CHAPTER 12: THE CIVILIZATIONS OF EAST ASIA
Section 1: China under the Sui, Tang, & Sung Dynasties
I. The Sui & Tang Dynasties

Grand Canal - canal constructed during the Sui dynasty that linked northern & southern China for the
first time
A. Expansion Under the Tang

the Tang expanded China’s frontiers
B. Literature Under the Tang

the Tang dynasty marked a high point in the development of Chinese literature
C. Religion in Tang China

Buddhism reached its peak under the Tang

Empress Wu - strong leader, able administrator, & outspoken supporter of Buddhism; the only
woman to hold the Chinese throne in her own name (r. 690-705)

the Tang rulers brought back Confucianism in a movement called Neo-Confucianism
D. The Decline of the Tang Dynasty

the Tang dynasty ended about 907
II. China Under the Sung Dynasty
A. Trade & Arts

foreign trade expanded

porcelain making & landscape painting became important
B. The Civil Service System

the civil service system was revised, ending the need for sponsorship & taking measures to
end corruption
C. Great Inventions

gunpowder was first used for warfare during the 900s

the world’s first known printed book was the Diamond Sutra, a Buddhist religious text
produced in China in 868
D. Peasant Life

farming methods improved but new taxes fell hard upon the peasants
E. City Life

wealthy Chinese probably lived in fine homes surrounded by gardens & artificial lakes;
ordinary people probably lived in crowded apartments, often in extended families of several
generations

during this period the status of women in Chinese society began to change

the custom of foot binding spread among the wealthy classes; eventually, small feet became
viewed as a sign of feminine beauty
Section 2: The Mongol Empire
I. Genghis Khan & the Mongols

the Mongols lived north of China in the rugged steppe region now called Mongolia

although they were never a numerous people, the Mongols’ culture encouraged the skills of battle

the Mongol armies were highly skilled in the use of massed firepower, rapid movement, & maneuvers

Genghis Khan - the fiercest Mongol leader whose name meant “Universal Ruler”
A. Mongol Conquests
Mongols take
Beijing
Mongols in
Central Asia
Mongols take
Tibet &
Southeast Asia
Mongols take
most of Persia
Mongols
conquer rest of
China
B. Mongol Rule

the Mongol Empire was divided into 4 parts that were united until the 1300s when they slowly
began to drift apart
II. China Under the Mongols



under Mongol rule, China prospered in many ways:
o
once the Mongols secured their empire, a century of war ended
o
the population began to grow again
good effects of Mongol rule:
o
improved communication
o
improved transportation & trade
bad effects of Mongol rule:
o
unequal treatment
o
harsh taxes
o
harsh laws
A. Contact with Europeans

Marco Polo - famous Italian merchant & explorer who traveled to China
B. Chinese-Mongol Relations


tension caused by the following:
o
spoke different languages
o
unequal treatment
o
marriage restrictions
the Mongols brought greater contact with Europe & made local governments more responsible
to the central government in Beijing
Section 3: Japan, Korea, & Southeast Asia
I. The Physical Setting

the modern nation of Japan consists of a string of thousands of islands in the western Pacific Ocean
off the east coast of Asia that stretch over a distance of nearly 1,400 miles

no place in Japan is more than about 100 miles from the ocean

Japan is very mountainous; only a relatively small part of its land can be used for farming

earthquakes, tidal waves, & typhoons often strike Japan

the Japanese people could choose whether or not they wanted to have contact with other peoples
II. Japan’s Beginnings
A. Early History

religion played an important role in helping Japanese culture form

kami - Japanese gods or nature spirits

Shinto - “Way of the kami”; indigenous religion of Japan involving rituals & prayers to
appease nature spirits & veneration of the emperor

few records of early Japanese history exist
B. Chinese Influence

Chinese influence on Japan came in the areas of religion, writing system,
government/political structure, technology, fashion, & literature
III. Feudal Japan

in Japan the feudal system contained 2 general sources of power:
o
the central government
o
a group of powerful local landowners
A. Government in Feudal Japan

shogun - chief military & governmental officer in feudal Japan

samurai - Japanese warriors hired for protection by wealthy landlords in feudal Japan

Bushido - “Way of the warrior”; code of behavior of the samurai, stressing bravery, loyalty, &
honor

Seppuku - form of ceremonial suicide of defeated or disloyal samurai to avoid dishonor
B. The Daimyo

in time, local lords gained great power; for a century, Japan had no effective central
government & warfare was common
C. Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism was introduced from China in the 1100s
IV. Korea

Korea is a rugged, mountainous peninsula that juts south from Manchuria into the sea between
China & Japan
A. Korea’s History

because of its location, Korea has long served as a bridge that has allowed the passage of
people & ideas from the mainland of eastern Asia to neighboring island chains
B. Unification Under the Silla

by about 670 the kingdom of Silla had united Korea for the first time
C. The Growth of Korean Culture

Chinese influence on Korea came in the areas of religion, government/political structure,
technology, & literature
V. Civilizations in Southeast Asia

Chinese influence on Vietnam came in the areas of religion, writing system, & government/political
structure