Chinese and Japanese Cultures

1. Chinese and Japanese Cultures World History Mr. Simmons

2. Ming Dynasty • Began in 1326 in China with an overthrow of the Mongols • Confucianism was the religion • Lasted until 1644, expanding into Mongolia, central Asia and even Vietnam. • Ming Rulers ran Government which was bureaucracy with officials taking civil service exams • Began greatness in China

3. Ming Dynasty • Emperor Yong Le began construction of Imperial City(1406), known today as the Forbidden City, home to China’s emperors for the next 500 years • Chinese rulers thought of foreign rulers as younger brothers (emperor was seen as son of heaven) • Dynasty declined due to corruption, high taxes, low crop yields, weak rulers, peasant unrest. • The Manchus (people from Manchuria) conquered Beijing. Created the Qing (pure) dynasty remained in power until 1911.

4. Qing Dynasty • Martial arts – arts of combat and self-defense. Started in Han Dynasty in 495, continued by Zen Buddhist monks as they developed Kung Fu. • Manchu required all men to shave forehead and braid hair into pigtail (queue) • Kangxi was China’s greatest ruler (1661-1722) tolerant of Christians but resisted other reforms of foreign influence in China

5. Daily life in China • Population grew from 80 to 300 million between 1390 and 1700. • Commercial capitalism did not develop because government controlled trade this led to shortages of land and social unrest • Confucian emphasis on family, elderly were highly respected, and clans were groups of families. • Women were considered inferior to men (practice of foot binding)

6. Discussion Questions • Why do you think the Chinese resisted outside influence so much? • What is one difference and similarity between Confucianism and Christianity? • Does America have the same focus on family as China does?

7. Japanese Culture • Daimyo are heads of noble families, often warred with each other. • The Three Unifiers • Oda Nobunaga seized capital and placed shogun under his control in the 1540’s. • Toyotomi Hideyoshi moved capital to Osaka around 1580. • Tokugawa Ieyasu a powerful daimyo from Edo seized power in 1598 took title of shogun in 1603. These rulers kept power until 1868. and unified Japan in what is called the “Great Peace”

8. Japan under Tokugawa • Europeans were welcome until Jesuit missionaries destroyed shrines. After these acts Christians were expelled or persecuted. • Feudal system was controlled by Tokugawa rulers, land was divided into over 250 hans. A daimyo controlled each and the shogunate controlled the daimyo by a hostage system. • The hostage system the daimyo had to maintain two residences. One in their own lands another in Edo where the shogun resides. (family or daimyo)

9. Economic and Social Changes • Trade and manufacturing started to prosper as Confucian barriers started to break down. • In 1750 Edo was the world’s largest city of over 1 million people. Merchant class evolved which led to banking system and paper currency. • This helped many but also hurt many over 7000 peasant revolts occurred under the Tokugawa rule. • Class system became rigid, four classes evolved: warriors, peasants, artisans, and merchants. Intermarriage was forbidden

10. Japanese Class System • The Emperor and court were at top • Next was the warrior class – shogun, daimyo, samurai, and ronin • Next was farmers and artisans (trade workers) • Last were the merchants because they profited from the labor of others.

11. Korea: The Hermit Kingdom • Yi Dynasty remained in power from 14th Century until 17th Century • Capitol was in Hanyang (Seoul) • “Hermit Kingdom” because rulers tried to isolate from outside world. • Korea eventually succumbed to the Manchu army in 1630’s and came into Chinese control. • Largely untouched by European merchants and Christian missionaries.

12. Discussion Questions • What American Political figures can be compared to the three unifiers of Japan? • How would you react to missionaries from a foreign culture destroying religious shrines? • What was the main reason for rigidifying the class system? • China, Japan, and Korea all tied to keep out Western influence. Of these three which one remains isolated today?