The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

Sui-Tang-Song China

Chinese Regionalism

220-589 (Post Han-Sui)

A time of political division, economic turmoil, and social conflict.

Regional Kingdoms:

“Era of Division” 220-589 C.E.

Nomadic Invasions Endless wars amongst rival kingdoms Re-emergence of rule by aristocrats Decline of Bureaucracy Decline of Confucianism Rise of Buddhism Economic decline Great Wall divided Technological stagnation …it was bad.

China’s turbulent 4th century

Conquest and rule by non-Chinese peoples (Barbarians) shocked the Chinese.

Huns and Xiongnu eroded the frontier defenses.

Confucianism in the Regional Era

Confucianism: stressed ideas and practices that promoted social etiquette, family values, and political stability.

These ideas were criticized for their failure and their value during the regional era.

Regional monarchs began to “re-embrace” the value system, while scholars often condemned its shortcomings.

Re-emergence of Empire: Sui Dynasty

Founded by Yang Jian Valued Chin style

leadership with tight political control.

General who consolidated his position and usurped power.

Used propaganda! Conquered southern

China in a Naval War

Yang Jian

Devoted to building a powerful government Consolidated rule in China Excellent judge of talented people Empire builder Extraordinary temper Paranoia Built an elaborate bureaucracy “thrifty” Devout Buddhist, supported Confucianism as a

political ideology

Return to Chin ways

Harsh, codified laws Standardized everything Written test for office holders Beginnings of civil service exam Refusal to serve in areas of birth “eyes and ears of the ruler” Elaborate building projects such as the

capital Changan

Changan during the Sui

Emperor Yangdi and the Grand Canal

“political intrigue” Great achievement: the

Grand Canal Purpose

The Tang Dynasty

Founded by Li Yuan China’s Greatest

Dynasty? Golden Age? “Qin-Han, Sui-Tang”

Tang Taizong

Ambitious, Ruthless, arguably China’s greatest emperor.

Believed in a Confucian, Chin, yet benevolent state.’

Stable, peaceful, prosperous…

Reasons for Tang Success?

1. Well articulated roads and communication networks. (Canals)

2. Equal field distribution system of land sharing

3. Reliance on a very highly skilled bureaucracy governed by a civil service exam.

Civil Service Exam

Tang Conquest

Brought Manchuria, the Silla Kingdom of Korea, Vietnam, and as far west as the Aral Sea (Russia) under their control.

Tang Decline

Incapable emperors Dynastic wars (Du Fu) An Lushan Rebellion Talas River Battle of

751 Loss of Silk Roads Transfer of Power to

Islam Buddhist Crisis of the

mid 9th Century.

Transition

The Late Tang period saw individual armies loyal to their warlords dominating Chinese life.

Period between the Tang and Song Age saw a return to regionalism. With non-Chinese peoples ruling North China.

907-960 China was dominated by Political Fragmentation and Rivalry.

The Song Dynasty

Song contradiction Early political

stability: 960-1127 Effective

monarchs Civil

Bureaucracy Founded by

Zhao Guangyin Drunken

generals story

Song Shortcomings and Decline

Military weakness Economic costs of Bureaucracy Taxation issues Peasant woes Rise of nomads-The Khitan, Jurchen, and the

Mongols

Song split

Song Demise

1215: lost control to Jin Dynasty Reverted to control Southern China 1279 Southern Song crushed by Mongols.

Tang/Song Culture

Neo-Confucianism Wang Anshi: political and economic

innovations Metaphysical (being) school of Zu Xi

Good v. Evil: Confucian study and Buddhist meditation can treat evil.

His work will be studied and admired for a millenium.

Tang/Song Economics

“Champa” Rice: Porcelain Metallurgy Paper production “Flying Cash” Urbanization

Japanese Characteristics

Geography? Comparison with Greece? Warrior Aristorcarcy Rigid society 5% of the population was slave Hundreds of early political units Clan based society governed by warrior chieftans Early socieity: Yamato Clan Religious beliefs: Shinto-the Way of the Gods

Japan

Early Buddhism Deficits of Shinto faith Diffusion of things Chinese

Seventeen Article Constitution-Buddhist and Confucian document

Taika Reforms-attempt to recreate a Confucian style system in Japan (Exam, Bureaucracy)

Nara Japan (710-794 C.E.)

The earliest inhabitants of Japan were nomadic peoples from northeast Asia

Ruled by several dozen states by the middle of the first millennium C.E.

Inspired by the Tang example, one clan claimed imperial authority over others

Built a new capital (Nara) in 710 C.E., modeled on Chang'an

Adopted Confucianism and Buddhism, but maintained their Shinto rites

Heian Japan Heian Japan (794-1185

C.E.) Moved to new capital, Heian

(modern Kyoto), in 794 Japanese emperors as

ceremonial figureheads and symbols of authority

Effective power in the hands of the Fujiwara family

Emperor did not rule, which explains the longevity of the imperial house

Chinese learning dominated Japanese education and political thought

Buddhism exploded during this time, despite a strong reaction against it.

Heian Decline

Feuds amongst the great families

Local ambitions and political division

War between the Taira and Minamoto clans

Rise of Samurai class Rise of Yorimotoa Minamoto as

Shogun (Kamakura Shogunate)

Japanese Cultural Achievements

Began to make their mark in literature.

Murasaki Shikibu-a female courtess during the Heian Age wrote the Tale of Genji.

A story of court life and personality of Japanese during the age.

First novel in human history

Decline of Heian Japan

The equal-field system began to fail Aristocratic clans accumulated most land Taira and Minamoto, the two most powerful

clans, engaged in wars Clan leader of Minamoto claimed title shogun,

military governor; ruled in Kamakura