The Reemergence of Empire in East Asia Regional kingdoms succeed collapse of Han dynasty Yang Jian consolidates control of all of China, initiates Sui dynasty Massive building projects Military labor Conscripted labor Intended to promote trade between north and south China Most Chinese rivers flow west-east Linked network of earlier canals 2000 kilometers (1240 miles) Roads on either bank Wide discontent over conscripted labor in Sui dynasty Military failures in Korea prompt rebellion Emperor assassinated in 618 C.E. Tang dynasty initiated Transportation and communications Extensive postal, courier services Equal-field system 20% of land, hereditary ownership 80% redistributed according to formula Family size, land fertility Worked well until eighth century Corruption, loss of land to Buddhist monasteries Imperial civil service examinations Confucian educational curriculum Most advance through merit Educational opportunity widely available Built loyalty to the dynasty System remains strong until early twentieth century Manchuria, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet One of the largest expansions of China in its history Established tributary relationships 8 Governmental neglect 775 C.E. rebellion under An Lushan, former military commander Tang decline continues, rebellions in ninth century, last emperor abdicates 907 Emphasis on administration, industry, education, the arts Military not emphasized Direction of first emperor, Song Taizu (r C.E.) Former military leader Made emperor by troops Instituted policy of imperial favor for civil servants, expanded meritocracy 10 11 Size of bureaucracy heavy drain on economy Civil service leadership of military Lacked military training Unable to contain nomadic attacks Developed Vietnamese fast-ripening rice, two crops per year Technology: iron plows, use of draft animals Soil fertilization, improved irrigation Water wheels, canals Terrace farming Result of increased agricultural production Effective food distribution system Transportation networks built under Tang and Song dynasties Changan worlds most populous city: two million residents (5 times the size of Atlanta) Southern Song capital Hangzhou: over one million Increased emphasis on ancestor worship Elaborate grave rituals Extended family gatherings in honor of deceased ancestors Foot binding gains popularity Increased control by male family members 16 Porcelain (chinaware) Increase of iron production due to use of coke, not coal, in furnaces Agricultural tools, weaponry Gunpowder invented Earlier printing techniques refined Moveable type by mid-eleventh century Yet complex Chinese ideographs make wood block technique easier Naval technology 17 Letters of credit developed to deal with copper coin shortages Development of independently produced paper money Not as stable, riots when not honored Government claims monopoly on money production in eleventh century 18 Increasingly cosmopolitan nature of Chinese cities Chinese silk opens up trade routes, but increases local demands for imported luxury goods Declining confidence in Confucianism after collapse of Han dynasty Increasing popularity of Buddhism Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam also appear Clientele primarily foreign merchant class 20 Buddhism: Text-based (Buddhist teachings) Emphasis on Metaphysics Ascetic ideal Celibacy isolation Confucianism: Text-based (Confucian teachings) Daoism not text- based Emphasis on ethics, politics Family-centered Procreation Filial piety 21 Song dynasty refrains from persecuting Buddhists, but favors Confucians Neo-Confucians influenced by Buddhist thought Philosopher Zhu Xi ( C.E.) 22 Silla Dynasty: Tang armies withdraw, Korea recognizes Tang as emperor Technically a vassal state, but highly independent Chinese influence on Korean culture pervasive 23 Vietnamese adaptation to Chinese culture, technology But ongoing resentment at political domination Assert independence when Tang dynasty falls in tenth century Chinese armies never invade Japan Yet Chinese culture pervasive Imitation of Tang administration Establishment of new capital at Nara, hence Nara Japan ( C.E.) Adoption of Confucian, Buddhist teachings Yet retention of Shinto religion 25 Japanese emperor moves court to Heian (Kyoto) Yet emperor figurehead, real power in hands of Fujiwara clan Pattern in Japanese history: weak emperor, proxy-power behind the throne Helps explain longevity of the institution Civil war between Taira and Minamoto clans in twelfth century Minamoto leader named shogun, 1185 C.E. Ruled from Kamakura, allowed imperial throne to continue in Kyoto Medieval Japan Kamakura ( C.E.) and Muromachi ( C.E.) periods Decentralized power in hands of warlords Military authority in hands of samurai Professional warriors 28 29