Chapter 14

The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

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The Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.)

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 2000 kilometers (1240 miles) Roads on either bank

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The Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)

Wide discontent over conscripted labor in Sui dynasty

Military failures in Korea prompt rebellion Emperor assassinated in 618 C.E.

Tang dynasty initiated

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Tang Taizong

Second emperor of Tang dynasty (r. 627-649 C.E.)

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 eighth century

Corruption, loss of land to Buddhist monasteries

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Bureaucracy of Merit

Imperial civil service examinations Confucian educational curriculum

Most advance through merit Educational opportunity widely available Built loyalty to the dynasty System remains strong until early twentieth 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 C.E. 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 ninth

century, last emperor abdicates 907

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Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)

Emphasis on administration, industry, education, the arts

Military not emphasized Direction of first emperor, Song Taizu (r. 960-976

C.E.) 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 twelfth 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)

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Agricultural Economies of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Developed Vietnamese fast-ripening rice, two 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

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: two million residents Southern Song capital Hangzhou: over one million

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Patriarchal Social Structures

Increased emphasis on ancestor worship Elaborate grave rituals Extended family gatherings in honor of deceased

ancestors Foot binding gains popularity

Increased control by male family members Wu Zhao (626-706 C.E.)

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Foot Binding

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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-eleventh century Yet complex Chinese ideographs make wood block

technique easier Naval technology

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Emergence of a Market Economy

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 eleventh 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 C.E.

Buddhist temples, libraries Economic success as converts donate land

holdings Increased 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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Schools of 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 salvatio

n” Chan school; Zen Buddhism Pure Land school

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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, Manichaeans 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 Philosopher Zhu Xi (1130-1200 C.E.)

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China and Korea

Silla Dynasty: Tang armies withdraw, Korea recognizes Tang as emperor

Technically a vassal state, 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

tenth 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 C.E.)

Adoption of Confucian, Buddhist teachings Yet retention of Shinto religion

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Heian Japan (794-1185 C.E.)

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

The Tale of Genji

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Institution of the Shogun

Civil war between Taira and Minamoto clans in twelfth century

Minamoto leader named shogun, 1185 C.E. Ruled from Kamakura, allowed imperial throne to

continue in Kyoto

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Medieval Japan

Kamakura (1185-1333 C.E.) and Muromachi (1336-1573 C.E.) periods

Decentralized power in hands of warlords Military authority in hands of samurai

Professional warriors

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Borderlands of postclassical China: Korea, Vietnam, and Japan

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