CHAPTER: 12

Civilization in China and Japan

The civilization of china is one of the oldest in the world, dating back for nearly
4,000 years. Since early times the Chinese were deeply concerned with
achieving good government. Following the ideals and ethics of the philosopher
Confucius, they developed a system in which government officials were chosen
by merit. It endured for hundreds of years, surviving the rise and fall of many
ruling houses and the constant threat of innovation. The brilliant culture of the
Chinese Empire was a model for all Asia.

Japan borrowed many ideas from Chinese culture but developed them in a
distinctive way. A feudal society grew up, and military leaders centralized the
countrys government. Both Japan and China preserved their traditional cultures
well into the nineteenth century by deliberately isolating themselves from foreign
influence.

I. The Chinese Establish Lasting Tradition

Chinas first civilization, like those in the near East and India,
developed along a great river. The Yellow River (Hwang Ho in
Chinese) begins in the mountain of western China and forms a huge
loop as it flows nearly 3,000 miles to the Yellow Sea. The river has
changed course many times, creating a broad valley, the North China
plain.
1. Legend Related the Rise of Chinas Early Rulers.
Like the Nile, the Yellow River regularly overflows its banks and
leaves rich topsoil on the land. The North China Plain is so flat,
however, that disastrous floods are common. According to legend ,
the Hsia (SHHE-ah), Chinas first ruling house, or dynasty , was
started about 2000 B.C by Yu, a great hero. Yu supposedly found a
way to control the flood-waters of the Yellow River so that farmers
could live in the valley.
2. The Shang Dynasty Rules In North China
 Early Chinese rulers were thought to be sons of heaven who were
given the mandate of heaven the approval of the gods to rule as
long as they ruled well. According to tradition, the later Hsia rulers
were so cruel that they lost the mandated of heaven to the
Shang(SHANGNG) dynasty about 1600 or 1500 B.C.
3. Local Rulers Gain Power Under Early China
The Chou reigned nearly 900 years. Longer than any dynasty in
Chinese history. Although the Chou rulers themselves gradually lost
all real power, the period named after them was an important
4. Chinese Culture and Any Technology Advance.
The Eastern Chou rulers had little power and less land than many
of the great local lords their long reign (770-256 B.C) was a time of
war, lawlessness, and disunity, but also of important developments
in Chinese society. Agriculture, technology, trade, and
transportation all were undergoing changes. Metalworkers of the
Chou period learned to work with iron, making sturdy plows and
sharp weapon. Canals for shipping grain were built, and irrigation
systems were developed. Towns grew up as trading centers, and a
class of merchant and traders formed. Merchant become wealthy
and influential, although they were considered the lowest social
class.
5. Individual States develop systems of government.
New states grew up in a ring around the old central states of the
North China Plain. Chinese culture now spread over an area from
the borders of Mongolia in the north to the Yangtze River in the
South.
6. Confucius Considers the Roles of People in Society.
One of the traveling bureaucrats was Kung Fu-Tzu Master Kung ,
whom we know by his Latinized name, Confucius. He is regarded
as Chinas greatest philosopher and teacher. Confucius (551-479
B.C) lived at about the same time as the Buddha in India.
Confucius was not a religious teacher, however He was not
concerned with the soul, an afterlife, or the workship of gods. He
was most interested in question of ethics and of morality in politics.
 He tried to defined ways in which individuals should love and
behave in their everyday relationship with others.
7. Mencius Teaches That The Individual Is Good.
The Philosopher Meng-Tzu who is known to the west as Mencius
lived about 200 years after Confucius (372-289 B.C). He taught the
ideas of Confucius and also made significant new contributions to
Chinese thought. Mencius argued that this goodness can be
developed into the Confucius virtues. He also defended the
peoples right to overthrow a ruler who did not live up to high
principles and so lost the mandate of heaven.
8. Taoism urges harmony with nature.
While Confucian philosophers set up strict rule for peoples
behavior within society, the Taoist rejected these as artificial. Their
aim was to discover Tao (DOW) or way of natural universe and
live in harmony with nature. The first great of teacher of Taoism
thought was supposedly the wise man Lao-tse (LAO-DZUH), who
may have only a mythical figure.
9. The legalists place the state above the peoples welfare.
Another important Philosophy was developed by Hsun-tzu (SHU-
DZOO), who lived about the same time as Mencius. In contrast to
Mencius, Hsun-tzu felt the people of basically evil and selfish but
could be improved by education, great teachers, and strict laws. In
the third century B.C to of his flowers evolved the philosophy known
as Legalism. Legalism felt that ruler must have absolute power so
that he turn all his peoples efforts toward making the state wealthy
and powerful. Rulers and statesmen in the state of Chin adopted
many legalism ideas. By 256 B.C. the Chin leaders had defeated
other Chinese states and destroyed the last Chou rulers. They put
legalism into to practice in organizing an empire.
10. Chinese philosophies stress the important of the family.
The family was always the most important part of Chinese society.
It was considered more important than the individual or the
government. One the most important virtues was filial piety- respect
and obedience to ones parents. This respect extended to family
 ancestors. The early rulers of China worshiped not only various
deities, but also the spirits of their Honored Ancestors.
11. Women are given a lesser role.
These same attitudes affected the status of women in Chinese
society. Because maintaining the family name was considered so
important, the birth of a son or grandson was a joyous event.
Daughter might be loved, but only through marriage could a woman
bring honor to her family. From obedience to her farther, a woman
moved on to obedience to her husband and then to her sons. She
could own nothing except her dowry even on her household might
have to obedient to her mother-in-law or her husband other wives.
Only in old ages might a woman acquire some authority of her own
as mother-in law.
12. Age Bring Respect.
The Chinese both men and women, looked forward to old age, for it
brought them wisdom, respect and leisure. Filial Piety required the
eldest son to provide a good life for his again parent. There were
few sins in ancient China greater than showing disrespect for a
parent, living or dead.

II. Chinas Rulers Create an Empire

Although the last Chou rulers had little real power, the fall of this
dynasty in 256 B.C. after 900 years, was a turning point in Chinese
history. The dynasties that followed the Chou established, extended
and maintained the Chinese Empire.

1. Chinese dynasties rise and fall

Throughout Chinese history, ruling house faced the same basic
problems: rebellions by lords and peasants, barbarian invasions,
and natural disasters. These problems caused the rise and fall of
dynasties in a regular pattern. Many historians discuss Chinese
history in terms of this dynastic cycle.
2. The Chin dynasty unites China
The ruler of the powerful state of Chin overthrew the last of the
Chou rulers in256 B.C. By 221 the Chin had brought together the
 other states under a strong central government. The Chin dynasty
lasted less than fifteen years, but it established the basis for the
Chinese Empire, which endured into the twentieth century.
3. The Chin suppress freedom of thought
Followed of Legalism, the Chin officials felt that other ways of
thinking were dangerous to the state. In 213 B.C., Li Ssu began a
wide-spread program of book burning. The court library kept copies
of early histories and the classics, but privately owned books
ordered to destroyed. Scholars who discussed earlier times,
criticized the government, or object to the control ideas were
executed or banished, along with their families.
4. Han rule last for four centuries
For several years rival leaders competed for the power in 202 B.C.,
a military leader declared himself emperor and stablished the Han
(HAHN) dynasty. This leader came from a peasant family and had a
bandit in the mountains before becoming a soldier. He took the title
Kao Tsu (KOW ZOO), which menas Great Father.
5. Wu Ti expands the Han Empire
Hans greatest growth in land and power came about during the
long reign of Wu Ti (141-7 B.C). to the south, Han armies
conquered many non- Chinese peoples along southern coast and
in Southern Asia. To the north and east, the empire expanded far
beyond the Great Wall to include large parts if Korea and
Manchuria.
6. Trade Develops between China and the West.
Since ancient time the Chinese known, how to raise silkworms and
weave silk cloth from the fibers spun by the worms. As no other
people know the secret, Chinese silk was valuable for trade.
Merchant caravans. On the silk route traveled from oasis to oasis
around the desert of the Tarim Basin they carried silk and jade from
China to India, Persia and the eastern province of Roman Empire.
7. Confucian ideas return to government
Han rulers realized that the growing empire needed well-educated
officials to run in properly. Scholars who followed the Confucian
 ideas of ethical government become influential at court. Write and
examinations were used to find enough educated and competent
men to fill government jobs.
8. Science and technology develop
Important advantage ni science were made in Han period. The
Chinese had been recording information about the stars and
planets since ancient times comets, sun spots, and eclipse were
thought to be messages from Heaven. By Han times, Chinese
astronomers had devised an accurate calendar, star maps, and
several astronomical instruments. Chinese scientist also discovered
principles of the magnetic compass used to determine direction and
had made an instrument to record earthquakes.
9. The Age of Disunity begins.
By early in the second century A.D., the later Han rulers were
facings economic ruin. There were rivalries among powerful
families at court and between generals in the provinces, as well as
widespread peasant rebellions. Even the examination system had
become corrupt. Officials were more likely to be chosen through
political influence than on the basis of their knowledge. In 220 A.D.,
the Han empire split into three kingdoms. Nomads crossed the
frontier and swept into to north China.

III. Imperial China Dominates Asia

The Chinese Empire was reunited in the sixth century by the Sui
dynasty. For a time it was the greatest empire in the world. Under later
dynasties, imperial China surpassed Europe in the culture and
technology, and Chinese civilization become a model for all eastern
Asia.
1. The Sui reunite the empire
Near the end of the age of disunity, a military leader in northern
China conquered the south and declared himself first emperor of
Sui (SWIH) dynasty. There were just two Sui emperors, and their
dynasty lasted from 589-618, less than thirty years but they
accomplished much in rebuilding the empire.
2. The Tang build a stronger empire
Tired of being to war and forced to labor on the canals and the
great wall, the people soon rebelled againts Sui rule. In a struggle
of power a former Sui officials and his son took control of throne in
610. The Tang (THANG) dynasty which they established lasted
until 907. In created another golden age in China.
3. The examination system gains new importance
The examination system first used in Han times based on the
Confucian Ideal of choosing officials for ability, not on the basis of
noble birth. All the ruler after Han made some changes or
improvement aimed at reaching this ideal. In fact, only the son of
aristocrats and high officials were likely to have the classical
education and influence to be and examination candidates.
4. Tang culture become a model of Asia
Chinas central position encouraged trade and communication with
other Asian nation. There was great demand in both Europe and
Asia for Chinese silk and porcelain. The exchange of goods and
ideas was two-ways. Tea was introduced by southern China.and
new ideas in mathematics and astronomy developed from contact
with India. Foreign religion including Buddhism, Islam, and some
eastern sects of Christianity ,were also brought into to China and
won convert there.
5. Buddhism is influential in Chinese culture
Buddhism had first reached China and India in about the first
century A.D., encouraged by king kanishka of the Kushan Empire in
center Asia. Some Buddhist ideas seemed to violate the Confucian
rules for proper conduct and family responsibility, but Buddhism
appealed to those who looked for peace and spiritual comfort.
Traders, missionaries from India and Chinese convert carried
Buddhism ideas and knowledge between India, China and Korea.
6. The tang dynasty ends in political fusion
From the eight century on, the imperial government was steadly
week by enemy attacks on its borders. At the same time, military
leaders in the provinces rebelled and drove the last Tang emperor
 from the throne 907. More than fifty years of disorder passed before
a new dynasty. The Sung reunited the country under the ruler.
7. The Sung prosper to southern China
When the Sung dynasty established on 960, nomadic people
controlled so much in northern China. Repeated invasions finally
forced the Sung to leave north in 1126. The period that followed,
called the southern Sung (1127-1279), was one of growth and
prosperity.
8. China comes under Mongol Rule
In the early 1200s, the Mongol leader Genghis Khan began his
conquest in Asia with the invasion of northern Chin. By 1215, the
Mongol archers and horsemen had defeated the northern rukers
and gone on to conquest in Central Asia. After Genghis khans
death in 1227, his grandson Kublai Khan completed conquest of
the southern Sung. In 1260 Kublai became Great Khan of the
Mongolian Empire in East Asia and ruled in 34 years.
9. European travelers visit China
The Mongol Empire control of the vast central plains of Asia and
Eastern Europe made it safe to travel overland from Europe to
China. Numerous European travelers, including a number of
Christian missionary friars reached China. Ideas and Invention also
began to move more freely between China and Europe and
between China and Muslim Asia. Some of Chinas notable
inventions including printing, gun powder, and the compass were
taking back to Europe by travelers and traders.
10. The Ming dynasty emphasized classical
The death of Kublai khan in 1294 weakened Mongol rule, and
rebellions broke out in many parts of China. In 1368 the peasant
leader of one rebel army seized Peking and declared himself
emperor and founded pf a new dynasty- the Ming.
11. China become a sea power
Trade by sea with other part of Asia had grown under the Mongols,
and Chinese become skilled navigators and shipbuilders. Between
1405 and 1433 the Ming rulers sent a great admiral named Cheng
 Ho (JUNG HO) on seven expeditions in India, Arabia and the
eastern coast of Africa. The most ambitious sea voyages of the
time. Cheng Hos visits helped bring most of Asia into Chinese
tributary system. To acknowledge the superiority of Chinese
emperor, the rulers of inferior countries had to send him gifts, or
tribute.
12. The Chinese look inward to their tradition
About the middle of the fifteenth century, the Ming rulers stopped
sponsoring expedition and encouraging trade. China become more
than cut off from rest of the world. In the 1590s the Ming rulers
were seriously weakened in fighting off a Japanese invasion in
Korea. International and rebellion brought the dynasty to an end in
1644.
Questions:
1. Where did civilization first develop in China? How was the
Shang dynasty provide to be real , not legendary?
2. Why was war within China common during the Chou period?
What technological advantage did Chinese make in Chou
times?
3. How was the Taoism different from other Chinese philosophies?
4. What dynasty established the Chinese Empire? How did this
dynasty try to protect and unify empire?
5. How did China come under foreign control in the thirteenth
century? What was the relationship between Chinese people
and the Mongol rulers?

IV. Japan Develops A Feudal Society

Japan includes four large islands and thousands of smaller ones. It lies
near enough the continent of Asia to have acquired ideas, in situations,
and culture from more ancient culture of China. Over many centuries,
the Japanese shared these borrowed elements into to unique culture
of their own.
1. Mainland Asia influences Japanese culture
 By about the second or third century B.C the early years of Han
dynasty in China the Japanese people of Yayoi culture were going
rice irrigated fields and working with bronze and iron. Their
technology and agricultural methods had probably come from
China and Korea.
2. Nature worship is part of early Japanese culture
The most ancient belief of the Japanese were based on reverence
and awe for the force of nature, which were seen as spirits, called
Kami out of these beliefs evolved the religion called Shinto. This
religion had no complex rituals or philosophy but found beauty and
wonder in all nature. Kami were thought to be present in such
awesome forces as storms and lightning, as well as in other natural
objects such as rocks, rivers, or trees. The influence of Shinto
beliefs can be seen in Japanese art, literature, and architecture,
which show sensitivity to natural forms and design.
3. Legend surround the Japanese imperial family
According to myth and tradition, in about the seventh century B.C.,
the grandson of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, descended to earth
with three sacred object; the iron sword of her brother the storm
god and a jwel naturally curved in the shape of a comma. (a mirror,
a sword, and a curved jewel are still the symbols of Japanese
imperial authority.) A later descendant of Amaterasu , known as
Jimmu, is traditionally regarded as the first emperor of japan and
the founder of imperial family, the Yamato.
4. Japan borrows institutions from mainland Asia
Chinese technology and culture had influence japan for hundreds of
years. In about the sixth century A.D., however, the Japanese
become deliberately to choose things to borrow from Chinese
culture and the culture of Korea, which had been greatly influence
by China. About the middle of sixth century, the Japanese imperial
court officially admitted to Buddhism to Japan over the objection of
other clan who were strong with Shintoism.
5. The Taika reforms establish a Chinese style system
 Prince Shotokus policy was continued in the mid-600s by the
Taika(TY-kah) reforms. The purpose of reforms was to establish a
stronger central government modeled after that of Tang China. All
land in japan was declared the property of the imperial government,
which would allot land to the peasants who farmed it. The Taika
reforms also included a new tax system, a network of roads and the
reorganization of the country into provinces headed by governors
appointed by the imperial government.
6. Japanese culture flourishes at the Heian court
The new capital was given the name Heian (HAY-AHN),The capital
of peace and tranquility. House were set in large gardens,
beautifully landscaped with lakes and water falls later renamed
Kyoto, the city remained the Japanese capital until the nineteenth
century.
7. Chinese traditions influence language and literature
A common spoken language had helped to unify Japan, but this
language was not written. The Japanese therefore borrowed the
Chinese writing system, although the two languages are totally
unrelated. Since writing Japanese words with Chinese characters
was difficult, some educated Japanese chose to write in the
Chinese language. Monks wrote Buddhism and Confucian religious
texts in Chinese characters, and the first histories of Japan were
also written in Chinese about seventh century.
8. Nobles challenge the imperials courts power
For most of the Heian period, the rich Fujiwara family held the real
power in japan. Members of this family married into imperial family
and held many influential posts. By about the middle of eleventh
century, however, the power of the central government ( and the
Fujiwaras) began to decline. Court families grew more interested in
luxury and their personal fortunes than governing. Many nobles
families and religious groups ( both Shinto and Buddhist) owned
land on which they paid no taxes; this caused government income
to drop.
9. Military leaders assume political authority
Two powerful warrior families, the Taira and the Minamoto,
struggled for the power for about thirty years. In 1180 full scale war
broke out between them. Five years later the Minamoto family and
its army defeated the Taira in an epic naval battle on the inland
Sea. The young Emperor Antoku was drowned, and the imperial
sword (one of the symbols of imperial power) was lost.
10. Honor and loyalty are the way of the warrior.
A class of warriors called samurai dominated society in feudal
Japan. The chief symbols of every samurais honor were his two
swords one long, one short. A samurais life was devoted mostly to
developing and perfecting skills in swordsmanship and archery. His
deals were personal bravery and loyalty to his Lord, which was
considered more important than loyalty than friends, family, or
emperor. The samurai code came to be called bushido or the way
of the warrior. It called for a life of discipline and self-control, on
and off the battle field.
11. Different forms of Buddhism become popular
Buddhism had at firs appealed mainly to the court aristocrats in
japan. During the feudal period however, new Buddhist sects
became popular among the common people. Traveling preachers
and Buddhist priest carried their messages to villagers and rural
people, and Buddhist scriptures were translated into Japanese.
12. divine Wind save Japan from Mongol conquest
By the late 1200s, China had become part of the growing Mongol
Empire ruler Kublai Khan, demanded that japan also accept his
rule. When his demanded was refused, he send a fleet to invade
japa in 1274. The samurai fought iff the invading Mongol horsemen,
helped by a fierce storm that forced that fleet to withdraw, seven
years later, a Mongol invasion force of about 140,000 men again
attacked Japan. Again a storm swept out the pacific. The raging
winds and towering wave of the typhoon wrecked many Mongol
ship and left thousands of soldiers stranded in Japan.
13. Local lords take power away from the central government
 The nobles who joined with the emperor did not in fact give power
back to the imperial family, but claimed it themselves. One warlord,
Ashikaga Tokauji, had himself made shogun in 1338, establishing
his family as Japans second line military rulers. From the start,
however, the Ashikaga leaders lacked the support of most samurai.
14. Class Lines Break Down
War destroyed old between classes. The lower classes became
more important in Japanese society. The samurai, however, lost
prestige because the daimyo recruited peasants and commoners to
serve in the armies. Many old noble families of the court lost their
estates to the Daimyo and so had no income. For a time in the
early 1500s an emperor could not be officially enthroned because
the court was too poor to pay for the ceremony.
15. Zen Buddhism inspires artistic brilliance
The ashikagawa shogun and most samurai followed Zen Buddhist
and the great Zen monastery influence politics, trade and the arts.
A brilliant period of Zen-inspired art began in the fifteenth century.
Central arts are typical of this Zen style; the tea Japanese garden,
the simple arrangement of Japanese garden and land scape
painting done with a few brush strokes. Each uses ideas of
simplicity and attention to detail that are a part of Zen approach.
16. Towns and trade flourish amid disorders
The changes taking place in Japanese society encouraged trade
and crafts despite the disorder and warfare. Some merchant
prospered by supplying food and equipment to the armies.
Peasants also became more prosperous become new farming
techniques. Farmers artisans, and merchant meet on market day to
trade goods, crafts, and food. Some merchants and artisans formed
a groups that were somewhat like the guilds of medieval period.

V. Tokugawa Shoguns Unify Japan

Japans central government broke down during the last years of war-
torn Ashikaga shogun-ate (1467-1567). Feudal lords fought for power
Finally strong military leaders emerged, reorganized the country, and
unified it as a nation. In the early 1600s, a new shogun-ate was
stablished by the Tokugawa Family.
1. The Portuguese introduce European ideas
The arrival of European traders and missionaries influenced events
in Japan in several ways. About 1542 a Portuguese ship landed
near Kyushu, and soon many Portuguese traders were visit japan
regularly. In 1549 the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier began his
mission to make japan the first Christian country in Asia. His
descriptions of japan were so enthusiastic that other Jesuit soon
followed. The Jesuit at first made many convert to Christianity . by
1582, it was stablished that there were about 150,000 Christian I n
japan.
2. Nobunaga begins to unite Japan
Oda Nobunaga , an ambitious local lord, took advantage of
European weaponry and missionary support. He began his
conquests in about 1551, at the age of nineteen. By 1568, through
almost constant warfare, he had captured the capital at Kyoto as
well as the lands of other daimyo. The last Ashikaga Shogun was
forced out office Nobunagas armies includes more peasant
samurai, but they were equipped with the newly introduce guns,
which gave them an advantage even over trained warriors.
3. Hideyoshi unites the country
Nobunagas best general, Hideyoshi, claimed leadership after
Nobunagas assassination in 1582.within 10years he had brought
all japan under his control. Hideyoshis ambition was unite all Asia
in great empire. The conquest of China was his main goal, but two
unsuccessful invasion of Korea in the 1590s ended this dream.
4. Japan Last Shogunate Begins
A power struggle among the daimyo began when Hedeyoshi died in
1598. Leaving his five year old son as his heir. Another of
Nobunagas generals, Tokugawa Leyasu, settled the conflict by
winning a decisive victory at the town of Sekigahara in 1600. The
Tokugawa family established japans last shogunate which
remained in power until 1868.
5. Christianity is suppressed in Japan
Ieyaso and his successors were convinced that foreign
missionaries and Japanese Christians were a threat to the country
stability. News of Spanish and Portuguese conquests In other parts
of the world added Japanese fears of outside influences. In 1614
Ieyasu ordered the missionaries and some Japanese convert to
leave the country. His successors increase the persecutions, and
by 1630s Christianity was openly practiced only around the trading
town of Nagasaki.
6. The Shoguns choose isolation
Fearful foreign influence, alter shoguns strictly limited all foreign
contracts, laws issued in the 1630s forbade Japanese to travel
abroad or return home if they had already left the country. The
Dutch, who made no attempt to introduce missionaries, were the
only European traders allowed in Japan. Along with the Chinese
traders were restricted to the area around Nagasaki.
7. The daimyos freedoms are limited
In dealing with the daimyo, the Tokugawa shoguns followed a policy
of divine and conquer for various reasons they might change,
take away, or reduce the size of a lords land holdings. Fearing
rebellion, the shogun kept daimyo from forming alliance. Marriage
between daimyo families or visits to another lords lands or to the
emperor had to be approved by the shogun the emperor himself
never left the imperial capital of Kyoto.
8. Tokugawa policies bring prosperity
The system of alternative attendance had unexpected results for
Japans economy. A network of major roads linked the daimyos
land with Edo. Towns, inns, and busy markets grew up to serve the
travelers. Merchants and artisans prospered. Some family
businesses grew into large companies, and merchants and bankers
came to control much of the countrys wealth. Merchants still
ranked very low socially, but some used their wealth to improve
 their status. A merchant might, for example, pay a poor samurai
family to adopt his son and raise him as a samurai.
9. Changes affect the samurai and daimyo
Although many merchants and peasants prospered under the
Tokugawa, the daimyo and samurai rapidly fell into financial trouble.
Their incomes came mostly from agriculture, especially rice, which
have heavily taxed. They did not benefit from the increase trade
prosperity in towns, though they had to pay the resulting higher
prices. The daimyos expenses for alternate attendance in Edo
were very high. Keeping un several luxurious houses and traveling
back and forth to Edo often took more than half of their income.
10. Popular Arts flourish in the cities
Life in the fast-growing cities was busy and exciting for the
merchants, business people and samurai who adopted city leaving.
Literacy in japan was high, and books of fiction and poetry were
widely read. Two popular new form of theater emerged. In the
Bunkaru, or Puppet Theater, large puppets acted out exciting
historical dramas or realistic play. The live actors of Kabuki theater
portrayed exciting stories against a background of colorful
costumes and scenery.
11. New way of thinking develop
The Tokugawa policies of isolation cut off the people of Japan from
Western ideas for about 200 years. The strict class structure of
centralized feudalism kept peace and brought prosperity. Yet Japan
did not stand still during its isolation. Social change continued.
People of the merchant and peasant classes gained the education,
freedom, and respect that only the samurai class only enjoyed.
Although Japan did not become industrialized at the same time, its
artisans developed and perfect their skills. Banking and commerce
continued grow. In like Japan China which rested change, Japan
moved forward during its isolation, though it moved in different
ways than did the West.

Questions:
 1. On what were ancient Japanese religious beliefs based?
What were Kami?
2. How did shogun replace the emperor as the actual ruler of
japan? What were the characteristic of samurai way of life?
3. Why did Japanese at the first welcome contact with
Portuguese missionaries and traders?
4. How did Oda Nobunaga use European technology to begin
the unification of Japan?
5. How did the Tokugawa period affect merchant and artisans,
daimyo and samurai and the growth of popular arts?

THE BEGINNING OF KOREAN CIVILIZATION

1. The History of Korea

Not much is known about the earliest beginning of Korean
civilization which consist more legend than facts. According to
Korean legend, the Korean people are the descendants of a bear-
liked god who descended from heaven in the northern part of the
Korean peninsula. This god transformed an earthly bear into a
woman and married her. Their union produced a son named
Tangun who is said to have founded the state of Choson meaning,
Land of the Morning Calm dates back to 2333 BC.

2. Period of the Three Kingdoms

Chinese occupation of Korea did not last long. When they withdraw
their forces on the region, three independent kingdoms arose in the
peninsula: Koguryu, founded 35 BC comprising North Korea and a
part of modern Manchuria; Paekche founded in 16 BC situated in
the Western part of Korea as far as the Taitong River and Silla
founded in 57 BC comprising the eastern part of the peninsula.

3. Wang Kon Unites Korea

The chaos that followed the downfall of the Tang Dynasty in 907
encouraged Wang Kon, a descendant of the ancient dynasty that
ruled Koguryu to lead a revolution in North Korea. After establishing
his power in North Korea in 919 AD, he led his forces against Silla
in the South. By 935 A.D, Wang Kon had made himself master of
the entire peninsula. And for the first time in her history, Korea was
united into a single nation. Wang Kon called his kingdom Koryu
from which the present name the country is derived.

4. Korean Culture
For over two centuries, Silla reigned supreme in the south.
Relations with China were strengthened with the years as the
Korean continued to absorb Chinese civilization including the
teaching of Confucius and Buddha. Koreans studied in China and
some of them occupied high positions in the Chinese imperial court.
The capital of Silla, Kyunji became a center of culture where the
Chinese philosophy, literature and arts were taught. Chulchong, the
scholar of the period, invented the Korean syllabary called Nido
which is considered as one of the simplest and most perfect
alphabets in the world.

5. The Invasion of Korea/The Mongol Empire

Beginning with the 11 century, different Tartar tribes in Northern
China arose successively into power and began a series of raids
and invasions that would culminate in the domination of Asia. One
of these tribes, the Khitans, invaded northern korea in 1011 A.D
and annexed it to their empire. In 1116 another Tartar people, the
Kins, defeated the Khitans. They took over korea and made the
Korean king their vassal. In the early part of the 13 th century, the
Mongols led by Genghis Khan, overthrew the Kins and swept into
Korea. The Korean king fled and his successor, as price for sitting
on the throne, was compelled to recognize the overlordship of the
khan emperor. Nevertheless, in 1368, the Mongol dynasty in china
left and the Koreans reigned their independence.

6. Korea under the Yi Dynasty

Not so long thereafter, the Koreans, dissatisfied of the Wang
Dynasty, staged a revolution led by General Yi Tai-jo, a high military
officer of the government. The king was deposed and Yi Tai-jo
ascended the throne in 1392 amidst great rejoicing among the
people. Yi Tai-jo founded the Yi dynasty which ruled Korea until its
annexation in 1910 by the Japanese. Yi Tai-jo proved to be a good
king as he instituted many political and social reforms. One of his
first acts was to build a new capital on the banks of the Nan river
which he called Han Yong (now Seoul). He charged the name of his
kingdom from korea to Choson. He abolished the feudal states
organized the kingdom into eight provinces. Appointment of officials
to government positions was based on merit and competitive
examinations. Confucianism was established as the state religion.

7. Japan Invades Korea

For the next two hundred years, peace reigned in the land. While
this long period of peace enabled Koreans to build up a progressive
society, it also lulled them into a false sense of security. Thus, they
neglected their military defenses.

Such was the state of affairs in Korea when in the second half of
the 16th century; an ambitious peasant warrior came into power in
Japan. His name was Hideyoshi. After making himself undisputed
dictator of Japan, General Hideyoshi with great confidence
announced his dream of establishing a great Asian empire. He
asked the helped of the Korean king in an attack against china. The
Korean king had always maintained friendly relations with china,
indignantly refused. In 1952 Hideyoshi invaded Korea with an army
of about 300,000 men. The Japanese were far better equipped and
trained than the Koreans, and in less than three weeks they
captured Seoul, the capital of Choson.
8. The Golden Age of Confucianism
During the 17th and 18th centuries Choson enjoyed generally able
kings and competent administration, although the court periodically
witnessed factional struggles. Socially, the elite excelled at
practicing the principles of Confucianism, as inspired by the Neo-
Confucian movement of china. The examination system, a method
of recruitment based on a test of the Confucian classics, was the
basis for selecting most of the officials of the government. These
elite scholars-officials possessed status, worth, and wealth.
Confucian prejudice against business kept others from contesting
the social position of the scholar-official.

9. External Pressure
During the second half of the 19 th century, foreign powers sought to
increase their influence on Korea. These advances were rejected
by the Koreans, who believe the society they had achieved under
the Confucian system needed little or nothing from outsiders other
than china. Christianity quietly introduced from china in 1784, was
slowly and covertly propagated by underground French Roman
Catholic missionaries. The Korean government, however,
attempted to stop the spread of Christianity because it was not
compatible with Confucianism.

10. Japanese Rule (1910-1945)

Japanese domination of Korea formally began with the Protectorate
Treat (1905) forced on Korea after the Russo-japanese war. Under
this treaty, Japan assumed control of Koreas foreign relations and
ultimately its police and military, currency and banking,
communications, and all other vital functions. These changes were
tenaciously resisted by the Koreans. In 1910 Japan formally
annexed Korea when it realized Korea would not accept nominal
sovereignty with actual Japanese control. From 1910 to 1919
Japan solidified its rule by purging nationalist, gaining control of the
land system, and enforcing rigid administrative changes.

Questions:
1. What influences did China have on the culture and history of
Korea?
2. How is ancient Koryo Culture similar/different than modern
Korean Culture?
3. What characteristics mark the difference between architectural
styles developed in North & South Korea after the peninsula
was divided?
4. In what ways were the Korean and Chinese rebellions against
Imperial Japanese forces similar and different?
5. How and why did Japan colonize Korea? How did the Japanese
colonization of Korea compare to other nations colonization
attempts in each of the following areas: military action, human
rights abuses, and economic dependency?