Developments in EAST ASIA (c. 1200-1450)
Song Dynasty (c. 1200-1450)
The Song dynasty in China was a significant power during this period. This section outlines how the Song maintained and justified their power, their cultural influence, the role of Buddhism, and the state of their economy.
Maintaining and Justifying Power
Revival of Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
The Song rulers revived Confucianism, carrying over from the Tang dynasty. Confucianism emphasizes hierarchical relationships to maintain societal order. These are unequal relationships where:
* Fathers > Sons
* Husbands > Wives
* Rulers > Subjects
The greater entity is expected to be benevolent (kind and with positive intentions), while the lesser entity is expected to obey.
Filial piety, honoring ancestors and parents, was a key component, reinforcing respect for the emperor.
After the Han dynasty fell, so did Confucianism, but it was revived during the Tang dynasty and carried into the Song dynasty, known as Neo-Confucianism, which blended Confucianism with Buddhist and Taoist ideas.
Neo-Confucianism demonstrates historical continuity and innovation, adapting to contemporary purposes.
Social Hierarchy and Women
Confucianism places women in a subordinate (lower rank) position. Women's legal rights were restricted, with property becoming her husband's. Widowed or divorced women were forbidden to remarry.
Foot binding was practiced among elite members of society, where feet of young girls were broken and bound tightly, limiting their mobility. This was a status symbol for wealthy men, indicating they could afford servants.
Imperial Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is a governmental entity that carries out the will of the emperor. The imperial bureaucracy grew during the Song Dynasty.
Men had to pass a civil service examination based on Confucian classics to get a job in the bureaucracy. This ensured the bureaucracy was staffed with qualified men selected by merit, increasing efficiency.
Cultural Influence
Song China’s influence extended to several states:
Korea
Korean emperors were politically independent but participated in the tributary system, acknowledging China's power.
Korea adopted aspects of Chinese culture, including the civil service examination and Confucian principles, even further marginalizing women. This influence was more prominent among the elite.
Japan
Japan, separated by the ocean, adopted Chinese culture voluntarily. Chinese cultural borrowing occurred mainly from the 7th to 9th century CE. Japan organized its power structure based on China's imperial bureaucracy. They also adopted Chinese Buddhism and the writing system, adopting what they found useful and discarding the rest.
Vietnam
Vietnam, bordering China to the south, also participated in the tributary system. Elite members adopted Confucianism, Buddhism, literary techniques, and the civil service examination system.
Vietnamese women were not as marginalized as in China, evidenced by female deities and a female version of Buddha. Vietnam did not adopt foot binding, which was also the case for Korea and Japan.
Buddhism
Buddhism originated in South Asia and spread to China during the Han dynasty.
The core of Buddhism is summarized in the Four Noble Truths:
Life is suffering.
Suffering is caused by craving.
Suffering ceases when craving ceases.
The Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of suffering.
The Eightfold Path includes moral lifestyle and meditation. Buddhism also adopted features like karma and rebirth from Hinduism.
Theravada Buddhism
Originated in Sri Lanka, emphasizing escaping the cycle of birth and death. Practice was mainly restricted to monks.
Mahayana Buddhism
Emerged in East Asia, teaching that Buddhist teachings were available to all. Compassion was emphasized, and the Buddha was deified.
Tibetan Buddhism
Evolved in Tibet, emphasizing mystical practices like prostration and deity visualization.
During the Song dynasty, Confucianism was emphasized, but Buddhism continued to play a significant role. China developed its own version of Buddhism known as Chan Buddhism.
Economy
The Song economy prospered due to trends that started in the Tang dynasty, and these are the reasons why.
Commercialization
China produced more goods than needed, selling the excess. The use of paper money, credit, and promissory notes was adopted.
Iron and Steel Production
Iron and steel production exploded, with both large manufacturers and home artisans producing armor, coins, and agricultural tools.
Agricultural Innovations
Innovations in agriculture led to economic prosperity. The introduction of Champa rice from Vietnam, which was drought-resistant and could be harvested twice a year, doubled agricultural output.
More food led to a population explosion because there were more mouths to feed.
Transportation Innovations
The Grand Canal, linking the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, expanded, making trade cheaper. The magnetic compass improved navigation. New shipbuilding techniques, such as watertight bulkheads and stern-mounted rudders on junks, made navigation more accurate, leading to more trade, which led to even more economic prosperity in the Song Dynasty.