China and Japan in the Middle Ages

Geography of China and Japan CHINA JAPAN MONGOLIA INDIAN OCEAN PACIFIC OCEAN

Emperor Qin The First Emperor of China was Qin  His accomplishments  United China  Built the Great Wall  Built the Terra Cotta Warriors

Qin and the Great Wall China shared a long border with the neighboring country of Mongolia The Mongolians were fierce warriors and a threat to China’s safety Qin built the Great Wall to protect China from invaders to the North

Legends of the Great Wall The wall took hundreds of years to complete It is said that thousands of people worked on the wall Thousands of these people also died while working on the wall and are now buried inside

After Qin’s Death After Qin, China went through a long period of hardship and war It was not until hundreds of years later that China became powerful again The Tang and Song Dynasties restored culture and prosperity in China The Tang dynasty lasted for nearly three hundred years, between 618 A.D. and 907 A.D.

Tang and Song Dynasties Tang rulers created a more stable economy by giving land to the peasants and breaking up large pieces of land to reduce the power of their owners. The Tang had a highly organized government and employment system called the Civil Service System Civil Service System was a way to organize the government according to the ideas of Confucius. It was a Chinese Golden Age

What are these?

Accomplishments of Tang and Song Dynasties During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Chinese invented new technology and other items that improved the way they lived and our lives today Compass Gunpowder Block Printing/ Moveable Type

Silk Road Trade Another key development for China was their increasing trade Silk Road Trade connected China to Europe and Middle East and provided access to new goods and ideas

Confucius the Wise

Confucius was born during a time when China was being torn apart. He believed that if society is orderly and has good leaders things could improve. His teachings focused on respect for relationships and education Confucius believed that people should obey the five relationships. 1.Ruler and Subject 2.Father and Son 3.Husband and Wife 4.Older brother and younger brother 5.Friend and friend

AS YOU VIEW THE QUOTES, DECIDE WHICH RELATIONSHIP YOU THINK EACH QUOTE IS REFERRING TO AND THEN DECIDE WHAT YOU THINK THE MEANING IS. Confucian Quotes Activity

Quote 1 “To govern is to correct. If you set an example by being correct, who would dare to remain incorrect?”

Quote 2 “…Being good as a son and obedient as a young man is, perhaps, the root of a man’s character.”

Quote 3 “In one’s household, it is the women and the small men that are difficult to deal with. If you let them get too close, they become insolent (disrespectful). If you keep them at a distance, they complain.”

Quote 4 “Have no friends not equal to yourself.”

Quote 5 “In serving your father and mother you ought to dissuade them from doing wrong in the gentlest way. If you see your advice being ignored, you should not become disobedient but remain reverent. You should not complain even if in so doing you wear yourself out.”

Stop and Think Would you consider China in the Middle Ages to be an advanced society? List two reasons to support your answer.

AN EXTREME STEP TO TAKE TO BE CONSIDERED BEAUTIFUL! Footbinding In Ancient China

"There are a thousand buckets of tears for one who binds her feet"- Old Chinese Saying

“Binding is very painful in the beginning and there is nothing you can do to find relief. But I never cried about it. If you want to have small feet you have to suffer. During the first few years when you are binding the tightest, your feet bleed. They become rotten and useless. I often had no strength and couldn't do much of anything, so I didn't work or walk around.” - Xiao Mai Sun-niang

"I've been binding since I was eight or nine years old. I don't bind tightly anymore, so my feet have expanded some compared to how they used to be. I bind now because the bones in my feet are already broken and without the wrappings I'd have no support. I couldn't walk if I didn't bind - besides, I'm used to it - I've been doing it for at least 65 years! It just feels more comfortable this way.”- Liu Yue-xin

Japan in the Middle Ages

Geography of Japan Japan is located on an archipelago or chain of Islands about 100 miles off the Asian mainland and east of the Korean Peninsula. The surrounding seas have both protected and isolated Japan

Stop and Think How would Japan’s location as an island affect their ability to trade and interact with other countries in the Middle Ages?

Cultural Borrowing The Japanese borrowed many cultural traits from China  Rich Japanese spoke Chinese and dressed in Chinese fashion  Their cooks also served Chinese dishes and served food on Chinese style dishes  Tea drinking and tea ceremonies were borrowed from China.  Japanese official and scholars wrote history with Chinese characters.

Stop and Think What would be one positive and one negative effect of culture borrowing?

Heian Period This was the time period from It was a time when Japan created its own culture Rich men and women lived in beautiful pavilions and garden courts Rules of etiquette and manners were stressed. Beauty and elegance were very important.

Heian Court Dress Heian Court Dress

Strange Beauty Tricks of the Heian Blackened teeth using dyes Chalky-white faces with eyebrows painted high on foreheads Pointed beards

You Do NOT need to write this down This system of beauty was meant to attract good matches for women Finding a good husband was the best way a woman could bring honor to her family This was depicted well in the Disney Movie Mulan Clip:

Feudalism in Japan During feudal times, military rulers called Shoguns dominated Japanese society and eventually created a strong central government. Feudalism is a political and military system in which you exchange land for loyalty and protection. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feudal Society

Feudalism in Japan Emperor- the ruler of Japan and religious leader, he had the highest status but not a lot of real power Shogun and Daimyo  Shogun was the actual leader of Japan and headed the military  Daimyo- They were the wealthy land owners that owned estates and were representatives of the Shogun Samurai- professional warriors Peasants- farmers and fisherman, important because they produced the things the other groups needed to survive, Made up 90% of Japan’s population Merchants- The lowest class because they created nothing themselves

Stop and Think Why do you think the Shogun had more power than the Emperor? Looking at the Feudal society structure, do you think it is right that the merchants were placed on the lowest level? Explain

Samurai Samurai means one who serves Samurai was expected to follow the code of Bushido, or “way of the warrior” A Samurai was supposed to have no fear of death. A Samurai who disobeyed the code was expected to commit “seppuku” or ritual suicide.

Samurai’s Code of Bushido

Religions of Japan and China

Shinto This is the worship of the forces of nature or nature spirits known as “kami” Shinto means “the way of the Gods”

Buddhism Began in India by a man named Siddhartha It was brought to Japan from China Samurai warriors were attracted to Buddhism because it emphasized mediation and devotion to duty. Buddhism is a religion that believes that life is full of suffering You should follow the eightfold path to reach Nirvana or happiness