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Question 1

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What was the most powerful state during 1200-1450?

Answer 1

China

Question 2

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What primary Chinese Dynasty ruled between 1200-1450?

Answer 2

Song Dynasty

Question 3

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Explain power maintenance and justification in Song Dynasty.

Answer 3

1) Revived Confucianism from previous Tang Dynasty. Confucianism was the official Chinese state philosophy during Han Dynasty.
2) Expanded bureaucracy

Question 4

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What is Confucianism?

Answer 4

A philosophy that states life is by nature hierarchical, with subjects and rulers. Highly valued filial piety.
Originally declared Chinese state philosophy during Han Dynasty, but fell with the Han, but revived during Tang Dynasty in the form of Neo-Confucianism.

Question 5

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Explain what filial piety is.

Answer 5

The practice of honoring one’s ancestors, as training to honor the emperor

Question 6

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What is Neo-Confucianism?

Answer 6

Confucianism w/ Buddhist and Daoist influences.
An example of continuity in China, but also innovation to suit contemporary purposes

Question 7

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Describe how women in Song China were regarded.

Answer 7

Considered subordinate in Confucianism philosophy: legal rights restricted, property became husband’s, inability to remarry if a widow, foot binding

Question 8

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What is the significance of foot binding?

Answer 8

A practice of binding one’s foot to fit a standard of femininity in China, inhibiting a women’s ability to walk and perform basic tasks. Served as a status symbol among the elite who could hire servants and not rely on women to be mobile.

Question 9

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Bureaucracy definition

Answer 9

A governmental entity that carries out the will of the emperor

Question 10

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What happened with the imperial bureaucracy during Song China

Answer 10

Expanded to maintain control w/ tens of thousands of bureaucrats. Required the passing of a civil service exam based on Confucianist ideals.

Question 11

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What is the Civil Service Exam?

Answer 11

A test required to become a part of the bureaucracy - schools geared towards preparing youth for it. It meant that the bureaucracy was staffed by merit rather than connections, with people who were qualified and united/well versed in Confucianism –> increased bureaucratic efficiency and competency

Question 12

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Explain the influence China had on Korea between 1200-1450.

Answer 12

Korea independent politically but reliant on tributary relationship w/ China to do so = friendly political/economic relationships, which led to cultural diffusion. Koreans adopted a similar civil service exam as well as Confucianist principals, and marginalized women more than in China (foot binding not applicable). However, this influence was mostly confined to the elite populations.

Question 13

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Tributary relationship definition

Answer 13

A relationship in which a state pays tribute to another in exchange for protection or recognition

Question 14

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Explain the influence China had on Japan between 1200-1450.

Answer 14

Japanese were able to adopt things voluntarily given the ocean that separated China and Japan and therefore provided protection from potential Chinese invasion. Most cultural adopting happened between 7-9th century CE: an overhaul and rebuilding of their government structure built off of China’s imperial bureaucracy structure. Japanese elites adopted Chinese Buddhism and the Chinese writing system.

Question 15

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Explain the influence China had on Vietnam between 1200-1450.

Answer 15

Politically independent, sustained through tributary relationship. Vietnamese elites adopted Confucianism, Buddhism, Chinese literary techniques and the Civil Service Exam system. Women not as marginalized; female nature deities, female versions of the Buddha, foot binding not applicable.

Question 16

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Explain the origins and briefly summarize Buddhism.

Answer 16

Originated in South Asia, spread to China by Han Dynasty. Defined by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path, which guides a Buddhist and encourages meditation and a moral lifestyle. Includes some Hindu fundamentals, such as the belief in Karma and rebirth. It began to change as it spread.

Question 17

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What are the Four Noble Truths?

Answer 17

Life is suffering
We suffer because we crave
We cease suffering when we cease craving
The eightfold path leads to the cessation of suffering and craving

Question 18

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Explain the origins of and briefly summarize Theravada Buddhism

Answer 18

Originated in Sri Lanka. Restricted to monks and elites, who devoted their entire lives to rebirth.

Question 19

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Explain the origins of and briefly summarize Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 19

Originated in East Asia. Available to everyone, not just monks. Emphasis on compassion and Buddha as a god or object of devotion.

Question 20

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Explain the origins of and briefly describe Tibetan Buddhism

Answer 20

Originated in Tibet. Emphasized mystical practices like elaborate images of deities and lying prostrate.

Question 21

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What are the four primary branches of Buddhism between the period 1200-1450?

Answer 21

Tibetan Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
Chan Buddhism (details not given)
Theravada Buddhism

Question 22

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Explain the aspects of Song China’s economy.

Answer 22

Kick started by Tang Dynasty economy.
1) Increased commercialization. The use of paper money led to credit and promissory notes - signs of thorough commercialization.
2) Iron and steel production skyrocketed, exceeding the need of metal for minting coins, agricultural tools, and war armor
3) Agricultural innovations: iron plows and rakes, champa rice
4) Transportation innovation: expansion of the Grand Canal (connected Yellow and Yangtze rivers), making trade and travel on it cheaper. Magnetic compass facilitated sea-based trade. Improved designs of trade ships called junks w/ stern-post rudders (made navigation more accurate) and water-tight bulkheads, which led to increased trade between regions and increased Song economic prosperity.

Question 23

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Explain the significance of Champa rice.

Answer 23

Came from Champa Kingdom in Vietnam. Drought resistant, harvest-able twice a year = double the rice production. Important because China was the most populous state of the world at that time, requiring plentiful food sources. Led to a population explosion in China.

Question 24

What is the progression of Chinese Dynasties?

Answer 24

Qin Dynasty
Han Dynasty
Six dynasties period
Sui Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
Five dynasties period
Song Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
Republic of China
People’s republic of china