2B.+Chinese+Political+Systems+&+Cultural+Patterns

**Chinese Alchemy:** It is unknown when alchemy first began in China. Alchemy centers on the purification of the soul and body in hopes of becoming immortal. Through alchemy it was said that one could produce gold from worthless materials. When alchemy was introduced to Europe it began to transform. The sole purpose that the Western world practiced alchemy was in order to potentially produce gold. In China the main reason that they practiced was for eternal life. One reason that their views differ is because while China prospered, Europe was in a time of turmoil after the fall of Rome. It makes sense that Europe would do anything in order to become successful again and alchemy was an opportunity to the Western world.
 * Chinese Sciences**


 * Chinese Acupuncture:** Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into a patient in order to relieve pain. The spread of acupuncture started with Japan when Xu Fu took seeds, plants, and medical herbs to Japan in the 3rd century BC. It also spread to Korea in the 3rd century and eventually to Vietnam in the 2nd century. Acupuncture was introduced to Europe during the first missionaries.




 * Jesuit China Missions:** The Jesuit China Missions introduced the advancements of China to the Western world and vice-versa. The Jesuits introduced Western science and math to China. Europe introduced China to the idea of predicting an eclipse. This made an opportunity for reworking the Chinese calendar with Western calculation techniques. Europe also borrowed ideas from China. Confucian texts were translated so that the Western world could understand them. Jesuit cartographers explored the Chinese empire to determine longitude and latitude of certain locations by performing astronomical observations. These missions helped both nations progress.




 * Chinese Papermaking:** All of the innovations that China has been apart of papermaking might be the most influential. Chinese papermaking dates back to 105 CE when Cai Lun created a sheet of paper using mulberry, fishnets, old rags, and hemp waste. It wasn’t until the 3rd century that paper was used as a writing material. Paper was first introduced to Korea and Vietnam then from Korea to Japan. The production of paper in Korea began in the 6th century. Papermaking played an influential part of China’s heavy influence in Korea. Korean students were sent to China where they studied mainly Confucianism and also natural sciences. Papermaking was first introduced to Japan in 610 AD by a Korean monk Dokyo. The Japanese first used paper for official records and documentation. With the spread of Buddhism, the demand for paper was off the charts. Paper was then spread to Central Asia and Persia. From there paper was introduced into Samarkand after the Battle of Talas in 751 where two Chinese were captured and forced to make paper. From Samarkand papermaking was spread to Baghdad in the 8th century and then to Africa by the 10th century. It took almost 500 years for papermaking to reach Europe. Paper was disliked by the Christian world because it was said to be part of the Islamic culture.


 * **__Comparison to the Rest of the World:__** Science progression in the regions of the world at this period in time relied on how it was viewed by the region's religion. The America's believed in the all powerful Sun. Thus, the people of the America's became active in practicing astronomy. In Africa, the people experimented with different plants for medicinal purposes. The African's also began experimenting with smelting iron. Europe was in the dark ages. Therefore, their sciences were limited because of the lack of job specialization. However, the European's rediscoverd the works of Aristotle during this time. In the Middle East, the rise of Islam caused Baghdad to thrive. Many thinkers came here to learn. The scientific method, chemistry, and physics were developed here. China was most like the Middle East in scientific progressionbecause this is the only region of the world were significant scientific innovation was taking place ||

**Chinese Technology**
 * Gunpowder:** G﻿unpowder was invented in the 9th century C.E. by the Chinese. The substance was created accidently by Tibetan monks looking for an elixir of immortality. This substance was quickly developed for warfare in forms of rockets, flamethrowers, bombs, and land mines. Later when the technology spread to Europe it was used to shoot projectiles from guns and cannons. This invention had a very long term effect on the culture of and warfare politics of China and the surrounding countries. Gunpowder made warfare more deadly and was used by China in defense against the Mongols, and then used by the Mongols to invade Japan.

**Block Printing Press** – The Printing press was invited in the 9th century B.C.E. in China under the Han Dynasty. Printing was originally slow and only printed pictures or symbols from wood blocks onto cloth, never books. This innovation was beneficial but didn’t become revolutionary until it spread to Europe and was further developed. After modifications were made the printing press spread information faster than ever before. This development leads to the rapid spread of knowledge from east to west, increasing innovation and understanding. This technology greatly affected the Culture of China and the surrounding countries by spreading cultural ideas and making politics more widely publicized. This also allowed China to have greater cultural control over Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

**Civil Service** – The civil service examination was an innovation created by the Chinese in the 7th century C.E. during the Sui Dynasty. It was an exam that tested the merit of workers. Then the most qualified test takers would receive some of the highest government office jobs available. This was crucial in allowing the lower class a chance to rise in rank. The exam was also copied in some form or another by the surrounding countries of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam in order to improve their own government systems. Later on this idea spread to Europe and eventually the Americas, where its impact can still be seen today.  **Legalism** – Legalism is a political philosophy that emphasized a strong government based on its laws. This idea became popular in the Qin Dynasty, where it was used to reunite the separated country. It later was used to strengthen China allowing it to wield political and military power over its surrounding countries of Japan, Korea and Vietnam. **Silk** – Silk was invented between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in ancient China. Silk itself did not have a large cultural or political influence on China or the surrounding countries. However silk created a trade network with India, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, which had a dramatic and permanent effect on East Asia. This trade network was originally founded on the trade of silk from China to foreign lands, but the side effects of the trade spread much of China’s technology and inventions to the rest of the world. This spread of wealth and technology made China an attractive market for the Middle East and Europe to trade with. This new trade also brought the influence of Christianity and Islam that had a significant effect on the Culture and Politics of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.  **Comparison to Africa and the Americas:** The technology developed in China was far superior to the rest of the world, in that time period, especially Africa and the Americas. The Americas struggled to develop advanced technology because of their lack of large animals to domesticate. This seriously inhibited them, leaving the people hundreds of years behind Asia in technology. Africa struggled to unite because of geographic barriers such as the great distances between people and the Sahara desert. This stopped any significant travel or trade from connecting sub-saharan colonies, cutting them off from learning of new technology or innovations. This lack of technology had significant impacts on American and African culture and technology. These two continents had much more primitive cultures and governments systems because of a lack of knowledge. It also made these two continents less efficient in farming and food gathering, which meant that they had less free time to innovate or learn, keeping the people in darkness.

**__ How the Chinese Influenced Art __** **__Background:__** The Chinese art was influenced heavily by Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Also, nature and wildlife was also a prevalent theme in Chinese artwork. Much of the artwork in this region was created out of stone because it was so accessible. Paintings and porcelain pieces of artwork were also very popular. As the Chinese expanded their rule and the tribute system took off, Chinese influenced artwork also became popular in neighboring regions. However, it wasn’t just the style of art that the Chinese had influenced. While China was taking over countries, the Chinese way of life was adopted and the artists were influenced by what was going on within their country.

**__Korea:__** When the Chinese went to Korea, they set up their famed Tribute System. The Chinese forced their culture and way of life on to the Koreans and, as to be expected; the Korean’s did not like it and rebelled against China. Many artists in Korea were influenced by the violence seen between the Koreans and Chinese artists. It became a commonality to see art that displayed acts of war. One practice that the Chinese passed to Korea was foot binding. This practice consisted of damaging a woman’s foot so severely that it was hard for her to walk. This was done by the men to the women to further discourage the women from leaving the home. Previous to China’s reign in Korea, women were much freer and not restricted by the Confucian way of like the Chinese were so proud of. Korean artists depicted the treacherous act against women. However, one positive aspect of life that China spread to Korea was religion. Buddhism spread rapidly through out Korea. Many artists created pieces of art with important Buddhist figures or symbols to honor their religion.


 * = [[image:korean_warrior.jpg width="304" height="226" align="center" caption="Korean Warrior Sculpture "]] ||
 * = Korean Warrior Sculpture ||


 * [[image:korean_women.jpg width="224" height="273"]] ||
 * Footbinding Painting ||

__**J**__ **__apan:__** Japan’s borrowing from Chinese culture was voluntary because the Chinese never actually had total control over Japan. The Japanese were allowed to pick and choose which elements of Chinese society they thought would allow Japan to prosper. One major attribute of society that made them so powerful was their centralized bureaucratic government. The Japanese thought this would also help them become a powerful nation. Many artists were influenced by this new idea of central government and the artwork contained leaders of the state. The Japanese also adopted Buddhism and Confucianism as their main sources of religion. Again, this influence was seen through the artistic creations of the Japanese. One societal value that was indirectly inherited from China was the role of women. Confucianism viewed women as lesser than men and this was demonstrated in their art.
 * [[image:korean_buddhism.jpg width="256" height="229"]] ||
 * Buddhist Figurines of Korea ||


 * [[image:japanese_women.jpeg width="280" height="202"]] ||
 * Painting of the Role of Women ||


 * [[image:japanese_government.jpg width="238" height="318"]] ||
 * Painting of Government Officials ||


 * [[image:Japanese_buddhism.jpg width="252" height="215"]] ||
 * Painting about Buddhism ||

**__Vietnam:__** The Chinese spread their Tribute System south to Vietnam. Vietnam was even considered a part of China for a long period of time. The Chinese strong practice of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism were predictably spread to Vietnam. Many Vietnam artists paid their respect to their religious affiliations by creating elaborate works of art in the religion’s honor. The Chinese central government idea was adopted in Vietnam. Vietnamese artists illustrated the central government in their artwork. After years of rule and abuse from China, the Vietnamese began to rebel and eventually became an independent state. The people rejoiced after their independence. The celebration was documented through paintings.
 * [[image:vietnamese_independence.jpg width="302" height="248"]] ||
 * Painting of the Independence of Vietnam ||


 * [[image:vietnamese_government.jpg width="291" height="251"]] ||
 * Painting that was influenced by government ||


 * [[image:vietnamese_buddhism.jpg width="333" height="256"]] ||
 * Vietnamese, Buddhist statue ||

**__Art:__** The Chinese had any cultural and political effects in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam however; they also effected how art was created. The porcelain was one of a kind in China. This elaborate form of art was spread to the neighboring regions of China (Korea, Japan, and Vietnam). Also, scenic paintings called “shanshui” were very popular and this form of painting spread as well. The style of sculpture in China spread as well as the unique style of architecture. Not only did the Chinese influence the art made in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam but, they influenced how the art was created.
 * [[image:chinese_buddhist_sculpture.jpg width="216" height="279"]][[image:chinese_porcelain.jpg width="190" height="275"]][[image:chinese_architecture.jpg width="244" height="326"]][[image:shanshui.jpg width="267" height="264"]] ||
 * = Examples of chinese art. From left to right: Chinese sculpture, porcelain, architecture, and "shanshui" painting ||


 * __Comparison to the Rest of the World:__** During this time, the America's were unknown to the rest of the world. Their way of art was much more primitive compared to art in China. Most of their art were paintings that were influenced by religion. Paintings included many of their gods, especialy the Sun because they saw the sun as a divine, all powerful being. Traditional art in Africa was similar to art in the Americas. Art was influenced by religion. African's that were converted to Islam were influenced as seen in their art. In Egypt, art was created to show praise for their leader. European art was heavily influenced by Christianity but, at this time Europe was in the dark ages and their art was of low sophistication because job specialization was non existant. At this period in time, the Middle East was thriving and a center for innovation. Art here was very sophisticated and heavily influenced by Islam because most everyone there practiced the religion. Art in this time period was influenced by religion accross the globe during this period in time because it played such a huge role in the people's every day life.