The Spread of Chinese Civilization:

Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

World Civilizations; The Global Experience 5th Edition, AP Edition

Japan

Japan: The Imperial Age

• Indigenous cultural influences, particularly those linked to Shinto views of the natural and supernatural world, remained central to Japanese cultural developments.

• During the Taika (645-710), Nara (710-784), and Heian (794-857) periods, Japanese borrowing from China peaked.

• In 646 the Taika reforms were introduced, which were aimed at completely revamping the imperial administration along Chinese lines.

• The Japanese aristocracy struggled to master the Confucian ways, worshipped in Chinese-style temples, and admired Buddhist art that was Chinese in subject matter and technique.

• The peasants turned to Buddhist monks for cures or to Buddhist magic when they needed luck.

• Ancient kami are the nature spirits of Japan.

• After the reforms were introduced the monks so became bold and powerful that the aristocracy lived in fear of street demonstrations and the escalating demands of the heads of the monastic orders.

• In 794 the emperor Kammu established a new capital city at Heian, which was later called Kyoto. Buddhists were forbidden to build monasteries in the new capital. But to get around this the monks built their monasteries in the hills surrounding the city.

• Trying to control the Buddhist monks, the emperor abandoned all pretense of continuing the Taika reforms.

• At the Heian court, members of the imperial household and the leading aristocratic families lived in a complex of palaces and gardens.

A housing complex

• Housing complexes were mostly made of unpainted wood with sliding panels, matted floors, and wooden walkways running between the separate residences where the many dignitaries lived.

• Fish ponds, artificial lakes with waterfalls, and fine gardens were scattered among the courtiers’ living quarters.

• Writing poetry was the most valued art at the court.

• Some were painted on little fans or sent on a boat on the little streams that ran through the palace grounds

• The poems were brief and full of allusions to Chinese and Japanese classical writing

• The Tale of Gengi was written by Lady Murasaki.

It was the first novel written in any language.

The Tale of Genji centers on the life and loves of a handsome The Tale of Genji centers on the life and loves of a handsome son, Hikaru Genji, born to an Emperor during the Heian son, Hikaru Genji, born to an Emperor during the Heian Period. Period. In the story, the beloved concubine of the Emperor gives In the story, the beloved concubine of the Emperor gives birth to Genji and dies soon after. Raised within the Royal birth to Genji and dies soon after. Raised within the Royal Family, Genji has his first illicit affair with Fujitsubo, the Family, Genji has his first illicit affair with Fujitsubo, the young wife of the Emperor. She gives birth to a boy who was young wife of the Emperor. She gives birth to a boy who was raised by the unknowing Emperor as his own son. Although raised by the unknowing Emperor as his own son. Although feeling guilt because of this affair Genji goes on to have feeling guilt because of this affair Genji goes on to have numerous other affairs with other court ladies including numerous other affairs with other court ladies including Utsusemi, Yugao, Murasaki-no-ue, and Hanachirusato. At one Utsusemi, Yugao, Murasaki-no-ue, and Hanachirusato. At one point, Genji's adultery with a lady of the opposite faction point, Genji's adultery with a lady of the opposite faction results in his being exiled for a period to Suma After a short results in his being exiled for a period to Suma After a short time, he returns to the capital, where he rises further in time, he returns to the capital, where he rises further in status and position being appointed to high official ranking status and position being appointed to high official ranking reaching the apogee of his career. However, his newly wed reaching the apogee of his career. However, his newly wed young bride, Onna-Sannomiya, has an illicit affair that young bride, Onna-Sannomiya, has an illicit affair that results in a child, Kaoru, reminding Genji of his own similar results in a child, Kaoru, reminding Genji of his own similar past actions. Then Murasaki-no-ue, Genji's real love and wife, past actions. Then Murasaki-no-ue, Genji's real love and wife, in fact, if not in law, of more than twenty years, passes in fact, if not in law, of more than twenty years, passes away. Left in deep despondence Genji decides to leave the away. Left in deep despondence Genji decides to leave the capital to enter a small mountain temple. capital to enter a small mountain temple. The Tale of Genji continues, although without the hero Genji. The Tale of Genji continues, although without the hero Genji. In his place are Kaoru, his grandson, and Niou-no-miya, In his place are Kaoru, his grandson, and Niou-no-miya, Kaoru's friend. These two youths carry on the Genji tradition Kaoru's friend. These two youths carry on the Genji tradition with the princesses in the palace at Uji. The story centers on with the princesses in the palace at Uji. The story centers on the young lady, Ukibune, whose heart and mind is set a the young lady, Ukibune, whose heart and mind is set a flutter by the courtship of these two young men.flutter by the courtship of these two young men.

http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/what/index.htm

The Decline of Imperial Power

• By the mid-9th century, the Fujuwara family exercised exceptional influence over imperial affairs.

• By the middle of the 10th century, one aged Fujiwara chief minister had seen four of his daughters married to emperors.

• Within the mini-states ruled from the forts, the warrior leaders, or bushi, administered law, supervised public work projects, and collected revenue– mainly for themselves, not the court.

• A samurai is a Japanese warrior who was a member of the feudal military aristocracy.

SamuraiSamurai

• Buddhist monasteries employed armed toughs to protect them and attack rival sects.

• The court and high officials hired provincial lords and their samurai retainers to serve as bodyguard and to protect their palaces and mansions for robbery or arson.

• A warrior code developed that stressed family honor and death rather than retreat or defeat.

• Beaten or disgraced warriors turned to ritual suicide to prove their courage and restore their family’s honor. This practice was called seppuku, or disembowelment.

The Era of Warrior Dominance

• As the power of provincial lords grew, that of the imperial household and court aristocracy declined because the were dependent on the lords for protection.

• Two powerful feuding families were the Taira and the Minamoto.

• For five years, the Gampei Wars raged in the heartland of the main island Honshu.

• Often the Samurai would massacre poorly trained peasants.

• The Minamoto established the bafuku, or military government.

• The Minamoto capital was located at Kamakura in their base area on the Kanto plane.

Yoritomo

(Minamoto no Yoritomo)

the leader of Minamoto weakened the Kamakura regime because of

his obsessive fear of being overthrown by his family

•Yoritomo murdered close relatives, including his brother Yoshitsune, who had much to do with the Minamoto triumph over the Tiara.

•After his death, the Hojo family soon took over the Kamakura regime.

•In the early 14th century, one of the branches of the Minamoto family, Ashikaga Takuaji, led a revolt of the bushi that overthrew the Kamakura regime and established the Ashikaga Shogunate (1336-1573) in its place.

•Japan was divided into 300 little kingdoms, whose warlord rulers were called daimyos rather than bushi.

Toward Barbarianism?

Military Division & Social Change

Famine struck the nation hard while daimyos were well fed.

•Some daimyos began to collect taxes, support irrigation projects and other community work.

Artistic Solace for a Troubled Age

•Zen Buddhism played a critical role in securing the place of the arts in the era of strife and destruction.

Korea: Between China & Japan

•Because the Korean peninsula is an extension of the Chinese mainland and the smallness of the continent, it was treated as little more than an appendage of China

•The Koreans descended from the hunting and herding peoples of eastern Siberian and Manchuria rather than the Mongolian- and Turkic-speaking tribes to the West.

Choson- The earliest Korean kingdom that was conquered by the Hans emperor Wudi. Thereafter, parts of Korea were colonized by Chinese settlers that remained there for four centuries. A small Japanese enclave in the southeast of the peninsula provided contact with the islands as well.

Koguryo- Tribal people of the peninsula soon resisted the Chinese rule, despite conquest and colonization under the Han. As Chinese control weakened, the Koguryo established and independent state in the north half of the peninsula that was soon at war with two southern rivals, Silla and Paekche.

Sinification- The extensive adoption of Chinese culture in Korea.

• Korean rulers patronized Buddhist artists and financed the building of monasteries and pagodas. Korean scholars traveled to China, and a select few went to the source of the Buddhist faith, India.

Chinese writing was introduced- Though the spoken Korean language was ill suited for adaptation to the Chinese characters as the Japanese language had been. The Koguryo monarch imposed a unified law code patterned after that of Han China.

Tang Alliances and the Conquest of Korea

• Korea was left vulnerable to further attacks from the outside.

•Unsuccessful campaigns of the Sui, included Korea in the territories they staked out for their empire.

• Tang strategies hit on the idea of taking advantage of Koran divisions to bring that troublesome region into line. They stuck and alliance with Silla and together destroyed the Paekche Kingdom and then Koguryo. This lead the Chinese conquerors to began to quarrel with their Silla allies on how to divide up their spoils.

• Revolts broke out in the former Paekche and Koguryo territories already conquered.

• Tang decided it was time to strike a deal.

• A deal was made for regular tribute payments and the Silla monarch’s submission as a vassal of the Tang emperor.

• The Chinese withdrew their armies in 668.

Sinification: The Tributary Link

• Under The Silla monarchs, Chinese influences peaked and Korean culture achieved its first full flowering.

• The Koreans’ regular attendance on the Chinese emperors was a key sign of their tribute system.

• Most Chinese emperors were happy to receive there embassies.

• Tributes in the form of splendid gifts and acknowledged the superiority of the Son of Heaven by their kowtow to him.

• The tributary system provided privileged access to Chinese learning, art, and manufactured goods.

Kow-towing – series of ritual bows in which the supplicant prostrated himself before the throne

The Sinification of Korean Elite Culture

• Silla rulers rebuilt their capital at Kumson on the Kyongia plain to look like its Tang counterpart.

• There were central markets, parks, lakes, and a separate district to house the imperial family.

• Aristocratic families surrounded their mansions into the area around the imperial palace.

• Some aristocrats studied in Chinese schools, and a few even submitted to the rigors of the Confucian examination system.

• Most positions in the government continued to be occupied by members of the aristocratic families

• Birth order and family connections played took priority rather than knowledge of the Confucian classics.

The Korean Elite

Favored BuddhismLavishly endowed Monasteries

Patronized works of religious art

Koreans often outdid their Chinese teachers

• Manufacturing Porcelain• Created art that were admired and

collected by the Chinese• Improved the art of Printing

Civilization for the Few

With the exception of Buddhist sects such as the pure land, had strong appeal for the ordinary people, imports from China in the later eras were all most monopolized by the tiny elite.

Koryo Collapse, Dynastic Renewal

• Common people and the low born found their lot too much to bear and rose up against the ruling class.

• Most uprisings were local affairs.• Collectively they weakened both the

Silla and Koryo regimes.• Close to a century and a half, conflict

triggered by the Mongol invaation in 1231, the Yi dynasty was established in 1392.

Between China and Southeast Asia:

The Making of Vietnam

• Chinese movement south brought them to the fertile, rice growing region of the Red River vally.

• Viets first appeared in recorded history as a group or “southern barbarians”.

• They did not suffer the same fate as others due to their homeland being far from the main Chinese centers.

• The Quin raided Vietnam in the 220s B.C.E., stimulating an already existing commerce.

• The Viets has already formed their own distinct culture.

• Viets traded ivory, tortoise shells, pearls, peacock feathers, aromatic woods, and other exotic products drawn from the sea and tropical forests.

• In centuries that followed, the Viets intermarried and blended with the Mon-Khmer- and Tai-speaking peoples who occupied the Red River area.

• This was a crucial step in the formation of the Vientmese as a distinct ethnic group.

Khmers – today's Cambodians

• Viet culture had many features characteristic of southeast Asia.

Spoken language was not related to Chinese

Enjoyed a strong tradition of village autonomy

Favored the nuclear family

Viet women have historically greater freedom and influence

• Vietnamese custom and culture also differed very significantly from Chinese.

VietnameseWomen preferred

long skirts

Enjoyed cockfighting

Chewed betel nut

Blackened their teeth

Chinese Black pants

Did not enjoy

Found disgusting

Considered repulsive

Conquest and Sinification

• The Han emperor initially settled for the Viet ruler’s admission of his vassal status and periodic payments of tribute. But by 111 B.C.E., the Han thought it best to conquer the feisty Viets outright and to govern them directly using Chinese officials.

• Chinese administrators set to work co-opting the local lords and encouraging them to adopt Chinese culture.

• Viet elite cooperated realizing that they had a lot to learn from the Chinese.

• They attended Chinese-style schools, learned to write Chinese script, read the classical Chinese tests of Confucius and Mencius, then took exams to qualify them for administrative posts.

• Vietnamese found that Chinese political and military organizations gave them a decisive edge of the peoples of the west and south.

• Vietnamese elite adopted the extended family model.

• Chinese overlords assumed that the Vietnamese “barbarians” were becoming civilized.

Roots of Resistance

• The Chinese were frustrated by sporadic revolts led by members of the Vietnamese aristocracy and failure of the peasantry to embrace Chinese culture.

• Women participated in the raids.• Vietnamese women did not like the

Confucian codes and family systems, that would confine them to the household and subjected them to male authority.

Trung sisters- Children of a deposed local leader, who led a famous uprising in 39 C.E.

Xuan Huong- Famous writer composed poetry regarding Confucian decorum.

“Careful, careful where are you going:

You group of know-nothings!

Come here and let your older sister teach you to write poems.

Young bees whose stingers itch rub them in wilted flowers.

Young goats who have nothing to do with their horns

butt rub them against sparse shrubbery.”

Winning Independence and Continuing Chinese Influences

• Vietnamese struggle for independence was assisted by the distance from China.

• They were quick to take advantage of political turmoil and nomadic incursions in northern China.

• After numerous attempts, mounted a rebellion, and by 930 the Vietnamese had won political independence.

• The Vietnamese were master’s of their own land until the 19th century.

• Chinese cultural exports continued to play central roles in Vietnamese society.

• Succession of Vietnamese dynasties began with Le (980-1009), which ruled through a bureaucracy that was a smaller copy of the Chinese administrative system.

• However, the local scholar-gentry never enjoyed as much power.

• Local Vietnamese officials tended to identify with the peasantry rather then with the court and higher administrators.

• They looked out for local interests and served as leaders in village uprisings against the ruling dynasty.

• Buddhist monks had much stronger links with the peasantry

The Vietnamese Drive to the South

• The Chinese legacy helped the Viets in their struggles with local rivals.

• Main adversaries were the Chams and Khmers.

• From the 11th to the 18th century, they fought a long series of successful wars against the Chams, then clashed with the Khmer.

• Indianized armies were no match for the Chinese-inspired military forces.

• At the time the French arrived in the Mekong area, in the late 18th century, the Vietnamese has occupied much of the upper delta and were pushing into the territory that now belongs to Cambodia.

Expansion and Division

• They dynasties centered in Hanoi and were unable to control distant frontier areas.

• As southerners intermarried with and adopted some of the customs of the Chams and Khmers, differences in culture and attitude developed between them and the northerners.

• As the Hanoi-based dynasties over the southern regions weakened, regional military commanders grew less responsive.

• By the end of the 16th century, the Nguyen and emerged to challenge the claims of legitimacy of the Trinh family that ruled the north.

• Over the next two centuries they fought for the right to rule Vietnam, not accepting the division of Vietnam as permanent.

This caused the Vietnamese not to recognize the growing external threat to their homeland...

France and the conversion-minded Roam Catholic church

Global Connections:In the Orbit of China:

The East Asian Corner of the Global System

First millennium C.E.- Chinese civilization influenced the formation of three distinct patterns of development in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

• Each of these regions contained fertile and well-watered lowland areas that were suited to sedentary cultivations, primarily wet rice.

• Common elements of Chinese culture, modes of writing, bureaucratic organizations, religious teachings, and art were passed on to each new civilization.

• With an important exception of popular Buddhism, were monopolized by courts and elites.

• Civilizations differed because of the different variations in the process of mixing Chinese and indigenous patterns.

Korea- Forced symbolic political submission and long-term cultural independence

Vietnam- Helped form their civilization and allowed Viets to incorporate Indian and Southeast Asian influences.

Japan- Chinese dynasties to assert direct control failed, although Chinese ways were the standard and remained the epitome of civilized development.

The power of the Chinese model had one other important result for Korea, Japan, and Vietnam-

contacts with other parts of the world were slight to nonexistent, because there was no sense that any other place had examples

worth emulating.

Prepared by: Alyssa Wheeler & Shontell Carter