1.1 DEVELOPMENTS IN EAST ASIA-

SOCIETY-

{China}

• Neo-Confucian teachings supported and shaped social classes and the family system.

• The civil service exam allowed many the opportunity to work in the bureaucracy. The Civil Service Exam is a great example of upward mobility. The Chinese system allowed for more upward mobility than any other system in its time.

• Many people used to live in rural areas. At the peak of the Song Dynasty, China was the most urbanized land.

• The expansion of the bureaucracy created a new social class, the scholar gentry. The scholar gentry were very educated and soon became the most influential social class in China. The farmers, artisans and merchants ranked under the scholar gentry.

• Confucian tradition included respect for women and that they would follow men. This patriarchal idea strengthened during the Tang and Song dynasties.

• A common practice in China was foot binding and this was commonly practiced among aristocratic families. A bound foot signified social status and restricted movement and the ability to participate in public.

• The emphasis on filial piety helped the Song Dynasty maintain their rule in China.

{Japan}

• During the Heian period (794-1185) Japan repeated Chinese traditions in politics, art, and literature.

• Japan had a feudal society without a centralized government. Japanese feudalism offered very little social mobility and was built on a hereditary rank. Peasants were serfs and dependent economically, samurai were the protectors, and the daimyo were very privileged. The samurai followed a code of bushido which included honor until death. Japan installed a shogun while their emperor had little to no power.

{Korea}

• The Korean civil service examination was not open to peasants. No true merit-based system to enter the bureaucracy.

{Vietnam}

• Vietnamese women had more independence in their marriage than did Chinese women in the ideas of Confucianism.

• Vietnamese preferred nuclear families (wife, husband and their children.)

• They rejected the customs of foot binding and polygyny.

POLITICAL

{China}

• The Song Dynasty replaced the Tang in 960 and ruled for three more centuries. The Song ruled a smaller region than the Tang, but their empire was very prosperous.

• China’s bureaucracy was an organization in which appointed officials carried out the empire’s rules and policies. The bureaucracy has been in place since the Qin Dynasty.

• A source of income for the government came from tributes. Other nearby states and countries paid money or goods towards the government of China. This helped grow China’s political power over many foreign countries. During the Song Dynasty, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and southeast states paid tribute.

{Japan}

• Japan had a feudal society without a centralized government. Japan installed a shogun (military ruler), to reign. They still had an emperor, but he had little to no power. In the 17th century shoguns would be able to create a strong central government.

{Korea}

• Korea had a very centralized government, very similarly to the Chinese.

• Korea had a much more powerful landed aristocracy than China. This way Korea didn’t have to adopt every Chinese tradition being implemented.

{Vietnam}

• The Vietnamese launched quite strong rebellions against Chinese influence. Vietnamese had quite strong opinions and resistance against Chinese power.

• The Vietnamese scholar-officials often led revolts against the government if they were acting too oppressive and brutal.

INTERACTIONS

{China}

• The Grand Canal was an efficient waterway transportation system that extended over 30,000 miles. The canal enabled China to become a very populated trading area.

• Champa rice (a fast-ripening and drought-resistant strain of rice was introduced to China’s agriculture from the Champa Kingdom. It allowed farmers to grow two crops of rice a year during summer and winter.

• Chinese farmers experimented which contributed to great agricultural success. They tested animal and human manure to fertilize the soil. They created elaborate irrigation systems using ditches, water wheels, pumps, and terraces to increase surplus.

• As a result of the agricultural success, China’s population escalated quickly.

CULTURE

{China}

• The Chinese invented paper, and they developed a system of printing. They were the first to use woodblock printing. People could make multiple copies of written texts without copying by hand.

• Confucian scholars read literature at a great rate and were major producers of literature.

• Buddhism had arrived in China from India through the Silk Road. Three forms of Buddhism were introduced to Asia including Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism was popular in China and Korea. They all include the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and Nirvana. After monks introduced Buddhism to China, they created a syncretic faith, known as Zen Buddhism. This combined the elements of Daoism and Buddhism.

• The Song Dynasty emphasized Confucianism because it benefited from the cultural idea of filial piety. Buddhism became more popular between Confucianists.

• Neo- Confucianism evolved in China between 770 and 840. It combined aspects from Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.

{Japan}

• Japan’s Prince Shotoku Taishi promoted Buddhism, Confucianism and Shinto. During this time period, Japan learned how to do woodblock printing from Chinese influence. During the Heian period, Japan mimicked Chinese traditions in art and literature. A Japanese writer composed the first novel, “The Tale of Genji.”

{Korea}

• Korea adopted the Chinese writing system. Later, they came up with their own writing system.

ECONOMICS

{China}

• Industrial production soared, along with the Chinese population. They discovered coal and used it to produce a great amount of cast iron goods. They had a wonderful manufacturing capability. They began to manufacture steel and used it to reinforce/make bridges, gates, ship anchors and religious items.

• China experienced proto industrialization. Communities in rural areas were making more goods than they could sell.

TECHNOLOGY

{China}

• The Grand Canal was an efficient waterway transportation system that extended over 30,000 miles.

• Gunpowder was invented by previous Chinese dynasties but innovators in the Song Dynasty made the first guns. As time passed, the innovation of making gunpowder and guns spread from China to all parts of Eurasia via the Silk Road.

• The Chinese used the compass in maritime navigation and redesigned their ships to carry more cargo. They were able to print paper navigation charts which made seafaring in open waters possible. Sailors became less reliable in the sky for direction.