Download I. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) -Early Ming Time Period (1368

I.
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
-Early Ming Time Period (1368-1500)
Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu) = 1st Emperor of Ming (13681398)
-monk, soldier, bandit
Kicked out Mongols
Made capital = Nanjing (only for a short time though)
Rejected Mongol culture, although he did keep some practices of
the Yuan Dynasty
Isolated itself with Central Asia and Middle East
Increased Confucianism
Restored Han Dynasty’s Civil Service Exam
-Gain positions by merit.
Agricultural Reforms.
Increase rice, cash crops, and fish-farming.
(sugar and cotton)
Continuity of Yuan Dynasty:
Yuan control of local business
Hereditary system
Mongol calendar
Emperor Yongle made capital = Peking (modern-day Beijing)
Third Emperor of Ming (1402-1424)
Tribute Relationship – traditional tie between China with Korea,
Japan, and Vietnam in which the 3 countries recognized China’s
superior status by sending gifts to the Chinese Emperor.
Early form of Chinese foreign relations.
-Built Forbidden City (Built between 1406-1420)
-Xenophobia - an intense dislike and/or fear of people from other
countries.
Military service – hereditary
-Mongols still part of the army (biased against Mongols)
Mongols were hostile on land: Result =
Sea Expeditions: 1405-1433
-Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean
Zheng He = Moslem sailor – 7 voyages
-Reestablish trade links
-Goal: bring Chinese populations overseas under Chinese authority
and influence
Effects:
Luxury goods
Example: Two giraffes
50 countries began giving tribute
No significant increase in long-distance trade
Voyages – not profitable
Zheng He – used no new technology
-Personal project of Yongle
Expeditions stopped suddenly
Reasons:
Use limited resources for other projects
-defend against Japanese pirates
-defend against northern Mongols
-China still sailed on seas, but on really only private funding (not
government)
China allowed foreigners to conduct trade only in certain port cities,
such as Canton, Macao, and Ningbo.
↓
Portuguese (1514)
Technology:
Decline under Ming
-lost knowledge of high quality bronze and steel.
Reason for decline:
Increase in high cost of metals and wood
Civil Service Exam – reward for scholarship and administration
Labor decrease
Pressure from technological superior enemies and fear of
technology transfer
Korea and Japan jumped in front of China technologically
Korea: firearms, shipbuilding, meteorology, calendar-making
Japan: Mining, metallurgy, novel household goods
Ming Achievements:
Great wealth
Consumerism
Cultural brilliance
-Vernacular novels: Water Margin and Romance of the Three
Kingdoms
Porcelain
Furniture
Lacquered screens
Silk
Centralization and Militarism of East Asia:
Korea:
Koryo Kingdom surrendered to Mongols (1258)
-Marriage
Profitable for Korea
New technology to Korea:
Cotton
Gunpowder (gained through subterfuge (concealment)
Astronomy
Calendar-making
Celestial clocks
Koryo collapsed after fall of Yuan Dynasty
Yi Dynasty
(Just like Ming Dynasty: local identity, increase Confucianism,
kept Mongol government system
Yi Technology:
Moveable type in copper frames
Meteorology
Local calendar
Fertilizer
Reservoirs
Cash crops
-Cotton (became very common)
Military Technology: patrol ships with cannons, gunpowder arrowlaunchers, armored ships
Japan: (1274-1500):
Political transformation in Japan
-Failed Mongol Invasion (1274)
Kamakura lords: Shogun unified – centralized planning – waiting
for another attempt by Mongols
Second Mongol invasion (1281) – Mongols defeated by being
prepared and typhoon (kamikaze ‘divine wind’)
Further defensive preparations
Warriors consolidated power: Increase trade and increase
communication within Japan
-Very expensive to operate
Civil War:
Ashikaga Shogunate established (1338)
-weak Shogunate state
-strong provincial lords:
Markets
Religious institutions
Schools
agriculture
Yoshimasa Shogunate (1436-1490)
Artistic:
Zen Buddhism
Meditation over ritual:
Black ink printing
Sand gardens
Tea ceremony
Onin War of 1477 – over secession of Yoshimasa
Result:
Shogunate had no power and provinces under independent regional
lords = fought one another
-trade with the rest of Asia
Vietnam: 1200-1500
Emergence:
Mongols got tribute from both regions of Vietnam: Annan and
Champa
Annan (North) and Champa (South) – fought one another after fall
of Yuan Dynasty
During Ming Dynasty:
Annan – Puppet government of Ming (30 years)
Annamese kicked out Ming (1428)
Annam conquered Champa (By 1500)
-Established Chinese type of government
Annam: Mahayana Buddhism
Most of other Southeast Asia = Theravada Buddhism