unit 1 PT 1

• China possessed the biggest popsicle of power in the time period of 1200 to 1450
• The Song Dynasty maintained and justified its power
• Confucianism


  The official Chinese state philosophy that taught human society was hierarchical by nature
• Confucianism


  • Emphasized filial piety - the practice of honoring one's ancestors and parents
  • Kept ancient Chinese society working for a long time
• Neo-Confucianism


  The revival of Confucianism during the Song Dynasty, influenced by Buddhist and Taoist ideas
• Song rulers used the hierarchical view of society from Confucianism to maintain and justify their rule
• Women in Song China

  • Their legal rights were restricted
  • Their property became their husband's
  • They were forbidden to remarry if widowed or divorced
  • The practice of foot binding was prevalent among the elite
• Imperial bureaucracy


  A governmental entity that carried out the will of the emperor
• Imperial bureaucracy in Song China


  • Grew in scope to help maintain Song rule
  • Civil service examinations based on Confucian classics were required to get bureaucratic jobs, ensuring the best qualified were selected
• Song China had significant cultural influence on Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
• Korea


  • Maintained a tributary relationship with Song China
  • Adopted Confucian principles and a civil service examination system
• Japan


  • Voluntarily adopted aspects of Chinese culture like the imperial bureaucracy and Chinese Buddhism
• Vietnam


  • Maintained a tributary relationship with Song China
  • Adopted Confucianism, Buddhism, and the civil service examination system
  • Women were not as marginalized as in China, with female rulers and a female version of the Buddha
• Buddhism


  A belief system originating in South Asia with the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path
• Spread of Buddhism


  • Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka
  • Mahayana Buddhism in East Asia emphasizing compassion and making the Buddha an object of devotion
  • Tibetan Buddhism emphasizing mystical practices
• Chan Buddhism


  The distinct version of Buddhism that developed in China
• The Song economy was prosperous due to widespread commercialization, growth in iron and steel production, agricultural innovations like Champa rice, and transportation improvements
• Factors contributing to Song economic prosperity

  1. Widespread commercialization of the economy

  2. Explosion in iron and steel production

  3. Agricultural innovations like Champa rice

  4. Transportation improvements like the Grand Canal and magnetic compass