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Chapter 15
The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia
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The Sui Dynasty (589-618 CE)
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
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The Grand Canal
Intended to promote trade between north and south China Most Chinese rivers flow west-east
Linked network of earlier canals 2000k (1240 miles) Roads on either bank
Succeeded only by railroad traffic in 20th century
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The Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE)
Wide discontent over conscripted labor in Sui dynasty
Military failures in Korea prompt rebellion Emperor assassinated in 618
Tang Dynasty initiated
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Tang Taizong
Second emperor of Tang dynasty (r. 627-649 CE) Murdered two brothers, thrust father aside to take
throne Strong ruler
Built capital at Chang’an Law and order Taxes, prices low More effective implementation of earlier Sui policies
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Major achievements of Tang Dynasty 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 8th century
Corruption, loss of land to Buddhist monasteries
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Bureaucracy of Merit
Imperial civil service examinations Confucian educational curriculum
Some bribery, nepotism But most advance through merit
Built loyalty to the dynasty System remains strong until early 20th century
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Tang Military Expansion and Foreign Relations Manchuria, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet One of the largest expansions of China in its
history Established tributary relationships
Gifts China as “Middle Kingdom”
The kowtow ritual
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.The Sui and Tang dynasties, 589-907 CE
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Tang Decline
Governmental neglect: Emperor obsessed with music, favorite concubine
775 rebellion under An Lushan, former military commander
Captures Chang’an, but rebellion crushed by 763 Nomadic Uighur mercenaries invited to suppress
rebellion, sacked Chang’an and Luoyang Tang decline continues, rebellions in 9th century, last
emperor abdicates 907
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Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE)
Emphasis on administration, industry, education, the arts
Military not emphasized Direction of first emperor, Song Taizu (r. 960-976
CE) Former military leader Made emperor by troops Instituted policy of imperial favor for civil servants,
expanded meritocracy
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The Song dynasty, 960-1279 C.E.The Song dynasty, 960-1279 CE
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Song Weaknesses
Size of bureaucracy heavy drain on economy Two peasant rebellions in 12th c. Internal inertia prevents reform of bureaucracy
Civil service leadership of military Lacked military training Unable to contain nomadic attacks Jurchen conquer, force Song dynasty to Hangzhou,
southern China (Southern Song)
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Agricultural Economies of the Tang and Song Dynasties Developed Vietnamese fast-ripening rice, 2 crops
per year Technology: iron plows, use of draft animals Soil fertilization, improved irrigation
Water wheels, canals Terrace farming
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Population Growth
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
600CE
1000
Millions
Result of increased agricultural production
Effective food distribution system Transportation networks
built under Tang and Song dynasties
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Urbanization
Chang’an world’s most populous city: 2 million residents Southern Song capital Hangzhou: over 1 million
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Patriarchal Social Structures
Increased emphasis on ancestor worship Elaborate grave rituals Extended family gatherings in honor of deceased
ancestors Footbinding gains popularity
Increased control by male family members
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Footbinding
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Technology and Industry
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-11th century Yet complex Chinese ideographs make wood block
technique easier Naval technology
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Emergence of a Market Economy
Letters of credit developed to deal with copper coin shortages Promissory notes, checks also used
Development of independently produced paper money Not as stable, riots when not honored
Government claims monopoly on money production in 11th century
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China and the Hemispheric Economy
Increasingly cosmopolitan nature of Chinese cities
Chinese silk opens up trade routes, but increases local demands for imported luxury goods
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Cultural Change in Tang and Song China Declining confidence in Confucianism after
collapse of Han dynasty Increasing popularity of Buddhism Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam
also appear Clientele primarily foreign merchant class
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Dunhuang
Mahayana Buddhism especially popular in western China (Gansu province), 600-1000 CE
Buddhist temples, libraries Economic success as converts donate land
holdings Increase popularity through donations of
agricultural produce to the poor
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Conflicts with Chinese Culture
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
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Chan (Zen) Buddhism
Buddhists adapt ideology to Chinese climate Dharma translated as dao Nirvana translated as wuwei
Accommodated family lifestyle “one son in monastery for ten generations of salvation”
Limited emphasis on textual study, meditation instead
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Persecution of Buddhists
Daoist/Confucian persecution supported in late Tang dynasty
840s begins systematic closure of Buddhist temples, expulsions Zoroastrians, Christians, Manicheans as well
Economic motive: seizure of large monastic landholdings
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Neo-Confucianism
Song dynasty refrains from persecuting Buddhists, but favors Confucians
Neo-Confucians influenced by Buddhist thought
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China and Korea
Silla Dynasty: Tang armies withdraw, Korea recognizes Tang as emperor
Technically a vassal statue, but highly independent
Chinese influence on Korean culture pervasive
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China and Vietnam
Vietnamese adaptation to Chinese culture, technology
But ongoing resentment at political domination Assert independence when Tang dynasty falls in
10th century
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China and Early Japan
Chinese armies never invade Japan Yet Chinese culture pervasive Imitation of Tang administration
Establishment of new capital at Nara, hence “Nara Japan” (710-794 CE)
Adoption of Confucian, Buddhist teachings Yet retention of Shinto religion
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Heian Japan (794-1185 CE)
Japanese emperor moves court to Heian (Kyoto) Yet emperor figurehead, real power in hands of
Fujiwara clan Pattern in Japanese history: weak emperor, power
behind the throne Helps explain longevity of the institution
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Japanese Literature
Influence of Chinese kanji characters Classic curriculum dominated by Chinese
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Institution of the Shogun
Civil war between Taira and Minamoto clans in 12th century
Minamoto leader named shogun, 1185 CE Ruled from Kamakura, allowed imperial throne to
continue in Kyoto
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Medieval Japan
Kamakura (1185-1333 CE) and Muromachi (1336-1573 CE) periods
Decentralized power in hands of warlords Military authority in hands of samurai Professional warriors