Chapter 3: The Ming and Qing Dynasties

Thing Ming Dynasty

After the Yuan Dynasty weakened after Kublai Khans rule, making China prone to a new
rebellion for a new dynasty.
I.

China under Ming Rule

A. Zhu Yuan Zang took the name Hong Wu after he overthrown the Mongols and founded
the Ming Dynasty
1. Expansion of China to Korea, Mongolia, and to the South
B. Reforms
C. Hong Wu reduce Mongol influence and revived Chinese culture
1. Confucianism
D. Hong Wu gave himself much power Ming dynasty emperors have much more power
than other dynasties
1. Hong Wu eliminated rivals, killed thousands
E. Yong Le came to power after Hong Wu, who moved the capital to Beijing and build the
Forbidden City
II. Ming Sea Voyages
A. Chinese exert oversea influence with Zeng Hes fleet
1. Zeng He: Chinese Muslim captain
2. Sail with large fleets with 300 ships
B. Chinese sail as far in the Indian Ocean to Africa
C. Provide gifts and receive tribute
D. Oversea voyage ends because of expensiveness and the fact that the money can be
used to defend Chinas frontiers
III. Ming Foreign relations
A. Mings end of oversea travel was part of the policy of isolation
1. Ports were closed
2. Only a few ports could be used to trade such as Canton
3. But there are a lot of smuggling
B. Why?
1. Because European Christian Missionaries and traders bring foreign influences and
ideas
2. They bring gold and silver from Americas
3. Ming disliked european influences and sought to preserve Chinese tradition
C. Some europeans gained influence in Ming though
1. Matteo Rico, an Italian Jesuit priest spoke Chinese, adopted Chinese customs, and
gained such access
2. Highly respected and introduce European mathematics and Science
D. Ming faced renewed threat from Mongolia
1. Repaired great wall
2. Most great wall seen today are built in the Ming Dynasty
IV. Ming Economy and Society
A. Farm output increase due to more efficient farming techniques and American potatoes
corns introduction
B. Population increase and they work on Chinese porcelains and other works due to
European demand
C. Mainly agriculture society still

V. Ming Decline
A. The Ming were ruled by weak rulers that drain treasury and raised taxes
1. Ming high taxes along with famine provoked rebellion
B. Manchu from the north conquered and overthrew the Chinese and started Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty
Last imperial rule in China
I. China under Qing Rule
A. Manchus faced resistance initially from Chinese subjects
1. Later, Manchus respect of Chinese culture and continuation of Ming government
structure made Chinese respect them more
B. Manchu exerted some regulations on Chinese
1. Manchu women cant marry Chines
2. Manchu women cant bind small for
3. Chinese have to wear their hair like manchu
C. Two great emperors: Qianlong and Kangxi
D. Qianglong
1. Reduce taxes and entertain highly educated jesuits entertainment at court
E. Kangxi
1. Conquered Taiwan, Mongolia, and Tibet
2. Chinese population increase
II. Qing Foreign Relations
A. Chinas policy of isolation was continued by Qianglong
1. Manchus also see Chinese good as superior too
2. Ask foreigners to trade on Chinese term
B. Dutch traded with Chinese their porcelains and tea
C. British Lord George Macartney wanted to change the trade terms but fail when he was
kicked out because he didnt want to kneel down to the emperor kowtow
D. Isolation brought the advanced Chinese civilization down, when European attempt to
open China topple Qing dynasty
Ming and Qing Culture
I. Developed Porcelain
A. Valuable trade
II. Developed Fiction
A. Because of increase literacy rate
B. Dream of the Red Chamber
Chapter 4: Medieval Japan and Korea
Japans Warrior Society
Japans central government leading local clans to fight each other. This cause samurais to be
hired for protection.
I. Feudalism and the Samurai
A. Feudalism in Japan was set up like in Europe
B. Samurais were fighter who in Japan were paid usually with food
1. High ranking samurais were paid with land, in which peasants work the land and pay
the samurai for the land right
C. Samurais were skilled fighters who are respected in Japan

1. When passing by a crowd, they were given way to pass

2. They can kill anyone that disrespect him
D. Samurais were those who serve their lord
1. They follow the bushido: the way of the warrior
2. They need to be loyal and be prepared to fight anytime
3. Samurais and their family has to suffer for their lords
4. If not, they commit suicide (seppuku)
E. Samurais need to be self disciplined and focused
1. Thus they practice Zen Buddhism and do other activities to meditate
F. There are both male and female samurais
1. Female samurais usually do not go to war, but still need to protect home
2. Female samurais are honored in Japanese society. Thus, they can inherit land
II. Rise of the shoguns
A. The central government did not wield real power
1. Local nobles held power
B. Minamoto clan won the war in Japan and its leader was given shogun or general by the
emperor
1. The shogun wield actual power and controlled the emperor
C. Court
1. The emperor continued to hold court in Kyoto
2. The shogun hold military court in Kamakura
D. The mongols attacked, but were often forced back by storms
1. These storms were called kamikaze or divine wind because they forced the mongols
back
E. After the end of mongol invasion, people believed that the shogun didnt reward them
enough for their bravery, thus, a rebellion started and the Kamakura Shogunate was
overthrown
III. Rebellion and Order
A. A weak shogunate was established, but its not a strong central government
B. The lost centralized rule results in local powerful daimyos (landlord) to hold power
C. Castles are built to defend from rivals
D. Peasants lived close to these castles, so population grow
1. Peasants were used as foot soldiers
E. Portuguese introduced Japan to guns, thus, soldiers begin holding gun
1. Some samurais refused the use of guns
F. Oda Nobunaga
1. Major daimyo who died controlling half of Japan
G. Toyotomi Hideyoshi
1. Nobunagas greatest general died controlling almost all of japan
H. Tokugawa Ileyasu
1. Gained complete control of Japan, named Shogun, and set up a new Tokugawa
Shogunate

The Tokugawa Shogunate

Tokyo was set up as the capital of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The strong central government
help maintain peace and stability in Japan.
I.

Tokugawa Rule

A. Strong central government suppressed daimyos by

1. Forcing them to live in both Edo (tokyo) and their home
2. Families need to live in Edo (like hostages)
3. Expensive to maintain double residence
B. Prosperity hit Japan under Tokugawa rule
1. Agriculture production rise
2. Population and cities grow
3. Economic activity increase
4. The 5 highways connected Japan
C. Warrior Class
1. Emperor top figure head
2. Shogun second, military general that hold true power
3. Daimyos hold local power
D. Common Class
1. Peasants, Artisans, and merchants were the lower class of Japanese society whose
social class cannot change
2. Peasant is the most honorable trade, but leave the hardest lives and paid much
taxes
3. Merchant is the dishonorable trade because they did not produce anything
a) Often grow rich and make lives god
E. Change in society
1. Women
a) Couldnt inherit much property, have to obey man, and rights declined
2. Samurais
a) Due to peace, there were little jobs for samurais, who became Ronins (Masterless Samurai)
(1) Work as farmers, warriors for hire, and bandits
II. Relations with the West
A. Originally, the trade with Europeans made Japan rich
B. But jesuits and missionaries converted much Japanese into Christians
C. Disliking this foreign influence, the Shogun banned trade, building of largships, and
persecuted Christians
III. Feudal Culture
A. Woodblock prints became popular, showing scenes of city life
B. Poems, such as Haikus (5, 7, 5 syllables) became popular
C. Drama
1. Noh is slow moving and is performed through dances, masks, and music
2. Kabuki is less serious and much more fun
a) Women at first played in Kabukis, but banned later on from it
Medieval Korea
I. The Choson kingdom, or Yi Dynasty, was set up
II. Based on confucian beliefs
III. Korean alphabet was invented
IV. Japanese invaded korea, but failed by Korean turtle ships and Ming dynastys support
V. Later, Chinese invaded korea, and in 1640s, the Choson Kingdom was a vassal state of
Qing Dynasty
VI. Later, Korean isolated itself and became known as the Hermit Kingdom