Notes

1. The resistance of the Japanese aristocracy and Buddhist monks led to the failure of the Taika reforms so instead of imperial power, regional lords had more sway. The Taika reforms were meant to adjust an indigenous Japanese political system to line up with Chinese ideals, but this did not sit well with the aristocracy that already existed in the original system. Because the reforms failed, Japan moved away from the imperial system to a more regionalized type of government.

2. Private militaries like the bakufu of the Minamoto family had more power than the empire and his court after the Gempei wars. A Japanese scholar gentry also formed despite the opposition of the aristocracy and their desperate clinging to power. A shogun was the emperor, the first was Yoritimo Minamota but then it went to the Hojo family. Then the Ashikuga fought for the shogunate, overthrew the previous shogun, and place a puppet on the throne which resulted in civil strife. Under the daimyos, warfare morphed from heroic to more modern conflict.

3. Despite the suffering of the warlord period, there was economic and cultural growth. Daimyos attempted to administer their domains through regular tax collection and support for public works. Incentives were offered to settle unoccupied areas, and new crops, tools, and techniques contributed to local well-being. Daimyos competed to attract merchants to their castle towns. A new and wealthy commercial class emerged, and guilds were formed by artisans and merchants. As a part of a general trend, women lost ritual roles in religion and were replaced in theaters by males.

The society and economy of Japan suffered during these times of war. Battles raged within Japan and destroyed many farmlands that were a major part in Japan’s economy. The Minamoto leader started to kill members of his own family and his powerful generals in fear that someone would kill him and take his spot. This crippled the Minamoto and started the feudal age in Japan.

4.The Silla constructed their capital, Kumsong, on the model of Tang cities. There were markets, parks, lakes, and a separate district for the imperial family. The aristocracy built residences around the imperial palace. Some of them studied in Chinese schools and sat for Confucian exams introduced by the rulers. Most government positions, however, were determined by birth and family connections. The elite favored Buddhism, in Chinese forms, over Confucianism. Korean cultural creativity went into the decoration of the many Buddhist monasteries and temples. Koreans refined techniques of porcelain manufacture, first learned from the Chinese, to produce masterworks.

5. Comparing with Eastern cultures, Chinese culture values family over clan while Vietnamese culture values clan over family. Each clan has a patriarch, clan altar, and death commemorations attended by the whole clan. Although both China and Vietnam are both very Collectivist, due to Confucianism, which emphasizes teamwork, and social harmony. One culture is definitely more Collectivist than the other. China is more Individualistic, however, this is not always true.

6. The nature of the Vietnamese government was similar to the Chinese system after the expulsion of the Chinese. Unfortunately, rulers only conferred to the other ruling elite and not to the people. The Buddhists connected the commoners. The Viets had strong village autonomy, and favored the nuclear family. Vietnamese women had more freedom and influence than Chinese females. General customs and cultural forms were very different than those of China.

7. All retained a very significant Buddhist influence, although other imitations were more diverse. Vietnam and Korea both experienced some degree of Chinese imperialism while Japan was able to develop a complete independent political system, although it originally was modeled after Chinese court etiquette, philosophy, and diplomacy as seen in the Taika reforms. These reforms, however, failed. Korea was heavily influence by Chinese culture as it was originally colonized by Chinese people and was conquered twice by the Tang. Vietnam was resistant at first to Chinese culture and so language, social structure, local control and dress remained fairly different.

8. Medieval Asia had far surpassed the West in the development of warfare, communication and science.Gunpowder was widely used as early as the 11th century and they were using moveable type printing five hundred years before Gutenberg created his press. East Asian civilization maintained their independence from the rest of the world which became Orthodox. The preoccupation with interaction within the East Asian sphere left the region's inhabitants with limited awareness of larger world currents when compared with other major civilizations.