Inner and East Asia, 600 – 1200

1. Inner and East Asia, 600 – 1200 Thinking Skill: Gather and organize information and data

2. A. Tang Origins Sui Dynasty (581 – 618) Emperor Li Shimin Extension of autonomy Allowed local nobles, gentry, officials, and religious establishments to exercise significant power Turkic Inner Asian-Tang Emp. And nobility descended from Turkic elites Appreciated Pastoral nomadic culture of Inner Asia and Chinese traditions Culture/military B. Buddhism and the Tang Empire Followed Inner Asian precedents in political use of Buddhism Presence of Buddhism, responsibility of king Mahayana Buddhism dominant – facilitated cultural exchange Early Tang dependence on Buddhist monasteries Cosmopolitan - diversity, contacts with Inner Asia I. The Early Tang Empire, 618 - 715

3. C. To Chang’an by Land and Sea Roads, Grand Canal Tributary system Compass design, ocean vessels D. Trade and Cultural Exchange Cultural impact from Inner Asia/Islam Clothing Stringed instruments, food and wine 1000 CE exports exceeded imports – balance of trade Silks, porcelain Increased trade– traders use credit/finance networks

4. B. Upheavals and Repression, 750 – 879 • New fears of Buddhism undermining Confucianism, Han Yu • Emperor Wu Zhao – favored Buddhism/Daoism, reviled by Confucian writers • Buddhists severed ties to this world • 840 – Tang destroyed thousands of monasteries, government gained new sources of revenue • Fall of Buddhism in Tang China C. The End of the Tang Empire, 879 – 907 • Empire dependent on local military rulers/complex tax system • 755 – Rebellion led by General An Lushan -> rise of military governors • Prosperity but political disintegration and cultural decay • 879 – 881 – Huang Chao (gentry) led greatest uprising Hatred of foreigners • Warlords wiped out rebels • Mass migrations to the south

5. Discuss the absorption and also repression of Buddhism in China. What was the impact of these two trends in Asian history?

6. Tang adopted many Buddhist ideas, and many of the Tang regions had Budd. Populations. Bud. played an important political function, giving emperors the spiritual function of creating a harmonious Bud. society. Bud. Monks counseled and prayed for leaders and contributed money

7. As the Tang political and military decline became reality, however, there was strong backlash against Bud. Tang elites blamed Bud. for undermining Confucian ideas of the family as the model for the state. Han Yu’s “Memorial on the Bone of Buddha” in 819 was a strong statement criticizing Bud. In 840 the gov.t moved to crush the monasteries; 4,600 temples were destroyed and 26,500 monks and nuns were converted to workers. This was a huge loss to China’s cultural heritage.

8. Expanding Confucian world view targeted the south Cultivation of rice needed structured society Korea, Japan and Vietnam all centralized power during the Tang period – saw Buddhism and Confucianism as compatible IV. New Kingdoms in East Asia

9. A. Korea • Mountains, little agricultural land • Early 500s - kingdom of Silla (south); power of landowners, Koguryo kingdom in north, after 688 Silla ruled but needed support of Tang • After early 900s (fall of Tang) house of Koryo (Korea) united peninsula – alliance with the Song • Koryo kings supported Buddhism – woodblock printing from 700s • Process of woodblock printing, later advances • Koryo Founded 918, destroyed by a Mongol invasion 1259

10. B. Japan • Geography • Mid 600s Yamato followed Tang government • Wooden Architecture, Buddhism • No walls, No Mandate of Heaven • Unchanging Tenno dynasty, role of prime minister and Shinto • Kyoto • Fujiwara family – cultural development, Confucianism • Power of warriors, civil war • Education of women – The Tale of Genji • Kamakura Shogunate – Buddhism, rise of samurai

11. C. Vietnam • Red River and Mekong, irrigation systems • “Annam” – Confucian bureaucratic training, Mahayana Buddhism • 936 – Dai Viet – good relations with Song • Rivalry with Champa (south) – foreign influences • Champa and voluntary tribute – Champa rice • Confucian hierarchy – differences in treatment of women

12. III. The Emergence of East Asia to 1200 Three new states: origins, beliefs • The Liao and Jin Challenge • Liao Empire of Khitan (916 – 1121) – Siberia to Central Asia • Pastoral traditions, importance of Buddhism to emperor • Siege machines, horsemen • 1005 – Song tribute to the Liao • Alliance with Jurchens of northeast Asia • Destruction of Liao capital in 1115 • “Southern Song” (1127 – 1279) – Song make payments to Jin to avoid warfare B. Song Industries • INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION??? • Indian/West Asian mathematicians/astronomers – fractions/calendars • 1088 – Su Song and giant celestial clock • Advances in magnetic compass • Junk ships – rudder, watertight bulkheads…copied in Persian Gulf • HUGE ARMY (1.25 million men) – half the territory of the Tang • Use of steel/iron – sources in the north • Government monopoly by 11th c. – producing as much cast iron as 18th c. Great Britain • Mass production • 1100s - Gunpowder - impact

13. C. Economy and Society in Song China • Neo – Confucianism, Zhu Xi, ideal human – the sage • Chan Buddhism (Zen in Japan) – mental discipline • Rigorous examinations for bureaucratic offices • Social implications of scoring well/poorly on exams • Printing – woodblock to moveable type • Mass printing of books, exam materials, instructions on cultivation • Agriculture south of the Yangzi River, plow/rakes, control of malaria • Migration to the south, displacement of native people • 1100 – population in Chinese territories over 100 million • Large cities • Problems in cities – waste management, water supply, etc. • City of Hangzhou • Credit – “flying money” • Government issued paper money - inflation • Cost of military expenditures • Sold rights to collect taxes • New social hierarchy based on new sources of wealth – MODERN – growth of middle class and private capitalism seen in 18th c. Europe • Women’s rights/education • Development of footbinding – status symbol