Traditions and Change in East Asia

In the early modern age, powerful dynasties emerged in both China and Japan, featuring centralized, autocratic governments and efficient bureaucracies. In China, the Ming dynasty drove out the Mongols in 1368 and rebuilt the infrastructure of the empire, including the Great Wall, the Grand Canal, and irrigation systems. Ming Emperor Hongwu built a large navy and sponsored expeditions to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean (see Chapter 23). However, later Ming rulers reversed this policy, destroyed the fleet, and restricted foreign contact. In the mid-seventeenth century, Manchurian tribesmen invaded China, overthrew a corrupt Ming state, and established the Qing dynasty with a Manchu ruling class. Also in the seventeenth century, the Tokugawa shoguns of Japan broke the power of the provincial lords (the daimyo) and created a centralized military government. Although Chinese and Japanese traditions are very different, there are some common elements in this period, including: A centralized bureaucracy. A hierarchy of Confucian-trained administrators ran the Qing Empire from the new capital at Nanjing. The Tokugawa shogunate required regular attendance by the daimyo at the capital city, Edo. Neo-Confucian values. Confucian teachings were appropriated by the state, stressing duty, order, and submission to authority. The patriarchal family was the basic social unit. Patriarchal values were grotesquely expressed in China in the practice of binding girls' feet. Agricultural economies with limited trade. Peasant farming fed the state, and crafts and luxury goods provided additional wealth. Both states severely restricted foreign trade to a few, carefully controlled port cities. Cultural insularity. For nearly two hundred years, Chinese and Japanese citizens did not travel abroad and had little knowledge of the outside world. By the eighteenth century, both dynasties had fallen behind the west in science and technology.

The Ming Dynasty ( ) Ming (Brilliant) dynasty comes to power after Mongol Yuan dynasty driven out Founded by Emperor Hongwu (r ) Used traveling officials called Mandarins and large number of eunuchs to maintain control Emperor Yongle (r ) experiments with sea expeditions, moves capital north to Beijing to deter Mongol attacks Origins before 4 th century BCE, ruins from Qin dynasty in 3 rd century BCE Rebuilt under Ming rule, 15 th -16 th centuries 1,550 miles, feet high Guard towers Room for housing soldiers

Eradicating the Mongol Past Ming emperors encourage abandonment of Mongol names, dress Support study of Confucian classics Civil service examinations renewed

Ming Decline 16 th century maritime pirates harm coastal trade Navy, government unable to respond effectively Emperors secluded in Forbidden City, palace compound in Beijing Hedonists Emperor Wanli (r ) abandons imperial activity to eunuchs

Famine, peasant rebellions in early 17 th century Rebels take Beijing in 1644 Manchu fighters enter from the north and retake city Manchus refuse to allow reestablishment of Ming dynasty Establish Qing (Pure) Dynasty Ming Collapse

The Qing Dynasty ( )

Manchus originally pastoral nomads, north of Great Wall Chieftan Nurhaci (r ) unifies tribes into state, develops laws, military Establishes control over Korea, Mongolia, China War with Ming loyalists to 1680 Support from many Chinese, fed up with Ming corruption Manchus forbid intermarriage, study of Manchu language by Chinese, force Manchu hairstyles as sign of loyalty

Emperor Kangxi (r ) Confucian scholar, poet Military conquests: island of Taiwan, Tibet, central Asia Grandson Emperor Qianlong (r ) expands territory Height of Qing dynasty Great prosperity, tax collection cancelled on several occasions The Son of Heaven Ming, Qing Emperors considered quasi-divine Hundreds of concubines, thousands of eunuch servants Clothing designs, name characters forbidden to rest of population The kowtow: three bows, nine head-knocks

The Scholar-Bureaucrats Ran government on a day-to-day basis Graduates from intense civil service examinations Open only to men Curriculum: Confucian classics, calligraphy, poetry, essay writing Also: history, literature The Civil Service Examinations District, provincial, and metropolitan levels Only 300 allowed to pass at highest level Multiple attempts common Students expected to bring bedding, chamber pots for three-day uninterrupted examinations Students searched for printed materials before entering private cells Examination System and Society Ferocious competition Qing dynasty: 1 million degree holders compete for 20,000 government positions Remainder turn to teaching, tutoring positions Some corruption, cheating Advantage for wealthy classes: hiring private tutors, etc. But open to all, tremendous opportunity for social mobility

The Patriarchal Family Filial piety understood as duty of child to parent; individual to emperor Eldest son favored Clan-based authority groups augment government services Males receive preferential status Economic factor: girls join husbands family Infanticide common Widows strongly encouraged not to remarry Chaste widows honored with ceremonial arches Men control divorce Grounds: from infidelity to talking too much

Woman with Bound Feet Origins in Song dynasty ( CE) Linen strips binds and deforms female childs feet Perceived aesthetic value Statement of social status and/or expectations Commoners might bind feet of especially pretty girls to enhance marriage prospects

Population Growth and Economic Development Only 11% of China arable Intense, garden-style agriculture necessary American food crops introduced in 17 th century Maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts Rebellion and war reduce population in 17 th century Offset by increase due to American crops

Foreign Trade Silk, porcelain, tea, lacquerware Chinese in turn import relatively little Spices, animal skins, woolen textiles Paid for exports with silver bullion from Americas After Emperor Yongles early maritime expeditions ( ), Ming dynasty abandons large-scale maritime trade plans In part to appease southern populations

Trade in Southeast Asia Chinese merchants continue to be active in southeast Asia, esp. Manila Extensive dealings with Dutch VOC

Government and Technology During Tang and Song dynasties (7 th -13 th centuries), China a world leader in technology Stagnates during Ming and Qing dynasties European cannons purchased, based on early Chinese invention of gunpowder Government suppressed technological advancement, fearing social instability would result Mass labor over productivity

Classes in Chinese Society Privileged Classes Scholar-bureaucrats, gentry Distinctive clothing with ranks Immunity from some legal proceedings, taxes, labor service Working classes Peasants, artisans/workers, merchants Confucian doctrine gives greatest status to peasants Merchant activity not actively supported Lower classes Military, beggars, slaves

Neo-Confucianism Version of Confucian thought promoted by Zhu Xi ( CE) Confucian morality with Buddhist logic Education at various levels promoted Hanlin Academy, Beijing Provincial schools Compilation of massive Yongle Encyclopedia Development of popular novels as well

Christianity in China Nestorian, Roman Catholic Christians had presence in China Disappeared with plague and social chaos of 14 th century Jesuits return under Matteo Ricci ( ), attempt to convert Ming Emperor Wanli Mastered Chinese before first visit in 1601 Brought western mechanical technology Prisms, harpsichords, clocks Argued that Christianity was consistent with Confucianism Differences due to Neo-Confucian distortions Yet few converts in China Approx. 200,000 mid 18 th century, about 0.08 percent of population Christian absolutism difficult for Chinese to accept Franciscans and Dominicans convince Pope that Jesuits compromising Christianity with Chinese traditions (e.g. ancestor worship) Emperor Kangxi bans Christian preaching in China

The Unification of Japan

Shoguns rule Japan, 12 th -16 th centuries Large landholders with private armies Emperor merely a figurehead Constant civil war: 16 th century sengoku, country at war Tokugawa Ieyasu (r ) establishes military government Bakufu: tent government Establishes Tokugawa dynasty ( )

Tokugawa Japan,

Control of Daimyo (Great Names) Approximately 260 powerful territorial lords Independent militaries, judiciaries, schools, foreign relations, etc. From capital Edo (Tokyo), shogun requires alternate attendance: daimyo forced to spend every other year at court Controlled marriage, socializing of daimyo families Beginning 1630s, shoguns restrict foreign relations Travel, import of books forbidden Policy strictly maintained for 200 years

Andrew Marrs History of the World Episode 5 36:36 – 43:08 Japan

Economic Growth in Japan End of civil conflict contributes to prosperity New crop strains, irrigation systems improve agricultural production Yet population growth moderate Contraception, late marriage, abortion Infanticide: thinning out the rice shoots

Social Change End of civil disturbances create massive unemployment of Daimyo, Samurai warriors Encouraged to join bureaucracy, scholarship Many declined to poverty Urban wealthy classes develop from trade activity

Neo-Confucianism in Japan Chinese cultural influence extends through Tokugawa period Chinese language essential to curriculum Zhu Xi and Neo-Confucianism remains popular Native Learning also popular in 18 th century Folk traditions, Shinto

Floating Worlds (ukiyo) Urban culture expressed in entertainment, pleasure industries Marked contrast to bushido ethic of Stoicism Ihara Saikaku ( ), The Life of a Man Who Lived for Love Kabuki theatre, men playing womens roles Bunraku puppet theatre

Christianity in Japan Jesuit Francis Xavier in Japan, 1549 Remarkable success among daimyo Daimyo also hoping to establish trade relations with Europeans Government backlash Fear of foreign intrusion Confucians, Buddhists resent Christian absolutism Anti-Christian campaign restricts Christianity, executes staunch Christians Sometimes by crucifixion

Dutch Learning Dutch presence at Nagasaki principal route for Japanese understanding of the world Before ban on foreign books lifted (1720), Japanese scholars study Dutch to approach European science, medicine, art