Grand Canal
The 1,100-mile (1,700-kilometer) waterway linking the Yellow and the Yangzi Rivers. It was begun in the Han period and completed during the Sui Empire.
Buddhism
the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth
Neoconfucianism
term that describes the resurgence of Confucianism and the influence of Confucian scholars during the T'ang Dynasty; a unification of Daoist or Buddhist metaphysics with Confucian pragmatism
Sui dynasty
The short dynasty between the Han and the Tang; built the Grand Canal, strengthened the government, and introduced Buddhism to China
Tang Dynasty
dynasty often referred to as China's Golden age that reigned during 618 - 907 AD; China expands from Vietnam to Manchuria
Song dynasty
(960 - 1279 AD); this dynasty was started by Tai Zu; by 1000, a million people were living there; started feet binding; had a magnetic compass; had a navy; traded with india and persia (brought pepper and cotton); first to have paper money, explosive gun
Equal field system
This Chinese system allotted land to individuals and their families according to the land's fertility and the recipients' needs.
Samurai
class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land
Seppuku
Ritual suicide or disembowelment in Japan; commonly known in West as hara-kiri; demonstrated courage and a means to restore family honor.
Bushido
traditional code of the Japanese samurai which stressed courage and loyalty and self-discipline and simple living
Nara period
(704 - 794AD) when the capital was at Nara; a group of reformers try to reform the government after shotuku died; they didn't like the Chinese's civil service exam so they make the Taiho Code
Heian period
(794 - 1100) move the capital to Heian; 300 years of developing a new culture; growth of large estates; arts and literature of china flourished; elaborate court life; personal diaries (pillow book and the take of genji); moved away from chinese culture
Kamakura shogunate
The first of Japan's decentralized military governments. (1185-1333). (p. 294)
Muromachi shogunate
The Muromachi period (???? Muromachi jidai?, also known as the Muromachi era, the Muromachi bakufu, the Ashikaga era, the Ashikaga period, or the Ashikaga bakufu) is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573.
Silla dynasty
The dynasty in Korea that rallied to prevent Chinese domination in the seventh century CE.
Chan Buddhism
Known as Zen in Japan; stressed meditation and appreciation of natural and artistic beauty; popular with members of elite Chinese society
Uighurs
A group of Turkic-speakers who controlled their own centralized empire from 744 to 840 in Mongolia and Central Asia.
Yang jian
conquered the south, unified China, created the Sui dynasty and finally ended the Period of Disunion
Sui yangdi
604-618 CE; second emperor of the Sui Dynasty; completed work on the Grand Canal; during his rule, his projects demanded high taxes and force labor, which caused hostility toward his rule; rebellions broke out; assassinated in 618
Xuanzang
712, Empress Wu's grandson, became emperor of China, welcomed artisans to his court, Tang arts flourished: translucent pottery - "china
Tang taizong
(627- 649) He reconquerored the northern and western land that China had since the decline of the Han Dynasty. He started the achievements of the Tang Dynasty.
Murasaki shikibu
Lady Murasaki (English), was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the imperial court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1008, one of the earliest novels in
Zhu xi
(1130-1200) Most prominent of neo-Confucian scholars during the Song dynasty in China; stressed importance of applying philosophical principles to everyday life and action
An lushan
One of the Tang dynasty's foremost military commanders who mounted a rebellion and captured the capital at Chang'an and the secondary capital at Luoyang in 755.
Huang chao
definition: military commander that led an uprising of Eastern China for almost a decade (875-884) that helped to bring the Tang to a close
significance: Weakened the Tang empire, leading to its demise
Song taizu
First Song dynasty emperor who reigned from 960-976 CE. He focused his rule on civil administration, industry, education, and the arts rather than on military affairs. Inaugurated bureaucracy of merit.