Chapter 6: East Asia and the Spread of Buddhism Flashcards
Qin Dynasty
Where: China (East Asia).
When: (221-206 B.C.E.).
Who: Emperor ShiHuangdi and his son Gaozu.
What: The Great Wall was built during Emperor ShiHuangdi’s reign.
Why: The wall was built to repel the Xiongnu (a nomadic tribe that were raiding villages in China).
Legalism (Li Si)
Where: China
When: (221-206 BCE).
Who: Li Si (a legalist minister and strived for centralization).
What: He wanted centralization and used the authoritarian ability of legalism to achieve it. The nobles had to leave their land and move to the capital. Regulations for the officials. The officials had no hereditary right to their offices.
Why: The constant warfare and decentralization of the prior ruler required change in the type of leadership.
COT: Due to the Age of Warring States (3rd century BCE) China, before the Qin Dynasty, was decentralized. During the Qin Dynasty, due to legalism, Emperor ShiHuangdi was able to centralize China.
Xiongnu
Where: China
When: (221-206BCE)
Who: They were a nomadic tribe that raided villages in China.
What: They lived in the north. They raised sheep, goats, camels, and horses. They were able to shoot arrows while riding horseback.
Tributary System
When: Developed during the Han Dynasty(206 BCE-220 CE)
Where: China (most civilizations used tributary systems in a different way).
Who: Emperor Wu offered gifts, the Xiongnu and other northern tribes participated
What: It regulated contact with foreign powers. It was a financial burden for the Chinese, but it reduced the cost of defense. Silk was one of the items that was involved in the system.
Why: The Han government set up this system because of the constant threat of the Xiongnu and other tribes.
CC: It is comparable to the tribute system in the Mongol Empire of the 12th-14th century. The Mongols extracted tribute from nearby populations, such as the Jurchen state. (Ch. 11)
Confucianism(Scholar System)
When:Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)
Where: China
Who: Under Emperor Wu (141-87 BCE), Confucian scholars were given privileged positions.
What: The Han gov. recruited men trained in the Confucian classics and this began the Confucian scholar-official system. Confucian scholars saw criticism of the gov. as one of their duties. The Confucian scholars that were selected to serve as officials came from landholding families, which gave the economic independence. This, in turn, allowed them to be critical of the gov. without having to worry about their economic state.
Why: The Han gov. wanted a change from the Qin Dynasty. The Han rulers got rid of harsh laws that were in place during the Qin. Also, electing officials through the Confucian scholar-official system gave the officials Confucian moral qualities.
COT:
Sima Qian
When: 145-85 BCE
Where: China
Who: Sima Qian was a historian who recorded political events, treaties, biographies of individuals, geography taxation, and court trials.
What: Sima Qian wrote “Records of the Grand Historian”
Why: Sima Qian believed fervently in visiting the sites where history was made, examining artifacts, and questioning people about events.
The Ban family
When:3-106 CE
Where: China
Who: 1) Ban Biao (3-54 CE) was a successful official who had three successful children: Ban Chao, Ban Gu, Ban Zhao. 2) Ban Chao reestablished Chinese control over the oasis cities of Central Asia and in 92 was appointed protector general of the area.3) Ban Gu was an accomplished writer who mastered the literary form rhapsody (fu). 4) Ban Zhao was a historian who worked for the emperor and was a teacher for women.
What: 1) Ban Gu’s “Rhapsody of the Two Capitals” describes the palaces, glasses, scenic spots, local spots, and customs of Chang’ an and Luoyang. 2) Ban Zhao finished Ban Gu’s “History of the Former Han Dynasty.” She also wrote “Admonitions for Women.”
Why: Ban Zhao’s “Admonitions for Women” taught women to accept the burdens of a women and put “others first and oneself last.”
Compare and Contrast Han Dynasty and Rome
When: Rome (753 BCE-479 CE), China (206 BCE- 220 CE)
Where: Rome and China
Who:
Age of Division
When: 220-589 CE
Where: China. Northern Wei Dynasties in Chang’ an and Luoyang. Southern Wei Dynasties in Nanjing
Who: Northern Wei was founded by the Tuoba clan(NON-CHINESE) of the Xianbei. Southern Wei was ruled by a sequenced of four short-lived Chinese dynasties.
What: The Age of Division was period in China after the fall of the Han Dynasty.
Why: Many factors contributed to the fall of the Han Dynasty and led to the Age of Division. Succession problems, internal conflict with officials, soldiers, and eunuchs. External conflict such as barbarian invasions, and warlords.
Nanjing
When:
Northern and Southern Wei
When: 220-589 CE
Where: China. Chang’an Luoyang and Nanjing
Who: 1) Northern Wei were ruled by non-Chinese with emperors such as Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Daowu.
2) Southern Wei was a hereditary aristocracy.
What: The Northern and Southern Wei were the dynasties of China during the Age of Division.
Why:
The Spread of Buddhism in China
When: Buddhism spread to China during the Age of Division.
Where: From India to Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia.
Who: The spread of Buddhism was supplemented by
Sui Dynasty
When:581-618 CE
Where: China
Who: Yang Jian founded the Sui dynasty and oversaw the reunification of China.
Tang Dynasty
When:
Rebellion of An Lushan
When:
