WHAP Ch. 8 What's the Significance?

Sui Dynasty

(589-618) Unified China Vast extension of China's canal system linking North and South Had ruthless emperors and a futile military to conquer China Exhausted the State's resources and prompted the overthrow of the dynasty

bushido

"the way of the warrior" Japanese Samurai developed a set of values to live by (bravery, loyalty, endurance, honor, martial arts, death over surrender)

Tang Dynasty

(618-907) "Golden Age" of arts and literature Built a state structure that endured for a thousand of years Had schools and colleges for political candidates to prepare them for an exam to be an official "Best ordered state in the world"

Silla Dynasty (Korea)

(688-900) Allied with the Tang dynasty to bring political unity China's culture provoked military resistance and forced China to withdraw from Korea in 688

Song Dynasty

(960-1279) Continued China's "Golden Age" Explosion of scholarship gave rise to Neo-Confucianism "Richest, most skilled, and most populous country" Population grew to 120 million

Economic Revolution

China had an immense network of waterways Had the world's most populous trading area Industrial production soared and iron industry grew dramatically Inventions in printing, technology, metallurgy, naval technology, paper money and credit World's most commercialized society

Xiongnu

Early nomadic confederacy established around the same time as the Han dynasty Raided northern China Led to the Chinese emperor supplying the nomads with annual gifts of grain, wine, and silk

Hangzhou

Capital of the Song Dynasty Home to more than a million Had specialized markets, inns for different groups, specialized agencies, schools for musicians, clubs for different interests and championships

Tribute System

China viewed themselves as superior ("middle kingdom") Permitted access to nomads to their wealth and wisdom Required outsiders to acknowledge their superiority by performing the kowtow (series of rituals) and present a tribute (gifts) to emperor Transformed into China providing gifts to nomads in order for a promise not to invade

Chinese Buddhism

Commitment to seclusion dishonored Confucian family values Was the preserve of foreign merchants and monks in China Discredited Confucianism

Gun powder

Invented during the Tang and Song dynasties Spawned a permanent revolution in military affairs Accidental byproduct of the search for an elixir for immortality by a Daoist alchemist

Izumi Shikibu

Japan's most illustrious female poet Involved in love affairs Lady-in-waiting for empress

hangul

Korea's phonetic alphabet for writing Marked Korea's cultural independence

Shotoku Taishi

Leader of the effort to transform Japan into a centralized bureaucratic state Launched series of large scale missions to China to learn their ways

chu nom

A variation of Chinese writing developed by the Vietnamese

Foot binding

Practice involved the tight wrapping of young girls' feet Accepted during and after the Sond dynasty Tightening patriotism Associated with beauty and added to the Confucian tradition

Khitan and Jurchen People

Steppe nomads who established states in northern China after the fall of the Han dynasty Required the Song dynasty to deliver them annual quantities of silk, silver, and tea

Emperor Wendi

Sui emperor had monasteries constructed at the base of China's five sacred mountains Used Buddhism to justify his military campains