Note on the Song Dynasty and Its Influence

Page 1: Context

• Origins and Prosperity

  • The Song Dynasty emerged from the Tang Dynasty.

  • The Tang Dynasty experienced a golden age, but the Song took China to new heights.

  • The Song united many regions of China in 960 and ruled until 1279.

  • Despite being smaller than the Tang, the Song Dynasty was very prosperous.

Page 2: Bureaucracy

• Governance Structure

  • Song rulers aimed to govern through a complex bureaucracy.

  • This system was first introduced during the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 207 BC).

  • The bureaucracy is a long-standing continuity in world history.

  • Admission to the bureaucracy was based on performance in the civil service exam.

Page 3: The Civil Service Exam

• Meritocracy and Education

  • Educational opportunities expanded for young men from lower classes.

  • Government positions were based on merit rather than heredity.

  • The exam focused on Confucian texts, history, and culture.

  • This system allowed for significant upward mobility in society.

• Economic Impact

  • The large bureaucracy increased government costs, leading to a surplus depletion and tax increases.

  • The size and power of the government eventually became a weakness.

Page 4: Economic Developments in the Song

• Trade and Agriculture

  • The Grand Canal facilitated prosperous trade.

  • Gunpowder was utilized for weaponry and spread throughout Eurasia.

  • Champa rice from Vietnam improved agricultural production, being drought-resistant and allowing for two harvests a year.

  • Innovations like manure use and animal labor increased crop yields.

  • China's population grew from 25% to about 40% of the world during the Song's reign.

Page 5: Industrial Production

• Technological Advancements

  • Discovery of coal in the 300s enabled mass iron production.

  • China learned to create steel before the rest of the world.

  • Proto-industrialization led to profit-driven production of goods.

• Exports and Trade

  • Luxuries included silk, tea, and porcelain.

  • A strong navy facilitated trade and cargo transport.

  • A tributary system required surrounding regions to submit to Chinese authority and provide tribute.

Page 6: Social Structures in China

• Population and Class Development

  • China had a predominantly rural population but developed cities with over 100,000 residents.

  • The Scholar Gentry emerged as the elite bureaucratic class, outnumbering the aristocracy.

  • The Scholar Gentry were well-educated in Confucian values.

• Gender Roles

  • Women were respected but remained subordinate to men, influenced by Confucian values.

Page 7: Women in the Song Dynasty

• Foot Binding

  • Foot binding was a practice that symbolized patriarchy, involving the tight wrapping of young girls' feet.

  • It began with dancers and courtesans in the 10th or 11th century and spread among elite families.

  • The practice emphasized ideals of female beauty and restricted women's mobility.

Page 8: Intellectual and Cultural Developments

• Literacy and Printing

  • Paper was available since the 2nd century.

  • Woodblock printing allowed for the reproduction of texts, leading to an explosion in literature and poetry.

  • China experienced a cultural renaissance centuries before Europe.

Page 9: Japan's Relationship with China

• Cultural Independence

  • Japan struggled to maintain independence from Chinese influence.

  • Geographically better positioned than Korea and Vietnam, Japan controlled its cultural interactions.

Page 10: China’s Influence on Japan

• Cultural Adoption

  • Buddhism and Confucianism were promoted by Japanese emperors.

  • Woodblock printing and Chinese art, politics, and literature were emulated during the Heian period.

  • Architectural styles were also influenced by Chinese designs.

Page 11: Japanese Social Structure

• Feudal Hierarchy

  • Figurehead Emperor, Shogun, Nobles (Daimyos), Warrior Class (Samurai), and Peasants (70% of the population).

  • Craftspeople and merchants formed the lower classes.

Page 12: Korea's Similarities to China

• Political and Cultural Parallels

  • Korea had a centralized government and practiced Confucianism and Buddhism.

  • The educated class studied Confucian philosophy and adopted the Chinese writing system.

• Power Dynamics

  • Landowners held power, and a lack of meritocracy prevented lower-class citizens from rising to official positions.

Page 13: Vietnam's Relationship with China

• Cultural Resistance

  • Vietnam adopted Chinese writing and architecture but resisted Chinese influence.

  • Vietnamese women enjoyed more freedoms in marriage compared to Chinese women.

  • The Vietnamese nuclear family structure contrasted with the Chinese extended family model.

  • Local government officials often prioritized village loyalty over central government allegiance, leading