Song Dynasty China:

Expansion of East Asian Civilization:

• Korea, Vietnam, and Japan emerged along China's borders.

  • Borrowed elements of Chinese culture and engaged in tributary relationships with China.

The Song Dynasty:

• Definition: The Chinese dynasty (960–1279) that rose to power after the Tang dynasty and before the Mongol takeover. During the Song dynasty, an explosion of scholarship gave rise to Neo-Confucianism, and a revolution in agricultural and industrial production made China the richest and most populated country on the planet.

Song Dynasty (960–1279):

• Ruled over large parts of ancient China.

• Culturally considered a "golden age" with excellence in arts, literature, and Confucian philosophy.

• Established an elaborate bureaucratic state structure with six major ministries overseen by the Censorate.

  • Revived and expanded the examination system for selecting officials based on a system of meritocracy from the Han Dynasty

  • The examination system provided a modest measure of social mobility for commoners; however, it challenged the hold of aristocratic families on public office.

    • Meritocracy posed a challenge to the established influence of aristocratic families in public office.

  • Some individuals combined landownership with success in the examination system to maintain social prestige and influence.

China’s economic revolution:

• Definition: major rise in prosperity that took place in China under the Song dynasty (960–1279), which was marked by rapid population growth, urbanization, economic specialization, the development of an immense network of internal waterways, and a great increase in industrial production and technological innovation

  • China had the world's leading economy around 1200.

  • Notable features included paper money, technological innovation, and industrial production.

Industrial Growth in Song Dynasty:

• Metallurgy industry expanded, producing armor, weapons, coins, and tools.

  • Coal emerged as a primary energy source, fueling industrial growth but contributing to environmental pollution.

Technological Advancements:

• Printing innovations (woodblock and movable type) facilitated knowledge dissemination

  • By 1000, cheap books had become widely available in China

• Chinese advancements in navigation and shipbuilding technologies had effects on trade and exploration.

• Chinese invention of gunpowder revolutionized global military affairs.

  • Spread of gunpowder technology impacted warfare, trade, and cultural exchange.

Economics: The Commercialization of Song China:

• Commercialization: producing for the market, rather than for local consumption.

  • Song China pushed towards a market based economy, with increased specialization, commerce, and economic growth.

• Internal waterways, like the Grand Canal, facilitated trade and economic growth.

  • These waterways facilitated the cheap movement of goods, allowing peasants to grow and sell their specialized crops while they purchased staple food crops like rice on the market.

• Introduction of financial instruments (paper money, letters of credit) promoted commerce and trade.

  • Government taxation policies required peasants to sell goods or labor to meet cash obligations; facilitated economic activity.

  • Introduction of paper money, letters of credit, and promissory notes further stimulated economic activity.

Gender Dynamics in Song China

• Confucian Ideals of Gender Roles, revisited:

  • Confucianism emphasized male dominance and female subordination.

    • Advocated for strict separation of genders in various spheres of life.

  • Elite masculinity evolved from warrior values to refined pursuits like calligraphy and scholarship.

• Impact of Commercialization on Women:

  • Rapid commercialization marginalized women in the textile industry.

  • Urban workshops and state-run factories that were ran by men dominated the textile industry, displacing rural women who did skilled work with silk.

  • Women retained roles in the silk industry but their work was no longer lucrative.

• Foot Binding: a Symbol of Patriarchy:

  • Definition: practice of tightly wrapping girls’ feet to keep them small, prevalent in the Song dynasty and later; an emphasis on small size and delicacy was central to views of female beauty.

    • Emerged as a widespread practice among elite families.

    • Highly associated with Confucianism, which aimed to keep women in the “inner quarters”

• Positive Trends for Women during the Song Dynasty:

  • Expansion of property rights allowed women to control dowries and inherit property.

  • Advocacy for women's education by some lower-ranking officials, so that they will more effectively raise their sons, opened new opportunities for them.

    • Allowed women to contribute to family wealth and raise children effectively.

Chinese interactions with Korea, Vietnam, and Japan

Korea's Interaction with China:

• Political Independence:

  • Under the Unified Silla (688–900), Koryo (918–1392), and Joseon (1392–1910) dynasties, Korea maintained a delicate balance of political independence while acknowledging China's hegemonic influence through tributary relations.

  • Despite these tributary missions and acknowledgments of China's superiority, Korea remained politically autonomous, resisting outright Chinese domination.

• Cultural Influence of China:

  • Chinese culture had a profound impact on Korean society, particularly among the aristocracy and elite classes.

  • Confucian values and administrative systems, such as the adoption of the Chinese examination system, reshaped Korean governance and societal norms.

  • The Confucian concept of filial piety and patriarchal family structures supplanted more egalitarian and flexible Korean traditions, especially among the elite.

    • Older customs that gave women more autonomy eroded under that pressure, and elite women started to be restricted.

• Distinct Korean Identity:

  • Despite Chinese cultural influence, Korea retained a strong sense of national identity and distinct cultural practices.

    • Chinese cultural influence, except for Buddhism, had little impact beyond the aristocracy and did not penetrate the lives of Korea’s peasantry and slave classes.

    • The examination system did not reach prominence as it did in Song China.

      • Thus the aristocratic class in Korea was able to keep a hold on public office, in a different way than China.

  • The Korean language, customs, and religious beliefs remained largely unaffected by Chinese assimilation efforts.

• Gender Dynamics:

  • Confucian gender norms imposed strict regulations on women's roles and behaviors, emphasizing obedience, subordination, and domestic duties.

  • Traditional Korean practices, such as free-choice marriages and women's participation in social activities, clashed with Confucian ideals, leading to tensions between local customs and imported Chinese norms.

    • Older customs that gave women more autonomy eroded under Confucianism, and elite women started to be restricted.

Vietnam's Encounter with China:

• Cultural Borrowing from China:

  • Vietnam's ruling elite adopted many aspects of Chinese culture, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as well as administrative and literary practices.

    • Mandate of Heaven

    • Examination system gained prominence (unlike Korea), providing more social mobility to commoners.

  • Chinese cultural influence extended beyond the elite to influence Vietnamese society at large, shaping language, education, and social organization.

• Incorporation into Chinese State:

  • The Red River valley in northern Vietnam was fully incorporated into the Chinese state for over a millennium (111 B.C.E.–939 C.E.).

  • Despite periods of independence, Vietnamese rulers maintained tributary relations with China, sending missions to the Chinese court and recognizing Chinese influence.

• Impact on Vietnamese Society:

  • Chinese cultural influence contributed to the development of a centralized state structure, bureaucratic governance, and a Confucian-educated elite class in Vietnam.

    • The Vietnamese examination system, modeled after China's, facilitated social mobility and merit-based recruitment into the bureaucracy, albeit to a lesser extent than in China, but way higher than Korea.

  • Vietnamese society retained its distinct identity and cultural practices, blending Chinese influences with indigenous traditions.

• Gender Dynamics:

  • Vietnamese society exhibited more flexibility in gender roles compared to China, allowing for greater participation of women in economic, social, and religious spheres.

  • Despite Confucian patriarchal ideals, Vietnamese women enjoyed more autonomy and agency, with women holding significant roles in family life, religious rituals, and economic activities.

Japanese interactions with China

• Geographical Separation from China:

  • Unlike Korea and Vietnam, Japan's geographical isolation, separated by over 100 miles of ocean, prevented direct military threats or conquest by China.

  • Japan's borrowing from Chinese civilization was entirely voluntary, driven by a desire to adopt useful elements rather than under coercion.

• Borrowing of Chinese Culture:

  • From the 7th to 9th centuries C.E., Japan actively embraced Chinese political, cultural, and religious practices to establish a centralized bureaucratic state modeled after China.

  • Chinese Buddhism, writing system, historical writing, calligraphy, and poetry deeply influenced Japanese society, particularly among the elite classes.

• Selective Borrowing:

  • Japan's lack of military pressure from China allowed for selective borrowing of cultural elements.

  • By the 10th century, deliberate efforts to absorb Chinese culture diminished, and formal tribute missions ceased, though trade and cultural exchange continued.

• Distinctive Features of Japanese Civilization:

  • Political Structure:

    • Japan never fully replicated China's centralized bureaucratic state.

    • Political power gradually decentralized, leading to the rise of competing aristocratic families and local authorities.

    • Local authorities developed the samurai warrior class with a distinct warrior code known as bushido:

      • The “way of the warrior,” including bravery, loyalty, and an emphasis on death over surrender.

      • Contrasted with China's emphasis on intellectual pursuits and bureaucratic administration.

  • Religious Syncretism:

    • While Chan/Zen Buddhism took root in Japan, it coexisted with indigenous Shinto beliefs, centered around kami, or sacred spirits.

    • Shinto provided legitimacy to the imperial family, complementing Buddhist practices without significant conflict.

  • Literary and Artistic Development:

    • Japanese literary and artistic culture evolved uniquely, blending Chinese influences with indigenous traditions.

    • Kanji, a distinctive writing system combining Chinese characters with phonetic symbols emerged.

    • Imperial court culture flourished with an emphasis on aesthetics, poetry composition, and intricate social rituals, despite waning political authority.

  • Status of Women:

    • Japanese women enjoyed relatively more freedom compared to their counterparts in China and Korea.

    • They could inherit property, participate in remarriage, and lived separately from their husbands or with their families.

    • Women's status declined in the later centuries due to the rise of warrior culture rather than Confucian influence.

AP Questions

• Evaluate the similarities and differences in the influence China had on Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. In what ways was that influence resisted?

  • China's influence on Korea, Vietnam, and Japan was profound, shaping various aspects of their political, cultural, and social systems. While all three nations borrowed from Chinese civilization, they also exhibited resistance to certain elements. Korea and Vietnam, despite participating in tributary relationships with China, maintained distinct identities and resisted some aspects of Chinese cultural assimilation, particularly in gender norms. Japan, separated by geography, voluntarily absorbed Chinese culture but adapted it to suit its own traditions, resulting in a unique Japanese civilization that blended indigenous practices with Chinese influences.

• What cultural changes occurred in Korea in response to Chinese influence?

  • Korean society underwent significant cultural changes in response to Chinese influence. Elite Koreans embraced Confucian ideals, leading to the adoption of Confucian principles such as filial piety and hierarchical relationships. This influence extended to the implementation of civil service examinations modeled after China, which selected government officials based on Confucian classics.

  • Confucian principles reinforced patriarchal norms, restricting women's rights and resulting in practices like foot binding among elite women. Additionally, Buddhism gained prominence in Korean society due to Chinese influence, with Korean elites patronizing Buddhist monasteries and temples.

  • Korean writing systems underwent changes influenced by Chinese characters, with the adoption of Chinese characters alongside the development of indigenous writing systems like Hangul.

• In what different ways did Japanese and Korean women experience the pressures of traditional Confucian teachings?

• Korean Women under Confucian Teachings:

  • Confucian ideals reinforced patriarchal norms, leading to a tightening of gender roles and erosion of women's rights.

  • Women faced restrictions on remarriage for widows and seclusion within the home, reflecting Confucian values of female modesty and domesticity that dominated in China.

  • The adoption of foot binding among elite women, further restricting their mobility.

• Japanese Women's Experience:

  • Japanese society did not fully adhere to Confucian principles, allowing women to escape some oppressive features of Confucian teachings.

  • They retained more autonomy in matters like property inheritance and marital arrangements compared to their Korean counterparts.

  • However, the rise of a warrior culture in Japan impacted gender dynamics differently, introducing its own set of expectations and challenges for women.