Chapter 13: The Spread of Chinese Civilization: Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

Introduction Ly Van Phúc He and the Vietnamese embassy go to pay tribute to Chinese “Vietnamese Barbarians’ Hostel” Vietnamese had “nurtured Chinese culture for millennia” Spoke Chinese fluently Confucian philosophy is followed Education follows Chinese classical works Respect for Chinese culture and influence are key features of the interaction b/t China and Central and Southeast Asia Chinese influence contributes to rise of societies in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam Social, military, political, technological, philosophical, religious Underlying uncertainty regarding China’s domination

Korea & Vietnam ruled directly Rebellions are common Japan are simply influenced Battle between the choice to “emulate” and preserve their own culture

Japan: The Imperial Age 7 th & 8 th Century: Many many Chinese imports, while maintaining traditional views Shinto  Influence peaks in Taika ( ), Nara ( ) and Heian ( ) periods Affects elites & people of “court towns” Taika Reforms Court Scholars Court protocol, mastered Chinese symbols, wrote dyanstic histories Aristocrats: Confucian philosophy, Buddhist art, Chinese-styled temples Commoners: Bowed to “Confucius scholars”, looked to Buddhist monks for cures/magic Mesh worship of Buddhist deities with kami

Crisis at Nara and the Sift to Heian (Kyoto) Goal of the Taika Reforms (646): Remake the Japanese monarch into an absolutist Chinese-style emperor Create a bureaucracy Peasant conscript army Met with resistance from aristocrats & Buddhist monastic orders Monks present a threat to power (serve as royal advisors) One even tries to marry an empress 794: Emperor Kammu establishes capital city at Heian Buddhists can’t built monasteries there Build them in the hills anyway Abandons ideas of Taika reforms Aristocrats power restored (system of rank included) Little mobility allowed Ability to build up estates No conscript army  local leaders should organize military forces

Ultracivilized: Court Life in the Heian Era Imperial political power eroding… Live a life of luxury though Behavior code Under constant scrutiny Social status is important Focus on pursuit of beauty Poetry Written on painted fans or scented paper Script from China simplified The Tale of Genji 1 st novel in any language Story of an emperors son Obsession with social convention Women in Heian court expected to be cultured and poised

The Decline of Imperial Power Mid-9 th Century: Imperial bureaucracy shrinking Fujiwara exercise their influence Pack administration w/ family members Marry daughters off to imperial family Fujiwara build up their estate (financial base) Compete with Buddhist monasteries Work together to whittle down imperial control Peasants and artisans come under their control Cooperation b/t aristocrats & monks promoted by secret texts & ceremonies Fail to calculate power of local lords

The Rise of the Provincial Warrior Elites Pursuit of land Kingdoms carved out by landlords, state officials, estate managers Dominate “mini-states” Fortresses Bushi  Warrior leaders Administer land, collect revenue, supervise projects Build up their own armies Samurai oLoyal to local lords instead of emperor Buddhist monasteries employ samurai in 11 th & 12 th Century to guard Establish a new warrior class Heroic warfare Warrior code Seppuku  a ritual suicide following defeat/retreat Status of peasants reduced to serfs

The Era of Warrior Dominance As provincial lords grow, imperial family & aristocracy power declines Imp. Families need support of regional lords Minamoto uses these alliances to gain control in court The Declining Influence of China China’s relevance weakens with imperial decline Buddhism transformed Aristocrats rule (kind of) Imperial bureaucracy…not so much Tang in decline anyways… 838: Japan discontinues it embassy Gempei Wars (Taira vs. Minamoto) Tears apart farmland Peasants suffer

Minamoto establish bakufu Military government Power rests in Minamoto & samurai FEUDAL AGE The Breakdown of Bakufu Dominance and the Age of the Warlords Minamoto in Kamakura, Japan Shoguns  military leaders of Bakufu Yorimoto (head of Minamoto) Paranoid  family murdered/exiled  no heir Bushi lords scramble to build power Hojo now dominate Kamakuru regime Real Power: Hojo; manipulate Minamoto who claim rule in name of emperor

New regime: Ashikaga Shogunate ( ) Emperor refuses to recognize it  driven from Kyoto (Heina) Gains alliances with warlords & battles Ashikaga Eventually destroyed by Ashikaga However….period of civil strife  shogunate have no authority Power of bushi warlords grows Aristocracy nearly wiped out from administration Samurai get land from bushi LOYALTY Y’ALL! Full scale civil war ( ) Rival heirs vs. shogunate Divided into 300 kingdoms Daimyos  Warlords

Toward Barbarism? Military Division & Social Change Wood stone castles Fighting is now spying, sneak attacks Peasants become critical components of daimyo army Commoners are miserable Fighting battles of overlords Revolt at times People believe Japan is reverting to barbarism But…economic & cultural growth Regular tax collection, irrigation systems, incentives to settle, new tools & crops New wealthy commercial class (merchants?)

Women. Involved in merchant and artisan guilds Trend toward primogeniture Limit inheritance to eldest son Decline in female status Given away to build alliances Taught to slay themselves if raped (you know, rather than, heaven forbid, disgrace the family name) Artistic Solace for A Troubled Age Zen Buddhism Stresses simplicity & discipline Appeals to warriors Monasteries renew ties with China Art Ink sketches Pavilions