EMPIRES OF THE “OTHER”
Part Two: China
Writing into the day:
What does it mean for a culture to be isolated?
In what ways doe China Appear to be isolated
from the rest of the world during the post classical
period? (possible test question)
In what ways is China connected with the rest of
the world during the post classical period?
(possible test question!)
In this unit I have referred to China as being on the
“periphery” of the civilized world during the postclassical period? Is this true? Why or why not?
Why do you think that we in the western world
have adopted this Euro-centric view of the world?
Video Questions
1. Does anything in this film surprise you?
2. In what specific ways did eastern and western
culture fuse in Greco-Buddhism?
3. Greco-Buddhism refers to the cultural syncretism
between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, which
developed between the 4th century BCE and the
5th century CE, and is a part of a new trend in
research on links between Buddhism and the
Alexandrine world. In what ways does this
change some of our historical notions of how
classical and postclassical societies interacted
with each other? What is the value in constantly
reconsidering historical data and formulating new
conclusions?
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in
the Sui-Tang Eras
The Sui dynasty came out of the Nor5thern Zhou empire. Wendi, a member of
a prominent family struck up an alliance with the Zhou and seized power,
forming the Sui dynasty. He lowered taxes and built up the Infrastructure by
establishing granaries throughout the empire, thus providing a reserve food
supply and garnering widespread support. His major military victories
including the defeat of the Chen empire in eastern China.
A. Sui Excesses and Collapse
-Yangdi was Wendi’s son and took the throne by murdering his father.
-He established a milder legal code and advocated for Confucian education.
-Scholar-gentry was an emerging class of intellectuals who competed with
the power of the aristocracy.
-Yangdi began the trend of sui dynasty excesses by undertaking massive
construction projects, such as a capital at Loyang.
-The grand canal was an 1100 mile canal built to connect the Yellow and
Yangtze river for the purposes of trade.
-Yangdi’s military accomplishments were significant, making war as far as
Korea in the north and Vietnam in the south. His defeat by Turkic nomads in
inner Asia coupled with losses in Korea weakened the dynasty
tremendously, leading ultimately to Yangdi’s assassination at the hands of
his own ministers.
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in
the Sui-Tang Eras (continued)
B. The Emergence of the Tang and the Restoration of the
Empire
-Li Yuan, Duke of Tang rebelled against the Sui dynasty only
after becoming disillusioned by the excesses of its leaders.
-Conquering territory deep into Asia, all the way to modern
Afghanistan, Li Yuan rebuilt the empire and established the
Tang dynasty
-The Empire extended to Tibet in the west and re-annexed
the Yangtze river basin in the south for the first time since the
Han dynasty.
C. Rebuilding the Bureaucracy
-loyal and well educated officials from the scholar gentry
helped to rebuild the bureaucracy.
-Through the building of the bureaucracy an executive
department was formed, divided into 6 ministries including
war, justice, and public works
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in
the Sui-Tang Eras (continued)
E. State and Religion in the Tang and Song Eras
-Confucianism and Buddhism were potential rivals for several reasons.
Primarily the rigid social tenants of Confucianism put an emphasis on
following a strict code and maintaining social order. Buddhism was a
significantly more free religion, teaching more equality in terms of
societal structure and in particular with regards to women.
-Theravada Buddhism focused primarily on meditation and
concentration, the eighth of the Eightfold Noble Path; as a result, it
centered on a monastic life and an extreme expenditure of time in
meditating. This left little room for the bulk of humanity to join in, so a
new schism erupted within the ranks of Buddhism in the first century
AD, one that would attempt to reformulate the teachings of Buddha to
accommodate a greater number of people. They called their new
Buddhism, the "Greater Vehicle" (literally, "The Greater Ox-Cart") or
Mahayana, since it could accommodate more people and more
believers from all walks of life. They distinguished themselves from
mainstream Theravada Buddhism by contemptuously referring to
Theravada as Hinayana, or "The Lesser Vehicle."
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in
the Sui-Tang Eras (continued)
E. State and Religion in the Tang and Song Eras
-Mahayana Buddhism- The Mahayanists claimed to be recovering the
original teachings of Buddha, in much the same way that the Protestant
reformers of sixteenth century Europe claimed that they were not
creating a new Christianity but recovering the original form. Adapting
local religions and adopted customs of the local villages was a common
practice with the Mahayana. (This approach was similar top that of
Islam in southeast Asia and Christianity in western Europe.)
-The idea of the bodhisattva was one of the most important innovations
of Mahayana Buddhism. The boddhisattva , or "being of wisdom," was
originally invented to explain the nature of Buddha's earlier lives.
Before Buddha entered his final life as Siddhartha Gautama, he had
spent many lives working towards Buddhahood. In these previous lives
he was a bodhisattva , a kind of "Buddha-in-waiting," that performed
acts of incredible generosity, joy, and compassion towards his fellow
human beings. An entire group of literature grew up around these
previous lives of Buddha, called the Jataka or "Birth Stories."
-Chan (Zen) Buddhism stresses meditation and an appreciation of
natural and artistic beauty. This appealed to the educated classes of
China.
I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in
the Sui-Tang Eras (continued)
Empress Wu
Buddhism encouraged women in politics, and Wu Zhao was a
venerated tang leader and this flew in the face of Confucian
custom. Interestingly, gender conflict is still a major issue in
China today.
Wu married into the imperial family, seized control of the
government in 690 declared herself emperor.
She based her legitimacy on Mahayana Buddhism, claiming to
be a bodhisattva.
She favored Buddhists over Confucianists in her government.
Later Confucian writers expressed contempt for wu, leading to
her vilification (we tend to do this with strong women).
One such writer lamented that her influence caused “the hearts
of fathers and mothers everywhere not to value the birth of
boys, but the birth of girls.”
II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the
Song
Emperor Xuanzong marked the peak of
chinese civilazation under the tang dynasty
The 755 revolt was led by An Lushan due
to the Tang dynasty losing control and
allowing disorder to spread.
A. The Founding of the Song Dynasty
-200 years after the 755 revolt and the
decline of the Tang, scholar general Zhao
Kuangyin led to the formation of the song
(soong)dynasty
II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the
Song (continued)
B and C: Song Politics: Settling for
Partial Restoration
Again, the Scholar-gentry will regain
power. This neo-Confucianism
stressed tradition, personal morality,
and hostility toward foreign
influences. Women are again
relegated to a lower status.
Writing into the day:
What does it mean for a culture to be isolated?
In what ways doe China Appear to be isolated
from the rest of the world during the post classical
period? (possible test question)
In what ways is China connected with the rest of
the world during the post classical period?
(possible test question!)
In this unit I have referred to China as being on the
“periphery” of the civilized world during the postclassical period? Is this true? Why or why not?
Why do you think that we in the western world
have adopted this Euro-centric view of the world?
II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the
Song (continued)
D. Roots of Decline: The mandate of heaven will be lost again!
-Khitan independence encouraged other nomadic peoples to carve
out kingdoms on the northern borders of the Song empire.
-Tangut tribes, originally from Tibet, had established a kingdom
named Xi Xia in the southwest. The Song had to pay them tribute
to gaurd their northern borders.
-Wang Anshi-A song minister who tried to institute sweeping
bureaucratic reforms to delay the inevitable collapse of the empire.
Government financed irrigation projects and agricultural expansion
wee among the reforms implemented.
E. Reaction and Disaster: The Flight to the South
In 1085, The emperor who Wang worked under died, and with his
death the neo-Confucians retook control, and the reforms of Wnag
ended.
-The Jurchens established the Jin kingdom in the north of Song
territory. Though the Song dynasty technically lasted for another
century, all real power had ended.
III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The
Basis of a Golden Age
A. A New Phase of Commercial Expansion
Silk routes reopened:
Sea trade (and identify junks):
Commerce expands:
Urban growth:
B. Expanding Agrarian Production and Life in the Country
What New areas were cultivated and why was this
important?
Describe Aristocratic estates:
III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The
Basis of a Golden Age (continued)
C. Family and Society in the Tang-Song Era
Identify Marriage brokers:
Describe the opportunities of Elite women:
What was the role of divorce?
D. The Neo-Confucian Assertion of Male Dominance
In what ways did Neo-Confucians reduce role of women?
Describe Confinement of women:
Describe the education of women:
Describe Foot binding and explain its significance in the rihts and
freedoms of women:
III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The
Basis of a Golden Age (continued)
E. A Glorious Age: Invention and Artistic Creativity
How was the Economy stimulated?
Explain the importance of
Explosives:
Compasses:
Abacus:
What was the significance of Bi Sheng?
F. Scholarly Refinement and Artistic Accomplishment
Scholar-gentry key
Describe the change in art:
Identify Li Bo:
What were common themes in Poetry and art?