The belief that civilization originated from the Middle East continued to intensely influence Western perspectives.

Offensiveness of Diffusion Theory

• Western Superiority Assumption: The notion that Eastern civilizations could not achieve development independently offended many in non-Western contexts.

• Emerging Archaeological Evidence: By the 20th century, evidence showed the ancient and indigenous origins of Chinese civilization, challenging diffusion theories.

Scholars and New Evidence

• Ping-ti Ho's 1975 Study: Contended that China is the "Cradle of the East," paralleling earlier civilizations in the West.

• Complexity of Civilizational Development: Human history suggests a dialectic of shared origins and local diversifications rather than a binary of diffusion vs. independence.

Page 3: Neolithic Cultural Diversity in Eastern Eurasia

Three Major Cultural Centers

• Cultural Centers of Development: Neolithic agriculture evolved in three significant zones (Eurasian, Eastern Eurasian, Americas).

Variations in Northern and Southern Cultures of China

• Southern Cultures: Rice cultivation began by 8000 BCE, showing preferences for boats and above-ground houses.

• Northern Cultures: Millet cultivation dominated with settlements in below-ground houses, leading to early Chinese linguistic forms.

• Yangshao Culture: Famous for decorated pottery and significant cultural practices (5000 BCE).

Pastoral Nomadism and Interaction

• Climate Changes: Shift towards pastoralism in Inner Mongolia, livestock outweighing crop-based diets around 1500 BCE.

• Dynamic Environmental Interaction: Pastoral nomads and agriculture-bound societies developed interdependent cultural exchanges, forming complex relations.

Page 4: Korea’s Prehistoric Connections

Evolution of Korean Identity

• Prehistoric Diversity: Homogeneity perceived today in Korea came from diverse cultures before 1000 BCE.

• Cultural Exchange with Japan: Connections forged through trade and migration of people across the strait.

Population Dynamics in Japan

• Early Settlers: Sparse population on Japanese islands, pottery dating back to 11,000 BCE.

• Agricultural Practices: Significant advancements in agriculture and metalworking began around 300 BCE, post-Korean interaction.

Page 5: East Asian Language Families

Linguistic Diversity in East Asia

• Four Major Languages: Includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, each tied to distinct language families.

• Cultural Coherence through Writing: Shared historical writing systems fostered regional cultural ties despite linguistic differences.

Page 6: Chinese and Japanese Language Comparison

Structure of Languages

• Japanese Complexity: Utilizes a polysyllabic structure with grammatical variations influenced by respect formality.

• Chinese Simplicity: Compact, monosyllabic structure without inflection, adapts compounds for complex meanings.

Page 7: Dialectical Variety in Chinese

Variability Among Chinese Dialects

• Mutually Unintelligible Dialects: Regional dialects can differ significantly, complicating the language map.

• Common Standards: Mandarin remains the most widely spoken dialect across northern China, ensuring overall linguistic unity despite diversity.

Page 8: Language Families and Historical Contexts

Altaic Language Family

• Japanese and Korean Relationship: Potentially share a common ancestor within a wider Altaic family, differing significantly today.

Vietnamese Language Heritage

• Austroasiatic Classification: Vietnamese shares roots with Southeast Asian languages despite external influences from Chinese due to historical dominance.

Page 9: Writing Systems

Evolution of Chinese Characters

• Traditional Logographic System: Chinese characters evolved from pictographic origins into complex symbols serving various functions.

• Cultural Persistence: Despite modern changes, high literacy maintained through logographic literacy, granting substantial prestige.

Page 10: Writing Systems in East Asia

Early Scripts and Adaptation

• Logographic Nature of Scripts: Chinese characters represent meanings and sounds, influencing adaptations in Japan and Korea.

• Preservation of Heritage: Despite regional adaptations, a significant legacy of classical Chinese writing systems endured in East Asia.

Page 11: Evolution of Japanese Writing

Kanji and Kana Systems

• Three-Pronged Adaptation: Japanese integrated Chinese characters to represent their own language phonetically and conceptually.

• Dual Language System: Development of Katakana and Hiragana allows fluent articulation while maintaining roots in Chinese characters.

Page 12: Cultural Status of Writing in Japan

Literature and Gender Dynamics

• Prominent Works: "The Tale of Genji" exemplifies the literary flourishing enabled by phonetic scripts despite societal biases.

• Prestige of Chinese Writing: Remained dominant throughout history even during shifts towards a national vernacular.

Page 13: Evolution of Korean Language

Creation of Hangeul

• King Sejong's Contribution (1446): Introduced Hangeul, transitioning from Chinese characters towards an indigenous Korean alphabet.

Language Attitudes

• Perception of Chinese Characters: Initially viewed more favorably, but overall shift in use occurred by the 20th century, favoring hangul.

Page 14: Vietnamese Language Developments

Transition under French Colonial Rule

• Establishment of Romanized Script: Chinese characters persisted until the late 19th century when replaced by Latinized Vietnamese.

Page 15: The Rise of Chinese Civilization

Bronze Age Civilization in North China

• Emergence Timeline: Development of distinct climate-influenced agricultural practices laid foundations for civilization.

Transition to Shang and Zhou Dynasties

• Significant Dynasties: The Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties marked the classical phase of Chinese civilization, showcasing rich historical layers.

Page 16: Archaeological Discoveries

Oracle Bones and Verification of History

• Discoveries at Anyang (1928): Unveiling of oracle bones at the Shang capital substantively corroborated traditional narratives.

Page 17: Societal Structure within Early China

Governance and Hierarchical Models

• Shang Dynasty Dynamics: Delegated local powers, organized family lineage through patrilineal ties leading to complex community structures.

Page 18: Cultural Synthesis Post-Zhou

Renowned Practices and Cultural Continuity

• Legacy of Rituals: Reinforcement of cultural agilities manifested in governmental and social rituals, maintaining coherence across different Chinese eras.