Strayer 9 Silky smooth China

11/30/2012

I hope you like this one, I do. We are back to looking at multiple "SPICE" themes within one region. Keep that in mind.
Here are the main/broad ideas you need to learn here:
- Understand the role of China as “superpower” among the third-wave civilizations.
- Synthesize China’s deep influence on East Asia.
- Analyze the ways in which interaction with other peoples had an impact on China
- Question modern assumptions about China.
I've noticed that the people who are doing the best on the tests are engaging in this forum in some way. Frankly, you're crazy if you aren't using this as a test prep tool!
Oh, and you will have noticed that I compromised on the fonts. Paragraph text is in this more standard serif font while I'm keeping the cool, funky font for titles...hope you can live with that...
Get engaged with Strayer and it all get easier!

56 Comments

Patrick Song

12/1/2012 01:42:51 am

yay first comment! Ok so first i want to point out that Bingham asked us why the Golden Age was called the Golden Age. It was mainly because yellow or gold was the color of power in China and that it was solely reserved for the King, if you wore it you'd get killed anyways.......

Why are the centuries of Tang and Song dynasties in China sometimes referred to as a "Golden Age" ?

- There was the creation of the Censorate, an agency that basically watches of the government to make sure they aren't doing anything bad. Also, the idea of an examination system was revived and ways to prevent cheating on exams were created.
- Song dynasty in China was by far the "Most skilled, richest and populous country in the world". During this period in China the population underwent a massive growth, in which China adapted the Vietnamese fast-ripening and drought resistant rice.
- China was able to supply cities with immense waterways like Canals, river and lakes. Transportation by water is a very cheap way to trade and also bound the country together.
-Industrial production soared, so did the iron industry
-Technological advancement and creation of printed books.
-Navigational and shipbuilding techniques were the best in the world.
-Invention of Gunpower
-China became a commercialized society, in which people produced for the markey instead of only themselves.
-People could pay their taxes with cash instead of having to sell something to pay their taxes.
-Growing use of paper money.

Steffannie Alter

12/1/2012 03:01:03 am

Not sure if this would fit as well, but Strayer also says that during this time period, standards were set in poetry, landscape paintings, and ceramics. Neo-Confucianism rose, and the state structure that the Tang and Song dynasties created lasted for a thousand years. There was additionally a proliferation of schools and colleges.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:02:42 am

Yeah Steffannie, that's more on target. Generally when we refer to a "Golden Age" (and yes Patrick, you're right, the root of the term comes from the notion of gold associated with rulers and wealth - and not just in China) we are usually talking about a period of political stability THAT ALLOWED FOR a flourishing of the arts, literature, philosophy, poetry, etc. It's these things that disappear during less stable or troubled times.

In this period Chinese ceramics became even more elaborate, refined and valuable. Landscape painting became pretty amazing as well.

All your other points about demographics, and industrial output are true in answer to this question as well Patrick.

Christina Hong

12/1/2012 11:59:15 am

I would also mention the massive urbanization that took place as well.

Bingham

12/1/2012 12:01:24 pm

Yes! Absolutely.

Patrick S.

12/1/2012 02:16:15 am

"In what ways did women's lives change during the Tang and Song dynasties?"

-Under the influence of steppe nomads, whose women lives pretty nice lives, the Tang dynasty allowed women to participate in social lives with greater freedoms that the Classical Era. There've been statues portraying women on horseback.
-Under the Song dynasty, the people underwent a more Confucianistic approach to women, subjecting them to the "Superior- Inferior" rule, even saying " The boy leads the girl, the girl follows the boy; the duty of husbands to be resolute and wives to be docile begins with this". Rapid economic growth restricted the participation of women in society and brought back the Han chinese view of patriarchy.
-Tang chinese favored the idea of "Foot Binding", a very painful method of constricting the foot to "make women appear more beautiful and delicate".
-Also, in the Tang dynasty, men took women's jobs such as textiles and silk.
-In Song dynasty, had a more positive outlook on women. They had more property rights and were able to control their own dowries and inherit property.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:07:00 am

Good Patrick, solid answer.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:23:03 am

Did you notice that Japanese women got more freedom than Korean women in spite of Confucian thought arriving in Japan in the 600s?

You should make a list of those freedoms in comparison to Korea. You know me, I'm always looking for "the woman question"! My gut says that there will be an essay like that on the exam this year.

Christina Hong

12/1/2012 12:12:05 pm

and also

•Education of women was encouraged, so they could effectively raise their sons and increase the family's fortune

Jeremiah Pratt

12/1/2012 04:56:31 am

How did the Chinese and their nomadic neighbors to the north view each other?

•For the nomads, the Chinese represented a source of agricultural products and manufactured goods. They also viewed the Chinese as a threat, because the Chinese directed military force towards them, built the Great Wall to keep them out, and were often hostile towards trading with them.
•The Chinese, while disliking the nomads for their raiding, needed the nomads. They were a source of horses, and valuable products of the steppes. Also, the nomads controlled parts of the Silk Road.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:04:23 am

How are you guys making bullets?

Christina Hong

12/1/2012 12:12:44 pm

Alt + 8 with a Mac
•••••••

Jeremiah Pratt

12/1/2012 11:31:56 pm

For me, you have to have a numpad. You put num lock on (which I always have on anyways) and then it's alt + 0149. Just hold alt while you press each one in order.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jeremiah Pratt

12/1/2012 05:00:39 am

What assumptions underlay the tribute system?

•In general, the Chinese viewed themselves as the "center of the universe", superior to the barbarians and nomads. China viewed itself as "civilization", while the nomads represented primitive things. Also, China viewed itself as self sufficient while being gracious enough to share its goods with others.

•This idea of Chinese superiority allowed for the rationalization that other states should recognize its superiority through ritual bowing and giving of valuable resources.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:13:13 am

I think you should add that the system was an effort to regulate relations with neighboring states and groups of nomads on the borders of the empire.

Steffannie Alter

12/1/2012 06:43:31 am

"In what different ways did Korea, Vietnam, and Japan experience and respond to Chinese influence?"

Korea resisted Chinese political control. It allied with China when necessary but resisted attempts to set up puppet regimes. Korea engaged in a tributary relationship with China, giving Korea knowledge of Chinese Court life and administrative techniques that they then practiced and enabling trade. Korean aristocracy became increasingly Chinese in culture, studying Confucianism and Buddhism. China had a negative impact on Korean women, replacing more liberal Korean practices. Married women lived and were buried with their husband's families instead of their own. Females couldn't inherit property, and legal distinctions between primary and secondary wives, mandated by Chinese culture, caused tension in families. Korean restrictions on elite women came to exceed those in China. However, Chinese cultural influence other than Buddhism had little impact beyond the aristocracy. The Chinese examination system never attained the same prominence, and Korean aristocracy maintained a stronger monopoly on bureaucratic office than in China. The Korean people gained greater cultural independence through the development of a phonetic alphabet. Korea was part of the Chinese world order but retained a distinctive culture and a separate political existence.

Vietnam elite heavily borrowed from China, but it's popular culture remained distinctive. The cultural heartland of Vietnam became incorporated into the Chinese state, and the Vietnamese were ruled by Chinese officials. Chinese-style agriculture was introduced, Vietnamese elites were educated in Confucian-based schools, Chinese replaced the local language, Chinese clothing and hairstyles became mandatory, and many Chinese people moved to Vietnam. Chinese presence generated periodic rebellions. After Vietnam was established as a separate state, it maintained its tributary role and Chinese approach to government. The Chinese- based examination system was used to undermine an established aristocracy, provide social mobility, and create a merit-based scholar-gentry class. The Vietnamese elite remained committed to Chinese culture, but the non-elite had a uniquely Vietnamese culture. They had a distinctive language and greater role for women.

Japan's borrowing from Chinese civilization was wholly voluntary, and Japan deliberately set out to systematically transform itself. The Japansese ruler was proclaimed a Chinese-style emperor, and Buddhism and Confucianism were emphasized. Court rituals and court rankings of officials were practiced, and Japan adopted the Chinese calendar. Japan's taxes, law, and ministries were modeled after China's, as was its capital. Chinese Buddhism impacted nearly every aspect of Japanese culture. The elite adopted the Chinese writing system. Japan, however, never was able to create a centralized and bureaucratic state like China. Japan valued the samurai warrior class and their military values, while China preferred intellectual and political achievements. Buddhism never replaced worship of kami, sacred spirits, and the Japanese often combined the two beliefs. Japan developed a unique writing system, and Japanese women escaped the more oppressive attitudes and practices of China.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:07:38 am

Um, wow.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:09:40 am

Okay now, all of you (not Steffannie) should be able to take her answer and construct an response to this prompt: Compare and contrast the ways that Japan and Korea experienced Chinese influence.

Bingham

12/1/2012 07:17:47 am

I what ways was China influenced from the outside during the Tang and Song? This isn't a margin question, but it's important. If you'll notice above, I put it in the stuff you need to learn in this chapter. It's easy to focus on China looking outward, it was so monumental, so influential; but you need to remember that interactions always work two ways. Kinda like relationships, you know?

Bingham

12/2/2012 04:36:45 am

I'm going to take a well deserved Sunday nap. When I awake, I want to see some action on this forum.

As for motivation, I'll exempt anyone from the chapter test who earns a 100 on the reading check.

Christina Hong

12/2/2012 06:06:52 am

Can we still take the test if we earn a 100?

Bingham

12/2/2012 11:48:26 am

Well yeah, sure.

Jeremiah Pratt

12/2/2012 11:41:50 am

Considering that I'm back on track, that's a foolish thing to do. Count me as one more person exempted!

Bingham

12/2/2012 11:53:58 am

It may sound foolish to you, but all of you guys need to remember, I want you to grow and be successful as much as you do...maybe more. So yeah, I'd be amped to so everyone make a 100 on the reading check and then spend time looking at the big picture in class - putting things in context, planning strategies for the essays, connecting the dots to our own times. This class could be such an eye opener for you guys, a way to understand your own lives, a way to inform your art so that you are reaching people at that deep, visceral level, not just making pretty things or delivering lines - connecting, adding meaning to the world. I have such high hopes for all of you and hold you in such high regard, that's why I get angry - I see the people you can be...

Christina Hong

12/2/2012 11:55:23 am

Oh, I have my reasons.

Christina Hong

12/2/2012 12:06:04 pm

Wait...if you were referring to the question I asked, that is. Otherwise, I didn't say anything. nope.

Christina Hong

12/2/2012 06:06:04 am

What facilitated the rooting of Buddhism within China?

•the fall of the Han dynasty, which discredited Confucian thinking
•nomadic rulers governing northern China at began to take an interest in Buddhism
•rulers and elite families provided money and land, enabling the building of Buddhist monasteries, temples, and works of art
•the nature of Buddhism comforted people in the face of the fall of their collapsing society (Han)
•those fleeing from China's upheavals received refuge, charity, treatment for the sick, seed for the next planting, (farmers) and opportunities for children to become literate
•reports of miracles associated with Buddhism
•monks, scholars, and translators made an effort to unite Buddhism with Chinese thinking. Indian concepts were sometimes modified in the process (dharma was translated as dao, "husband supports wife" --> "husband controls wife)
•Pure Land School, a form of Buddhism, received much support, emphasizing salvation by faith without intensive study or meditation
•Sui emperor Wendi constructed monasteries at the base of China's five sacred mountains, further linking Buddhism with Chinese culture
•said emperor also used Buddhism to justify his military campaigns

Christina Hong

12/2/2012 06:15:45 am

and I guess I should say this explicitly.
•China's reunification under the Sui and Tang dynasties

Bingham

12/2/2012 11:55:58 am

Yep, the obvious stuff starts the list!

Katharine Patrick

12/2/2012 06:10:17 am

"In what ways did China and the nomads influence each other?"

The early nomads that ruled parts of China, in a sense "became Chinese". They wore Chinese clothing, spoke Chinese, married Chinese people, and practiced Buddhism or Daoism. They were the exception, though; most nomads were only minimally influenced by the Chinese. The pastoral societies north of the Great Wall retained there own cultural practices mainly because of the large variation in the climates of their region and northern China. However, China was influenced by the barbarians. Elements of steppe culture were brought into China. Chinese upper classes liked the music, dancing, clothing, foods, games, and artistic styles of the "western barbarians", too. The more traditional, Southern Chinese didn't like Northern Chinese adoption of Western ways.

Not sure if I got everything...

Jeremiah Pratt

12/2/2012 11:43:59 am

That's all stuff regarding cultural exchange... I think that it's also important to recognize the reverse tributary relationship between the nomads and the Chinese. While formally referred to as "gifts", the Chinese in essence were extorted by their nomadic neighbors.

Bingham

12/2/2012 11:58:09 am

Good insight Jeremiah. I want you to think about the influence ON China from the outside, beginning with the pastoral peoples to the north...

Bingham

12/2/2012 12:01:07 pm

So, it what ways was Tang/Song China like Han China, and what changed? Use the "spice" themes to get you there.

Bingham

12/2/2012 12:12:16 pm

IN what ways...

Christina Hong

12/3/2012 08:09:00 am

http://www.binghamsplace.com/uploads/4/8/0/5/4805013/strayer_9_guided_reading_questions.pdf

!
THANK YOU

Bingham

12/3/2012 08:56:03 am

Wow, you're just going to tell everyone? Then I don't get to rub somebody's nose it, "oh, you didn't check the website? Ouch! That must suck that you were too lazy to find a gift from me? Etc." Honesty, nothing would make me happier than to see everyone make a 100 on the reading check.

Christina Hong

12/3/2012 08:58:36 am

uhoh wait, should I have posted that then? D:

Miyani

12/5/2012 07:41:44 am

Hi. I know some of these have been posted but I'm going to type up an answer as well because I have a feeling it might help me. So yay!
question6:
In what ways did China and the nomads influence each other?
Chinese influence on the nomads:
•Many of the native peoples south of China were gradually absorbed into Chinese culture but
•The pastoral societies to the north of the Great Wall generally held on to their own cultural patterns because in part, Chinese agriculture was impossible, so there were few incentives for adopting Chinese culture. However different forms of interaction still occurred between the tow:
-peaceful trade
-military conflict
-political negotiations
-economic extortion
-some cultural influence
•When nomadic peoples ruled parts of China some of them adopted chinese culture in the following ways.
-employed chinese advisors
-governed according to chines practice
-immersed themselves in Chineseculture and learning.

Nomadic Influence on the Chinese:
•Some parts of northern China who were periodically conquered and ruled by nomadic peoples took some aspects of the steppe culture.
•The founders of the Sui and Tang dynasties were of mixed nomadic and Chinese ancestry.
•High ranking members of the imperial family led troops into bad with the style of Turkish warriors.
• The Tang dynasty was full of foriegn peoples from all over Asia including:
-delegations bearing tribute
-merchants carrying exotic goods
-bands of clerics or religous pilgrims bringing new religions
•At a point in the tang Dynasty almost anything associated with the Central Asians, Persians, Indians, and Arabs had a great appeal to the Chines northern elites.
:)

Patrick Song

12/5/2012 07:56:07 am

I don't believe anyone has done this yet so......

"What were the major sources of opposition to Buddhism within China?"

- Buddhism is a religion associated with the wealthier class people in China often the wealthier and tax exempt people so whenever the Chinese government was in need of money they were kinda resentful and had hateful intentions of the Buddists.
- Buddhism was flearly of foreign origin and offensive for that reason to some Confucian and Daoist thinkers.
- An Lushan rebellion sparked more criticism against Buddhism.
- Eventually in 819 Han Yu(a confucianist) raised his voice against Buddhism whenever Chinese came into possesion of "buddha's finger" and prompted they destroy it.
- Eventually China took full action and pretty much took everything away from the Buddhists. Like they took away their land, money, right to tax-exemptions.

I probably missed alot so... any input would be appreciated.

Also, who else is taking the test tomorrow?

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 10:57:53 am

I think you should also include what sparked the Lushan rebellion:

•centuries of considerable foreign influence in China led to a growing resentment against foreign culture

and this sort of has to do with the first thing you said, but

•viewed as a "state within a state", a challenge to imperial authority

patrick s.

12/5/2012 11:09:13 am

yay not alone XD

bingham posted some questions in addition to other people's comments so i'm going to go ahead and answer them cuz they might be on the test tomorrow

Christina

12/5/2012 01:03:35 pm

Studay budday (>o o)>

patrick s.

12/5/2012 01:08:09 pm

asian study party

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 01:11:25 pm

|:{D

Patrick Song

12/5/2012 11:14:57 am

”Did you notice that Japanese women got more freedom than Korean women in spite of Confucian thought arriving in Japan in the 600s?Did you notice that Japanese women got more freedom than Korean women in spite of Confucian thought arriving in Japan in the 600s? “

Japan:
-Women got tons of freedom
-Could inherit land
-marriage was flexable
-married couples could live apart.

Korea:
-against "free marriage" and dancing and singing with women late at night
- women were considered the men's property and could not raise their child within the women's home.
-Korean customs such as burying the husband in the women's family plot, remarriage of a divorced/widowed women and female's right to inherit land was taken away or just died away.
-men had to distinguish their "1st" and "2nd" wifef

Patrick S.

12/5/2012 11:49:27 am

"Compare and contrast the ways Japan and Korea experienced chinese influence"

Japan:
-Art, architecture, education, medicine, etc all from China.
-Calligraphy was based from the chinese.
-Distance allowed Japan to be selective of the things they took from Chinese culture.
-Combined Chinese and Japanese ideals to make Japanese culture.

Korea:
-used exam system to pick government officials.
-didn't penetrate lives of korean serfs.
-sent students to study in china

Both:
-buddhism impacted both countries
-both had cities (Korea, Kumsong. Japan, Nara and Heian(Kyoto) ) that were based on the chinese capital Chang'an

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 12:42:41 pm

Japan
•adoption of Chinese culture was voluntary, could choose which aspects to borrow
•Buddhism impacted Japan, but it didn't completely replace native beliefs and practices

Korea
•colonization provided a channel of Chinese influence, resistance involved
•largely impacted by Chinese Buddhism

Both
•temporarily adopted Chinese political systems
•writing system emerged that combined Chinese characters with a series of phonetic symbols

Patrick S.

12/5/2012 11:55:15 am

"In what ways was China influenced from the outside during the Tang & Song dynasty?"

-People from persia, india, etc were favored if they had some relation to those people.
- Chinese & Turkic blend race.
- High ranking people in royal family led warriors to battle in a Turkic battle style
- Tang dynasty was full of people from all over asia.

"In what ways were Tang and Song dynasty China like Han China and what changed?"

-All were high points in Chinese culture
-Used examination system.

^that question is really lacking and if anyone is reading this and has found more stuff please help me D:

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 01:02:48 pm

For the first question:

•learned about the cultivation and processing of cotton and sugar from India
•access to drought-resistant strains of rice, making highly productive rice-based agriculture possible from Vietnam
•awareness of Persian windmills caused China to create a similar device
•printing arose from involvement with Buddhism
•Indian Buddhist monk discovered saltpeter in China, leading to the creation of gunpowder
•stories of a popular monkey god in China came from Indian sources transmitted via Indian Ocean commerce

and the second question
Same
•existence of the canal system
•great families of large landowners continued to intrude on peasant plots
•nomadic threats/interactions
•the tribute system

Changed
•canal system was extended after the fall of the Han dynasty
•Neo-Confucianism
•examination system was revived and made more elaborate by the ability to print books
•schools and colleges proliferated
•rapid growth and urbanization
•new inventions (i.e. printing)
•exposed to Buddhism
•beginning of a Chinese migration southward toward the Yangzi River valley
•involvement in Indian Ocean commerce

hopefully that covered everything D:

patrick

12/5/2012 01:31:04 pm

oh my gosh........... too smart. I'm so unasian compared to you x.x

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 01:36:26 pm

LIES. >:O

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 08:49:34 pm

I don't think anyone's going to see this, but it's bothering me:

•adoption of Buddhism from India/South Asia

totally forgot about that

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 08:51:28 pm

That was for the first question

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 12:27:14 pm

One sec sorry, I just got home. ç_ç

patrick s.

12/5/2012 01:07:27 pm

that's fine. Thanks so much for helping ;___;

Christina Hong

12/5/2012 01:09:15 pm

No problemooo. =D

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Strayer 9 Silky smooth China

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