THE CIVILIZATIONS OF INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN

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THE CIVILIZATIONS OF INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN
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Early Indian Civilization

• Harappan Civilization
• The Vedic Age
• Hinduism
• The Caste System
• Birth of Buddhism in India

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The Harappan Civilization
3300 BCE - 2400 BCE
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Aerial View of Mohenjo-Daro
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Wide View, Mohenjo-Daro
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Harappan Writing
Undecipherable to date.
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The Vedic Age (1500 BCE - 500 BCE)
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Aryan Migration

• Invaders on horseback from Persia (Iran) and
  Central Asia

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Sanskrit writing
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What is Hinduism?

• One of the oldest religions of humanity
• The religion of the Indian people
• Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
• Tolerance and diversity "Truth is one, paths are
  many"
• Many deities but a single, impersonal Ultimate
  Reality
• A philosophy and a way of life focused both on
  this world and beyond

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No universally accepted definition

• The Hindu religion, unlike other religions in
  the world, does not claim any one prophet it
  does not worship any one god it does not
  subscribe to any one dogma it does not believe
  in any one philosophic concept it does not
  follow any one set of religious rites in fact it
  does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional
  features of any religion or creed. It may broadly
  be described as a way of life and nothing more
• Chief Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar (Supreme Court
  Ruling, 1995)

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What are the Sacred Texts?

• The four Vedas (truths) the basic texts of
  Hinduism stories, rituals, chants
• Upanishads - metaphysical speculation on how the
  soul can be united with Brahma
• The Great Indian Epics
• Ramayana the story of Rama and Sita
• Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad-Gita, the
  story of Krishna)
• The Laws of Manu Hindu ten commandments and four
  stages of life

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What do Hindus believe?

• One impersonal Ultimate Reality Brahman
• Manifest as many personal deities
• True essence of life Atman, the soul, is
  Brahman trapped in matter (That art thou)
• Reincarnation atman is continually born into
  this world lifetime after lifetime (Samsara)
• Karma spiritual impurity due to actions keeps
  us bound to this world (good and bad)
• Ultimate goal of life to release Atman and
  reunite with the divine, becoming as one with
  Brahman (Moksha)

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Who do Hindus worship? the major gods of the
Hindu Pantheon
Brahma, the creator god
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Who do Hindus worship? the major gods of the
Hindu Pantheon
Vishnu, the preserver god
Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including
Rama (featured in the Ramayana)
Krishna (featured in the Mahabharata)
(Each shown with his consort, Sita and Radha,
respectively)
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The major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Shiva, god of constructive destruction(the
transformer)
Appears as Shiva Nataraj,lord of the dance of
creation
and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha(the
elephant headed remover of obstacles)
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What about the goddesses?Devi the feminine
divine essence. She is the core from which all
other goddesses derive.
Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune, consortof
Vishnu
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What about the goddesses?
Parvati, divine mother, wife ofShiva
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What about the goddesses?
Durga, protectress
Kali, destroyer of demons
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All these deities are but Manifest forms
(attributes and functions) of the impersonal
Brahman
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Varna (Caste Hierarchy)
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
Pariahs Harijan ? Untouchables
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The Caste System
Brahmins
Kshatriyas

• Each member of a varna is also associated with a
  jatia community based on a specific job
  function.
• A persons surname usually indicates the
  profession of ones ancestors. For example
  Gandhi perfume maker

Vaishyas
Shudras
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Goal of Hinduism
Moksha release or liberation
United forever with the divine
Infinite bliss and awareness
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Reincarnation (Samsara)

• Samsara is the wheel of rebirth which means the
  soul is reborn
• from one life form to another.
• People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower
  level of existence depending on their karma from
  their present life.
• People may be reborn as plants or animals or they
  may be elevated to a higher caste as a human.
• Death is not final for Hindus as they expect to
  be reborn many times.

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Karma Dharma

• Karma action or deeds
• Every action produces a Justified effect based
  on its moral worthiness.
• Karma determines all the particular circumstances
  and Situations of ones life.
• Dharma ethical duty based on the divine order
  of reality. The word is the closest equivalent to
  religion.

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Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

• Born in NE India (Nepal).
• Raised in great luxuryto be a king.
• At 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life toseek
  enlightenmentand the source ofsuffering.
• Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs.
• Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and
  found nirvana.
• Became The Enlightened One, at 35.

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What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?
Desire!

• Therefore, extinguish the self, dont obsess
  about oneself.

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Four Noble Truths

• There is suffering in the world. To live is to
  suffer. (Dukkha)
• The Buddha found this out when he was young and
  experienced suffering and death in others.

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Four Noble Truths

1. The cause of suffering is self-centered desire
   and attachments. (Tanha)

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Four Noble Truths

1. The solution is to eliminate desire and
   attachments. (Nirvana extinction)

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Four Noble Truths

1. To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold
   Path.

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Eightfold Path
Nirvana

• The union with the ultimate spiritual
  reality.
• Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

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Buddha 19c Thailand
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Mandala Wheel of Life Motif
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Chinese Civilization

• Institutions, World Views, and Significance, 2205
  B. C. E. - 1644

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Generalizations About Chinese Civilization

• Zhong guo mentality China the center of the
  universe
• Powerful Central Authorityemperor. But mandate
  of heaven can justify dynasty change
• Importance of family veneration of Ancestors
• Confucianism is official governing philosophy
  until 20th c.
• Scholars the most respected social class
• Chinese citizens mix Confucian beliefs with
  Daoism
• Perennial problemsfood production, invasion, and
  internal strife

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Confucianism
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Confucius

• Kung Fu Tsu 551 479 B.C.E.
• Born in the feudal state of Liu.
• Became a teacher and editor of books.

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Major Confucian Principles

• Li --gt Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding
  force of an enduring stable society)
• Jen --gt humaneness, benevolence,
  humanity, politeness
• Shu --gt Reciprocity, empathy
• Do not do unto others what you would not want
  others to do unto you.
• Yi --gt Righteousness (do the right thing)
• Xiao --gt Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)

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5 Principle Relationships
1. Ruler
Subject
2. Father
Son
3. Husband
Wife
4. Older Brother
YoungerBrother
5. Older Friend
YoungerFriend
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Organizing Principles

• Status
• Age
• Gender

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The Analects

• The single most important Confucian work.
• In Chinese, it means conversation.
• Focus on practicalities of interpersonal
  relationships and the relationship of the role
  of rulers and ministers to the conduct of
  government.

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Sayings from The Analects

• Knowing what he knows and knowing what he
  doesnt know, is characteristics of the person
  who knows.
• Making a mistake and not correcting it, is
  making another mistake.
• The superior man blames himself the inferior
  man blames others.
• To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

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Confucius' Tomb
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Mencius

• 372 - 289 B.C.E.
• Disciple of Confucius.
• Starts off with the assumption that people
  are basically good.
• If someone does something bad, education, not
  punishment, is the answer.
• Good people will mend their ways in
  accordance to their inherent goodness.

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Social Cohesion is Paramount!

• A secular code of behaviornothing religious or
  spiritual
• The emperor is the example of proper behavior
  --gt big daddy
• Social relationships are based on rites or
  rituals.
• Even religious rituals are important for
  SOCIAL, not religious reasons, acc. to
  Confucius.

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Differences in Cultures
INDIA
CHINA
1. Brahmin
1. Scholar-Gentry
2. Kshatriyas
2. Peasants
3. Vaishyas
3. Artisans
4. Shudras
4. Merchants
Untouchables
Soldiers
Domestic Slaves
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Daoism
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Lao Zi Lao-Tzu

• Not sure when he died. 604 B.C.E. - ?
• His name means Old Master

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Major Daoist Principles
1. Dao Tao is the first-cause of the
universe. It is a force that flows through all
life. 2. A believers goal is to become one
with Dao one with nature. 3. Wu wei --gt
Let nature take its course. --gt The
art of doing nothing. --gt Go with
the flow! 4. Man is unhappy because he lives
acc. to man-made laws, customs, traditions
that are contrary to the ways of nature.
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The "Dao" Tao
To escape the social, political, cultural
traps of life, one must escape by
1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning.
2. Relying on the senses and instincts. 3.
Discovering the nature and rhythm of the
universe. 4. Ignoring political and social laws.
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The Universe of Opposites Find the Balance!
Yin

• Masculine
• Active
• Light
• Warmth
• Strong
• Heaven Sun

• Feminine
• Passive
• Darkness
• Cold
• Weak
• Earth Moon

Yang
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The Uniqueness of Daoism
How is a man to live in a world dominated by
chaos, suffering, and absurdity??
Mind Meditation and ritual to lead the body
into a balanced state
Physical Diet, exercise, medicine, martial
artsto contribute to balance and even
immortality. Goal The Tai-ping or heavenly
kingdom here on earth (Revolutionary!)

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The Traditional Chinese Family

• Basic unit of society consists of kin related by
  blood, marriage or adoption
• Family members of several generations live
  together with a common budget and common property
• Patriarchal family Daughters marry out sons
  bring their wives home
• The patriarch, head of family, has power to
  direct activities of each member for good of
  whole family

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Women in Traditional Chinese Society

• European visitors in 19th century shocked by
  situation of Chinese women
• Girls sold by parents at five or six as
  indentured servants
• Widows could not remarry, even if it meant
  poverty or starvation
• Foot binding begins in 10th c. and continues
  until outlawed in the 20th c.

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Foot-Binding in Tang China

• For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

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The Results of Foot-Binding
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Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty, 1279-1368 C.E.

• Kublai Khan r. 1260-1294
• Pax Mongolica Mongol Peace
• Tolerated Chinese culturebut lived apart from
  them. ?
• No Chinese in top govt. posts.
• Believed foreign officials were moretrustworthy
  and loyal
• Encouraged foreign trade foreign merchants to
  live and work in China.

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The MingChinas last native imperial dynasty!
1368-1644
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The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644

• Founded by the Emperor Hongwu (1368-1398)
• Builds centralized state. Uses eunuchs as
  officials.
• Emperor Yongle (1403-1424) launches naval
  expeditions into Indian ocean that reach the
  coast of East Africa.
• Yongle moves capital of China to the Forbidden
  City in Beijing.

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The Forbidden City Beijing Chinas New Capital
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Ming Emperors complete Great Wall of China (1,550
miles long)
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The Ming Revive the Civil Service Examination

• Government sponsors study of Chinese cultural
  traditiion
• Civil Service exams based on teachings of
  Confucius
• Creates government based on scholar bureaucrats

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Ming Cultural Revolution

• Printing Literacy
• Cheap, popular books
• woodblock printing.
• cheap paper.
• Examination system.
• Leads to explosion in literacy. ?
• Leads to further popularization of the commercial
  market.
• Exposure to Christianity and European science

• Culture Art
• Increased literacy leads to increased interest in
  cultural expressions, ideas, and things
• Literature.
• Painting.
• Ceramics.
• Opera.

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Ming Silver Market

• Spanish Silver Convoys
• Triangle route
• Philippines to China to Japan.
• Silver floods Chinese Market
• Causes devaluation of currency recession
• Adds to reasons for Chinese immigration overseas.
• Reduces price of Chinese goods in Europe
• Increases interest in Chinese culture ideas in
  Europe.
• Helps fund conquest of New World ?
• Encourages Europeans in conquest trade.

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The Tribute System
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Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)

• Ming Treasure Fleet
• Each ship 400 long 160 wide

1371-1435
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Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)

• Chinas Columbus? ?

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Admiral Zheng Hes Voyages

• First Voyage 1405-1407 62 ships 27,800 men.
• Second Voyage 1407-1409 Ho didnt go on this
  trip.
• Third Voyage 1409-1411 48 ships 30,000 men.
• Fourth Voyage 1413-1415 63 ships 28,500 men.
• Fifth Voyage 1417-1419
• Sixth Voyage 1421-1422
• Emperor Zhu Gaozhi cancelled future trips and
  ordered ship builders and sailors to stop work.
• Seventh Voyage 1431-1433
• Emperor Zhu Zhanji resumed the voyages in 1430 to
  restore peaceful relations with Malacca Siam
• 100 ships and 27,500 men Cheng Ho died on the
  return trip.

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Ming Decline and Collapse

• Ming Emperors in late 16th and 17th centuries
  inept and detached from their people.
• Court eunuchs govern with inefficiency and
  corruption.
• Matteo Ricci attempts to introduce Christianity
  to China but attracts only a small number of
  converts.
• Famines in 17th century lead to peasant
  rebellions in the 1630s.
• The Manchus invade from the north and overthrow
  the Ming Dynasty.

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The Qing Dynasty 1644-1911

• Nurhaci (1616-1626) unifies Manchu tribes
• Manchu armies occupy Beijing in 1644
• By 1680s control all of China
• Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) a Confucian scholar,
  conquers Mongolia and Tibet. Orders end to
  conversions to Christianity.
• During reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795)
  China at peak of stability and prosperity
• Introduction of food crops from the Americas
  increases food supply and supports population
  growth

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The Unification of Japan

• Chinese influences on Japanese culture
• Feudal Japan
• Christian missionaries and contacts with Europe
• The Tokugawa Shogunate

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JAPANESECultural Borrowing 3RD TO 7TH CENTURIES
1. Chinese writing (kanji characters) 2.
Confucianism 3. Chinese artistic styles 4.
Buddhism (in the form of Zen) 5. But not the
Chinese Civil Service
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Heian Period 794-1156

• Characteristics
• Growth of large landed estates.
• Arts literature of China flourished.
• Elaborate court life highly refined
• ETIQUETTE. ?
• Personal diaries
• The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon 10c
• Great novel
• The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu
  1000 pgs. ?
• Moving away from Chinese models in religion,
  the arts, and government. ?

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Heian Court Dress
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Tale of Genji (first novel)
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Lady Murasaki Shikibu
She contributed much to the Japanese script known
as kana, while men wrote with Chinese characters,
kanji.
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Minamoto Yoritomo
Founded the Kamakura Shogunate 1185-1333
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The emperor reigned, but did not always rule!
Feudal Society
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Feudalism
A political, economic, and social system based on
loyalty, the holding of land, and military
service. Japan
Shogun
Land - Shoen
Loyalty
Daimyo
Daimyo
Land - Shoen
Loyalty
Samurai
Samurai
Samurai
Food
Protection
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
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Code of Bushido

• Fidelity
• Politeness
• Virility
• Simplicity

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Full Samurai Attire
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Early Mounted Samurai Warriors
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Zen Buddhism

• A Japanese variation of the Mahayana
  form of Buddhism, which came from India
  through China.
• It reinforced the Bushido values of mental
  and self-discipline.

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MongolInvasionsof Japan
4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds
stopped them.
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R O E N S
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The Age of the Warring States(1467 - 1568)

• Castles built on hills in different
  provinces.
• Power shifts from above to below.
• Europeans arrive in Japan ? bringing
  firearms Christianity.
• Christianity foreign trade flourish.

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Catholic Jesuits in Japan
St. Francis XavierFirst Catholic Mission in
1549 By 1615, 300,000 Japanese Christians
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Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616)

• Appointed shogun by the Emperor.
• Finishes process of unifying Japan
• Four-class system laid down with marriage
  restricted to members of the same class! ?
• Warriors.
• Farmers.
• Artisans.
• Merchants.

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Tokugawa Shogunate Period 1603-1867

• Japan closed off to all trade except to the
  Dutch and Chinese. ?
• The Dutch were restricted to a small island
  in Nagasaki harbor.
• Japanese forbidden to travel abroad
• Prohibit building of large ships
• Japanese Christians brutally persecuted and
  Christianity is forbidden.
• The government is centralized with all power
  in the hands of the shogun.
• The power of the Daimyo (powerful territorial
  lords) is reduced
• Domestic trade flourishes.
• Towns, esp. castle towns, increase.
• Merchant class becomes rich! ?
• New art forms ? haiku poetry, kabuki theater.