Summary Chapter 1 The Global Tapestry from C 1200 to C1400

Topic 1.1: Developments in East Asia China China has great wealth, political stability, artistry, neo-confucian teachings, and spread of confucianism and buddhism Song Dynasty replaced the Tang in 960 Bureaucracy - political organization where appointed officials carry out the empire’s policies (a continuity across dynasties) Meritocracy and the Civil Service Exam - Emperor Song Taizu expanded educational opportunities to men of lower economic classes to score well on the civil service exam to obtain good jobs in the bureaucracy; based on the knowledge of Confucian texts Technology improved roads, canals, foreign trade, prosperity, and population growth The Grand Canal was an inexpensive, efficient internal waterway transportation system; most populous trading area in the world Gunpowder helped make the first firearms that spread to Eurasia via the Silk Roads Champa rice was a fast-ripening and drought-resistant strain from present-day Vietnam that allowed farming in lands where rice didn’t grow Irrigation systems used water, terraces, and pumps to increase productivity and cultivate unusable land which provided an abundance of food Greatest manufacturing capability Learned to take carbon out of cast iron to manufacture steel to reinforce bridges, gates, anchors, and make religious items and agricultural equipment Proto-industrialization - people in rural areas made more goods than they could sell and relied on home-based or community-based production using simple equipment Artisans or skilled craft workers produced steel in smelting facilities under the imperial government and manufactured porcelain and silk that spread through trade (porcelain was highly desired because it was light-weight, strong, light-colored) Maritime navigation - redesigned ships for more cargo, compass, print paper navigation charts (less reliant on the sky) Commercialized society - economy changed from local consumption to market production The Grand Canal supported internal trade with naval technology and allowed China to control trade in South China Sea Commercial economy with public projects increased money in circulation, promoted economic growth, and increased taxes Tributary system - arrangement where states had to pay money or provide goods to honor the Chinese emperor and cemented economic and political power over foreign countries (Japan, Korea, and kingdoms in Southeast Asia were tributary states) Urban areas grew with cosmopolitan metropolises (active centers of commerce) Social class - scholar gentry, aristocracy, farmers, artisans, merchants, peasants Low status reflected Confucian respect for hard work and creative value Role of women - respect for women but they still defered to men (patriarchy) Foot binding - girls had their feet wrapped to signify social status; restricted participation in the public sphere in aristocratic families Paper and printing - first culture to use woodblock printing; expanded availability of books (Confucian scholars were major producers of literature) and placed emphasis on creating well-rounded scholar-bureaucrats Buddhism came to China via Silk Roads from India (monk Xuanzang helped build popularity); introduced Buddhism in China by relating beliefs to Daoist principles; 3 forms of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism focused on personal spiritual growth, Mahayana Buddhism focused on spiritual growth for all beings, and Tibetan Buddhism focused on chanting Four Noble Truths - personal suffering alleviated by eliminating cravings or desires and following Buddhist precepts Eight-Fold Path - the precepts that can lead to enlightenment or nirvana (right speech, livelihood, effort, and mindfulness) Chan/Zen Buddhism - syncretic Daoist and Buddhist faith that emphasized direct experience and meditations as opposed to formal learning based on studying scripture Filial piety - duty of family members to subordinate desires to the male head of the family and the ruler; emphasized respect for one’s elders to maintain Song rule Neo-Confucianism - syncretic system; combined rational thought with more abstract ideas of Daoism and Buddhism; ethics over God and nature Japan, Korea, and Vietnam Japan, Korea, and Vietnam had to maintain distinctive cultures or assimilate Chinese practices Japan - Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto religion; woodblock printing; emulated Chinese traditions; feudalism and aristocrats (daimyo) Serfs were born into economic dependency while samurai were born into roles as protectors; bushido stressed frugality, loyalty, martial arts, and honor unto death; the emperor had little power and suffered regional rivalries Korea - tributary relationship with China and emulated politics and culture; adopted Confucian and Buddhist beliefs; centralized government; aristocracy were more powerful and prevented Chinese reforms Vietnam - traded with and learned from China, but rebelled against Chinese influence; women had greater independence and preferred nuclear families; villages operated independently; merit-based bureaucracy; rejected foot binding and polygyny