Post Classical China

1. Post Classical China

2. Song Dynasty

3. Post Classical China • Sui, Tang, Song • In Rome—political fragmentation • China regained unity under Sui Dynasty (589-618) • Great Canal system –”an engineering feat without parallel in the world of its time” • Linked China north and south economically and enabled prosperity

4. Tang and Song • Tang 618-907 • Song 960-1279 • Renewed unity • “Gold Age” of Chinese Achievement • Neoconfucianism—Confucianism incorporating insights of Buddhism and Daoism • Politically— created 6 ministries (finance, personnel, rites, army, justice, public works)

5. China’s “Mona Lisa”: Beijing Qingming scroll

6. What does this scroll tell you about China during the Song Dynasty?

7. Golden Age • Exam System—reinstated and further entrenched • Ability to print books • Placing numbers on exams not names—also, people were searched when taking the exam- prevent cheating • Basing system on merit- a challenge to aristocracy (usually found a way around it anyway)

8. Great inventions • Paper • Printing • Gunpowder • Compass

9. Song Economic Revolution • Made China “by far the richest, most skilled, and most populous country on earth” • Endured GREAT population Growth • From 60 million during Tang to 120 million by 1200. • Why would this be—must have to do with food production. • Remarkable achievements in agricultural production, particularly the adoption of a fast ripening and drought resistant strain of rice from Vietnam • MOST IMPORTANT: producing for the market, rather than for local consumption became a very widespread phenomenon. • Paper money contributed to Chinese commercialization

10. Urbanization • China became the most urbanized country in the world • Marco Polo would describe Hangzhou (city): “beyond dispute the finest and noblest city in the world” • Supplying cities with food—thanks to network of canals, rivers, lakes. • Cheap transportation: “world’s most populous trading area”

11. Iron Production • Industrial production soared • Supplied metal for coins, armor, arrowheads, tools, construction, bells in Buddhist monasteries

12. Women in Song Dynasty • LESS THAN GOLDEN AGE • Turning point in history of Chinese patriarchy • During Tang Steppe nomads had introduced a life that favored females (women rode horses, participated in social life)—however by Song Dynasty a restored Confucianism • Tightened patriarchal restrictions on women • Restored earlier Han images of female submission and passivity

13. SimaGuang on Women • “The boy leads the girl, the girl follows the boy’ the duty of husbands to be resolute and wives to be docile begins with this” • Women were distraction to men’s pursuit of a contemplative life

14. Foot binding • Began to spread during Tang • Elite families at first • New images of female beauty and eroticism that emphasized small size, delicacy, and reticence • In other ways there was progress for women– property rights expanded • Women were educated more– for the sake of educating their sons. • Thus tightened and gave women opportunities

15. China’s Many Interactions • How did China view its nomadic neighbors—visa versa • China is NOT self contained • China’s most enduring interaction with foreigners lay to the north—nomadic pastoral peoples of the steppes • They traded, were raided • Nomads also saw China as a threat • The Great Wall was built in their face • Prevented trading at some times • Sometimes the Chinese sent military campaigns directed at nomads • The Chinese needed nomad’s horses • Skins, furs, hides were also valuable to Chinese • Pastoral Nomads also controlled parts of the Silk Road

16. The Tribute System • Way of Chinese managing relationships with surrounding people • “A set of practices that required non Chinese authorities to acknowledge Chinese superiority and their own subordinate place in a Chinese centered world order.” • Kowtow—series of ritual bowings and prostrations and present their tributeto emperor • What did they get in exchange: access to trade

17. Tribute with Xiongnu • In reality– the Xiongnu were just as powerful • Xiongnuhad the power to devastate China • Chinese promised Xiongnu grain, wine, silk as “gifts” • In reality, tribute in reverse or “protection money” • In return- Xiongnu would refuse military incursions into China • The Chinese were not always able to dictate the terms of the tribute system • Unlike the people of Southern China who absorbed Chinese culture, northern nomads maintained own culture

18. Tribute: Korea, Vietnam, Japan • Newly emerging states of Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. • Unlike northern nomads, these cultures were sedentary and agricultural • Unlike people in SOUTHERN China, these people were influenced by China but NEVER became Chinese

19. KOREA

20. Korea and China • Resisted Chinese political control • Participated in China’s tribute system • Leaders embraced connection with China • Wanted to become a “miniature China” • To Korea from China: • Luxury goods • Ceremonial clothing • Silk • Teas • Confucian and Buddhist texts • Artwork • Korean students went to China—studied Confucianism, natural sciences, the arts • Confucian schools were set up in Korea • HOW DO YOU THINK CHINESE CULTURE IMPACTED WOMEN IN KOREA?

21. KOREA • KOREA remained Korean • 688—Political independence • Chinese influence was mostly towards the elite • Buddhism though was a great impact

22. Vietnam • Like Korea, the elite culture of Vietnam borrowed heavily from China • Adopted Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, administrative techniques, exam system, artistic and literary styles • Vietnam achieved political independence • Participated in tribute system

24. Differences with Vietnam • The Vietnamese heartland was incorporated into China for over 1000 years. • Chinese regarded Vietnamese as Southern Barbarians • Chinese saw them as another rice producing area • Elite were educated in Chinese culture • Some rebellions to go against Chinese rule/influence • Took to the 10th century for Vietnam to rebel as a separate state

25. Vietnam as a separate state • Emperors like China • Claimed the Mandate of Heaven • Chinese court rituals • More so than Korean—Chinese based exam system in Vietnam • Merit based scholar gentry class • Vietnamese remained committed to Chinese culture

26. Vietnam • Beyond the elite there remained much that was uniquely Vietnamese • i.e. cockfighting • Greater role of women in social and economic life • Female Buddha • Language

27. Japan • Unlike Korea and Vietnam, the Japanese islands were physical separated from China by 100 miles of Ocean • Thus Japan’s vey extensive borrowing from Chinese civilization was voluntary –not under threat • Began to develop a centralized bureaucratic state like China

29. Japan—not the same bureaucratic system • Japan would become decentralized • Would become feudalistic • Shinto was never replaced by Buddhism • Marriages were made and broken often • DEVELOPED MORE DISTINCT due to geographic location • Separate from China physically