(7) APWH: Tradition & Change in East Asia (Ch. 27 Traditions & Encounters)

Chapter 27: Traditions and Encounters in East Asia

Quest for Political Stability

• Ming Dynasty Restoration

  • Following the Mongol rule, the Ming Dynasty reestablished control over China.

  • Centralized government aimed at restoring stability and cultural identity.

  • Repair and expansion of the Great Wall to bolster defenses against northern invasions.

• Challenges Faced by The Ming

  • Coastal disruptions caused by pirates hindered trade.

  • Government corruption and inefficiencies, especially due to powerful eunuchs.

  • Agricultural failures leading to famines and peasant revolts.

  • Decline facilitated by Manchu invasions, supported by disenfranchised peasants, leading to the rise of the Qing Dynasty.

The Qing Dynasty

• Manchu Origins

  • Established by invaders from Manchuria; characterized as a non-Chinese dynasty.

  • The Manchus organized a strong military to expand into Korea, Mongolia, and China.

  • Intermarriage between Manchus and Chinese was prohibited to maintain ethnic purity.

• Important Leaders

  • Emperor Kangxi

    • Renowned for his Confucian scholarship and enlightened governance.

    • Expanded Qing territory to Taiwan, Mongolia, Central Asia, and Tibet.

Governance and Bureaucracy

• Son of Heaven Concept

  • Belief in the emperor's divine right to rule, combining spiritual authority and political power.

  • Scholar-bureaucrats retained traditional Chinese customs and governance practices.

• Civil Service Examinations

  • Rigorous examinations for educated candidates to serve in government roles.

  • Meritocratic system albeit biased toward wealthier families due to access to education.

  • The curriculum emphasized Confucian values and fostered societal cohesion.

Social Structure and Gender Roles

• Patriarchal Society

  • Filial piety emphasized respect for elders, particularly the oldest male.

  • Women faced gender-based inequalities, with a cultural preference for male children.

  • Practices such as female infanticide and foot binding showcased extreme gender inequality.

• Population and Economic Development

  • Growth driven by improved agriculture and the introduction of American crops from the Columbian Exchange.

  • Increased land availability facilitated agricultural productivity.

  • Trade flourished with an abundance of cheap labor, leading to export of goods like porcelain.

Cultural Developments

• Effects of Foreign Trade

  • Life influenced by the influx of silver from global mining centers.

  • Tight restrictions imposed on foreign trade by Qing emperors to protect local officials' interests.

• Cultural Interchanges

  • Neo-Confucianism emerged as a blend of Confucianism with elements of Buddhism and Taoism.

  • Cultural projects undertaken, such as compilation of encyclopedias and libraries, to promote literacy and heritage.

  • The arrival of Italian Jesuit missionaries who aimed to convert Chinese to Christianity, though limited success.

Review of Chinese Dynasties

• Chronology of Major Dynasties

  • Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan (Mongols), Ming, and Qing.

Japan Under the Tokugawa Shogunate

• Unification and Centralization

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu established centralized control post-1600.

  • Requirement for daimyo (feudal lords) to spend alternate years in Edo for better oversight.

• Isolationist Policies

  • Strict limits on foreign trade and contact, particularly with China, maintained under Tokugawa rule.

  • Control over social structures with diminishing power of the warrior elite, rising importance of merchants.

• Cultural Influences from China

  • Adoption of Neo-Confucianism as the governing ideology.

  • Emergence of distinct Japanese cultural identities, with urban centers developing unique cultural forms like kabuki theaters.

• Interactions with Foreigners

  • Jesuit missions to Japan were initially more successful in conversion than in China, but faced backlash leading to expulsions.

  • Dutch became privileged trading partners, bringing Western knowledge and influence to Japan.

Conclusion

• Impact of Western Influence

  • Western Europeans contributed to cultural and technological developments in East Asia.

  • The chapter provided insights into the interaction between different cultures and the impact of imperial changes in China and Japan.