Strayer begins the chapter by stating that China was a massive and powerful civilization that "widely intimitaed adjacent peoples" therefore giving "rise to a China-centered set of relationships encompassing most of eastern Asia" (323). China extended its borders deep into Central Asia. Though Chinese history has been previously viewed as changeless, the material in this chapter counteracts this impression because China influenced the world as it changed interactions with non-Chinese peoples. "Northern nomads - 'barbarians' to the Chinese - frequently posed a military threat and on occasion even conquered and ruled parts of China" (324). Buddhism also took root in China as well as Christianity and Islam.
Together Again: The Reemergence of a Unified China
-The collapse of the Han dynasty was around 220 c.e.
A "Golden Age" of Chinese Achievement
-China regained its unity under the Sui dynasty.
-Its emperors solidified that unity by a vast extension of the country's canal system" (324).
-The canals linked northern and southern China which contributed much to the prosperity that followed
-Sui emperors and a futile military campaign to conquer Korea resulted in the exhaustion of the state's resources, with people alienated.
-People wanted to overthrow the dynasty
-After the dynasty collapsed, two other dynasties followed which were the Tang and Song dynasties that were built on the Sui foundations of renewed unity.
-China's population quickly grew. Supplying growing cities with food was possible by an immense network of internal waterways.
-China's iron industry increased its output dramatically
-Govt.demanded for taxes paid in cash
Tang and Song dynasties
-established patterns of Chinese life that endured into the 20th century
-there was a 50 year period of disunity between the two
-Culturally, this era is known as the Golden Age such as the golden age of arts and literature
-"This era has long been regarded as a "golden age" of arts and literature, setting standards of excellence in poetry, landscape painting, and ceramics" (325).
-Song dynasty: explosion of scholarship gave rise to Neo-Confucianism, "an effort to revive Confucian thinking while incorporating into it some of the insights of the insights of Buddhism and Daoism" (325).
-Both build a state structure that endured for a thousand years
-Censorate: agency that exercised surveillance over the rest of the government, checking on the characters and competence of public officials.
Women in the Song Dynasty
-elite Chinese women of the Tang dynasty: participated in social life with greater freedoms
-Song dynasty: Confucianism and rapid economic growth tighten patriarchal restrictions on women
-Foot binding: tight wrapping of young girls' feet, breaking the bones of the foot to cause intense pain
-Song dynasty: women's property rights expanded, offering new opportunities to women
China and the Northern Nomads: A Chinese World Order in the Making
-"Living in areas unable to sustain Chinese-style farming, the northern nomads had long focused their economies around the raising of livestock and the mastery of horse riding" (333).
-The nomadic people (north) were attracted to Chinese goods (silk and wine), therefore, they traded and raided China to receive their resources. The Chinese people often threatened them and directed their military forces to drive them out, building the Great Wall. But China realized that they needed the nomads, most especially as the nomads were the source of horses.
The Tribute System in Theory
-tribute system: a set of practices that required non-Chinese authorities to acknowledge Chinese superiority and their own subordinate place in a Chinese-centered world order.
-Examples: expressions of submission
The Tribute System in Practice
-China was confronting large and powerful nomadic empires
-Example of nomadic empire: Xiongnu
-Xiongnu raids into Northern China persuaded the Chinese emperor to negotiate an arrangement that recognized the nomadic state as a political equal, promised its leader a princess in marriage and agree to supply him annually with large quantities of grain, wine, and silk"
Coping with China: Comparing Korea, Vietnam, and Japan
-These places retained "distinctive identities" and also appreciated Chinese culture (337).
-Korea was ruled by China (temporarily) during the Han dynasty, introduced to Chinese culture and Buddhism. They had a tribute system relationship with China.
-Korea and Vietnam adopted Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, art, and literature styles from China
-Japan had a voluntary relationship with China, Buddhism took root, their literature and artistic culture also evolved.
Japan and China
Japanese women escaped more "oppressive features of Confucianism" (343). They were able to own property, divorce, and remarry, while Korean women were tightly bound to Confucian values.
Together Again: The Reemergence of a Unified China
-The collapse of the Han dynasty was around 220 c.e.
A "Golden Age" of Chinese Achievement
-China regained its unity under the Sui dynasty.
-Its emperors solidified that unity by a vast extension of the country's canal system" (324).
-The canals linked northern and southern China which contributed much to the prosperity that followed
-Sui emperors and a futile military campaign to conquer Korea resulted in the exhaustion of the state's resources, with people alienated.
-People wanted to overthrow the dynasty
-After the dynasty collapsed, two other dynasties followed which were the Tang and Song dynasties that were built on the Sui foundations of renewed unity.
-China's population quickly grew. Supplying growing cities with food was possible by an immense network of internal waterways.
-China's iron industry increased its output dramatically
-Govt.demanded for taxes paid in cash
Tang and Song dynasties
-established patterns of Chinese life that endured into the 20th century
-there was a 50 year period of disunity between the two
-Culturally, this era is known as the Golden Age such as the golden age of arts and literature
-"This era has long been regarded as a "golden age" of arts and literature, setting standards of excellence in poetry, landscape painting, and ceramics" (325).
-Song dynasty: explosion of scholarship gave rise to Neo-Confucianism, "an effort to revive Confucian thinking while incorporating into it some of the insights of the insights of Buddhism and Daoism" (325).
-Both build a state structure that endured for a thousand years
-Censorate: agency that exercised surveillance over the rest of the government, checking on the characters and competence of public officials.
Women in the Song Dynasty
-elite Chinese women of the Tang dynasty: participated in social life with greater freedoms
-Song dynasty: Confucianism and rapid economic growth tighten patriarchal restrictions on women
-Foot binding: tight wrapping of young girls' feet, breaking the bones of the foot to cause intense pain
-Song dynasty: women's property rights expanded, offering new opportunities to women
China and the Northern Nomads: A Chinese World Order in the Making
-"Living in areas unable to sustain Chinese-style farming, the northern nomads had long focused their economies around the raising of livestock and the mastery of horse riding" (333).
-The nomadic people (north) were attracted to Chinese goods (silk and wine), therefore, they traded and raided China to receive their resources. The Chinese people often threatened them and directed their military forces to drive them out, building the Great Wall. But China realized that they needed the nomads, most especially as the nomads were the source of horses.
The Tribute System in Theory
-tribute system: a set of practices that required non-Chinese authorities to acknowledge Chinese superiority and their own subordinate place in a Chinese-centered world order.
-Examples: expressions of submission
The Tribute System in Practice
-China was confronting large and powerful nomadic empires
-Example of nomadic empire: Xiongnu
-Xiongnu raids into Northern China persuaded the Chinese emperor to negotiate an arrangement that recognized the nomadic state as a political equal, promised its leader a princess in marriage and agree to supply him annually with large quantities of grain, wine, and silk"
Coping with China: Comparing Korea, Vietnam, and Japan
-These places retained "distinctive identities" and also appreciated Chinese culture (337).
-Korea was ruled by China (temporarily) during the Han dynasty, introduced to Chinese culture and Buddhism. They had a tribute system relationship with China.
-Korea and Vietnam adopted Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, art, and literature styles from China
-Japan had a voluntary relationship with China, Buddhism took root, their literature and artistic culture also evolved.
Japan and China
Japanese women escaped more "oppressive features of Confucianism" (343). They were able to own property, divorce, and remarry, while Korean women were tightly bound to Confucian values.
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