THE SPREAD OF CIVILIZATION IN EAST ASIA JAPAN, KOREA AND VIETNAM IN THE POST-CLASSICAL AGE

GEOGRAPHY INFLUENCES HISTORY Relative Location Korea, Vietnam border China Japan located off coast of East Asia Physical Characteristics Korea, Vietnam Mountainous, cut by river valleys Population located on plains Japan Volcanic islands, very mountainous Deep valleys with plains Demography Populace generally heavy on plains Rice was principal crop Cities exist but rarer than China Cities: centers of Chinese culture Countryside: resistant to Sinification

THE CONFUCIAN WORLD

Sinification of Japan, Korea and Vietnam Himeji Castle, Japan

Overview of Sinification Two ways Chinese influence entered Japan, Korea and Vietnam: 1) Peacefully thru Buddhist missionaries. 2) By force. 2 kinds of force: 1) J,K & V gov’t orders and 2) Chinese attack (on Vietnam)

Peaceful Sinification tended to “stick”. Forced Sinification tended not to. Huge exception: Chinese written language was “forced” on J, K and V by their leaders. (In the 18th c., French Catholic missionaries introduced a new Latin-based alphabet to Vietnam, which is used today). Japanese Korean

Korea to 1400 Korea in the Ancient and Classical Periods Influenced by developments in China Chinese armies invaded periodically Chinese established control of parts of Korea Nomadic invasions frequent Fall of Han left regional Korean aristocrats in control Korean History 669 – 1392 C.E. Tang armies conquered much of Korea Silla dynasty allied with Tang, ruled peninsula Entered into a tributary relationship with China Song replaced Tang Koguryo conquered Silla in 935, ruled to 1392

Korea and China China's influence in Korea Older Traditions Sinification = becoming Chinese Koreans borrowed what was useful, unavoidable; avoided what was not Tributary embassies included Korean royal officials and scholars Silla kings built new capital at Kumsong modeled on the Tang capital Older Traditions Ancestor worship strong in Korean society Korean officials trained in Confucian ideas during Han, Tang but not as strong Newer Traditions Korean elite turned to Neo-Confucianism Peasants turned to Chan Buddhism Difference from China: aristocracy and royal houses dominated Korea

Korean Palace Detail Sinification anyone?

Vietnam Maps

Vietnam through 1400 Nam Viet people originated in Southern China Rise of Han and southern settlement of Chinese pushed Viet out Viet migrated into Red River Valley, down coast fighting local inhabitants Vietnam under Chinese rule to c. 983 CE Han first conquered Northern Vietnam in 111 BCE Viet elites adopted Chinese agriculture, schools, thought; intermarried Massive migration of Chinese officials, scholars, bureaucrats to Vietnam Trung sisters led revolt against Chinese rule (40 – 43 CE) Peasants resented Chinese influence, role of towns, cities 1,000 year struggle for independence Relationship often tributary to China Independent Vietnam (c. 983 CE) Ruled by Dynasties, capital moved between Hanoi, Hue Constant pressure against hill peoples, pushing south

Hue Palace, Vietnam

Vietnam vs. China Difference from China Role of village equal to role of family in China Few cities; villages dominate countryside, elders ran villages Many Vietnamese retained their religious traditions Women played more prominent roles in Vietnam Could be head of households, own land, engage openly in business Were often leaders of villages and even at national level Chinese influence in Vietnam limited to the elite Elites adopted bureaucracy, form of state, emperorship, Confucianism Adopted Chinese script, literary and artistic models Mahayana Buddhism (although region is Theravada) also arrived Irrigation and water control techniques

Early Japan Ancient Japan Nara Japan (710-794 C.E.) Earliest inhabitants were nomadic Caucasians (Ainu) from Northeast Asia Japanese related to Koreans, migrated into islands, pushed Ainu north Ruled by several dozen states dominate by clans, 1st millennium BCE Shinto: Ancestor veneration with deification of nature, spirits (kami) Nara Japan (710-794 C.E.) Inspired by Tang, Yamato clan claimed imperial authority The imperial court modeled on that of the Tang Built a new capital (Nara) in 710 C.E., modeled on Chang'an Prince Shotoku wrote first Japanese constitution Adopted Confucianism and Buddhism, but maintained Shinto

Heian Japan Heian Japan (794-1185 C.E.) Decline of Heian Japan Moved to new capital Heian (modern Kyoto) in 794 Japanese emperors as ceremonial figureheads and symbols of authority Effective power in the hands of the Fujiwara family Emperor did not rule Lived in splendid isolation along with court elite Effected by bureaucrats, complex etiquette Chinese learning dominated Japanese education, culture The Tale of Genji Women contributed most to Japanese literature and writing Decline of Heian Japan Equal-field system began to fail Aristocratic clans accumulated lands Rivalry between court nobility and landed aristocracy Taira and Minamoto, the two most powerful clans, engaged in wars The clan leader of the victorious Minamoto claimed the title of shogun

Life in the Heian Palace

Heian Palace Complex

Japan Maps

Medieval Japan Japanese feudalism The Samurai Called the Shogunate Period Military dictators ruled, Emperors reigned in splendid isolation Government was centralized feudalism Countryside divided up into fiefs Daimyo appointed by the shoguns Adopted Neo-Confucianism as state philosophy Provincial lords controlled Japan Called Daimyo, vied for power against each other Constant war to increase personal power, wealth, fiefs Kamakura Period (1185-1333 C.E.) Muromachi Period (1336-1573 C.E.) The Samurai The lowest class of aristocratic nobility Professional warriors of provincial lords Observed samurai code called bushido Valued loyalty, military talent, and discipline; traded military skills for food To preserve their honor, engaged in ritual suicide called seppuku

Women in Japan Japanese Women Legendary founder of Japan, Yamato clan was sun goddess, Amaterasu Under Heian They were the cultural elite with elaborate rituals including dress Had great influence, including several empresses Under Shogunate Lost considerable influence as Neo-Confucianism introduced, warfare spread Could still be samurai and fight but patriarchal society Shinto was also male dominated and included ancestor worship

FIEFS OF FEUDAL JAPAN