China
1300-1900
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
How & why did the Chinese regain China?
-From 1279-1368 the Yuan Dynasty (AKA the Mongols) ruled China
-Mongol overlords ignored the political and cultural heritage of China
-FOR EXAMPLE: They rejected the civil service exam, dismissed Confucian scholars and forbid intermarriage
-They also forbid the Chinese from learning the Mongol language
-Meaning: The Chinesedespised the Mongols, therefore when the Mongo decline began in the 14th century they relished the opportunity to overthrow them
How did that decline begin?
-1st Economic decline: The Yuan Dynasty continued the printing of paper money, however they did not have enough silver bullion to back it up
-This caused inflation as the treasury declined
-2nd Political conflict: Starting in the 1320s internal conflict led to their decline in China
-3rd The bubonic plague: The Mongol relied on trade for economic sufficiency
-Meaning: When the plague broke out in the 1330s, in southwestern China it quickly spread all of China and central Asia
-By the 1340s it reached all the way to southwest Asia and Europe;
-Meaning: it killed up to half of the population, therefore it caused economic decline as well
-4th Chinese rebellion began due to the conflict above; as a result the Mongols lost control of China in 1368
The Ming Restored political stability in China
-The expulsion of the Mongols from China in 1368 ushered in a new period of peace and prosperity for China under the Ming ("brilliant") Dynasty
-The Major goal of the Ming was to restore traditional Chinese values
-The early Ming emperors revived Chinese power and wealth through their foreign, governmental, and economic policies
-FOR EXAMPLE: They restored Confucian principles, built a strong centralized state and restored the civil service examination
What about foreign policy?
- In the realm of foreign policy, several strong emperors aggressively extended Chinese power to the old borders of the Han Empire
- Not surprisingly, the Ming Dynasty was especially concerned with the threat of the northern nomads who recently humiliated China.
-Meaning: Therefore, they put forth a tremendous effort to subdue the nomads (with very limited success) and partially restored the Great Wall
Remember when the Great Wall construction began
-During the Qin dynasty during the 4th century BCE
The Ming Centralized and fortified their rule
-The fortifications around the first capital, Nanjing, were 60 feet high and extended in a perimeter 20 miles long
- the most massive urban fortifications in the world in 1421, the Ming moved the capital to Beijing, only 40 miles from the northern frontier in order to keep a better eye on nomadic movements
What was Beijing Like?
-Beijing itself became a magnificent city with 40-foot high walls around a perimeter of 14 miles
-Central to the capital was the emperor's palace complex, known as the Forbidden City
How did it differ from the western world?
-Unlike Western architecture, which reaches ever skyward away from earth, as seen in Gothic cathedrals and skyscrapers,
-Chinese architecture aims for a more balanced and harmonious effect in the true Taoist spirit
-The Forbidden City especially shows this, being spread out on a broad horizontal plane under the overarching dome of the blue sky, which counterbalances the effect of the high roofs of many of the government buildings and palaces
- The overall effect is one of horizontal stability, emphasizing the permanence of the regime of the Son of Heaven (Chinese emperor)
Transition from Mongol rule to Ming rule
-The Ming reversed the unpopular policies of the Mongols and reinstated the system of civil service exams for selecting officials
- Meaning: The Mandarins prominence in Chinese society was restored
- They also retained the other features of government used by previous dynasties
- For Example: the Six Ministries and the Censorate
-The Censorate was largely concerned with preventing corruption and abuses by sending traveling censors to the provinces to hear complaints and investigate the conduct of local magistrates
-Since the censors had little protection against such reprisals, they often shrank from doing their jobs properly However, the overall effect of Ming policies was to provide fair and efficient, though strict, government
-Foreign Policy:
- Between 1405 and 1433, no less than seven major expeditions were launched under the command of the admiral, Zheng He (1371-c.1434)
Extensive maritime expeditions into Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and as far as East Africa and Arabia, were another feature of the early Ming period Some of Zheng He's expeditions comprised over 25,000 men sailing in ships that were 400 feet long, many times larger than anything Europe, just then embarking on its age of exploration, could put into the water. The purpose of these expeditions is not entirely clear, probably being more to display Chinese power and influence than cultivate trade, although profitable trade was certainly carried on, especially in fine porcelain, which we today still call china
Ming economic policies
-Dikes and canals were repaired, while extensive land reclamation program was instituted
-Some regions of China were totally depopulated from earlier Mongol depredations and neglect
-MEANING: To rebuild the Chinese economy
- The government offered tax exemptions lasting several years to any peasants who moved into the ruined areas
What was the result of this policy?
-It increased agricultural production
-Meaning: A surplus of food, led to increased support for the urban population therefore;
-That policy effectively revived much of China
Another policy:
-Another policy was to encourage extensive reforestation, probably for shipbuilding purposes, although palm, mulberry, and lacquer trees were also planted for other economic purposes
Meaning:
-As a result of the Ming Dynasty's policies, China was again a strong and prosperous empire, making it the dominant political and cultural power in East Asia
The rise of culture:
-- China's cultural vibrancy can be seen in several aspects of the Ming era:
1. Architecture flourished, as the Chinese constructed arched bridges and tall pagodas with graceful curved roofs
- As stated above, the setting of these buildings in broad horizontal planes provided a more balanced effect than the lofty spires of cathedrals one found in Europe at that time
2. Chinese science and technology at this time was largely bound up with newcomers from the West
- The expulsion of the Mongols in 1368 effectively cut China off from the West for nearly two centuries
-FOR EXAMPLE: After the Zheng HE expeditions (which concluded in 1433) The Ming government wanted to limit outside foreign influence
However, because of the globalizationand of trade and Missionary work China was not totally closed off:
FOR EXAMPLE:
-In the 1500's, the Portuguese and then the Spanish arrived in China by sea
Why
- Most of China's contact with the West at this time was through the Jesuits who skillfully presented Christianity in Confucian terms in order to gain entrance into China and win converts to their faith
Why was Christianity accepted in the Ming Dynasty?
-Ironically, the Jesuit leader, Matteo Ricci, won court favor by presenting the emperor with a wind-up clock, which, of course, was ultimately derived from the Chinese water clock
-He kept in their good graces by keeping the key, so he would be summoned to court each week to rewind the clock
How did this lead to cultural diffusion between western Europe and China
-Over time, the Jesuits provided the Chinese with a good idea of the state of Western science and technology, especially in the areas of mathematics, cartography, astronomy, and artillery
-Europe learned a great deal from China as well, such as the idea for its first suspension bridge, built in Austria in 1741
-over 1000 years after the first such bridge had been built in China
What events led to the end of the Ming Dynasty?
- The end of Zheng He expeditions deprived the government of vital trade revenues
- The later Ming emperors lost interest in government, retreating to the comfort and pleasures of the Forbidden City and allowing abuses and corruption to multiply in the provinces
- During this time, a famine hit China; the government was unable to organize relief efforts; which led to peasant revolts in the 1630s
- At the same time, the practice of making military offices hereditary led to the gradual deterioration of the army
- Together, these factors weakened China and encouraged a growing number of peasant rebellions, attacks by nomads in the North, and raids from pirates in Japanese and Chinese ports
- In 1644, another northern people, the Manzhou from Manchuria, replaced the Ming Dynasty and founded a foreign, and China's last, dynasty
The rise of the Qing Dynasty
1644-1911
Who are the Manchus?
-The originally were a pastoral nomadic group that settled in southern Manchuria (which is north of China)
-They clashed with the Chinese over land and resources since Qin times; do you remember when that was (221 BCE-207 BCE)
Where are the Qing (AKA Manchus) from
-The Southern part of Manchuria
How did the Qing come into power?
-During the period from 1616-1626 Manchurian tribes were centralized into one state
-From 1620-1630 Manchurians started to expand; by taking over Korea and Mongolia
-They also started small invasions into China; as time progressed the envisioned taking control China
Remember what events led to the end of the Ming
-During this time, a famine hit China; the government was unable to organize relief efforts; which led to peasant revolts in the 1630s
At the same time:
-The Manchus entered into China; rebel forces overtook the Ming in 1644
What does this have to do with the Manchus?
-The Manchus helped defeat the rebels who overran the Ming
-Meaning: The portrayed themselves as avengers who destroyed the rebels
-By 1680, they gained control of China… How?
- They used their effective military
- They gained the support of Ming military generals that despised the corruption (that developed in 17th century China)
- They also gained support from Confucian scholars
-They took control of China and ruled it until 1911
How were the Manchus in comparison to the Mongols?
Similarities:
-They both protected their cultural identity
-FOR EXAMPLE: they outlawed intermarriage, forbid Chinese from traveling to China, and from learning the Manchurian language
-They also forced the men to shave the front of their heads and grow a Manchurian style beard (to show submission)
However:
Differences:
-The Qing dynasty in order to keep the peace adopted Chinese culture into their rule
-FOR EXAMPLE: they adopted Confucian principles, the restored the civil service examination (remember which dynast it started under: the Han)
-They also restored the concept of Filial Piety (which was respect for one’s elders)
Economic and Social Society under the Ming and Qing
-The basic foundation was still the family and its makeup was still patriarchal
-It centered around the concept of filial piety; at the center was the father
-As stated above, Confucian principles were used; hence the five relationships
Gender relationships
-As in earlier times the females were totally subordinate to males and males were preferred over females
-Marriage was a contractual agreement; females could not divorce their husbands
-Main responsibility of the female was to continue the male linage
Why:
-Males took the civil service examinations; Meaning they could bring wealth and prestige to the family name (upon their success on the exams of course)
Foot binding:
-Foot binding became popular again(remember which dynasty it began under: the Song)
Economic Development:
-The foundation of their economy was agriculture; as in other societies agriculture will support a highly commercialized society
-By the 17th century, Spanish merchants coming from the Philippines (remember the DBQ) introduced Maize, peanuts, sweet potatoes
-Meaning: better and enriched diet; Meaning: population growth; FOR EXAMPLE: China population = 100 million in 1500; 1600 160 million; 225 million by 1750
How did this demographic shift transform China?
- Per captia income went down
- agricultural production could not keep up with the population
However:
-The growing population offered new commercial activities
-With the growing population it provided a large work force; which means cheap labor
-Plus with the discovery of the Americas in the 15th century silver flowed into China
-Meaning: even with the limited access to European powers; the currency provided commercialization of China (by way of the Philippines)
Global impact of silver (during the Qing Dynasty)
-With the flow of silver it brought economic prosperity to China
-Trade started between China and the Indian Ocean, central Asia and Europe
-The key industries that profited were silk, porcelain, lacquerware, and tea
-They (China) received mostly silver bullion in return
-The Qing government kept tight control over foreign trade
-After 1680, two ports Guangzhou and Macau were open to European merchants
Technology:
-UNLIKE TANG & SONG times, the government did not invest in technology
-Instead they adopted European technology; such as cannons and firearms (which originated in China)
Why was this?
-The Tang and Song rulers promoted innovation and technology; for economic gain and military strength
-Meaning: they needed to stay ahead of the curve
-Whereas; the Ming and Qing favored political & social stability
What was the end result?
-It ensured that China would fall behind Europeans (as far innovation was concerned)
-Meaning: In the 19th century, European imperialism would rule the day in China
Social class ranking in China:
- Privileged elite
- Working classes
- Merchants
- Lower classes
Privileged elite:
-This group included the emperor, scholarbureaucrats and gentry
Why were the Scholar bureaucrats & Gentry Important?
-The scholarbureaucrats and gentry were very instrumental because they act as intermediaries between the imperial government and local population
-They also organized water control projects and security measures
Working classes:
-They were split into three classes:
- Peasants
- Artisansworkers
- Merchants
-The peasants were the largest of the three classes;
-They were also the most respected because they did honest work & supported the entire population
-Artisans: ranged from doctors to craft workers they usually worked for the government and made more money than peasants
-Merchants: They were at the bottom because they were viewed as dishonest
-However, they usually made a good living, but received little government protection
Economic impact:
-The Qing dynasty allowed for commercialized trade to happen because of the profits they received
-However, they did not promote it like European monarchs; therefore they fell behind Europe in many respects.
Chinese culture
-The Ming and Qing also used China tradition for guidelines for culture
-The government supported the development of Confucianism especially Neo-Confucianism
-Chinese popular culture developed during this period 1368-1911
What was Neo-Confucianism?
-It was a mix between Buddhism and Confucianism
When did it begin?
-It grew during Song times; the architect behind it was Zhu XI
-He combined the moral/ethical political standards of Confucius with the Buddhistphilosophy
-He combined the values of self discipline, filial piety and obedience and this was the reigningphilosophy of the China from 14th through the early 20th century
What other cultural aspectsexisted in China during this time?
-The Ming emperor Yongle sponsored the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia
-It was made up of philosophical, literary and historical texts
Popular culture
-The commercialization of China led to the growth of urban areas
-Meaning: many city dwellers were not literate and did not understand Confucius
-As a result, they supported a growth in pop culture: they found entertainment and diversion more to their liking instead of literary works
-FOR EXAMPLE: many books were based on conflict, horror and wonder
-Many of these novels offered thoughtful reflection of the world and human affairs
-FOR EXAMPLE: the Romance of Three Kingdoms explored the political intrigue after the fall of the Han dynasty
-The Dawn of the Red Chamber explored two cousins deeply in love, but they couldn’t marry due to family wishes