The East Asian World

The East Asian World Chapter 9, Sections 1-3

Outline • Rise of Ming Dynasty • Zheng He • Contact with Europeans • Culture/Society • Decline of Ming • Rise of Qing Dynasty • Kangxi • European influence • Culture/Society • Tokugawa Japan • European influence • Economy and society • Korea

Rise of the Ming Dynasty • 1368-1644 • Ruler was Ming Hong Wu, or “Ming Martial Emperor” • China grew to include parts of Mongolia, Central Asia, and Vietnam • Ming improvements • Centralized government • School systems • Factories for producing goods • Public works projects like canals for shipping • Introduction of new, easier to produce, crops

Exploration and Invitation • Voyages of Zheng He • Yong Le, son of Ming Hong Wu, begins voyages into Indian Ocean • Made an enormous profit through trade…but some did not agree with trade • Confucius ideas condemned it • Voyages halted following Yong Le’s death (1424) • Contact with Europeans • Portuguese arrive in 1514, first contact since Marco Polo • Brought Christian missionaries • Exchange of ideas was biggest gain (no trade) • Chinese saw themselves as superior to European “barbarians”

Fall of the Ming Dynasty • Problems within the empire • Weak rulers, high taxes, and poor crop production all led to a downfall • Disease epidemic also killed thousands • Li Zicheng’speasant revolt • Sparked by epidemic • Capital city of Beijing taken in 1644 • Fighting over who would rule China ensued

Rise of the Qing Dynasty • Manchu Dynasty • Came from Manchuria, area northeast of the Great Wall • Made up 1% of Chinese population • Conquered Zicheng’s army, taking control of China • Qing adaptations • All Chinese men had to shave heads and braid their hair into a pigtail called a queue • The Manchu people were made “distinct” from all other people • Most were made nobles • Some were made banners, the chief Chinese fighting force • Chose to share power with the Chinese • 80% of government jobs owned by Chinese

Qing economy • Popularity of artwork like blue and white porcelain grows • Growth in business and jobs • Higher population and food production • Did not see commercial capitalism, or private business based off profit, we see in Europe • Government controlled business • Agricultural jobs still the biggest employer

Reign of Kangxi • Kangxi’s rule • 1661-1722 • Ruled for longest period in the history of China • Expansion • Stopped revolts within China • Gained territories in Taiwan, Vietnam, Russia, Mongolia, & Tibet • Religion • 1692 – Issues Edict of Toleration allowing worship of Christianity, as well as missionaries • Christians split on issue of ancestor worship • 1715 – Pope condemns ancestor worship in China • Kangxiforbades missionaries, says they cause trouble

Role of Europeans • Qianlong • Ruled 1736-1795 • Weak ruler, corruption grows in China • White Lotus Rebellion • 1796-1804 • Launched in response to high taxes, weak rule, corruption • Rebellion is stopped, but at great cost to Qing dynasty • European interference • See moment of weakness as opportunity • Chinese allow trade, but under strict rules • British request more open trade with the Chinese • Told the Chinese do not need the British or their manufacturers

Family Life • The Chinese family • Society revolves around the family • Individuals sacrificed their desires for benefit of family • Extended family – grandparents, parents, children, and children’s spouses under same roof • Clan – Up to hundreds of families sharing religious and social activities • Role of women • Inferior to men • Could not be educated • Could not divorce or inherit property • If they did not produce a son, a second wife could be picked up

Tokugawa Japan • Rise • 250 separate territories called hans • Daimyo, or heads of noble families, ruled and controlled their own lands • Controlled by a hostage system in which their families are held under shogunate custody • Late 1500s, 3 leaders emerged to change this • OdaNobunga • Seized the capital, Kyoto, and began the change • ToyotomiHideyoshi • Inherited power from Oda • Persuaded many daimyo to surrender power • Tokugawa Ieyasu • Inherited power from Toyotomi • Took complete control of Japan, creating central authority and beginning the “Great Peace”

European Influence • Portuguese arrive in 1543 • Want to capitalize on Japanese trade with China • Goods • Japanese impressed with European goods • Use guns to conquer enemies • Religion • Francis Xavier is first missionary • Thousands converted • Kicking out Europeans • Christian practice of destroying shrines upsets Japanese, Europeans booted • A small Dutch community is allowed to remain and trade

Economy and Society • Trade • Like Chinese, Japanese reluctant to trade (Confucius) • Tokugawa rule encourages trade • Class System • 4 classes • Warriors, peasants, artisans, and merchants • Below these are the eta, or Japanese outcasts • Marriage between classes is forbidden • Role of Women • Parents arranged marriages, wife moved in with husband’s family • Valued for role of child bearers and homemakers • Culture • Literature, theater, and art grew in popularity and importance

Korea • Yi Dynasty • Rulers patterned their economy and society after the Chinese • Because of isolation, Korea known as “the Hermit Kingdom” • 1630s – After being weakened by Japanese invaders, Koreans are conquered by Chinese

The East Asian World