1. World History: The Earth and its Peoples
Chapter 10
Central and Eastern Asia,
C.E.

2. Objectives
Understand the role of Buddhism and its relationship to the Tang state and the reasons for and results of the backlash against Buddhism in the late Tang and Song periods.
Be able to discuss the history and the significance of the relationships between China and its neighbors, including Central Asia, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Be able to carry out a simple comparative analysis of the different roles of Buddhism in China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan.
Understand the nature and significance of technological innovation in the Song Empire.

3. Revisiting China disintegration of Han Dynasty in 220 C.E.
political fragmentation
warfare and epidemics
social dislocation
advances in metallurgy, pharmacology, and mathematics
reunification in 6th century
spread of ideas
trade, travel, education

4. Sui and Tang Empires, 581-907 Sui Empire - 581-618 Grand Canal
reuniting of China
reestablishment of Confucianism
Buddhism political influence
Mahayana / Bodhisattvas
encouraged leader to maintain harmonious society
monasteries / prince alliances
Grand Canal
links Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
communication and trade
Mahayana / trade network
overextension = Tang
mix goods and culture of Asia
cosmopolitan

5. Tang Empire Tang Empire- 618-907 warfare Li Shimin Chang’an
avoided overcentralization
C:\Documents and Settings\tfredrickson\Desktop
Chang’an
1 million population
hub of communication
tributary system
supremacy tributes
seafaring skills
compass and large ocean ships
spread of bubonic plague
warfare
Chinese weapons
crossbow / armor
Turkish horsemanship

6. Tang Integration Central Asian / Islamic Import Substitution porcelain
pants in lieu of robes; polo
cotton replaces hemp
grape wine, sugar, spices
Import Substitution
cotton, tea, sugar
loss of silk monopoly
porcelain
world’s leading supplier
Loss of Buddhist Influence
blame for political upheavals
tied to C. Asian barbarians
exempt from taxes
undermining of family

7. Fractured Power in Asia and China
Tang Failure
dependence on local military and tax collections
underfunding of army / rebellion
political disintegration
Central Asia
Uigur and Tibet
Tang Empire rivals
Uigur
N. Mongolia
Turks in control of trade routes
merchants and scribes
linked Islamic lands to China
Tibet
linked China to India
Buddhist commonality

8. Assessment 1. What role did Buddhism play in the early Sui
and Tang Empires?
2. Why did Buddhism fall out of favor in the late
Tang Empire?
3. What was the relationship between Tang
China and The Uigurs and Tibetans?

9. East Asian Emergence Replacement of Tang Dynasty
Liao - N. China (Beijing)
Tangguts - W. China
Song - C. China
Liao AD
pastoral tradition; horsemanship
rulers as bodhisattvas
legitimacy for rule
military competitor to Song
siege machines
1005 tribute truce
Jin (Jurchen)
destroyed Liao in 1125
drive Song south of Yellow

10. Song Empire Technology / Industry Military use of Tang technology
quasi-industrial revolution
1st to use fractions
Crab Nebula (1054)
small, seafaring compass
mechanical celestial clock
time, date, moon-star movements
junks
stern-mounted rudder
Military
high-quality steel
weapons, bridges, armor
gunpowder
grapeshot cannons

11. Economy and Society Civil Outranks Military civil service movable type
neo-Confucianism
moral and social responsibility
reaction to Buddhism and Daoism
Chan / Zen Buddhism
salvation thru mental discipline (meditation)
India / Tibet
man is naturally good
ideal human is the sage
civil service
recruited most talented men
movable type
techniques for land cultivation
prevent disease (mosquitos)
agricultural tool adaptation

12. Economy and Society Population Growth Credit Women over 100 million
waste, water, firefighting
Credit
“flying money”
guarantee of exchange
issuance of paper money
inflation - taxes and sell-offs
urban merchant fortunes
Women
cultural subordination
anti-Buddhism, neo-Confucianism
manage but not own property
footbinding
elite status symbol

13. Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
Rice Farming (China)
Confucian ideals
hierarchy, obedience, discipline
anti-Buddhism
Compatibility
Confucian / Buddhism
no examination system
hierarchy and harmony
Chinese writing system
farming / landowning elites
no urban challengers
Korea
Koryo
unification in 900s
strong relations with Song
movable type printing blocks

14. Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
Central Japan Unification
Korean warriors in 4th-5th cen.
Chinese Influence
Confucian legal code & govt
interest in Buddhism
architectural style
Deviations
no walled cities
no Mandate of Heaven
emperor (tenno) as figurehead
ruling families (Fujiwara)
Confucian learning over warrior
local govt control to warrior
aesthetic way of life
new elite based on military values (samurai)
Kamakura Shogunate
Tale of the Heike

15. Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
rice-based like Southern China
Champa rice
Confucian / Buddhism influence
tribute state of Song
Women
more power than China
Trung sisters (Vietnam)
resistance to Han invaders
limited education
The Tale of Genji (Japan)
Murasaki Shikibu
“general knowledge”