Unit 1: Topic 1 - Developments in East Asia from c. 1200 to c. 1450 Flashcards
What is the social structure of China?
The scholar-gentry were educated in Confucian philosophy and became the most influential social class in China, outnumbering the aristocracy, which was composed of landowners who inherited their wealth. Three other classes ranked below the scholar gentry: farmers, artisans, and merchants. Lower rungs of Chinese society also included peasants who worked for landowners to pay off debts. Confucian traditions expect women to defer to men, and the practice of foot binding, which was popular among aristocratic families in the Song Dynasty, restricted women’s activities.
What were some of the most prominent innovations of the Song Empire?
During the Song Empire, the Chinese developed block printing long before Gutenberg invented the printing press, although they may have adapted it from the Koreans. The Chinese also proved adept at adapting technology to new uses. For instance, in 1090, Chinese traders began widespread use of the compass, which revolutionized naval travel and trade. Previously, the compass had been used for fortune-telling.
Foot-binding
Foot-binding was a Chinese practice that became firmly established by the 1200s. A tiny foot was considered attractive by the Chinese, and the feet of young Chinese girls were broken and confined to conform to this ideal. A bound foot signified social status but also heavily restricted women’s ability to move, thus making them unable to participate in the public sphere. Foot-binding was symptomatic of the large-scale subjugation of women in Chinese culture; women were treated as second-class individuals.
Imperial Bureaucracy
A vast organization in which appointed officials carried out the empire’s policies. Originating in the Qin dynasty (221 B.C.E.-207 B.C.E.), the Song dynasty’s expansion of the bureaucracy strengthened the dynasty as the new meritocracy, which expanded opportunities for all social classes, allowed for more upward mobility than any other hiring system of its kind.
Grand Canal
Under the Song Dynasty, the Grand Canal was an inexpensive and efficient internal waterway transportation system that extended over 30,000 miles. Expanding the canal enabled China to become the most populous trading area in the world.
Buddhism
a spiritual philosophy and religion, founded in the sixth century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama and widespread in Asia that teaches release from the self and from one’s earthly desires
Confucianism
The ethical teachings of Confucius emphasize reverence for ancestors, devotion to family and friends, cultivation and discipline of the mind, and social responsibility
The filial piety of East Asia
In Confucianism, it is a virtue of respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors and is considered a key virtue in Chinese and other East Asian cultures. In more general terms, it means to be good to one’s parents; to take care of one’s parents; to engage in good conduct, not just towards parents but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to one’s parents and ancestors; to show love, respect, and support; to display courtesy; to ensure male heirs; to uphold fraternity among brothers; to wisely advise one’s parents, including dissuading them from moral unrighteousness; to display sorrow for their sickness and death and to bury them and carry out sacrifices after their death.
Neo-Confucianism
Is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) in the Tang Dynasty and became prominent during the Song and Ming dynasties under the formulations of Zhu Xi (1130–1200).
Theravada Buddhism
A form of Buddhism that focuses on personal spiritual growth through silent meditation and self-discipline. It became prevalent in Southeast Asia.
Mahayana Buddhism
A form of Buddhism that focused on spiritual growth for all beings and service. It became prevalent in China and Korea.
Tibetan Buddhism
A form of Buddhism that focused on chanting. It became prevalent in Tibet.
Zen Buddhism
also known as Chan Buddhism, it is a syncretic faith that combines Buddhist doctrines and elements of Daoist traditions.
Champa rice
Quick-maturing, drought-resistant rice that can allow two harvests of sixty days each per growing season. Sent to Song China in the 11th century as a tribute gift from Champa during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song (r. 997–1022). Song dynasty officials gave the quick-growing Champa rice to peasants across China in order to boost their crop yields, and its rapid growth time was crucial in feeding the burgeoning Chinese population of over 100 million.
Woodblock printing
Or block printing is a Chinese technique for printing text, images, or patterns used widely throughout East Asia. Each page or image is created by carving a wooden block to leave only some areas and lines at the original level; it is these that are inked and shown in print in a relief printing process. Carving the blocks is skilled and laborious work, but a large number of impressions can then be printed.
As a method of printing on cloth, the earliest surviving examples from China date to before 220 AD.
