Asia – China & Japan
Mr. Williamson
Somerville High School
Directions
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Using p. 108-112 in the text, complete the guided notes
provided to you and your partner
When complete, review for accuracy with your partner, ask
any questions you may have
Then, utilize your notes to create the following chart and
submit before the end of the period.
Shang
Government
Achievements
Decline
Zhou
Directions
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Now that we have covered the reasons for the dynastic
cycle, compose a 1 paragraph reflection response on the
following question:
 Of the problems with the “Old Dynasty”, select
the one issue that you feel has the biggest effect in
a dynasty’s downfall and the emergence of a new
regime. Provide a minimum of 2 examples for
your conclusion.
1 per group, discuss with your teammate. You have 10
minutes to write and we will share as a class if time permits.
This will be submitted. Good luck!
Directions
Using p. 509-513 in the text, complete the guided
notes provided to you and your partner
 When complete, review for accuracy with your
partner, ask any questions you may have
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Directions
 Lastly, utilize
your notes to create a political
cartoon in the space provided on your note
sheet. The subject/topic of your cartoon
should be:
 FOREIGN
RELATIONS
OF THE MING/QING DYNASTY
China & Western Influences
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Core Belief – Chinese Rulers wanted isolationism
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Limited trade (Chinese tea to Britain) is profitable
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British unhappy with imbalance of trade (export vs. import)
Solution: Opium
 Addictive drug banned in China but continually sold by British
 Chinese React: destroy British opium at port of Guangzhou
 Britain responds: attack/force Chinese to sign the Treaty of Nanjing
Treaty Consequences
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First UNEQUAL treaty
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Opened 5 more ports for trade, gave extraterritoriality (British
citizens subject only to British laws in doing business in China)
China & Western Influences
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Some Chinese believe Qing Dynasty lost Mandate, leads to
a series of rebellions
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Taiping Rebellion – Led by peasants, goal was to create a “Heavenly
Kingdom of Peace”, no poverty
Captured large territories but fell to Qing/French/British armies
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Significant cost: ~20 million dead
China unable to reform
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Weak military, resistance to change from traditional scholars/officials
Western powers carve out “Spheres of Influence” (region which a foreign
nation controls trade/investment)
China & Western Influences
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Boxer Rebellion
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Movement to restore China’s glory, led by a group called the “Harmonious
Fists” or Boxers (peasants/lower class workers)
Foreign armies capture Beijing/suppress movement
Qing humiliated/face a heavy fine from British, responds
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New national army, primary/secondary schools, provincial assemblies
Sun Yat-sen: Calls for overthrow of the Qing
Based his ideology on: nationalism, democracy, “people’s livelihood”
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Revolutionary ideas take root w/intellectuals & military academies
Jan. 1912 - Declare a republic, new president Yuan Shikai forces Qing
emperor to leave throne
China & Western Influences
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Pro/Con Debate Prep Challenge
Using your notes, handouts and brainstorming ideas between you and your partners,
come up with a “T” chart with the PRO/CON on ISOLATIONISM in China
Pro – Why is isolationism a positive movement for China?
Con – Why is isolationism a negative for China?
For each side, come up with a minimum of 6-8 reasons for each side. This will be
used during our debate. Remember, your perspective is of a Chinese citizen.
China & Western Influences
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Debate Directions
Find your partner/partners from yesterday’s debate prep
Make sure you have your T Chart/Notes from yesterday’s activity
You will be assigned a specific perspective (Pro/Con Western
Influences in China) and given 5 minutes to prepare with your group.
 We will then have a series of small group debates (4-5 minutes) on
this issue.
 You will be evaluated on the points you make and the frequency of
your arguments.
 Remember, attack the issue, not the person
 Everyone must participate.
 Good Luck!
The Evolution of China
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Chiang Kai Shek leads the Chinese Nationalists, known as the
Guomindang, clashes with a new party, Communist Party of
China
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Marks the start of the CHINESE CIVIL WAR: Communists v. Nationalists
Mao Zedong, communist leader, seeks a safe place to regroup beyond
the Nationalist control
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Lead a 6k mile trek through China known as the LONG MARCH
The Evolution of China
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Guomindang forces outnumber Mao’s Communists
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However, they have the support of the peasants (vast majority of population)
Communists promise to return land to peasants if victorious
1949 – Nationalists driven from China, Mao assumes power, forms
the People’s Republic of China
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Seeks to rebuild China, 5-Year plans for industrial development/output
Improves economy/reduces poverty/increases literacy rates/public health
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However, communists eliminated their “enemies of the state”
Great Leap Forward – Plan to increase industry/agricultural #’s
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Created thousands of collective farms to produce food/small industrial output
Outcome: Disaster – poor weather/neglect led to sharp drops in
production/famine ensues
The Evolution of China
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Cultural Revolution – Mao’s attempt to regain power/prestige
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Mao’s Death – 1976, China ends isolation, Deng Xiaoping becomes
China’s leader
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Rid society of old ways, emphasize a society of peasants/physical labor
Wanted to eliminate intellectuals who he feared wanted to end communism
Reform Plan: Four Modernizations – Agriculture, Industry, Science/Tech,
National Defense
Tiananmen Square Incident – inspired by new economic
freedoms, students begin to demand political freedoms
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Spring 1989 – Pro-democratic protesters occupy Beijing’s Tiananmen Square
Chinese leaders become inpatient, respond with force, killing ~ 200-300
people
The Evolution of China
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Exit Ticket Review
1. What did the students protest for? What were they
saying to the government?
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2. What was the Chinese government’s reaction to this
event? Be specific and name at least 3.
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3. What was the rest of the world’s reaction to this event?
Early Japan
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Clans – groups based on extended family develop/rule many
villages in Japan
 Worshipped nature spirits, kami who they believe were their
ancestors
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Beliefs in kami evolved into the religion of Shinto (“way of
kami”)
Strong beliefs in nature: sun, trees, rocks, animals
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Shrines/ceremonies to ask for blessings – located in natural
settings
Torii – marks the entrance to each shrine
Early Japan
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Most revered Kami – Amaterasu, the sun goddess
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Japan’s 1st Emperor – grandson of the sun goddess, belonged to
the powerful Yamamato clan
Lived on the Yamato plain – rich farming region on island of
Honshu
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Yamamato chiefs called themselves the emperors of Japan even
though they did not entirely control Japan
Claimed their rule was through God or “divinity”
Medieval Japan
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1100s – Japan’s central government is weak, local clans
fighting for power/land
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For protection, clans hired armies of samurai or trained professional
warriors
Samurais follow strict code of ethics – Bushido or “way of
the warrior”
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Required courage, honor, loyalty
Pursued activities requiring focus such as poetry, etc.
Many adopt Zen Buddhism, stressed discipline through meditation
If your disobey, expected to commit seppuku, suicide by
disembowelment
Medieval Japan
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Japan emperor forced to name the victorious clan leader SHOGUN or
“General”, supreme military leader
Tokugama Ieyasu is named Shogun in 1603
 Establishes capital at Edo (present day Tokyo)
 Agricultural production/cities and economic activity increased
 New Roads – Five Highways linked major towns/cities
Social Structure: Daimyo – powerful warlords with large states
Medieval Japan
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Tokugawa Shogunate’s Foreign Relations
Europeans arrive in 1543, welcomed at first with new ideas, products,
technologies
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Boosts Japan’s economy, but Christian ministries influence Japanese society
Shoguns concerned about spread of Christianity, began to attack missionaries
Begin ISOLATION. 1650 – All ports shut except for the Dutch
Japan’s cities become centers of culture
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Colorful woodblock prints, Ukiyo-e, showing scenes of city life/landscapes
Haiku poetry, 3 lines with 17 syllables each (deal with nature/harmony)
Noh Drama – slow moving stories through use of masks, dance, music
Kabuki – more action, plot/humor, interacted with audiences
Ukiyo-e Samples