Chapter 2: China and East Asia Flashcards
The Middle Kingdom
What/Who:
- Previous name the Chinese people gave their country (now People’s Republic of China)
- Chinese ‘country’ as the center of the world
When:
- 221 BCE to 1912
Why important IR / Significance:
- They saw themselves as the Centre of Civilisation or even the World
- Other countries were impacted by tribute or overland system
The Han people
What/Who:
- Ethnic group in (former) Chinese regions
When:
- Whole period
Why important IR / Significance:
- Lots of people still identify themselves as Han people today, not only in the Chinese republic
Shang Dynasty
What/Who:
- First rulers of Chinese land who engaged in human sacrifice and ancestor worship, first ones to use writing (oracle bones)
When:
- 1600-1046 BCE
Why important IR / Significance:
- Ancestor worship and writing are still used today
Zhou Dynasty
What/Who:
- The 2nd dynasty to rule over The Middle Kingdom/China
- Kings became more powerful and larger territory
- Sons of heaven, ruling by mandate of heaven
When:
- 1050-777 BCE
Why important IR / Significance:
- At the end of the dynasty, power was handed over to regional leaders
so 7 independent states emerged (Warring States Period)
Mandate of Heaven
What/Who:
- Chinese political philosophy that was used in ancient and imperial China to legitimize the rule of the King or Emperor of China
- Could be overthrown by rebels, showing that Heaven had withdrawn and they were the new (strongest) rulers
When:
- Started during Zhou Dynasty until Qing Dynasty
Why important IR / Significance:
- Shows who the new emperor is
- Explains why there were foreigners ruling the country (Yuan & Qing
dynasty)
Warring States Period
What/Who:
- At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, power was given to regional leaders. 7 independent states emerged being at constant war with each other
- Independent international system (forming alliances, fighting battles, make treaties,…)
When:
- 475-221 BCE
Why important IR / Significance:
- Qin state emerged on top/won war, forming the next dynasty
Daoism/Laozi
What/Who:
- Philosophy associated with Laozi (who wrote Daodejing)
- Dao = the way, provides followers with religious wisdom and advice on
how to follow a successful life
- Monks communicate with spirits of nature → Spiritualism made a rise against political authority
When:
- since 601 BCE (Laozi’s birth date)
Why important IR / Significance:
- Still a philosophy followed today
Legalism (faifa)
What/Who:
- Political philosophy which advises rulers to be ruthless. People only act from self-interest, the ruler should rule in any form that is beneficial to the state and its survival
When:
- Qin dynasty
Why important IR / Significance:
- Philosophy was adopted by Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor
Qin Shi Huang
What/Who:
- First emperor who united the country after the Warring States Period
When:
- 220-210 BCE
Why important IR / Significance:
- Standardized weights and measures, the language and infrastructure
- Burned Confucian texts and scholars to restart Chinese history
- Started institutions
Han Dynasty
What/Who:
- 3th dynasty who were successful in maintaining power (400 years of rule)
- Optimized institutions (installing bureaucracy, payed administrators, taxes in salt)
- Confucianism became official philosophy again
- Economic activities (state monopolies, coins with square hole, Silk roads)
- Harassed by Xiongnu people (nomads)
When:
- 206 BCE - 220 CE
Why important IR / Significance:
- Coins were used until Tang dynasty
- Caravan Routes connected the world with China
Tang Dynasty
What/Who:
- Dynasty known for its cultural achievements (calligraphy, landscape painting)
- Started doing entrance exams for administrative positions
- Confucian philosophy and Chinese literature tests
- Influence on other societies (clothing, religion, goods,…)
When:
- 618-907 CE
Why important IR / Significance:
- Cultural influence on Japan, Korea,…
- Open society who wants to learn from others (Buddhism)
Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
What/Who:
- Another period of economic prosperity and cultural flourishing
- Technological inventions (gunpowder, compass, paper-making)
- Large manufacturing industries for consumer goods
When:
- 960 - 1279 CE
Why important IR / Significance:
- Lots of threat from Jurchen/Manchu people → Need to move capital (1127)
- Taken over my Yuan dynasty (Mongols, Kublai Khan)
Yuan Dynasty
What/Who:
- Dynasty based of Mongolian origin, under Kublai Khan as ruler
When:
- 1271 - 1368
Why important IR / Significance:
- Barbarian dynasty
Ming Dynasty
What/Who:
- Confucian Dynasty who overthrew the Yuan and is again of Chinese origin
- Economic succes
- Country-wide market for consumer goods (Ming vases!)
- Not very eager on international trade (exception Zeng He)
- Great wall of China
When:
- 1368 - 1644
Why important IR / Significance:
- Banned foreign trade after Zeng He voyages and closed themselves off from the rest of the world
Zeng He
What/Who:
- Eunuch trader who made 7 voyages in South-East Asia
- Brought a giraffe to the Chinese court
When:
- During Ming Dynasty
- 1371-1433
Why important IR / Significance:
- Not sure if the voyages were only for trade, the ships had cannons on board → Some look at it as colonialism by force
