AP History Flashcards: Song Dynasty

Song Dynasty

• Chinese dynasty that lasted from 960 to 1279, known for its cultural prosperity and bureaucratic expansion.
• Ruled a smaller region due to invasions from Manchurian pastoralists.
• Emperors, particularly Song Taizu, promoted educational opportunities for lower economic classes through civil service exams.
• The expansion of bureaucratic positions led to increased government costs and weakened China's overall wealth.
• Agriculture advancements saw China's population grow from about 25% to nearly 40% of the world population.

Grand Canal

• An extensive internal waterway transportation system over 30,000 miles long.
• Significant in making China the world's most populous trading area during the Song Dynasty.

Champa Rice

• Fast-ripening and drought-resistant rice strain from the Champa Kingdom (modern-day Vietnam).
• Revolutionized agricultural production in China, allowing cultivation in previously unsuitable lands.

Tributary System

• Arrangements in which other states paid tribute to honor the Chinese emperor, helping assert China's economic and political authority.
• Created stability and promoted trade among tributary states, including Japan and Korea.

Kowtow

• A formal gesture of respect where individuals bowed their heads to the floor when greeting the emperor.
• Expected from representatives of tributary states.

Scholar Gentry

• The highest social class in China, educated in Confucian philosophy and highly influential in societal matters.

Foot Binding

• A cultural practice among aristocratic families starting at a young age, aimed at creating tightly bound feet.
• Considered a marker of social status and beauty; restricted women's mobility and public participation.
• Banned in 1912 due to its oppressive nature.

Zen Buddhism

• Also called Chan Buddhism, it blends Buddhist doctrines with Daoist elements.
• Focuses on personal experience and meditation rather than traditional scripture study.

Filial Piety

• A cultural norm within Confucianism requiring family members to prioritize the male head of the family’s needs over their own.

Neo-Confucianism

• A syncretic philosophy that emerged between 770 and 840, merging rational thought with Taoist and Buddhist concepts.
• Gained popularity in East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

Sinification

• The process by which non-Chinese societies adopt Chinese cultural elements, despite efforts to maintain their own cultural identity.

Imperial Bureaucracy/Meritocracy

• An organizational structure where appointed officials enforce imperial policies, primarily established since the Qin dynasty.
• The Song Dynasty's meritocracy allowed individuals to rise based on examination performance, leading to more educational opportunities for lower classes.

Economic and Political Control

• Utilized Confucianism to reinforce hierarchical family structures, ensuring loyalty to rulers and maintaining societal order.
• Expanded bureaucratic positions increased government expense, contributing to the Song’s eventual decline.

Agricultural Innovations

• Farmers implemented manure, built irrigation systems, and used water buffalo in plowing, leading to increased productivity.
• Innovations resulted in food abundance, spurring population growth.

Trade Networks

• The Silk Roads facilitated trade across Eurasia, while maritime innovations like the Grand Canal and new navigation techniques improved sea trade.

Commercialization

• Transition from local consumption to market-oriented production, enhancing economic dynamism.

Patriarchal Society

• Evidence includes Confucian emphasis on women's subordination and practices like foot binding.

Intellectual Pursuits

• Advances in printing technology from the 7th century enabled broader access to literature and knowledge for the elite, fueling Confucian scholarship.

Cultural Exchanges: Japan, Korea, Vietnam

• Japan adopted Confucian ideals and woodblock printing but maintained unique political structures.
• Korea imitated Chinese governance and culture but later developed its own writing system and hierarchical power structure.
• Vietnam implemented merit-based bureaucracy while granting women more independence in marriage compared to Chinese norms.