Chapter 27

Tradition & Change in Tradition & Change in East AsiaEast Asia

A New Era—The First A New Era—The First “Global” Age!“Global” Age!• European voyages sparked a new era of

interaction and exchange in world history• Transoceanic encounters affected societies

in different ways– European arrival in the Americas led to the

disappearance of the Aztecs and Incas, a new race-based social class system, and coercive labor on plantations and in mines.

– European interactions with Africa produced the Atlantic slave trade as well as political, social, and economic turmoil in Africa.

• European interactions with East Asia European interactions with East Asia were different—but HOW? And WHY?were different—but HOW? And WHY?

Why was East Asia Why was East Asia Different?Different?• Geographic

Isolation– West: Himalayas,

Tibetan Plateau, Talkamakan Desert

– North: Gobi Desert– East: Yellow Sea

• Led to a strong native culture in China, Japan, and Korea

• general mistrust of foreigners

Why was East Asia Why was East Asia Different?Different?

• Philosophical, Religious and Social Traditions– Buddhism & DaoismBuddhism & Daoism

• Individual journey, avoiding extremes, promote peace & harmony, etc.

– ConfucianismConfucianism•Strong socio-political philosophy; practical &

ethical•Social harmony could be restored with

key relationships•Good government comes from placing

wise & virtuous rulers in charge•Rulers should be counseled by scholars

well versed in history, poetry, & literature

Why was East Asia Why was East Asia Different?Different?

• Basic Supply & Demand!

• Europeans demanded Chinese:– Tea– Silk– Porcelain– Lacquer-ware

• Europe were supplying China with:– Exotic animals– Woolen textiles– Spices– SILVER!!

The Ming Dynasty The Ming Dynasty “Restoration”“Restoration”

• Yuan dynasty (Mongol rule) collapsed in 1368, due to decline in population from the plague, economic hardships, civil war, etc.

• Rise of the MingMing under HongwuHongwu– Soldier, priest, and a thief (?!)– Drove Mongols out; created a new

centralized state– Used mandarinsmandarins to enforce laws– Trusted eunuchseunuchs, appointing many

as high advisors/palace bureaucrats• Restored Chinese rule, tradition

& the civil service system!!!

The Ming continued…The Ming continued…• Ming Rulers focused on:

– Removing Mongol influence– Reinstating Chinese

traditions– Centralizing administration– Expanding civil service

bureaucracy– Expanding borders– Forming alliances w/

neighboring areas• Vietnamese states• Yi kingdom in Korea

– Repelling foreign invasions• Fortified the Great Wall

– Added watch towers, signal towers, brick & mortar, etc.

• Strengthened army

Chángchéng (“Long Wall”)

The “Forbidden “Forbidden

City”City”(Palace of

Ming & Qing

Emperors)

Decline of the MingDecline of the Ming• 1520-1560’s pirates & smugglers disrupted

coastal and inland communities• Imperial government became inept & corrupt

– Isolated in the “Forbidden City” (cut off from reality)

– Entrusted govt. matters to eunuchs

– Emperor distracted by entertainment/harem/concubines

– 17th c. famines– Economic problems

(caused by monetary policies; high taxes)

– Peasant rebellions!!– Manchu invaders!!!

The Qing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty• Poured in from Manchuria in 1644• Notable Emperors: Kangxi, Qianlong

(“enlightened rule”?)• Manchu elites were schooled in Chinese language,

Confucian thought, and poetry• Did not allow Chinese people to learn their

language, go to their country, inter-marry etc.• Tensions between the Manchu and the Chinese

were muted by strong leadership & adherence to the Confucian values and political system

• Expansion of the empire—expansion in Tibet; added Nepal, Vietnam, and Burma as vassal states

Kangxi & QianlongKangxi & Qianlong

How was Manchu rule How was Manchu rule (under the Qing (under the Qing

Dynasty) Dynasty) similarsimilar to to Mongol rule (during Mongol rule (during the Yuan Dynasty)?the Yuan Dynasty)?

How was it How was it differentdifferent??

Economic Changes . . .Economic Changes . . .• Coastal cities: Global trade fueled commercial

expansion • Rural areas: Confucian traditions praised

agricultural labor • New crops introduced (via Columbian

Exchange)= maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts• Increased agricultural production & new crops

created a population boom!• Population from 100 million to 160 million in

1600, surged to 225 million in 1700!!• Growth put tremendous pressure on resources• Large labor force drove wages/per capita

income down

Population Growth Population Growth Continues!Continues!

Isolation vs. TradeIsolation vs. Trade• European demand for

Asian luxury goods led to influx of American & Japanese SILVERSILVER that fueled manufacturing

• Commercial activities were highly regulated by gov’t.

• 1656—imperial edict 1656—imperial edict banned foreign trade; banned foreign trade; imposed isolationimposed isolation

• Many Chinese merchants independently went to SE Asia to trade w/ European merchants

• Commoners put pressure on gov’t. to lift trade ban (civil unrest; weakened imperial authority)

Manila (Spanish) Galleon

Ming & Qing SocietyMing & Qing Society• Ming rulers aimed to restore

and maintain traditionaltraditional ways• Stressed political & social

stability (over progress)– Population growth caused

rulers to focus on keeping the people fed, not on technological innovation, long distance trade, interaction with Europe, etc.

• Increaded Patriarchy!!– Female infanticideFemale infanticide– Resurgence of foot-bindingfoot-binding

• EmperorEmperor• Scholar-bureaucratsScholar-bureaucrats• GentryGentry• Peasants & artisansPeasants & artisans• MerchantsMerchants• ““Mean people”—(beggars, slaves, prostitutes, & Mean people”—(beggars, slaves, prostitutes, &

“boat people of Guangdong”) “boat people of Guangdong”)

How is the social hierarchy in China How is the social hierarchy in China differentdifferent than than it was in other places during this time? WHY is it was in other places during this time? WHY is it different?it different?

Ming & Qing Social Ming & Qing Social HierarchyHierarchy

Neo-Confucianism Neo-Confucianism RestoredRestored

• Strong support of Neo-Confucianism created new climate of learning & discipline

• Civil service examinations became more rigorous; scholar-gentry considered “elite”

• Popular novels were looked down upon by Confucian scholars

Neo-Confucianism & Neo-Confucianism & ChristianityChristianity• European Jesuit missionaries

( like Matteo RicciMatteo Ricci) learned Chinese and Confucian classics to gain access & promote Christianity

• Tried to show similarity between teachings of Jesus and Confucius

• Few converts—Christianity (like Islam) could not be practiced along with Daoism, Buddhism, etc.

• Emperor Kangxi “banned” Christian teachings

• Eventually missionary efforts weakened and ended

Even though there were few converts, Even though there were few converts, how did the spread of Christianity change how did the spread of Christianity change China?China?

Unification of JapanUnification of Japan• Japan had history of clan-based

government & Medieval era brought the rise of feudalism

• Rule by shogunsshoguns from 12th -16th c.• Emperor was seen as a living god (a

figurehead); shoguns had real power• SengokuSengoku— “country at war”!• Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu conquered rival

clans & est. temporary “tent govt.” (bakufubakufu) that ended up lasting . . .

• Tokugawa shoguns ruled over a “unified” Japan from 1600-1867

TokugawTokugawa Japana Japan

• Tokugawa shoguns wanted to limit power of daimyodaimyo (lords)

• Req. policy of “alternate attendance”“alternate attendance” (daimyo required to live in Edo alternate years)

• Monopoly on gunpowder technology

• Led to general stability & peace through Tokugawa period

http://www.hogaku.it/storia/azuchi_momoyama/map2.gif

Isolation and Economic Isolation and Economic Change in JapanChange in Japan

• Shoguns issued strict edicts Shoguns issued strict edicts restricting interaction with restricting interaction with foreignersforeigners (Europeans brought gunpowder!)

• Expelled merchants; forbade import of foreign books

• Small numbers of Chinese & Dutch merchants could trade at Nagasaki under tight watch

• Sparked new agricultural production—leading to population growth

Social and Cultural Change Social and Cultural Change in Japanin Japan

• Social structure changed (daimyo’s power decreased, merchants at bottom—as in China)

• However, merchant wealth increased; often merchants bought into arranged marriages to improve standing

• Neo-ConfucianismNeo-Confucianism became the “official” ideology of the Tokugawa bakufu

• Also a push for “native learning”“native learning” (Japanese tradition) that scorned influence from China

• ““Floating worlds”Floating worlds” emerged in the cities (cultural centers w/ kabuki theatres, teahouses, brothels, and public baths)

• The arrival of Dutch merchants brought Christianity (resented by shoguns) and the introduction of “Dutch “Dutch learning”,learning”, which brought European ideas into Japan

Social Hierarchy in Social Hierarchy in Tokugawa JapanTokugawa Japan

Social and Cultural Change Social and Cultural Change in Japanin Japan

Japanese GeishaJapanese Geisha