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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 C.E.

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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.

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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 Several cities over 100,000

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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 “Flying cash:” 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 empahsis 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 Zhu Xi (1130-1200 CE) important synthesizer Popular to 20th century

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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

Development of hiragana, katakana syllabic alphabet Court life: The Tale of Genji

Written by woman with weak command of Chinese, becomes classic of early Japanese literature

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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