1.1 Developments in East Asia
Confucianism is not a religion but more like a philosophy.
Confucious created Confucianism.
1.1 starts with the Song Dynasty.
Context (Before Song Dynasty)
Context: The Mandate of Heaven
Justification for an imperial dynasty
Anyone can receive the Mandate, not based on blood
He is the Emperor therefore he must be just
But it can be lost
overthrown? Natural Disasters? Plague? Poverty?
Context: Tang Dynasty (618 -907 CE)
The golden age of Chinese culture
set up a strong bureaucracy
innovations
perfected civil service exam system
Xi’an was the most populous city on earth
Peace and success for 1/2
A Lushan rebellion changed everything
The dynasty never fully recovered
mass population displacement
widespread poverty
Context: Five Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms
Period of great upheaval
Multiple dynasties occurring at the same time
(last time in Chinese history)
North: 5 dynasties
South: 10 kingdoms
Fighting among various warlords
One positive: $$
Song Dynasty (960 -1297)
General Taizu takes control of other warlord territories, unifies, and creates a new dynasty
Helped by the legacy of the Tang
Quickly re-established bureaucracy
expunged general
Issue: Handling the Kitan
Aligned with the Jurchen
Jurchen invaded and captured the northern part of the Song
Great human migration (500,000)
The three Teachings
The harmonious relationship between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism
But not always seen as equal
Buddhism = religious movement from India
Daoism = oldest Chinese religious tradition
Confucianism = really a social/moral system
During the Song,
Neo-Confucianism is supreme
Additional Information
The emperor would administer the civil service exams.
The Chinese “Cultural Package”
Confucianism
Chinese versions of Buddhism
The Chinese writing system
Chinese architectural styles/urban planning
Chinese system of government
Exception: civil service exams