Post on 11-Jan-2016
Chapter 11
The Eastern Asian Rimlands:
Early Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Japan Land of the Rising Sun
Japan is an Island country 4 main islands
Hokkaido (north) Honshu (center) Kyushu and Shikoku (south)
Temperate Climate especially in the East 3 major cities
Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto
Geography Mountainous – volcanic – creates fertile soil 20% total land is suitable for cultivation = 2
crops/year Located on Asian and Pacific tectonic
plates – prone to earthquakes Film Clip: Days that Shook the World: Japan
1923
Origins Izanagi and Izanami – god
and goddess their union creates Japan
Give birth to Amaterasu which then becomes the founder of society This gives credence to the Emperors
to come
Origins Con’t Evidence of humans at least 100,000 years Jomon 10,000 years ago pottery evidence 400 BCE – Korean immigrants Yayoi
culture come to Japan along with rice crops will spread to northern islands
Yayoi Culture
Settle predominately in Yamato Plain (near the modern cities of Osaka and Kyoto)
Tribal Society called Uji Ruled by hereditary chieftain
Protection for portion of harvest Population divided into:
Aristocratic class Majority of Population
Rice farmers Artisans Household servants
Yayoi Con’t Highly decentralized society Although, dominant clan in the Yamato
region claimed to be descendent of Amaterasu and did contain some measure of power.
The Rise of the Japanese State Do to the potential threat of China, Japan
reorganized itself: 1) Created alliances with remaining Korean
States 2) Centralized authority to reset a Chinese
invasion
Shotoku Taishi (562 - 622)
Key, dominant figure in Yamato region Sent missions to Chang’an (Tang) to learn
political institutions to strengthen centralization Taishi Reforms:
Creates 17 Article Constitution (pg 294) Supreme ruler and a merit system for selecting and
ranking public officials, Limited the power of hereditary nobility Enhanced the prestige and authority of the Yamato ruler
Taika – the great change Creation of the Grand Council of State
Cabinet of 8 ministries Japan divided into administrative districts
Rural villages run by chiefs Overseer of the household registers Assigning of the sowing of crops and cultivation Rice and mulberry trees Prevention of offences Requisition of taxes and forced labour
New Tax System: New tax and law system creates
centralized taxes Land is now owned by the state Taxes now paid directly to the state
Introduction of Buddhism into the country
The Nara (710-784) and Heian (794-1185) Periods
These periods = a time of decentralization To avoid taxes land was given up to high ranking
aristocrats who were exempt from paying taxes Result – centralized government loses influence
and strategic marriages bind strong factions together
Rural Clans continued to become more powerful especially with the introduction of the samurai.
Clans become militant
The Samurai Lived life of simplicity
and self-sacrifice Followed Bushido or
warrior code Strict loyalty bonded
samurai class Become a major
political and military force in the country side.
See bookmarked sites
The Kamakura Shogunate Civil war ensues as decentralization occurs Re-Centralization occurs under the leadership
from a warrior clan: Minamoto Yoritomo (1142-1199)
Sets up power base at Kamakura peninsula Shogunate System:
Centralized government Bakufu Powerful Military under leadership of the Shogun Emperor exist but is a figure had to the Shogun System will continue into the second half of the 19th C.
Time of Unrest Mongol Invasion Late 13th C
Invasion tried twice Second invasion conquered by Kamikaze “divine wind) Typhoon
Ashikaga Period 1333 – 1600 Decentralization rampant Daimyo (great names) are ruling creating a loose coalition of
families ruling together Onin War 1462-1477
Destruction of Capital City of Kyoto Disintegration of the Shogunate Powerful Aristocrats seize large territories and rule independently Warring common until 16th C when centralization returns
Economic and Social Structure Agricultural society based on “wet rice”
Economic Con’t Commerce slow to develop in Japan Uji – made up of weavers, carpenters and
ironworkers trade though is regulated and limited to clan leaders
Yamato state money economy gradually develops although barter is common
Kamakura Period Trade and manufacturing develop Appearance of Tri-monthly markets Emergence of industry: paper, iron casting, and
porcelain Foreign trade with Korea and China Japanese Exports: raw materials, paintings,
swords Japanese Imports: silk, porcelain, books, copper
cash
Ashikaga Period Rapid growth of wealth and authority of
daimyo families create market towns Full money economies Local manufacturers form gilds – Zaivatsu
Monopolies on product industry – apprentice, journeyman, master
includes rice, samurai swords etc. Rice famines
Social Life Common People
Top officials – well to do peasants – responsible for organizing collective labour services and collecting tax grain and so are exempt from taxes
Peasents Genin – Landless labour Eta – Hereditary slaves
Gender Roles Women and men share importance early on as both are
needed to perform tasks to survive Polygamy common 8th C law code guaranteed inheritance rights of women, and
wives abandoned by husbands were permitted to divorce and remarry
Husbands could divorce if a male child wasn’t produced, committed adultery, disobeyed parents in law, talked too much, engaged in theft was jealous or had a serious illness!
With the introduction of Buddhism women were subordinate in position
Religion Early belief – worship of nature spirits:
Kami and ancestor spirits Evolve into Shinto the state religion
Ritualistic acts at a shrine Process of purification Stress on the importance and beauty of nature Becomes a state doctrine linked the divinity of
the emperor and Japanese nation
Buddhism Introduced in 6th C CE Create a Shinto/Buddhism combination in a
symbiotic relationship Two sects
1) Pure Land sect – common people Devotion alone could lead to enlightenment and
release 2) Zen Buddhism – compliment traditional beliefs
Austerity self-discipline and communion of nature
Korea Major influences from China Korea is divided into the Three Kingdoms
4th to 7th C Kings bitter rivalry for influence and territory on the
peninsula All absorb political and cultural influence from China Koguryo influenced by Buddhism in the late 4th C Kingdoms share a tributary relationship with China Silla has strong internal cohesion due to location from
China will become dominant power
Silla Kingdom Force Chinese from all of Korea except Yalu River Accepts tributary status under the Tang Attempted to use Chinese political model for centralization Buddhism rising in popularity Chinese architecture, art, and written language become
popular No civil service examination system or distribution manorial
lands to the poor Sulla king assassinated in 780 country sinks into civil war
Koryo Dynasty Arose in the North Adopted Chinese political model Civil Service exam system introduced in 958 Industry and commerce slowed develop Agriculture premier source of wealth King and noble families hold land Base people composed of slaves, artisans, and
specialized workers
Mongol Rule Koryo unable to overcome the power of the
nobility and the absence of a reliable tax base Koryo becomes a tributary to Khan Profound suffering to the Korean people for
peasants and artisans Introduction of new ideas and technology With the rise of the Ming in China Koryo collapses Power now in the hands of Military commander Yi
Song-gye Yi dynasty in 1392
Vietnam – The Smaller Dragon By 200 BCE – a young state began to form Immediately felt pressure by the Qin Dynasty in
China Vietnamese gain independence after the Qin
collapse A Century later absorbed into the Han Empire Started autonomous region under the
administration of the local landed aristocracy Chinese taxes are oppressive and in 39 CE revolt
led by Trung Sisters bring an end to Han rule
Cont Chinese suppress the rebellion and begin
to rule directly Intermarriages between the Sino-
Vietnamese elite identirfy with Vietnamese autonomy
Art, architecture, literature, philosophy and written language of the Chinese adopted
Seen as part of China
The Rise of the Great Viet In the 10th C – Vietnamese strengthened by a
sense of ethnic and cultural identity overthrow Chinese rule with the collapse of the Tang Dynasty
Dai Viet becomes a new force on the South-east Asian mainland
Dai Viet – take on Champa and the Gulf of Siam and Mongols – being successful! Use of guerrilla warfare
Chinese Legacy Confucian model followed Ruler styled like Chinese Emperor Adopted Chinese court rituals, claimed
Mandate of Heaven Chinese political model adopted including
civil service exam Spread of Buddhism, Daoism and
Confucianism