AP World History: Developments in East Asia (1200-1450)

Introduction to the Song Dynasty

• Time Period: Starting around the year 1200.
• Significance: China was a major power in the ancient and post-classical world.

How the Song Dynasty Maintained and Justified Power

• Revival of Confucianism:
  • Carried over from the Tang Dynasty.
  • Official state philosophy since the Han Dynasty (200 BCE).
  • Promoted a hierarchical society with unequal relationships (e.g., fathers > sons, rulers > subjects).
  • Filial piety emphasized: honoring ancestors and the Emperor.
  • Neo-Confucianism emerged, influenced by Buddhism and Daoism.
• Imperial Bureaucracy:
  • Expanded bureaucracy to enforce the emperor's will across China.
  • Civil service examinations based on Confucian texts ensured qualified officials.
  • Bureaucracy was staffed based on merit, enhancing efficiency.

Impact on Women in Song China

• Confucianism's Effect on Women:
  • Women had restricted legal rights and property control.
  • Practice of foot binding among elite women as a status symbol.

Song China’s Cultural Influence in East Asia

• Korea:
  • Maintained political independence through a tributary relationship with China.
  • Adopted Confucianism and civil service exams.
  • Influenced mainly the elite, with further marginalization of women.
• Japan:
  • Voluntarily adopted Chinese elements such as Buddhism and writing systems.
  • Major cultural borrowing occurred prior to 1200.
• Vietnam:
  • Maintained political independence but participated in tributary system.
  • Adopted Confucianism but preserved a higher status for women compared to China.

Buddhism in East Asia

• Spread and Adaptation:
  • Originated in South Asia, spread to China by the Han Dynasty.
  • Theravada Buddhism:
    • Close to original form, focused on monks and escape from birth-death cycle.
  • Mahayana Buddhism:
    • Emphasized accessibility for all, compassion, and Buddha as a deity.
  • Tibetan Buddhism:
    • Included mystical practices, emerged in Tibet.
  • Chan Buddhism:
    • A distinct form developed in China.

Economic Prosperity of the Song Dynasty

• Commercialization:
  • Produced surplus goods for the world market.
  • Use of paper money and credit systems.
• Iron and Steel Production:
  • Significant growth in production.
  • Used for armor, coins, and agricultural tools.
• Agricultural Innovations:
  • Introduction of Champa rice from Vietnam; drought-resistant, harvested twice a year.
  • Led to population growth.
• Transportation Advancements:
  • Expansion of the Grand Canal.
  • Improved shipbuilding and navigation techniques facilitated trade.

Conclusion

• Song China's developments in governance, cultural influence, and economy positioned it as a powerhouse in East Asia during 1200-1450.