Ming China Overview

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Questions and Answers

What significant action did Toyotomi Hideyoshi take to establish a fixed social order?

Formed alliances with rural samurai

Conducted extensive land surveys (correct)

Introduced military reforms for the daimyo

Disarmed the urban samurai class

Which military strategy did the Korean navy employ during Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea?

Employing turtle ships for naval maneuvers (correct)

Forming alliances with other regional navies

Using conventional warships with larger crews

Utilizing stealth tactics to strike at night

What was a major consequence of Tokugawa Leyasu's victory at the Battle of Sekigahara?

The unification of Japan under a single ruler

The beginning of overseas trade with Europe

The end of the samurai class in Japan

The establishment of the Edo period (correct)

How did Hideyoshi intend to expand his influence beyond Japan?

Through the conquest of Korea and China Signup and view all the answers

What system did Tokugawa Leyasu implement to manage the daimyo?

The establishment of hostage and alternate attendance systems Signup and view all the answers

What does the term gedokujō jidai refer to in the context of late Muromachi/Ashikaga Japan?

The rise of low-ranking men to daimyo status Signup and view all the answers

Which clan did Oda Nobunaga fight against during his rise to power?

Imagawa clan Signup and view all the answers

How did Oda Nobunaga ensure loyalty among his followers?

By giving land from defeated enemies to his own followers Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Ashikaga shoguns during the late Muromachi period?

Dominated by rival families seeking power Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a proper noun associated with Oda Nobunaga's rise to power?

Tokugawa Ieyasu Signup and view all the answers

What is a core relationship emphasized by Confucian ideals that reinforces the power of the state?

Ruler and subject Signup and view all the answers

How did access to the examination system in China vary among different social classes?

Only the elite could afford the time for extensive study Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main purposes of the exam system in Chinese society?

To ensure common knowledge and values among elites Signup and view all the answers

What criticism existed regarding the meritocracy of the examination system?

Wealthy families had an advantage in preparing for the exams Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Great Wall constructed by the Ming dynasty around 1442?

To protect Han settlers from potential threats Signup and view all the answers

Which Ming leader was associated with an aggressive approach to the Mongols?

Zhu Yuanzhang Signup and view all the answers

What significant military event occurred in 1449 involving the Ming dynasty?

The Tumu Incident Signup and view all the answers

What was one outcome of the Tumu Incident for the Ming dynasty?

Exposed severe weaknesses in their military strategy Signup and view all the answers

What event led to the political crisis that resulted in the Jingtai Emperor's installment?

The capture of the Zhengtong Emperor Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant result of the Zhengtong Emperor's release in 1450?

An emphasis on strengthening the Great Wall Signup and view all the answers

What construction method was primarily used in building the later walls compared to Yu's New Wall?

Brick and stone Signup and view all the answers

What issue significantly impaired the effectiveness of the Great Wall's defenses?

Ming officials' mismanagement of resources Signup and view all the answers

Which leader's actions directly demonstrated the limitations of the Great Wall against mobile armies?

Altan Khan Signup and view all the answers

What misconception about the Great Wall did European writings during the 18th and 19th centuries contribute to?

The Wall served as a single, unified structure Signup and view all the answers

By the 17th century, what led to the collapse of the Great Wall's defensive purpose?

The Manchu invasion Signup and view all the answers

What is one notable aspect of the 'Great Wall of China' as a historical concept?

It varies in construction material and purpose across time. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the early form of colonialism practiced during maritime voyages?

Proto-colonialism Signup and view all the answers

How were eunuchs viewed by literati bureaucrats during the Ming era?

They were despised and blamed for issues. Signup and view all the answers

What significant economic shift occurred in the Ming dynasty involving silver?

Taxation was changed from labor to monetary. Signup and view all the answers

Which era saw the establishment of anonymous civil service exams to mitigate military power?

Northern Song Signup and view all the answers

What was the title granted to provincial graduates who passed the exams?

Juren Signup and view all the answers

What role did the emperor play in the examination system during the Song Dynasty?

Chief examiner Signup and view all the answers

At what age did elite boys begin their education in memorizing texts?

2 years old Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the number of licentiates over time?

The number grew rapidly. Signup and view all the answers

What was the final exam in the progression through the examination system called?

Metropolitan exam Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Single Whip Reforms in the Ming dynasty?

Consolidate silver taxation system. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary cause for the fall of the Yuan dynasty leading to the establishment of the Ming dynasty?

Rebellion and uprisings against Mongol rule Signup and view all the answers

What significant policy did Zhu Yuanzhang implement in terms of economic structure?

Prioritized agricultural stability and fixed economic roles Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Yellow Registers introduced in 1381?

To collect standardized information about residents Signup and view all the answers

What marked the government’s inefficiency regarding land registration after the 14th century?

Inability to keep up with updates of records Signup and view all the answers

Which ambitious project did the Yongle Emperor undertake to demonstrate his greatness?

The return of the imperial capital to Beijing Signup and view all the answers

What was a key characteristic of Zheng He’s voyages?

Often presented as diplomatic missions Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the Ming's involvement in Southeast Asia under Zhu Yuanzhang?

Massive scale invasion and transformation of northern Vietnam Signup and view all the answers

How did the eunuchs influence Zheng He’s maritime voyages?

Eunuchs reflected the emperor’s personal interests in voyages Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable feature of the Lijia system implemented during the Ming dynasty?

It supervised the population and their duties Signup and view all the answers

What was Zhu Yuanzhang’s approach to governance characterized by?

Autocratic exercises of imperial power Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ming China

Fall of the Yuan: Rebels and warlords challenged Mongol rule. The Red Turban Rebellion drove out the Mongols, establishing the Ming dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang's Vision: Zhu prioritized a conservative society centered on agriculture. He rejected Mongol practices but maintained some Yuan dynasty continuities. Emphasized an agrarian economy and the successful elements of the Mongol Dynasty.
Yellow Registers: Standardized records of the population were created in 1381. Occupational status was hereditary, with assigned duties for households. Fixed economic roles, while idealized, allowed for household adaptations and complex financial systems. The Lijia system supervised the population.
Land Registration: A fish-scale register system was introduced in 1387. The land was divided into fiscal units, but record-keeping couldn't keep up after the 14th century.

Politics and Succession

15th Century: Zhu Yuanzhang’s state was heavily autocratic. Power struggles followed his death. His chosen heir was usurped by a son.
Yongle Emperor: The Yongle Emperor emphasized his father's legacy through ambitious projects like the Grand Canal and compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia.

Maritime Voyages

Zheng He: Extensive voyages of a large fleet (300+ ships, 28,000 men) across the Indian Ocean took place between 1405 and 1433. These voyages were often presented as diplomatic missions.

Ming Imperial Expansion

Southeast Asia: The Ming established "pacification superintendencies" in areas like Yunnan, Burma, and Vietnam. Local rulers were often assisted by Chinese clerks. Vietnam was invaded and incorporated into Ming territory from 1406-1407.

Silver and Single Whip Reforms

Silver Importation: Large amounts of silver from Japan and the Americas arrived in the 16th century. Silver gained significant economic value in China.
Taxation Transition: The Single Whip Reforms marked a transition from labor and in-kind taxes to a money-based taxation system. This shift was facilitated by the influx of silver into the Ming economy.

Late Imperial Examination System

Origins: While examinations weren't the dominant system of official recruitment before the Song Dynasty, the Han Dynasty did use exams. The Tang Dynasty brought back exams after a period of disuse.
Tang Exam System: The Tang system was simpler than the later iterations. Most Tang officials were not chosen via exams.
Song Dynasty Reforms: The Northern Song emphasized anonymous civil service exams to combat autonomous military and aristocratic power. Emperors sometimes took on the symbolic role of chief examiners. These practices were further institutionalised under the Ming.

Studying and Examination

Lifelong Process: Elite boys devoted significant time, starting from a young age, to memorizing texts and characters.
Higher Level Exams: Provincial and metropolitan exams were crucial stages in the progression toward achieving the jinshi degree.

The Great Wall

Early Ming: The Ming invested in the Great Wall, strengthening it partly to defend against Mongol attacks. Wall construction continued in various periods.

Wall Failures

Lack of Continuity and Maintenance: The massive scale, coupled with gaps in enforcement and maintenance, rendered the wall vulnerable. Ming officials often misappropriated funds.
Mobility of Mongol Attacks: Mongol armies could easily avoid or circumvent the wall.

Re-Evaluation of the Great Wall

Modern Understanding: Waldron argues that the narrative of a single, unified structure is a 18th to 19th century European invention. The wall was more accurately a series of fortifications built locally and reactively by various dynasties, rather than a single, continuous project.

The Reunification Of Japan

Late Muromachi/Ashikaga: The period saw a rise of low-ranking individuals to daimyo status. The Ashikaga shogunate was weakening.
Oda Nobunaga: Oda Nobunaga was influential in uniting Japan. He developed alliances, challenged rivals, and took territories. He also set up administrative processes that benefited his followers. He was assassinated in 1582.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Hideyoshi continued the unification process, focusing on expanding Japanese power to Korea and China. He introduced rules and social order to manage the growing Japanese population. He was defeated at Osaka Castle in 1615.
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Ieyasu took control in 1600, establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate, which brought a period of relative stability to Japan.

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Description

Explore the rise of the Ming dynasty after the fall of the Yuan, focusing on Zhu Yuanzhang's vision for a conservative, agrarian society. Learn about key administrative innovations like the Yellow Registers and land registration systems, which structured the population and economy during the 15th century.