Japan,+Vietnam,+and+Korea+-++Spreading+Chinese+Civilization

Economics: MI: Japan was heavily agricultural and already had a large standing population, and it's major cash crop was rice. Social:([]) MI: The Japanese Feudal system was largely different from European Feudalism because it was more decentralized, allowing for the japanese lords or Daimyo to posess greater power and influence. Political: MI- In 646, the Emperor and his advisors introduced the Taika reforms, which were aimed at revamping the imperial structure to incorporate more chinese influence. Interactions: From the 15th century, waves of Japanese settlers began crowding out Ainu communities on Honshu island and pushing them northwards. The settlers also brought infectious diseases that caused Ainu populations to fall. Ainu land was redistributed to Japanese farmers.In 1899, the Japanese government passed an act which labelled the Ainu “former Aborigines”, ostensibly declaring that the Ainu had been integrated into the Japanese population – the act, together with the various assimilation policies had the drastic effect of eroding Ainu identity and traditions. The Meiji government’s 1899 assimilation policies resulted in the ban of the Ainu language and Ainu children being given Japanese names and put into Japanese schools. As a result of these policies, many Ainu people suffered discrimination and became ashamed of their language and culture.This practice continued for over 100 years. ([])
 * A large fishing industry provided both food and agricultural fertilizer.
 * Manufacture of silk, pottery,paintings, and many other decorative crafts flourished in Feudal Japan.
 * Agriculture was mainly subsistent, being that, due to Japanese geography there was little available land for farming,thus.
 * Peasants were also taxed in rice, and taxes could sometimes reach up to 50-60% of the farmer's income.([])
 * The Japanese feudal class structure placed merchants on the lowest rung due to chinese influence. Confucian ideals emphasized the importance of productive members of society, so farmers and fishermen had higher status than shop-keepers in Japan.
 * Although artisans produced many beautiful and necessary goods, such as clothes, cooking utensils, and woodblock prints, they were considered less important than the farmers.The artisan class lived in its own section of the major cities, segregated from the samurai (who usually lived in the daimyos' [|castles]), and from the lower merchant class.
 * Feudal Japanese society was dominated by the [|samurai warrior] class. Although they made up only about 10% of the population, samurai and their [|daimyo] lords wielded enormous power.When a samurai passed, members of the lower classes were required to bow and show respect. If a farmer or artisan refused to bow, the samurai was legally entitled to chop off the recalcitrant person's head.
 * At the very pinnacle of society were the shoguns, the military rulers, and the Emperor. The Shogun was generally the most powerful daimyo; when the Tokugawa family seized power in 1603, the shogunate became hereditary. The Tokugawas ruled for 15 generations, until 1868.The emperor was largely a figurehead for a long period of time, though he still held great religious and political power.
 * These people included the ethnic minority [|Ainu], the decendants of slaves, and those employed in taboo industries.Buddhist and Shinto tradition condemned people who worked as butchers, executioners, and tanners as unclean. They were called the //burakumin//.Another class of social outcasts were the //hinin//, which included actors, wandering bards, and convicted criminals.
 * The central objection to these reforms was the fact that they robbed the Japanese culture, and essentially attempted to transform the Japanese monarchy into an absolutist Chinese-style emperor.
 * EVentually, due to great opposition by Buddhist monks and local aristocrats, the Emperor abandoned the reforms entirely and restored the power of the aristocrats.
 * Then, the emperor's advisors made it so that women could never control Japan, and attempted to remove Buddhist influence by moving the capital to Heian and decreeing that no monasteries could be built inside it. But the monks worked around this, and built monasteries surrounding the city, securing their power.

Religion: As Japanese culture began to incorporate more chinese aspects, their religion became a unique mix of buddhist beliefs and the traditional Japanese religion, Shinto. > Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun goddess,TsukiYomi, God of the Moon, Stars, and Night sky,Susano, the Storm god also associated with forests > Fudo (fighter of demons),Uke-mochi(food goddess)Fujin(the Wind God),Fire Fade and Fire Flash( associated with tides),Sea King, associated with the ocean/sea > Raiden, the Thunder god,Suku-na-biko, the Dwarf god, and Uzume, the Mirth Goddess. Innovations: Japanese innovations focused heavily on Aesthetics, to match the heavily structured and strict social system. Technology:
 * Similar to Taoist beliefs, Shintoism incorporated the belief that Nature isn't evil, it is only harmful due to an imbalance.
 * Similar to Christian beliefs, sins can be forgiven (repentance system), however cowardice and theft were viewed as mortal (unforgivable) sins.
 * Shinto was very strongly polytheistic, believing that one should not only honor the main gods and goddesses, but also incorporating ancestor worship and nature spirits called Kami.But it was also used to keep control of the populace, with such commandments as "Revere the divine origin of the State " and "Do not transgress against the decrees of the State"
 * The main Deities are as follows :Izanagi and Izanami(progenitors of everything) and their children:
 * [[image:http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMoeavzp5M_ToCY41_-04nbKfZrLsyi_VGSuQfQo_qAEYRl9kqIg width="223" height="226"]](pictured left, Izanagi and Izanami creating the Japanese Islands out of Seafoam)
 * Such examples of innovation would be Koi ponds, artificial lakes/waterfalls, and large Zen or Bonsai Gardens, which were found in the rooms of many imperial courtiers.
 * Writing and poetry were heavily valued, for example, the Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, detailing the adventures of the bored prince Genji in the gossip-filled court life.
 * Painted fans, scented paper, and paper boats with poems in them also contributed to the Japanese aesthetic sense.
 * In JApanese theatre, men were specially trained to impersonate women, limiting their role in the arts and freedom of expression.
 * In place of the simpler wood and mud buildings, great stone castles became commonplace
 * The more able Daimyo were able to improve stability through tax collection, regular public works projects, irrigation projects, etc...
 * New tools and crops(such as soybeans), as well as the use of draft animals increased the livelihoods of peasants.

Summary of pg 287 "Comparing Feudalisms"

The feudal systems which arose in the West and in Japan were developed via political values which took ,pst pf the society into account. The most important of these were the aristocratic lords, who effectively controlled the mass of peasants. The idea of mutual ties of respect and obligation, and the rituals used to express them were very strict, and went beyond the more casual deals of Russian or Chinese feudalism.In both societies, feudalism was highly militaristic, and both societiees also went through extended periods of internal warfare due to disloyalties. However, this militarism survived the feudal age. It left Japan with serious problems controlling the Samurai class. In the West, the warrior ethics of feudalism persisted in the prominent belief that a central governmental purpose was necessary to make war.However, in contrast, Western feudalism was far more contractually obligated and strict than Japanese feudalism, with many agreements being put in writing, as opposed to the more loyalty/honor-based Japanese system. This western dependance on the government is most clearly seeen in the modern day through Parliament, while in Japan, it deals with a more ideological emphasis of working together(collective decision making teams).

Sinification in Korea

Korea was the area which was most profoundly influenced by Chinese culture for the longest period of time.However, despite repeated Chinese interventions, the Korean people developed a separate cultural identity, which was expressed in distinctive forms of dress, cuisine, and social class system.As in Japan, Buddhism spread the key links betweem Korea and the successors of the Han dynasty. Korean Rulers patronized the Buddhist artists, and commisioned many temples and pagoda to be built, replicating the Chinese style. The Koguryo monarch adopted a unified law code based off Han China, as well. The kings of the Silla Kingdom in Korea collected many texts from emabssies and copied Chinese styles of dress, and regurlarly paid tribute to the Chinese emperors.The koreans also improved the Chinese printing system with use of moveable arrangements of type and manufactured beatiful green porcelain based on Chinese designs called Celadon.Koreans social system focused heavily on the aristocrats, and the entire social system beneath them were oriented around serving them, unlike the traditional Chinese Bureaucracy.

Vietnam: (Alex) Chinese Influence: Summary of CHinese influence on Japan, Korea and Vietnam bureaucracy/government structure
 * Traded ivory, peacock feathers, tortoise shells, pearls, aromatic woods, and othere exotic products drawn form nature for Chinese silks
 * intermarried with Mon-Khmer- and Tai-speaking peoples
 * language differed from that of Chinese
 * village autonomy
 * physically symbolized by bamboo hedges
 * nuclear family
 * extended household
 * women had more freedom and influence in family and society
 * different ways of dress
 * Vietnamese writings expressed self-doubt and hatred towards Chinese dominance
 * officals identified themselves with peasants rather than court and high administrators
 * limited power of scholar- bureaucrats
 * French and Roman Catholic influence
 * bureaucracy
 * attended Chinese schools
 * wrote in Chinese script
 * took exams to qualify for posts
 * six main ministries
 * bureau of censors to keep graft and corruption in check
 * Chinese cropping techniques and irrigation
 * extended family model
 * Chinese-style palaces
 * wrote in Chinese script, or altered it


 * Chinese cropping techniques and irrigation


 * extended family model, and patriarchal societies(subordination of women)
 * Chinese-style palaces, temples, and art
 * Buddhist temples, pagodas, etc..