Chapter 8: China and the World
3rd World China was very powerful, had a gravitational pull on neighboring civilizations
Northern Nomads were considered barbarians
International trade stimulated social, cultural, and economic change in China
Buddhism took root in China as did Christianity and Islam to a much smaller extent
The collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE resulted in more than 3 centuries of political chaos and in that time aristocratic power grew
Northern Nomads married into aristocratic families and gained political power
This time period largely discredited Confucianism which resulted in wider acceptance of Buddhism and Daoism among the elite
Widespread Chinese migration south to Yangzi River valley which gave southern China about 60% of China's population by 1000
Widespread environmental destruction, old trees and elephants devastated
China regained unity under Sui Dynasty (589-618)
Emperor made vast extensions of canal system that linked North and South China economically and contributed to following prosperity
Failed attempt t conquer Korea exhausted resources and resulted in overthrow
Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279) strengthened country's unity
Era has been regarded culturally as the golden age of arts and literature, set new standards of excellence in Chinese poetry, landscape painting, and ceramics
Song Dynasty had introduction of Neo-Confucianism which was an effort to revive Confucianism with insights from Buddhism and Daoism
political structure introduced in song dynasty endured 1000 years, 6 major ministries: personnel, finance, rites, army, justice, and public works
Censorate was surveillance agency over the rest of the government
the exam system was revived and more elaborate than before, facilitated by the ability to print books for the first time in history
Schools that prepped for exams became a central feature of upper class life
Tang dynasty referred to as best ordered state in the world
Officials based on merit challenged aristocratic hold on public office
Landowning and general success were a part of the low-level exams to maintain an immense cultural prestige and prominance
Economic revolution made song dynasty richest and most skilled and populous country in the world
Population went from 50 or 60 million in the Tang Dynasty to 120 Million by 1200 largely because of new agricultural techniques and rice from Vietnam
Very urbanized civilization
Canals, rivers, and lakes made food possible for huge cities, 30,00 miles and world's most populous trading area
Iron industry increased by 11th century providing government with 32000 suits of armor, 16 million iron spearheads annually and coins, tools, construction, and bells in Buddhist monasteries
Coal heated homes and was used for cooking and powering iron industry, considerable air pollution
Books, navigation, ship building and invention of gun powder revolutionary
Industrial revolution stalled due to invasion and destruction by northern nomads
World's most commercialized society, learned production for the market, not local consumption, cash taxes substituted for products produced or labor
paper money, letters of credit, and promissory notes furthered commercialization of society
This time period was also a turning point in Chinese patriarchy
elite had more freedom in the earlier tang dynasty than in song dynasty
reviving of Confucianism in song dynasty tightened restraints on women which emphasized subordination of women and kept men and women separate in every domain of life
Women were viewed as distractions to men's pursuit of contemplative and introspective life
Remarriage of widows was considered shameful
Foot binding was associated with beauty, eroticism, small size, frailty, and deference that served to keep women restricted to inner quarters
Binding enhanced marriage prospects, considered rite of passage and distinguished elite Chinese women from barbarians, commoners, and peasants
Men also pushed women out of the textile industry
In cities, women operated restaurants, sold fish and vegetables, and worked as maids, cooks, and dressmakers
Availability of prostitutes kept inequality in the households
Property rights of women expanded
lower-ranking officials urged the education of women
Developed relations with Northern Nomads, Steppes
Great Wall built to keep them out of China but still depended on their furs in trade
Chinese believed themselves to be middle kingdom, or, center of the world and superior to barbarians
Chinese believed they represented "civilization" and radiated civilization allowing controlled barbarian access
Tribute system- non-Chinese authorities must acknowledge subordination, offer a tribute to the emperor, and in return gained access to China's trading, attempted to regulate interactions with the northern nomads in this way and Europeans after 1500
IN practice the tribute system did not always work out
Xiongnu were more powerful than china and devastated china with raids
China had to acknowledge them as political equals
china also had to provide reverse tributes to stay safe from their attacks
Northern Nomads found it easier to steal from china than try to conquer land and rule it
Some Nomads that did rule parts of China adopted Chinese ways of life, popular among Jurchen
Overall Chinese Culture only had a small impact on the nomads of Steppes
North could not be immersed as in the south mainly because of different environment could not adapt to agricultural lifestyle, therefore retained cultural identity
Nomads had some influence on China, for some time during Tang Dynasty, "Western Barbarian" items were appealing to upper class
Traditional Southern China was critical of North for giving women too much freedom, drinking yogurt instead of tea, and listening to western music
Korea, Vietnam, and Japan were 3 newly emerging neighbors of China that were both agricultural and sedentary
These civs were considered part of the growing globalization in the 1st millennium CE
THey all borrowed heavily from China yet retained cultural identities
Resisted Chinese political domination yet admired and sought their wealth and success
CHina responded in different ways for each
INitial Chinese influence in Korea came from attempted conquest in the Han Dynasty and buddhism was introduced
Korean States resisted Chinese political control unless teaming up with them was beneficial ex against common enemy
Korea maintained political independence while participating in tribute system, enriched Korean aristocracy
Korean students sent to China to study confucianism and natural science and art
Establishing confucianism and Chinese culture in Korea had extremely negative effects on quality of life for women
Flexible Korean restraints on women replaced with harsh chinese models
Korean restraints on women, especially widows, came to exceed even those in China
Chinese only really affected aristocracy, buddhism only thing that reached lower class
Slaves were 1/3 population in Korea
Chinese exam system never gained prominence like in China
More Independent when they developed phonetic alphabet, hangul, in 1400s
Vietnam was much the same as korea in that the elite borrowed from china
Also remained politically independent while participating in tribute system
Red River Valley was fully incorporated into China for over 1000 years by Chinese officials
Assimilatioon cause rebellions and trouble and the weakening tang dynasty could not stop the rebellion and separation
POlitically and culturally still modeled after china and viewed selves as chinese southern extensions
Women retained powerful roles despite chinese influence
Variation of Chinese writing eventually came independent language and educated women in vietnam
Japan was the only neighboring country geographically separated from China so borrowing was entirely voluntary, not enforced by chinese threat
Used Tang dynasty to bureaucratic state chinese model 7-9th century
Shotoku Taishi sent hundreds to China to learn ways and come back and put into practice
Chinese style emperor encouraged buddhism and confucianism and chinese style politics formed
Chinese style culture took root in buddhist schools
No threat from chinese meant they could borrow selectively and developed own traditions alongside
POlitical Chinese model didnt work well and aristocrats held power
Local authorities developed own military forces, samurai, warriors celebrated in sharp contrast to china
Many still practiced native religions w/kami interfered very little with buddhism and could incorporate both
Literature and art developed from china, wrote in tanka, many female writers and poets
Women kept freedoms, power reduced later bc of warrior culture but not because of chinese influence
Northern Nomads were considered barbarians
International trade stimulated social, cultural, and economic change in China
Buddhism took root in China as did Christianity and Islam to a much smaller extent
The collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE resulted in more than 3 centuries of political chaos and in that time aristocratic power grew
Northern Nomads married into aristocratic families and gained political power
This time period largely discredited Confucianism which resulted in wider acceptance of Buddhism and Daoism among the elite
Widespread Chinese migration south to Yangzi River valley which gave southern China about 60% of China's population by 1000
Widespread environmental destruction, old trees and elephants devastated
China regained unity under Sui Dynasty (589-618)
Emperor made vast extensions of canal system that linked North and South China economically and contributed to following prosperity
Failed attempt t conquer Korea exhausted resources and resulted in overthrow
Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Song Dynasty (960-1279) strengthened country's unity
Era has been regarded culturally as the golden age of arts and literature, set new standards of excellence in Chinese poetry, landscape painting, and ceramics
Song Dynasty had introduction of Neo-Confucianism which was an effort to revive Confucianism with insights from Buddhism and Daoism
political structure introduced in song dynasty endured 1000 years, 6 major ministries: personnel, finance, rites, army, justice, and public works
Censorate was surveillance agency over the rest of the government
the exam system was revived and more elaborate than before, facilitated by the ability to print books for the first time in history
Schools that prepped for exams became a central feature of upper class life
Tang dynasty referred to as best ordered state in the world
Officials based on merit challenged aristocratic hold on public office
Landowning and general success were a part of the low-level exams to maintain an immense cultural prestige and prominance
Economic revolution made song dynasty richest and most skilled and populous country in the world
Population went from 50 or 60 million in the Tang Dynasty to 120 Million by 1200 largely because of new agricultural techniques and rice from Vietnam
Very urbanized civilization
Canals, rivers, and lakes made food possible for huge cities, 30,00 miles and world's most populous trading area
Iron industry increased by 11th century providing government with 32000 suits of armor, 16 million iron spearheads annually and coins, tools, construction, and bells in Buddhist monasteries
Coal heated homes and was used for cooking and powering iron industry, considerable air pollution
Books, navigation, ship building and invention of gun powder revolutionary
Industrial revolution stalled due to invasion and destruction by northern nomads
World's most commercialized society, learned production for the market, not local consumption, cash taxes substituted for products produced or labor
paper money, letters of credit, and promissory notes furthered commercialization of society
This time period was also a turning point in Chinese patriarchy
elite had more freedom in the earlier tang dynasty than in song dynasty
reviving of Confucianism in song dynasty tightened restraints on women which emphasized subordination of women and kept men and women separate in every domain of life
Women were viewed as distractions to men's pursuit of contemplative and introspective life
Remarriage of widows was considered shameful
Foot binding was associated with beauty, eroticism, small size, frailty, and deference that served to keep women restricted to inner quarters
Binding enhanced marriage prospects, considered rite of passage and distinguished elite Chinese women from barbarians, commoners, and peasants
Men also pushed women out of the textile industry
In cities, women operated restaurants, sold fish and vegetables, and worked as maids, cooks, and dressmakers
Availability of prostitutes kept inequality in the households
Property rights of women expanded
lower-ranking officials urged the education of women
Developed relations with Northern Nomads, Steppes
Great Wall built to keep them out of China but still depended on their furs in trade
Chinese believed themselves to be middle kingdom, or, center of the world and superior to barbarians
Chinese believed they represented "civilization" and radiated civilization allowing controlled barbarian access
Tribute system- non-Chinese authorities must acknowledge subordination, offer a tribute to the emperor, and in return gained access to China's trading, attempted to regulate interactions with the northern nomads in this way and Europeans after 1500
IN practice the tribute system did not always work out
Xiongnu were more powerful than china and devastated china with raids
China had to acknowledge them as political equals
china also had to provide reverse tributes to stay safe from their attacks
Northern Nomads found it easier to steal from china than try to conquer land and rule it
Some Nomads that did rule parts of China adopted Chinese ways of life, popular among Jurchen
Overall Chinese Culture only had a small impact on the nomads of Steppes
North could not be immersed as in the south mainly because of different environment could not adapt to agricultural lifestyle, therefore retained cultural identity
Nomads had some influence on China, for some time during Tang Dynasty, "Western Barbarian" items were appealing to upper class
Traditional Southern China was critical of North for giving women too much freedom, drinking yogurt instead of tea, and listening to western music
Korea, Vietnam, and Japan were 3 newly emerging neighbors of China that were both agricultural and sedentary
These civs were considered part of the growing globalization in the 1st millennium CE
THey all borrowed heavily from China yet retained cultural identities
Resisted Chinese political domination yet admired and sought their wealth and success
CHina responded in different ways for each
INitial Chinese influence in Korea came from attempted conquest in the Han Dynasty and buddhism was introduced
Korean States resisted Chinese political control unless teaming up with them was beneficial ex against common enemy
Korea maintained political independence while participating in tribute system, enriched Korean aristocracy
Korean students sent to China to study confucianism and natural science and art
Establishing confucianism and Chinese culture in Korea had extremely negative effects on quality of life for women
Flexible Korean restraints on women replaced with harsh chinese models
Korean restraints on women, especially widows, came to exceed even those in China
Chinese only really affected aristocracy, buddhism only thing that reached lower class
Slaves were 1/3 population in Korea
Chinese exam system never gained prominence like in China
More Independent when they developed phonetic alphabet, hangul, in 1400s
Vietnam was much the same as korea in that the elite borrowed from china
Also remained politically independent while participating in tribute system
Red River Valley was fully incorporated into China for over 1000 years by Chinese officials
Assimilatioon cause rebellions and trouble and the weakening tang dynasty could not stop the rebellion and separation
POlitically and culturally still modeled after china and viewed selves as chinese southern extensions
Women retained powerful roles despite chinese influence
Variation of Chinese writing eventually came independent language and educated women in vietnam
Japan was the only neighboring country geographically separated from China so borrowing was entirely voluntary, not enforced by chinese threat
Used Tang dynasty to bureaucratic state chinese model 7-9th century
Shotoku Taishi sent hundreds to China to learn ways and come back and put into practice
Chinese style emperor encouraged buddhism and confucianism and chinese style politics formed
Chinese style culture took root in buddhist schools
No threat from chinese meant they could borrow selectively and developed own traditions alongside
POlitical Chinese model didnt work well and aristocrats held power
Local authorities developed own military forces, samurai, warriors celebrated in sharp contrast to china
Many still practiced native religions w/kami interfered very little with buddhism and could incorporate both
Literature and art developed from china, wrote in tanka, many female writers and poets
Women kept freedoms, power reduced later bc of warrior culture but not because of chinese influence
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