Yongle
Reign period of Zhu Di (1360-1424), the third emperor of the Ming Empire
Kangxi
Qing emperor (r. 1662-1722). He oversaw the greatest expansion of the Qing Empire.
Qianlong
Emperor of China, son of Kangxi expanded China's bounderies extensively. Would only rule for sixty years so as to not dishonor his grandfather.
Zheng He
An imperial eunuch and Muslim, entrusted by the Ming emperor Yongle with a series of state voyages that took his gigantic ships through the Indian Ocean
Matteo Ricci
An Italian Jesuit who by his knowledge of Astronomy and science was accepted as a missionary of China
Ieyasu
Founder of the Tokugawa dynasty, the last Shogunate in Japan; won control of the Daimyo
Ming Dynasty
the imperial dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644
Great Wall
a fortification 1,500 miles long built across northern China in the 3rd century BC
Forbidden City
a walled section of Beijing that encloses the palace that was formerly the residence of the emperor of China
Manchus
Federation of Northeast Asian peoples who founded the Qing Empire.
Scholar-bureaucrats
Confucian scholars who held important governmental positions; was one of the reasons for the discontinuation of Zheng He's voyages.
Filial piety
in Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors
Native learning
Japanese movement for native ideas
Dutch learning
Rangaku - method by which Japan kept abreast of Western technology and medicine in the period when the country was closed to foreigners
Footbinding
Process of wrapping young girls feet to stop growth, led to crppiling women for life
Neo-Confucianism
term that describesthe resurgence of confusianism and the influence of confucian scholars during the Tang dynasty
Tokugawa Shogunate
Japanese ruling dynasty that strove to isolate it from foreign influences
Daimyo
a japanese feudal lord who commanded a private army of samurai
Floating worlds
Entertainment district: Haiku clubs and tea houses, Geisha, Kabuki plays, sumo. offered escape from social responsibilities and the rigid rules of conduct