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Chapter 15. The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia. 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. The Grand Canal.
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Chapter 15 The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia
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
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
Wide discontent over conscripted labor in Sui dynasty Military failures in Korea prompt rebellion Emperor assassinated Tang Dynasty begins 2nd emperor of Tang dynasty (r. 627-649 CE) Murdered 2 brothers, thrust father aside for throne Strong ruler Built capital at Chang’an Law & order Taxes, prices low More effective implementation of earlier Sui policies Tang Dynasty Tang Taizong (618-907 CE)
Tang Major achievements • 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
Bureaucracy of Merit • Imperial civil service examinations • Confucian educational curriculum • Some bribery • most advance through merit • Built loyalty to the dynasty • System remains strong until early 20th century
Tang Military Expansion & 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
. The Sui & Tang dynasties, 589-907 CE
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
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
Song Weaknesses • Size of bureaucracy heavy drain on economy • 2 peasant rebellions in 12th century • 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)
Agricultural Economies of Tang & Song • 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
Population Growth • Result of increased agricultural production • Effective food distribution system • Transportation networks built under Tang and Song dynasties
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
Technology & Industry • Porcelain (“Chinaware”) • Increase of iron production (used coke 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
China & Hemispheric Economy • Increasingly cosmopolitan nature of Chinese cities • Chinese silk opens up trade routes, but increases local demands for imported luxury goods
Cultural Change: Tang & 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
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 Conflicts with Chinese Culture
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
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
China & 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
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
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 Influence of Chinese kanji characters Classic curriculum dominated by Chinese Institution of the Shogun Japanese Literature
Medieval Japan • Kamakura (1185-1333 CE) & Muromachi (1336-1573 CE) periods • Decentralized power in hands of warlords (daimyo) • Military authority in hands of samurai • Professional warriors
Samurai • The samurai (bushi) were the members of the military class, the Japanese warriors. • Samurai employed a range of weapons • bows & arrows • spears & guns • most famous weapon & symbol was the sword • Samurai were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ("the way of the warrior"). • Strongly Confucian • Bushido stressed loyalty to one's master • self discipline & respectful, ethical behavior. • After a defeat, some samurai chose to commit ritual suicide (seppuku)
Weapons Yari (spear) Katana sword