East Asian History

1. Explain how the Song Dynasty was established, and how rulers maintained control.

The Song Dynasty was in place from 960 -1279 C.E. The Song dynasty mistrusted military leaders and placed a greater focus on civil administration, industry, education, and the arts.

2. How was the Song Dynasty different from previous dynasties in China? (You may want to look back at pages 264-268 to help you here)

The Song dynasty was never a powerful empire as previous dynasties collapsed from rebel leaders such as the Sui dynasty; a rebel leader seized Chang’an and proclaimed himself emperor. The Song dynasty placed less emphasis on the military compared to the other dynasties.

3. Explain both the causes and effects of increased agricultural production in Tang and Song China.

Caused: by fast ripening rice grain found in Vietnam allowing for the crops to be harvested twice each year, as well as due to Chinese cultivators adopting improved agricultural techniques such as the use of iron plows, manure and composted organic matter, and its extensive irrigation system. Its Effects were: the rapid expansion of the Chinese population, the growth of cities (urbanization), entertainment, and the emergence of a commercialized agricultural economy and food was often exported out of the country.

4. Explain how the Tang and Song strengthened patriarchal society in China.

There was an increase in the verneration for family ancestors in which families would search for their earliest trace of their ancestors and arrange gravesite rituals in their honor. There was also the widespread (Not UNIVERSAL) use of foot binding done by women which resulted in them having malformed, tiny, curved feet. Although it did not allow women to walk easily, it was usually done by wealthy families and sometimes peasant families to enhance their daughters' attractiveness and gain control over women's behavior.

5. Explain the major technological and industrial developments in China during the Tang and Song dynasties. What effects did they have?

Due to the abundance of supplies it enabled people to pursue their interests such as craft workers creating high quality, lighter, thinner, and more adaptable porcelain. Not only did the new technique of creating porcelain allowed it to be aesthetically pleasing it was also exported around the world such as India, Persia, and cities in East Africa leading to it being called chinaware. There was also the use of coke instead of coal creating superior grades of metal which not only increased the supply of weaponry it also went into construction projects. There was also the use of gunpowder which were made for military use, as well as the evolution of printing in which not only printing blocks were used, there were also interchangeable blocks although inconvenient due to the amount of chinese characters, and the evolution of naval technology in the song dynasty with mariners traveling to east Africa for exports. They used water proofed oils, the use of a south-pointing needle (a compass) and bamboo sails.

6. How did economic success lead to changes in monetary policy in China during this period?

It led to the use of flying cash due to the shortage of copper coins that led to the sudo development of a banking system in the dynasty. Due to the shortage, it also led to the use of paper money used by merchants for in return of cash deposits they would get issued notes that can be redeemed for merchandise. However due to the occasional economic reverses or merchants not honoring their promissory cash it led to riots happening. By the eleventh century paper money (beginning in 1024) began being printed by the government, first appearing in Sichuan province.

7. How did trade lead to a cosmopolitan society in China and stimulate a hemispheric economy?

It led to the revival of the silk road which led to the rise of foreigners in major cities such as Chang’an and Luoyang with entertainers from Persia becoming popular in those cities. Arab, Persian,Indian, and Maylay mariners also established sizable merchant communities. Spices, pearls, incense, as well as other goods made their way to China and those items became known as symbols for a refined, elegant lifestyle. Cities in southeast asia, central asia, africa, and the like sold these exotic items and many wealthy merchants and rulers wore chinese silk and had chinese porcelain.

8. How did Buddhism transform when it reached China?

In as early as the second century B.C.E during the Han dynasty Buddhist merchants traveled into China although attracting little interest as Confucianism and Daoism was popular. It wasn’t until the fall of the Han dynasty to which people started to scorn Confucianism. In the Song and Tang Dynasty of china Buddhism came via the Silk Roads and residents of oasis cities in central asia had converted to Buddhism. By the fourth century a sizable buddhist community emerged at Dunhuang in western China. Buddhism attracted Chinese interest partly due to its high standards of morality, its intellectual sophistication, and promise for salvation. Buddhists established communities in China and accumulated big estates due to donations from wealthy converts. They cultivated these estates and stored a portion of their harvests for distribution among local residents in case of droughts, famine, or other hardship.

9. How did Buddhism’s presence eventually lead to Neo-Confucianism in China? (i.e., how was Confucianism transformed by the presence of Buddhism?

It was due to the Song dynasty cracking down on most foreign religions, Buddhism led to Neo-Confucianism from the combination of Buddhism's tradition of logical thought, argumentation, nature of the soul, and individuals' relationships with the cosmos (which Confucian thinkers did not systematically explore) combined with the original Confucianism values.

10. How did China influence Korea during this time period?

In previous dynasties such as the Qin and Han dynasties chinese armies controlled Korea it wasn’t until the Han dynasty weakened local aristocrats organized and movements outed chinese forces. During the seventh century the Silla Dynasty in theory could’ve been considered a vassal state of China but in practice it was relatively considered an independent kingdom with Korea maintaining tributary relations with China. This led to Korea trading with China and allowing Korean students to study in China.

a. Compare and contrast China and Korea during this time period.

Similarities: Shared Buddhism beliefs with civilians and Confusian beliefs with aristocrats, had similar political bureaucracy,

Differences: aristocrats and royal houses dominated Korean society, Korea never established a bureaucracy based on merit, and political initiative remained in the hands of the ruling classes.

11. How did China influence Vietnam during this time period?

The Vietnamese established a bureaucracy modeled after China, and ruling classes prepared for their careers based on Confucian education. Buddhism also came into Vietnam and they also were influenced by China's cultural influence.

a. Compare and contrast China and Vietnam during this time period.

Similarities: Had Vietnamese people adapted Chinese agricultural methods, as well as Chinese school techniques. Vietnamese even entered tributary relationships with China just like Korea.

Differences: Retained their indigenous religions, women played a more prominent role in Vietnamese society and economy than China.

12. How did China influence Japan during this time period?

China’s influence was most prominent during the Nara period of Japan in which authorities inspired by the Sui and Tang dynasties, established a court similar to that of the Tang dynasty as well as adopt Confusianist and Buddhists beliefs. With the development of Heian Japanese it reflected both Chinese and Japanese traditions with literature limiting Chinese models and written in the Chinese language as well as adapting part of the Chinese writing system.

a. Compare and contrast China and Japan during this time period.

Similarities: shared somewhat similar religious beliefs, used chinese as a written language, and had a similar established court

Differences: Their kingdom was sort of a shadow state in which there was the main figure head but also a family controlling the main figurehead of Japan, the use of samurai