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

GEOGRAPHY INFLUENCES HISTORYRelative LocationKorea, Vietnam border ChinaJapan located off coast of East AsiaPhysical CharacteristicsKorea, Vietnam Mountainous, cut by river valleysPopulation located on plainsJapanVolcanic islands, very mountainousDeep valleys with plainsDemographyPopulace generally heavy on plainsRice was principal cropCities exist but rarer than ChinaCities: centers of Chinese cultureCountryside: resistant to Sinification

THE CONFUCIAN WORLD

KOREA: THE BRIDGEKorea in the Ancient and Classical PeriodsInfluenced by developments in ChinaChinese armies invaded periodicallyChinese established control of parts of KoreaNomadic invasions frequentFall of Han left regional Korean aristocrats in controlKorean History 669 1392 C.E. Tang armies conquered much of KoreaSilla dynasty allied with Tang, ruled peninsula Entered into a tributary relationship with China Song replaced TangKoguryo conquered Silla in 935, ruled to 1392 China's influence in Korea Sinification = becoming ChineseKoreans borrowed what was useful, unavoidable; avoided what was notTributary embassies included Korean royal officials and scholars Silla kings built new capital at Kumsong modeled on the Tang capital Older TraditionsAncestor worship strong in Korean societyKorean officials trained in Confucian ideas during Han, Tang but not as strongNewer TraditionsKorean elite turned to Neo-ConfucianismPeasants turned to Chan Buddhism Difference from China: aristocracy and royal houses dominated Korea

VIETNAM: A BORDER STATENam Viet people originated in Southern ChinaRise of Han and southern settlement of Chinese pushed Viet outViet migrated into Red River Valley, down coast fighting local inhabitants Vietnam under Chinese rule to c. 983 CEHan first conquered Northern Vietnam in 111 BCEViet elites adopted Chinese agriculture, schools, thought; intermarriedMassive migration of Chinese official, scholars, bureaucrats to VietnamTrung sisters led revolt against Chinese rule (40 43 CE)Peasants resented Chinese influence, role of towns, cities1,000 year struggle for independenceRelationship often tributary to China Independent Vietnam (c. 983 CE)Ruled by Dynasties, capital moved between Hanoi, HueConstant pressure against hill peoples, pushing southDifference from China Role of village equal to role of family in ChinaFew cities; village dominate countryside, elders ran villagesMany Vietnamese retained their religious traditions Women played more prominent roles in VietnamCould be head of households, own land, engage openly in businessWere often leaders of villages and even at national level Chinese influence in Vietnam limited to the elite Elites adopted bureaucracy, form of state, emperorship, ConfucianismAdopted Chinese script, literary and artistic modelsMahayana Buddhism (although region is Theravada) also arrivedIrrigation and water control techniques

EARLY JAPANAncient JapanEarliest inhabitants were nomadic Caucasians (Ainu) from Northeast AsiaJapanese related to Koreans, migrated into islands, pushed Ainu northRuled by several dozen states dominate by clans, 1st millennium BCEShinto: 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'anPrince Shotoku wrote first Japanese constitution Adopted Confucianism and Buddhism, but maintained Shinto Heian Japan (794-1185 C.E.) 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 ruleLived in splendid isolation along with court eliteEffected by bureaucrats, complex etiquette Chinese learning dominated Japanese education, culture The Tale of GenjiWomen contributed most to Japanese literature and writing Decline of Heian Japan Equal-field system began to failAristocratic clans accumulated landsRivalry 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

MEDIEVAL JAPANJapanese feudalism Called the Shogunate Period Military dictators ruled, Emperors reigned in splendid isolationGovernment was centralized feudalismCountryside divided up into fiefsDaimyo appointed by the shogunsAdopted Neo-Confucianism as state philosophy Provincial lords controlled JapanCalled Daimyo, vied for power against each otherConstant war to increase personal power, wealth, fiefsKamakura Period (1185-1333 C.E.)Muromachi Period (1336-1573 C.E.)The Samurai The lowest class of aristocratic nobilityProfessional warriors of provincial lords Observed samurai code called bushidoValued loyalty, military talent, and discipline; traded military skills for food To preserve their honor, engaged in ritual suicide called seppukuJapanese WomenLegendary founder of Japan, Yamato clan was sun goddess, Amaterasu Under HeianThey were the cultural elite with elaborate rituals including dressHad great influence, including several empressesUnder ShogunateLost considerable influence as Neo-Confucianism introduced, warfare spreadCould still be samurai and fight but patriarchal societyShinto was also male dominated and included ancestor worship

FIEFS OF FEUDAL JAPAN