Japan,+Korea,+Vietnam

Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

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001: ESPIRIT on Japan

 * ==E== || **Japan's economy was heavily reliant on daimyo sponsorship, peasant labor, and trade.**
 * Daimyos attempted to:
 * stabilize village life within their domains by introducing regular tax collection
 * supporting construction of irrigation systems and other public works
 * incentives were offered to encourage settlement of unoccupied areas
 * new tools
 * greater use of draft animals
 * new crops
 * soybeans - contributed to well-being of peasantry in the better-run domains
 * Peasants produced items such as:
 * silk
 * hemp
 * paper
 * dyes
 * vegetable oils
 * were highly marketable and potential sources of household incomes
 * daimyos vied with each other to attract merchants to their growing castle towns
 * commercial class emerged as purveyors of goods for the military elite and intermediaries in trade b/t Japan and oversea areas, esp. China ||
 * ==S== || **Japanese society focused on a warrior class, peasant subjugation, and shifting incentives for women.**
 * **Heian Era**
 * system of ranks
 * determined by birth and allowwed little mobility b/t various orders
 * men and women followed strict codes of behavior
 * under constant scrutiny of peers
 * Japanese courtiers and emperors continued to inhabit closed world of luxury and aesthetic delights
 * gossip was rampant
 * members of imperial household/ aristocracy
 * lived in complex of palaces and gardens
 * buildings:
 * made of unpainted wood
 * sliding panels
 * matted floors
 * wooden walkways
 * exterior specs:
 * fish ponds
 * artificial lakes with waterfalls
 * fine gardens
 * Most valued art at court: writing
 * poems and literary works
 * Lady Murasaki's "Tale of the Genji"
 * gown is proper for ceremony
 * woo potential lover or emperor's favor
 * women rivaled men as poets, artists, musicians
 * unseemly for them to openly pursue lovers
 * women at Heian court were expected to be as poised and cultured as men
 * for a time, less involved in cultural imports
 * wrote poems played flutes and other musical instruments
 * **Bushi**- warrior leaders that administered law within the mini-states
 * supervised public works projects
 * collected revenue
 * built own armies as result of failure of courts to build conscript armies
 * most effective military forces
 * **Samurai**- mounted troops-
 * loyal to local lords, not to court of high aristocratic officials
 * called to protect emperor and his retainers and to maintain peace in capital
 * 11th and 12th centuries:
 * imperial gv't control over country weakened
 * bandits roamed freely in countryside and streets of capital
 * Buddhist monasteries employed armed toughs to protect them and attack rival sects
 * warrior class:
 * depended on peasants to supply them with food and other necessities
 * Bushi and samurai devoted lives to hunting, riding, archery practice and other skills to sharpen their martial skills
 * time and location of battle were negotiated beforehand
 * each side tried to demonstrate the justice of its cause and the treachery of its enemies
 * before charging into battle, japanese warriors proudly proclaimed
 * family lineage and notable military exploits to adversaries
 * developed stressed family honor and death rather than retreat of defeat
 * beaten or disgraced warriors turned to ritual suicide to prove their courage and restore their family's honor --> **seppuku,** practice of belly splitting
 * Japanese peasants were reduced in the next centuries to the status of serfs
 * bound to land they worked and treated as property of the local lord
 * separated by rigid class barriers from warrior elite
 * differentiated by ways of dress
 * prohibition of peasants carrying swords or riding horses
 * turned to Buddhism in the form of salvationist pure land sect
 * emergence of scholar-gentry as imperial house weakened
 * refutation of heavenly mandate
 * Gempei Wars:
 * raged in heartland of the main island of Honshu
 * brought great suffering to peasantry
 * farmlands ravaged
 * compelled to fight each other
 * poorly trained peasants were defeated by better equipped samurai warriors
 * Minamoto:
 * emperor and his court were preserved
 * real power rested with Minamoto and samurai retainers
 * end of shogunate
 * rise of **daimyos**- warlord rulers
 * peasants:
 * badly trained and poorly fed
 * became source of army
 * marched about countryside and fought wars of their overlords
 * looted and pillaged
 * often engaged in hopeless, but ferocious revolts
 * guild organizations for artisans and merchants
 * helped provide social soliditary and group protection
 * women in merchant and artisan families exercised a fair degree of independence
 * reflected in participation in guild organizations
 * business management
 * their positions were sometimes inherited by their daughters
 * earlier centuries:
 * wives and daughters of provincial bushi
 * learned to ride and use bow and arrow and often joined hunt
 * 14th and 15th centuries
 * primogeniture, limiting inheritance to the eldest son
 * wives and daughters of household shared in division of the family estate
 * now received little or no land or income
 * disinheritance
 * given in marriage to cement alliances b/t warrior households and reared to anticipate their warrior husband's every desire
 * taught to slay themselves rather than dishonor the family line
 * when raped by illicit suitors or enemy soldiers
 * lost role in religious ceremonies
 * Japanese theatrical performances
 * replaced by men inpersonating women ||
 * ==P== || **Initially, Chinese politics had an incredible impact on Japanese ideas, but as time progressed, Japanese politics began to shift, from the aristocracy and imperial family, to bushi vassals and daimyos.**
 * 646- **Taika Reforms**: aimed to revamp the imperial administration along Chinese lines
 * Japanese court scholars struggled to master thousands of Chinese characters
 * bore little relation to the language they spoke
 * wrote dynastic histories patterned after those commissioned by the emperors of China
 * followed court etiquette
 * combined Chinese protocol with ancient Japanese ideas about politeness and decorum
 * if successful, were intended to :
 * remake Japanese monarch into an absolutist Chinese-style emperor
 * "Son of Heaven"
 * create a genuine professional bureaucracy and peasant conscript army in Japan
 * Buddhist monks grew powerful a century after reforms introduced
 * their influenced threatened:
 * court and aristocracy
 * engulf the throne in the 760's, when aclever Buddhist prelate worked his way into the inner circle of the empress Koken
 * 794: emperor Kammu est. new capital city at Heian
 * later called Kyoto
 * place where Buddhists were forbidden to build monasteries
 * got around this by establishing monasteries in the hills surrounding Heian
 * emperor abandoned all pretense of continuing Taika reforms
 * fully restored power of the aristocratic families
 * elaborate systems of ranks into which the aristocrats were divided were maintained.
 * aristocrats presided over most positions in central gov.
 * abandoned attempts to build peasant conscript army
 * local leaders were ordered to organize militia armies
 * at Heian Court,
 * members of imperial household and leading aristocratic families lived in complex of palaces and gardens
 * **mid-9th century: Fujiwara:**
 * exercised exceptional influence over imperial affairs
 * packed upper administration with family members and shaped imperial policy
 * married Fujiwaras into imperial families
 * families like Fujiwara used wealth and influence to build up large estates that provided a stable financial base for their growing power
 * worked with monks
 * both monks and court nobility increased number of peasants and artisans they ruled
 * promoted by introduction of secret texts and ceremonies of esoteric Buddhism
 * mid-12th century: Taira and Minamoto:
 * for a time, **Taira** gained upper hand by controlling the emperor and dominating the court
 * early 1180s, Minamoto commanders and powerful network of alliances with provincial lords in various parts of the country proved superior to the leaders or allies the Taira could not muster
 * following Gempei Wars, the Taira house faction was destroyed by 1185
 * **Minamoto** established the **bakufu**, or military government
 * capital located at Kamakura on Kanto plain
 * **Yorimoto**- leader of the Minamoto:
 * weakened the Kamakura
 * fear of being overthrown by members of his own family
 * close relatives
 * murdered or driven into exile
 * paranoia under first of Kamakura **shoguns** - military leaders of the bakufu
 * measures he adapted to protect his throne left him without an heir
 * Hojo: one of the military families that had long been closely allied to the Minamoto
 * dominated the Kamakura regime
 * real power resided in the Hojo family
 * manipulated the Minamoto shoguns
 * claimed to rule in the name of the emperor at Kyoto
 * early 14th century:
 * head of one of the branches of the Minamoto family- **Ashikaga Takuaji:**
 * led revolt of the bushi that overthrew the Kamakura regime and established the **Ashikage Shogunate** (1336-1573)
 * Emperor at the time did not recognize the usurper and tried to revive power
 * was driven to Kyoto mountain town of Yoshino
 * fought against Ashikaga faction
 * for much of 14th century
 * destroyed the rival Yoshino center of imperial authority
 * civil strife that undermined authority the emperor had left and the shogunate
 * bushi vassals of the warring factions were free to crush local rivals and to seize the lands of the peasantry, old aristocracy, and competing lords
 * power of bushi lords increased
 * impoverished by inability to defend its estates
 * nearly wiped out
 * lands acquired by warlords
 * parceled out to samurai retainers
 * pledged loyalty and were expected to provide military support at lord's beckon call
 * collapse of centralized authority
 * civil war from 1467- 1477
 * rival heirs of the Ashikaga shogunate called on the warlord chiefs to support their claims
 * samurai flocked to rival headquarters in different sections of Kyoto
 * old imperial capital reduced to nothing but rubble and fields
 * shogunate self-destruction in capital
 * provincial lords continued to amass power and plot new coalitions to destroy enemies
 * divided into nearly 300 kingdoms
 * warlord rulers called **daimyos** ||
 * ==I== || **Japanese interactions were mainly domestic, and their culture was heavily influenced by that of the Chinese.**
 * **Gempei Wars:**
 * raged on for five years in Honshu
 * government and peasants
 * 1185- destruction of the Taira house
 * Minamoto family- Ashikaga Takuagi led revolt of bushi that overthrew Kamakura regime and Ashikaga Shogunate
 * emperor was exile to Yoshino in Kyoto
 * defeated by Ashikaga
 * civil strife led to decline of emperor authority and shogunate
 * emergence of daimyos
 * Zen Buddhism:
 * led to revival of trade with China
 * Chinese influence in Japanese culture:
 * Confucian teachings
 * previous adaptation of Mandate of Heavan
 * Japanese Monarchs
 * trade with china was also part of Japanese economy ||
 * ==R== || **Japanese religion centered around Zen Buddhism and shintoism, but aspects of pure-land and kami were also apparent.**
 * Zen Buddhism
 * because of its stress on simplicity and discipline had a special appeal to the warrior elite
 * played critical role in securing the place of the arts in an era of strife and destruction
 * Zen monasteries provided key points of renewed diplomatic and trade contacts with China
 * led to revival of Chinese influence in Japan
 * Shintoism
 * salvationist pure land Buddhism appealed to peasants:
 * promise of bliss in heaven for those who lived upright on Earth
 * Kami
 * natural spirits in Japan
 * were changed following Buddhism ||
 * ==I== || **Intellectual aspects of Japan are mostly derived from Chinese ideas, such as Confucianism, and art of the Song dynasty.**
 * adapted some Confucian teachings from China
 * literary expression
 * borrowed written script in simple Chinese
 * poetic and literary works
 * wrote in verse
 * Lady Murasaki's "**Tale of the Genji**
 * painting imitated earlier Chinese work of Song dynasty
 * monochrome ink sketches
 * screen and scroll paintings
 * capture natural beauty of Japan ||
 * ==T== || **Japanese technology coincided with Japanese life, as it accomodated aristocracy and others.**
 * wood and mud buildings
 * buildings:
 * made of unpainted wood
 * sliding panels
 * matted floors
 * wooden walkways
 * exterior specs:
 * fish ponds
 * artificial lakes with waterfalls
 * fine gardens
 * Projects supported by daimyos:
 * castles--> made of stone
 * bridges
 * irrigation systems
 * forged curved swords
 * draft of animals
 * introduction of new crops
 * soybeans
 * architecture with zen sensibilites:
 * Golden and Silver Pavilions
 * gardens:
 * Ryoanji Temple
 * entirely of islands of volcanic rock set amid white pebbles ||
 * Ryoanji Temple
 * entirely of islands of volcanic rock set amid white pebbles ||

002: Summary of In- Depth Comparing Feudalisms:
Feudalism's emergence, in many cases, result from weak government structures, who lacked resources, shared political values, and bureaucratic experience to develop alternatives. In both Japan and the West, a set of political values were embraced, in which aristocratic monarchs governed the mass of peasantry. They operated also under mutual ties and obligations, as well as rituals and institution. In the two societies, feudalism also contributed to a highly militaristic approach. Japan and the West were involved in much internal warfare, but Europe experienced more of a warrior-landlord class. These internal warfares were brought about by disloyalties and rivalries. The military aura of feudalism endured the feudal era. This aura rendered Japan with serious problems in controlling the samurai class after the worst periods of internal conflict had passedi n early 17th century. The West was left with a warrior ethic that revolved around the cental idea that government purpose was to conduct war. In Western Europe, there was a heavier emphasis on contractual ideas, which required many agreements be written, whereas Japanese feudalism relied on group and individual loyalties rather than contractual agreement. Feudalism's impact influences modern day Parliament of the West, while Japan was left with less institutionalized groups consciousness. Feudalism helped to account for western Europe and Japan's prosperity in imperial expansion and the fact that they frequently resort to war to solve conflicts with foreign powers. This relates to the previous militaristic manner of feudalism. It can be viewed as a positive aspect, as the West was one of the most imperial nations worldwide. It expanded over numerous nations/ regions. The militaristic ways of feudalism also led to rise of right-wing militarist regimes in the 1930's, which have a negative effect, ie. kamikaze bombers.

China's Influence in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
- Terry(saurus Rex) || * "Korean people developed a separate cultural identity, which was expressed in distinctive forms of dress, cuisine, and social class system - Terry(saurus Rex) ||
 * || **Borrowed from China** || **Unique** ||
 * **Japan** || * bureaucratic system
 * confucianism
 * buddhism
 * attempt to adapt Mandarin
 * poetic styles || * personal relationships
 * bushido
 * curved swords
 * code of honor
 * monochrome ink art
 * Japanese script based on simplified version of Chinese ||
 * **Korea** || "As in Japan, Buddhism spread the key links betweem Korea and the successors of the Han dynasty. Korean Rulers patronized the Buddhist artists, and commisioned many temples and pagoda to be built, replicating the Chinese style. The Koguryo monarch adopted a unified law code based off Han China, as well. The kings of the Silla Kingdom in Korea collected many texts from emabssies and copied Chinese styles of dress, and regurlarly paid tribute to the Chinese emperors.The koreans also improved the Chinese printing system with use of moveable arrangements of type and manufactured beatiful green porcelain based on Chinese designs called Celadon."
 * Koreans social system focused heavily on the aristocrats, and the entire social system beneath them were oriented around serving them, unlike the traditional Chinese Bureaucracy."
 * **Vietnam** || * bureaucracy
 * attended Chinese schools
 * wrote in Chinese script
 * took exams to qualify for posts
 * six main ministries
 * bureau of censors to keep graft and corruption in check
 * Chinese cropping techniques and irrigation
 * extended family model
 * Chinese-style palaces
 * Buddhism || * Traded ivory, peacock feathers, tortoise shells, pearls, aromatic woods, and othere exotic products drawn form nature for Chinese silks
 * intermarried with Mon-Khmer- and Tai-speaking peoples
 * language differed from that of Chinese
 * village autonomy
 * physically symbolized by bamboo hedges
 * nuclear family
 * extended household
 * women had more freedom and influence in family and society
 * different ways of dress
 * Vietnamese writings expressed self-doubt and hatred towards Chinese dominance
 * officals identified themselves with peasants rather than court and high administrators
 * limited power of scholar- bureaucrats
 * French and Roman Catholic influence ||

Summary of China's Influence:
China influenced Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, through its various conquests and expansions. It's presence acted as a guiding force to the development of these regions. The prevalence of China in Japan, led to a development of a bureacratic system and Confucian ideals that were emphasized in schools. A system of writing also developed from a simplified version of the Chinese script, and its spoken language also merged with that of the Japanese. Japan also adopted Buddhism, but only a form of pure land appealed to peasants, who believed that they will have a better life if they lived upright on earth. As time progressed, Japan began to develop its own form of government, shogunate feudalism, as well as a code of honor amongst warriorr and people. New forms of architecture also emerged, such as Ryoanji Temple, which was constructed form volcanic rock and pebbles. Korean society was also influenced by China, beginning with Korea's ancestors, hunter-herders of eastern Siberia and Manchuria. China's agricultural innovations and irrigation aided these nomadic people in a production of a stable food supply, and thus making them sedentary. Buddhism was a also an influential force in Korea, as it was in China. It called for the building of much pagodas and monasteries. A law code based of of that of the Han was adopted by the Koguryo monarch. Koreans also emulated the Chinese style of dress and improved upon Chinese printing with the use of honey. Eventually, Korea developed its own cultural identity, with a social system, cuisine, and style of dress. Their society placed high emphasis on the aristocratic class. Vietnamese were, at first, influenced by China as a result of its expansion attempts. Vietnam resented this, however. They mocked the Confucian scholars and ways and even developed a language distinct from that of China. Vietnam had different ways of dress and their writings often ridiculed the Confucian Chinese followers. Trade from Vietnam with China for silk, were ivory, peacock feathers, tortoise shells, pearls, aromatic woods, and othere exotic products drawn form nature. Unlike China, esp. Tang and Song dynasties, which placed high emphasis on scholar-bureaucrats, those of Vietnam often found themselves allied with the peasant class. Chinese influence was apparent in Vietnam's bureaucracy, extended family model, and infrastructure, with its pagodas and temples.