Early+Japan

Five Themes John??? Chapter 15 (pages 375-401)

The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

During the early 7th century C.E., the emperor of China issued an order stating that no-one was allowed to travel beyond Chinese borders into central Asia. However, in 629 C.E. a young Buddhist monk named Xuanzang slipped out of China to seek the homeland of Buddhism, India. His goal was to visit the holy sites of Buddhism, and learn about his faith from the most knowledgeable teachers and sages. Xuanzang faced many difficulties as he departed from China. Firstly, he was left abandoned by his guide in the Gobi desert. He survived by making his way to Turpan, a town located along the silk road, and receiving rich gifts and advice from its Buddhist ruler. After this, he crossed three of the world's largest mountain ranges- the Tian Shan, Hindu Kush, and Parmir. It was said that he faced many attacks and confrontations with bandits, demons, and dragons. Finally Xuanzang arrived in India and spent 12 years studying Buddhist doctrine, and languages. He collected a huge collection of books(about 657), relics, and images which he transported back to China in order to advance the understanding of Buddhism. Although Xuanzang had broken Chinese law, he received a hero's welcome from the emperor when he returned. Until his death in 664, Xuanzang spent his time translating Buddhist texts into Chinese to bring about nearly universal adoption of the Buddhist faith in China. The post-classical era in China was a time of intense interaction with other peoples, which created trade networks that connected most of the eastern hemisphere. A "resurgent" China made its influence known throughout east Asia. Diplomats and armed forces introduced Chinese ways into Korea and Vietnam. Japan gained guidance on matters of political organization. All three of these nations retained their distinctiveness but were greatly influenced by China. In the late 6th century, China was brought under centralized imperial rule by the Sui dynasty. The later Tang and Song dynasties made China into a very organized society that became a center for agricultural and industrial production. (T.B.)

China

** The Sui Dynasty **
Yang Jian imposed tight political discipline upon his own state and then extended his rule to the rest of China. Yang Jian started to gain power when a Turkish ruler appointed him duke of Sui in Northern China. In 590 Yang Jian's patron died, leaving a seven-year-old son as an heir. Yang Jian installed the boy as ruler but forced his abdiction one year later, claiming the throne and the Mandate of Heaven for himself, and started to have military expeditions. By 589 the house of Sui ruled all of China. Like the Qin dynasty rulers, the emperors of the Sui dynasty (589-618 C.E.) placed enormous demands on subjects during the course of making a strong centralized government. (S.N) The Sui emperors ordered the construction of granaries, extensive repairs on defensive walls, dispatched military forces to central Asia and Korea, levied high taxes, and demanded labor services. The most elaborate and helpful project undertaken during the Sui dynasty was the Grand Canal, which was the biggest waterworks project before modern times. Sui Yangdi, the second emperor, completed work to help trade between northern and southern China, particularly to make supplies like rice and other food crops abundant. The most effective way to trade crops and heavy goods at the time was by water and since most rivers in China go from east to west a large enough man made waterway had to be made. The Grand Canal actually isn't one singular canal but a series of waterways that reached from Hangzhou in the south to the imperial capital of Chang'an in the west to a terminus near modern day Beijing in the north. Sui Yangdi used canals that he built and also some dug as early as the Zhou dynasty but linked them into a network that served most of China and ran 1,240 miles. Reportedly the Grand Canal was 40 paces wide and had roads running parallel to the waterways on both sides. (S.N) Though expensive to construct the Grand Canal paid dividends for more than a thousand years and integrated economies of northern and southern China, thereby establishing a economic foundation for political and cultural unity. Until the arrival of trains, the Grand Canal served the main conduit for internal trade but because of more recent technology the canal has lost is significance as a trade route. Sui Yangdi's constructional projects have served China well long term, but because of their dependence on high taxes and forced labor hostility grew. The Grand Canal alone had millions work on it. During the late 610's rebellions broke out in northern China when Sui Yangdi wanted additional resources for his Korean Campaign. In 618 a minister assassinated the emperor and brought the end of the dynasty. (S.N)

The Tang Dynasty [[image:apworldhistorywiki/images-2.jpg width="321" height="224" align="right"]]
After the death of Sui Yangdi, a rebel leader took his land and made himself the emperor of a new dynasty that he called Tang. The Tang dynasty lasted from 618-907 CE and it became a very powerful and productive society. The second emperor of the Tang dynasty, Tang Taizong, reigned from 627-649 CE. Tang Taizong would do anything to earn the imperial rulership. He killed two of his brothers and pushed his father aside so that he could be the emperor. Taizong created three policies to help his empire be successful: maintained nice roads and communication networks, distribute land according to principles of the equal-field system, and rely on a bureaucracy based on merit. To make communication efficient amongst cities, they built roads. These roads were used by horses and sometimes human runners. Along the roads there were inns, postal stations, and stables to provide rest for travelers and horses. The purpose of the equal-field system was to ensure that land was distributed equally among the people to avoid social problems. Although the system eventually died out it provided stability in China. The Tang dynasty followed the bureaucracy of merit started by the Han dynasty. They gave civil bureaucrats positions of high authority, especially if their family was wealthy. The Tang dynasty also had a very strong military. Soon after the Tang dynasty began, the military conquered Manchuria, part of Vietnam, a portion of the plateau of Tibet, and they forced the Silla kingdom to view the Tang emperor as the overlord. The Tang dynasty maintained relationships between China and neighboring lands. The neighboring lands would show respect to Chinese overlords by sending them gifts and performing the kowtow (ritual in which people kneel before the emperor and touch their foreheads to the ground). In the year 755 CE a military commander, An Lushan, started a rebellion and captured the dynasty's capital at Chang'an. Then in 757 CE an Lushan was murdered and finally by 763 CE Tang forces defeated An Lushan's army and took their capital back. Although the Tang dynasty was in control, the rebellion had left the dynasty very weak. In 875 CE the rebellion came back and the Tang dynasty had to ask a Turkish army to defend them, in return they had to give up Chang'an and another prosperous city. Finally, in 907 CE the final Tang emperor stepped down from his throne and the dynasty reached its end. (JB)

The Song Dynasty
==== ﻿Although the Song dynasty lasted from 960-1279 CE, it never became a very powerful state. The first Song emperor, Song Taizu, reigned from 960-976 CE. While Song Taizu was in power, he put most of his effort towards administration, industry, and education instead of focusing on military. At first his military was ==== ==== quite powerful as they controlled much of China but he convinced most of the officials and generals to retire and live happy, peaceful lives. After the military leaders were retired Song Taizu began providing generous salaries and occupations for civil bureaucrats. The emperors that reigned after Song Taizu continued this tradition. This way of administration eventually resulted in a centralized imiperial government. This form of government eventually brought about two huge problems that eventually became one reason for the dynasty's fall. These problems involved finance and military. The empire eventually ran out of money that they could use to generously pay the civil bureaucrats, the lack of money resulted in the charging of taxes. The people didn't appreciate the treasury charging taxes and they started two major rebellions against the government. Along with the empire's finance, their military wasn't strong either. Ever since the emperors began allowing scholar bureaucrats to be military officials, the forces slowly became weaker and weaker. The bureaucrats that were leaders in the military usually had little or no education on military affairs. Finally, the military forces and the financial issues hit rock bottom. The Song dynasty then moved its capital to Hangzhou and the dynasty only existed in southern China, now commonly known as the Southern Song. Finally, in 1279 CE the Mongol military forces took over the Song dynasty and took the land in southern China under their own empire. (JB) ====

Korea

During the seventh century, Tang armies conquered much of Korea before the native Silla dynasty rallied against the Chinese to prevent Chinese domination of the peninsula. Both Tand and Silla authorities preferred avoiding a long costly conflict. So China and Korea came up with a compromise: Chinese forces would withdraw from Korea, and the Silla king would recognize the Tang emperor as an overlord. In theory, Korea was a vassal state in the Chinese empire but in practice Korea was in most respects a independent kingdom although the ruling dynasty prudently maintained cordial relations with China. Korea entered a tributary relationship with China. Silla kings regularly had envoys deliver gifts to Chinese emperors and performed the kowtow. These concessions brought considerable benefits to Koreans. In return for recognition of Chinese supremacy, the Koreans received gifts more valuable then their tributes to China and also the tributary relationship opened doors for Korean merchants to trade in China. (S.N) Meanwhile, the tributary relationship spread Chinese cultural and political influences to Korea. Embassies delivering tribute to China included Korean officials observed the workings of Chinese court and bureaucracy and brought it back to Korean court, which was organized on similar lines as the Chinese court. The Silla kings even designed their new capital over the Tang's Chang'an. Royal officials were not the only ones that went to China. Scholars were one of the peoples who traveled with the embassies and also brought back Chinese ways of thinking, writing, and Chinese books. Which played a major role in helping to build a Korean interest in Confucian traditions, especially the educated aristocrats. While Confucianism attracted the elites of society, Chan Buddhism had a greater appeal to peasants and commoners because of it's promise of individual salvation. (S.N) China and Korea differ in a lot of ways. Most notably, perhaps, aristocrats and royal houses dominated Korean society more than in China. Although Korean monarchs sponsored Chinese schools and Confucian examination system, Korea never established bureaucracy based on merit such as that of Tang and Song China. Political initiative stayed in the hands of the ruling classes. Nevertheless, dealings with their powerful neighbor ensured that Korea reflected Chinese political and cultural traditions. (S.N)

Vietnam Việt Nam

Vietnam and China's relationship was far more tense than that of China and Korea's. When the Tang armies invaded the land they called "Nam Viet", they encountered spirited resistance from the people around the Red River. Tang forces soon won control of Viet towns and cities, and launched efforts to absorb the Viets into Chinese society, just like what happened to their predecessors did to the indigenous peoples around the Yangzi River valley. Viets eagerly accepted Chinese agricultural methods as well as irrigation technique as well as Chinese schools and administrative techniques. Like the Korean elites, Viet elites studied Confucian textbooks, Chinese-styled education, Viet traders also traded around China. Vietnamese officials even joined a tributary relationship with the Chinese court like Koreans did. But the Viets resented Chinese efforts to dominate the southern land and mounted several revolts against Tang authorities. When the Tang dynasty fell during the early Tenth century, the Viets won their independence and avoided later efforts of imperial expansion in the south from China. (S.N) Many Vietnamese retained indigenous religions in preference to Chinese cultural traditions. Women also played a more prominent role in Vietnamese society and economy than did their Chinese counterparts. Southeast Asian women had dominated local and regional markets for centuries and participated actively in business ventures closed to women in more patriarchal society like that of China's. Nevertheless, Chinese traditions found a place in Vietnam. Vietnamese authorities established an administrative system and bureaucracy modeled on China's. Viet's ruling class needed to go to a Confucian school to be prepared for careers. Furthermore Buddhism came from China's well as India and won a large popular following. Vietnam absorbed political and cultural influence from China and reflected the development of a larger east Asian society centered on China. (S.N) Japan

Chinese armies never attacked Japan but Japanese political and cultural development is deeply rooted in Chinese traditions. Japan was first inhabited by nomadic peoples from Northeast Asia around 200,000 years ago. Years later people from the Korean peninsula started to travel in waves, bringing with them horses, iron and bronze metallurgy, and the cultivation of rice. As Japan grew in size around the islands people started to build agricultural societies and small sates dominated by aristocratic clan emerged. By the first millennium C.E. several dozen states ruledsmall regions. When the Sui and Tang societies established themselves and suggested the value of a centralized imperial government one o Japans aristocratic clans insisted it had precedence over others even though it couldn't rule outside of its own territory and set about reforms to centralize Japanese politics. The imperial house designed a court modeled on the Tangs, had a Chinese-styled Bureaucracy, a equal-field system, provided official support to Buddhism and Confucianism, and moved to a new capital city named Nara (near modern day Kyoto) which was a replica of Chang'an. During the Nara period Chinese influence was more prominent then any other time. Yet Japan didn't loose it's unique characteristics like it's indigenous belief system, Shintoism (which is a religion that revolves around the veneration of ancestors, natural spirits, and deities) even though they reflected Chinese influences and traditions.(S.N) Heian, Kamakura, and Muromachi periods clearly show this distinction between the two. In 794 the emperor moved his court from Nara to a newly constructed capital near Heian (modern Kyoto). For four centuries Heian was the seat of refined and sophisticated society that drew inspiration from China but elaborated distinctively as Japanese political and cultural traditions. The emperors during the Heian period (794-1185 C.E.) rarely ruled but were more of a figure head and symbols of authority which was unlike their Chinese counterparts. During the Heian period the Fujiwara family (an aristocratic clan) controlled affairs from behind the throne through manipulation/influence over the imperial house. Because of the split between imperial authority and a separate effective rule helps keep imperial house alive. Japanese writing and language was based off of the Chinese. Young men and boys who were formally taught learned how to write in Chinese. Since women were not taught Chinese, women contributed more to Japanese literature and language. One of the women that contributed the most was a woman named Murasaki Shikibu who was a lady in waiting in the Heian court and who also wrote //The Tale of Genji//. While courtiers and aristocrats lived charmed lives fundamental changes were happening in the countryside leading to the end of the Heian court. The equal-field system fell into disuse and aristocratic clans accumulated most of the islands' lands. By the late 11th century, Taira and Minamoto- overshadowed all the other clans. During the mid 12th century the two clans fought an all out war against each other, and in 1185 Minamoto emerged the victor. The Minamoto claimed to rule the land in the name of the emperor and installed clan leaders as shoguns (military governor who ruled in place of the emperor) and established the seat of their government at Kamakura (near modern day Tokyo) while the imperial court stayed at Kyoto. For most of the next four centuries, one branch or another of the Minamoto clan dominated political life in Japan. (S.N.) Historians refer to the Kamakura (1185-1333 C.E.) and Muromachi (1336-1573 C.E.) periods as Japan's medieval period. In this time, Japan developed a decentralized political order in which provincial lords controlled local regions' land and economic affairs. As theses lords and their clans battled for power and authority in the countryside, they found that the Chinese-style bureaucracy that the Nara and Heian rulers instituted had little use. These lords replaced refined conduct with military talent and discipline. This gave rise to mounted warriors called the Samurai, who played an important role in political and military affairs. The Samurai served the provincial lords by enforcing authority over the territories. In return for their services, the Samurai were paid with the surplus of agriculture and services of peasant laborers. Japan's political order took its original inspiration from the Tang dynasty in China. Along with this, Japan borrowed confucian values, Buddhist religion, a system of writing, and the ideal of centralized imperial rule. These elements of Chinese society survived in Japan and greatly influenced it for years to come. (T.B.)

=Five Themes:=

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**Sources**
Traditions & Encounters, Chapter 15

Images Others
 * 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto
 * 2) a ton of searching on google.com
 * 1) http://records.photodharma.net/culture/the-travels-and-work-of-xuan-zang
 * 2) http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_Korea_mean
 * 3) http://www.vietnamonline.com/faqs/what-does-vietnam-mean.html

People
1) Sheena Nakagawa (S.N.)