Middle Imperial Middle Imperial EraEra

ChinaChina

China and Japan

Quiz: Friday, December 6China, Chapter 12 p. 263-276Japan, Chapter 13, 278-290Chapter 13 hint: P 286-287

Due: Four pages of notes total Two pages for each Chapter

China: Reunification & China: Reunification & Renaissance Renaissance

Recall Political Developments:Recall Political Developments:

• Sui Dynasty (589-618)Sui Dynasty (589-618)– Reunification– Completion of Grand CanalGrand Canal connecting

northern & southern China

• Tang Dynasty (618-907) Tang Dynasty (618-907) – expansion

China during the Tang & Song DynastiesChina during the Tang & Song Dynasties

Song Dynasty (960-1279)Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Confucian Civil Service SystemConfucian Civil Service System• Reintroduced during Sui Dynasty;

expanded in Tang & Song era, especially

• Exams based on Confucian classics

Economic RevolutionEconomic Revolution

• Population doubled during Song era

• Agricultural prosperity– New variety of rice– New cash crops – e.g. tea,

sugar– Dikes, reservoirs, & dams– Water pumps

– P. 269

Terraced rice paddies in southern Terraced rice paddies in southern ChinaChina

Economic Revolution Cont.Economic Revolution Cont.

• Commercial growthCommercial growth• Manufacturing expands during this period Manufacturing expands during this period

1000-14501000-1450– Internal trade, facilitated by canals & paper $paper $– Overseas maritime trade facilitated by

magnetic compassmagnetic compass & junksjunks

• Growth in industryGrowth in industry– Esp. silk fabric, porcelain & paper– Water powered mills & bellows– Iron & steel

Chinese Junks

• Urbanization (growth of cities)Urbanization (growth of cities)– E.g. Kaifeng & Hangzhou (p. 268)

Other Technological Other Technological AchievementsAchievements

• Gunpowder• Mechanical

clock• Moveable type

(printing)

““Thunderbolt ball”Thunderbolt ball”

Social DevelopmentsSocial Developments

• Growth of scholar-eliteGrowth of scholar-elite• Declining status of womenDeclining status of women

– Increasing legal restrictions– Demand in cities for domestic servants

& concubines– Foot binding

Ideal woman’s Ideal woman’s foot = 3” long!foot = 3” long!

FOOT BINDING

Lotus Shoes

• The role of Women further diminishes during and after the Song Dynasty

FOOT BINDING Q & A!

• When did foot binding begin?– Tang Dynasty (618-907) among upper class

• Why?– It’s beautiful. Right?

• Another q: Would men find the deformed feet attractive?

• Was it always the same?– No—It got much more debilitating (and

widespread) during the later Qing Dynasty. (When was the Qing Dynasty?)

• Last one – 1636-1911

• The ideal foot: approx. 3 inches long!

Cultural DevelopmentsCultural Developments

• Women poets as exception

• Refined pastimes of the elite

• Landscape painting

P. 273-275