Asia Unit Exam (China, Japan, Korea, and India)

Imperial China

China’s Dynasties

Tang Dynasty - Aristocracy

• Used civil service examinations to qualify candidates and to fill government positions

• Favored the wealthy (aristocrats) because only they had the money to hire a personal tutor, books, and the time to study for this test

Song Dynasty - Meritocracy

• Instead of promoting aristocracy like in the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty promoted candidates based on their skill, creating a government that utilized meritocracy

• Because of this, people of lower classes could now become scholar-officials instead of just the wealthy

• Rooms were made to prevent cheating

• People were happy with receiving a government position because it meant they could be excused from paying taxes

Yuan Dynasty (Mongol Rule)

• Mongols captured almost all of Asia, including China’s imperial capital, Huangzhou, ending the Song Dynasty

• Leader: Kublai Khan, called Emperor of China, named his empire the Yuan Dynasty

• China was under Mongol rule for 89 years

• The Mongols made a society divided into 4 classes. Mongols were at the top, foreigners (Turks, Tibetians, Central Asians, etc.) came second, then third was the northern Chinese, and the southern Chinese came in fourth

• Kublai Khan ended the civil service examinations because he didn’t think the ideas of Confucianism were necessary, and he didn’t want the Chinese to run his government. Without the examination system, there was a shortage of administrators who were able to perform the job

• However, there weren’t enough Mongols to take every job, and many of them were illiterate, meaning they couldn’t read and write. Kublai Khan desperately needed people to handle his government, so he had to rely on foreigners, such as Europeans

• In 1315, the civil service examination was brought back, but it had limits on who could take it. It favored Mongols and non-Chinese people

• As time went by, the government of China became weak. The Mongols made many enemies who rebelled against them. Eventually, in 1368, the Mongol Dynasty collapsed, paving the way for the Ming Dynasty

China’s New Economy

Agriculture

• Wars and attacks from the Mongol Empire forced the Chinese to move south. This changed the crops they grew

• Instead of growing millet like in the north, they grew rice

• Rice had its problems, as it takes up a lot of water and takes five months to mature. Storms such as typhoons could wipe out a whole patch of rice.

• A new variety of rice from Vietnam (champa) was introduced, and it grows more than twice as fast, letting farmers grow more crops every year. Because of this, rice production boomed, and more and more land was given to farming rice crops

• Rice production also increased with the use of better technology. One example is the plow and harrow, which level the ground and make it easier to prepare the field for farming.

Trade & Commerce

• Tang emperors actively promoted trade with countries like India and Europe

• One reason for the growth of trade is that wealthy landowners wanted to buy luxury goods. This demand increased trade

• Water transportation also helped with trade. A long boat could travel almost 20 miles more per day than an oxcart and takes fewer resources as well. Innovations in navigation, such as the compass, also contributed to the increased use of water transportation

• Because of so much trade, people needed a form of currency. In the 1000s, the government printed many copper coins, but ran out of copper, so they switched to paper money. This idea caught on and is still used today.

• All this business brought a lot of prosperity to China

Urbanization

• The growth of cities changed the way people lived

• Cities were the center of trading worlds, with people selling goods everywhere

• Urbanization changed culture as well. Paintings made during the Song Dynasty are considered some of the best in the world

Chinese Discoveries & Inventions

• Gunpowder: A group of alchemists was experimenting with a mineral called saltpeter in hopes of finding a way to extend life. It was discovered by accident that they could use the mineral to make an explosive powder. This formula was recorded in the year 850 CE.

• Some of the weapons they made using gunpowder included the flamethrower (the first weapon made using gunpowder), artillery shells, and cannons.

• Woodblock Printing: The first printer drew symbols on a block of wood. The carved pieces were dipped in ink and then placed on paper. It is also still used today.

• Movable Type: Invented in the 11th century, movable type is similar to woodblock printing. However, it has an individual block for each character. It was made of clay and also dipped in ink.

• Inoculation: A way of stimulating a person’s immune system to fight off a specific disease. It works by taking a small part of the disease from an infected person and putting it in the nose of a person they want to immunize. This idea is still used today, called a vaccine.

  OPTIONAL: OUTSIDE INFLUENCE ON CHINA (LESSON 22 PGS 300-305)

Medieval Japan

Influences On Japan by Neighboring Countries

• When Prince Shotoku came to power in 593, he encouraged cultural diffusion from other countries, such as India, China, and the Korean Peninsula.

• Craftsmen from Korea brought their knowledge of bronze casting and also advanced ironworking skills to Japan.

• Empress Suiko (Shotoku’s aunt), Prince Shotoku, and other rulers were interested in learning ideas from different cultures.

• They also sent people from Japan to other countries such as Korea and China to learn more about their culture. Sometimes it included gifts (books) and sometimes knowledge (skills). During the next 300 years, they sent people to China and returned with what they had learned, sometimes bringing statues, paintings, and instruments.

• Because of this, Japan received new ideas in government, culture, and writing. However, the Japanese did not change their old ways and replace them with the ideas they learned from neighboring countries. Instead, they mixed the ways, creating a unique culture blend.

China’s Government

• Japanese rulers received new ideas about government from China. China’s form of government was similar to and different from Japan’s. The emperor in China was the only ruler, while in Japan, the ruler had a little bit of power.

• Japanese rulers were dependent on their leaders, while Chinese emperors ruled with the help of a bureaucracy and officials (any person who did well on the civil service examination could become an official).

• During the 600s and 700s, the Japanese adopted a style of government from China, which was started with the help of Prince Shotoku. He borrowed Confucian ideas and created ranks for the officials. In 604, he created a constitution called the “Seventeen Article Constitution,” which says that the emperor was the only ruler; there were no two rulers in a country

• In the late 7th century, Emperor Tenmu and his wife, Empress Jitō, strengthened the government, taking away the power of clan leaders to give land away. Tenmu then redivided his land, and in return, people paid heavy taxes

• In the 8th century, Japan’s government looked very similar to China’s, with one difference: in Japan, there was still an aristocracy, even in the 800s. As a result, it was mostly nobles who held the highest positions in the government

Buddhism

• Began in India in 500 BCE, and came to Japan through Korea and China almost 1,000 years later. Japan’s original religion was Shinto, which expresses love and respect for nature and is about natural spirits called kami. Shinto religion says that whatever is unclean should be cleansed. It celebrates the beauty of life and nature

• On the other hand, Buddhists see their life as pain and suffering. To escape this, you must follow a code called the Eightfold Path, which emphasizes showing respect to everyone, acting right, and achieving knowledge through meditation. Those who follow the path will reach a stage of enlightenment, which means that they will see the world as it is, and it will lead to nirvana, a stage of peace. Being in the state of nirvana means you will never be born into pain and suffering

Japanese Writing

• Ancient Japanese didn’t have a written language, so documents were written in Chinese, which was learned by the scholars returning from Korea. Over time, the Japanese adopted Chinese characters and used them to create their written language

• First, they used kanji to write Japanese words, which allowed them to keep records and create their form of literature. However, using Chinese characters to read Japanese was difficult because there were different pronunciations, grammar, and sounds.

• Instead, they used kana (katakana), which are borrowed characters, to write words. These characters were simplified and allowed the Japanese to spell out sounds in their language. They were now able to write in Japanese freely

Architecture

• New forms of temple designs came from India through China. Buddhist monasteries had roofs that were shaped like bells. The Chinese replaced the bell-shaped buildings with multi-story buildings. They featured curved roofs, which are called a pagoda.

• When Buddhism arrived in Japan, Prince Shotoku built the Horyuji, a temple with wooden buildings. Pagodas appeared all over the city later on.

• Buddhist pagodas inspired Shinto priests to create their permanent shrine. It reflected Japan’s society and its love for nature. These shrines had raised floors and thatched roofs, which blended in with their natural surroundings

Heian-kyo: Japan’s Golden Age

• For most of the 8th century, the city of Nara was the imperial capital of Japan. At this time, China brought many cultural ideas to Japan. 94 years later, in the year 794, Emperor Kammu moved the capital from Nara to Heian-kyo, and this event marked the start of the Heian Period, which lasted until 1185 (391 years)

• The Heian Period is referred to as the Golden Age of Japan. This is because aristocrats made Japan’s economy and culture flourish. They prized beauty, elegance, and manners. During this time, the Japanese also formed new styles of literature written in kana, as well as paintings, music, and drama

• The government during the Heian Period was an aristocracy, which meant that the nobles ruled. Nobles paid no taxes on the estates they owned, and this was so common that the government went bankrupt and couldn’t collect enough taxes to support the emperor

• Japan’s rulers lost control. Robbers went around the country, attacking people of different religions. However, since the government was too weak, they couldn’t do anything about that. Estate owners created their police system to protect their land

• Some of the local lords fought over power in the 12th century, which weakened the imperial government. In the year 1180, there was a civil war in Japan. Five years later, Minamoto Yoritomo seized power, which marked the end of the Heian Period and the start of a new era

Warrior Class in Japan

• The government established by Minamoto Yoritomo was led by a shogun. Even though emperors still existed, they didn’t have any real power. Yoritomo himself was a shogun

• Shoguns ruled with the help of daimyos, or lords. They were rewarded with support from the samurai. Daimyos expected to be rewarded for their help

• In the 15th century, daimyos began to fight each other for land and power because the position of the shogun weakened as daimyos became more and more powerful

• For the next 250 years, Japan was peaceful

Samurai Armor

• Samurai, instead of wearing thick slabs of heavy metal, wore small metal plates strung together. This made them flexible but still strong. It covered their chest and back. Some also wore thigh guards. Samurai also put on fierce-looking masks to scare away their opponents

• They fought with bows and arrows, spears, and swords. However, losing ammunition or your sword could mean you are defenseless, which wasn’t true for samurai. They were trained in martial arts, which was their backup plan

Samurai Training

• Samurai training also included mental training. They had to overcome their fear of death and always be alert and prepared to fight

• One part of their training was to endure pain and suffering by not eating for days, marching barefoot in the snow, and holding painful postures for hours without complaining. They had to tell themselves they were already dead to get over the fear of death

• Samurai had to be prepared and attack when least expected. They had to develop a “sixth sense” and did so through long and hard training. The master used to whack the student with a bamboo stick when he wouldn’t expect it. They had to be prepared at any time and escape