Unit 1: Topic 1 - Developments in EAST ASIA

Unit 1: Topic 1 - Developments in East Asia (1200-1450)

• Song Dynasty

  • revival of Confucianism - Neo confucianism

    • started in Han Dynasty (but they fell and Confucian fell along w/ them)

    • Tang Dynasty revived it and it carried on to Song Dynasty

    • taught society is hierarchical by nature - unequal relations

    • filial piety

    • revival w/ Buddhist and Daoist ideas

  • Women

    • subordinate role

    • restriction on legal rights

    • foot-binding - status symbol

  • Imperial Bureaucracy

    • Definition - thousands government officials throughout the country to enforce emperors dictate

    • Civil service examination - heavy on confucianism, merit based

  • Influence in Korea

    • tributary relationship w/ China - acknowledgement of Chinese power

    • similar civil service examination for bureaucracy

    • adopted confucian principles (in family structures)

    • marginalized women even further

  • Influence in Japan (prior to time period)

    • voluntary borrowing

    • imperial bureaucracy

    • Buddhism

    • writing system

  • Influence in Vietnam

    • Confucianism

    • Buddhism

    • Chinese literacy system

    • Civil Service Examination

    • women not as marginalized - women deity

  • Buddhism

    • originated in India came to Han Dynasty

    • beliefs - 4 Noble Truths: Life is suffering, We suffer bc we crave, We cease suffering when we cease craving, 8fold path leads to the cessation of suffering & craving - 8-fold path: a moral lifestyle & practice of meditation

    • Theravada - escaping cycle of birth & death, only for monks

    • Mahayana - available to all, compasion, buddha as god

    • Tibetan - more mystic

  • Economy

    • commercialization - produce more than needed to survive —> sold to world market

    • paper money - credit & promissory notes

    • iron & steel production - armor, coin (trade & taxation), agriculture tools

    • agriculture innovation - Champa Rice from Vietnam —> drought resistant, twice a yr harvest —> population growth

    • transportation innovation - expansion of grand canal (trade cheaper), magnetic compass, shipbuilding advancements (junks, rudder) —> more trade and economic prosperity

- Impact: historical continuity between ancient China and Song period & innovation. Through the use of hierarchical w/ bureaucratic structure to justify power. Religion played a big role in society/state unity/control (confucianism & buddhism). Economic success was found in trade, economic advancement, and transportation innovations.