Mongol and Ashikaga History Quiz

Korea's Three Kingdoms

• Korea's Three Kingdoms were Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla.
• The process of Korean consolidation owed a debt to the example of Nangnang.
• The three kingdoms were gradually formed from Chinese commanderies.
• Koguryo people were a hunting tribe in the mountainous regions of Manchuria and northern Korea.
• Silla also had groups of young warriors known as hwarang.
• Silla, Paekche, most likely came from the Yenisei River area in Siberia.
• 7th century Tang painting of envoys from the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla.

Go-Choson's Founding (Dangun Myth)

• Dangun, the offspring of a heavenly prince and a bear-woman.
• Founded Gojoseon in 2333 BC
• Hwanin, the Lord of Heaven, had a son named Hwanung.
• Hwanung descended to Baekdu Mountain and founded the city of Shinsi.
• A bear and a tiger came to Hwanung and wanted to become people.
• Hwanung told them to live in a cave for 100 days.
• The bear successfully became a woman (Ungnyeo) and married Hwanung.
• She gave birth to Dangun.
• Dangun's myth is a synthesis of historical events relating to the founding of Go-Choson, believed by some anthropologists.
• Myth likely based on joining of an invading sky-worshipping Bronze Age tribe and a native bear-worshipping Neolithic tribe.

Nangnang

• Nangnang endured for 4 centuries.
• Outlasted the Han by 100 years.
• Ruling class was Chinese.
• Culture a replica of that of the Chinese capital.
• Finest remains of Han dynasty culture found around Pyongyang.
• In 313 AD, Resurgent Koreans overwhelmed Nangnang and retook the region.
• Nangnang had already established a permanent place for Chinese influence on the peninsula.

China and Choson

• Central Asian nomads gave China trouble.
• Qin and Han China had Siberian & Manchurian tribes move into the peninsula.
• Brought knowledge of bronze, iron.
• Chinese influence expanded bringing new agricultural techniques and use of metal.
• Amid these influences, ancient Choson emerged.

The Four Commanderies

• In 109 BCE, a Han Emperor crushed nomadic threats.
• In 108 BCE the Han Emperor destroyed Choson and replaced it with 4 military commands.
• These commands were responsible for much of southern Manchuria and northern half of the Korean peninsula.
• Maintaining rule in such a vast area proved challenging for Han.

Silla to the East; Paekche to the West

• Paekche most likely settled by people coming from the Yenisei River area in Siberia.
• Fluctuating division between Koguryo in the north and Silla and Paekche in the south in the vicinity of the 38th parallel.

Three Kingdoms Period

• Characterized in early phase by Koguryo ascendancy.
• Repeated wars between militant Koguryo and less warlike southern neighbors.

Paekche

• 4th C. Paekche: Prosperous and cultured state.
• Capital located in modern-day Kwangju.
• Traded frequently with China and Japan.
• Used Japan as ally against Koguryo.
• Extensively influenced by Chinese culture.

Buddhism

• Paekche first encountered Buddhism in 384 (after Koguryo).
• Paekche transmitted Buddhism to embryonic Japan.
• Organized administration along Chinese lines.
• Bureaucratic rank determined by color of robes.

Silla

• Silla isolated geographically.
• Less affected by Chinese culture or outside conquest.
• At first weak and backward compared to other two states.
• Confederation (rather than central autocracy).
• Consisted of 6 major constituent tribes.
• Leadership divided into strict hereditary classes.

Bone Rank System

• A hereditary caste system based on birth
• Bone rank determined the highest official grade attainable.
• Luxury of personal dress, size of residence, decorations on saddles & chariot.
• Anyone could fill lower ranks but bone ranks acted as a glass ceiling.
• Prevented rise beyond a certain prescribed degree Office Ranks

Silla Hwarang

• Silla also had groups of young warriors known as hwarang.
• Group's training and esprit de corps (still legendary).
• Increasing Chinese influence a factor in Silla's growing power and increasing political organization
• Early position of Silla as tributary state to Koguryo accelerated Silla's adoption of Chinese culture.
• Eventually led to establishment of direct ties between Silla and China.

Demise of Kaya

• 6th century: Silla and Paekche together crushed a smaller confederation of Han tribes known as Kaya.
• Silla extended its territory at Paekche's expense.
• 553: Paekche's King Song furious at betrayal led an expedition against Silla.
• King Song died in confusion of night battle, ending Paekche's hopes for return of status.

Involvement of Sui Dynasty

• As in previous periods of Chinese strength, Sui emperors undertook campaigns to control the northern barbarians.
• Campaigns instigated against Koguryo came after Koguryo raids on Sui territory.
• After apologies, Koguryo was forgiven.
• But in 607, China discovered Koguryo emissary harassing Sui along northern border, which led to invasion.

Ulchi Mundok

• Expense of second Sui emperor's Koguryo invasions contributed to his overthrow by the Tang dynasty.
• Hero of Koguryo's campaign was General Ulchi Mundok, still acclaimed as Korean national hero today.
• 612: Caught the Sui Emperor off-guard & Tricked Chinese emperor into splitting his army & Lured them into trap at Anju and destroyed them.

But Chinese interference not so easily shrugged off...

• China frequently tried to take advantage of rivalries among three kingdoms.
• Kingdoms often fought among themselves.
• Since land was plentiful & manpower scarce, people often became currency of politics.
• When Koguryo captured Paekche's capital, the ransom was 1000 households.
• Death of people led to rise of slavery.

660: Silla allied with China

• Chinese naval assault crushed Paekche.
• 668: Silla and China turned on Koguryo, destroying it as well.
• Took a few years to push Chinese out of territory they had conquered & intended to hold.
• End of 7th century: Silla alone ruled a unified Korea.

Silla Consolidation

• End of 7th century: Most of Korean peninsula brought under single government.
• First time in history Korean peninsula unified under indigenous Korean leadership.
• Remained unified (more or less) until after WWII.

King Muyol's Tomb and Memorial Stele

• Leaders in reunification effort were Silla's King Muyeol and his brother-in-law, General Kim Yusin.

General Kim Yusin

• Largely responsible for the defeats of Koguryo and Paekche.
• Later ensured Tang allies returned to China.
• After consolidation, Silla brought many Koguryo and Paekche leaders into their ruling elite.

With China gone, Silla accepted a tributary relationship

• By 676, Tang emperor had decided to leave Silla alone.
• Tang troops fully engaged in fighting in Tibet.
• Tibetan kerfluffle threatened China's western trade routes.
• Disruption made Tang postpone war with Silla indefinitely.
• Respite from war proved essential to Silla government.
• Allowed them to lay the groundwork for independent historical development of the Korean people.

Bureaucratic Reorganization

• After unification, Silla reorganized along Chinese bureaucratic model.
• Complex system of ministries and bureaus created.
• Peninsula divided into nine provinces, each divided into prefectures and subprefectures
• Military garrisons established across country.

Despite Chinese influence on Silla, distinctive Korean characteristics remained

• Bureaucratic class based on merit never firmly established.
• Instead of merit examinations, Silla retained bone-rank system.
• Rigid class distinctions with virtual serfdom among peasants & the existence of slaves.
• Old aristocracy remained firmly in control.

Sokkuram Grotto, Kyongju

• Buddhism more influential than Confucianism.
• Great Buddhist temples and shrines erected under official state patronage.
• Artificial stone grotto on mountaintop near Silla capital of Kyongju.

Pure Land Buddhism

• Pure Land Buddhism most successful in Korea.
• Pure Land theology said salvation came through calling on the name of Amida Buddha.
• Salvation led to rebirth in the Western Paradise where Buddha dwelled.

Silla: The Middle Period

• Politically, Silla's middle period characterized by the rising power of the monarchy at the expense of the jingol (True Bone) nobility.
• Increasing royal power made possible by new wealth and prestige garnered as a result of Silla's unification of the peninsula.
• Monarchy's successful suppression of several aristocratic revolts also strengthened royal power.

King Sinmun

• 681: King Sinmun used attempted coup as excuse to eliminate several of the most powerful aristocratic families.
• Monarchy tried to divest aristocratic officialdom of landed base by instituting system of salary payments.
• This was in lieu of former system whereby aristocratic officials were given grants of land to exploit as salary.
• Also sought unsuccessfully to move capital to Daegu, far from base of aristocratic power.

Silla: King v. Aristocracy

• Silla kings eventually proved unable to upstage or suppress the entire bone-rank hierarchy.
• Leading provincial families sent representatives to serve as officials in Kyongju
• But exposure to capital only made bone-rankers aspire to greater power.
• King couldn't promote anyone without alienating the other factions.
• Most of these low-level officials were only hostages.

Bone-rank System

• No matter how powerful the king, bone-ranks could make a concerted effort to usurp royal authority.
• Rebellions by high officials shattered the peace of the countryside in 768, 770 & 775.

Silla Disintegrates

• 780: bone-rankers deposed King Hyegong, the last blooddescendent of the dynasty's founder King Muyol
• Forces of a rebelling high official stormed the palace and slew the king and queen.
• Internal decay began to devour Silla.
• Cohesiveness of ruling group broke down as various factions battled for supremacy.
• Killing of a king caused members of collateral lines of royal family to ascend throne in rapid succession as various factions sought ascendancy through force or guile.
• Peasantry rose in revolt or retreated into banditry.

King Hyegong

• Historical records suggest the King was homosexual.
• Described as girlish, by appearance a man but by nature a woman.
• Unwillingness of subordinates to support him may have been attributed to his sexuality.

Wang Kon

• The last 100 years of Silla, no central government exercised general control over the peninsula, and rival leaders carved out domains.
• Latter Koguryo & latter Paekche.
• 936: General Wang Kon overthrew the Silla dynasty.
• Proclaimed establishment of the Koryo dynasty.
• Moved capital to modern-day Kaesong.
• Treated the fallen ruling class of the Silla kindly.

Silla-Tang-Yamato: A Concurrent Golden Age

• Silla era a brilliant period for East Asia at large.
• With China flourishing under the Tang Dynasty and Japan beginning to emerge as a state.
• Much of the flowering of culture in all three lands was attributable to the rise and success of Buddhism at that time.
• In Korean peninsula, stone and brick pagodas arose, along with fine wooden buildings modeled on the Chinese style
• Bas-reliefs carved in man-made caves like Sokkuram near Kyongju.

Bronze Bells

• Magnificent bronze statues and bells were cast.
• Largest surviving Korean bell measures 2.27m in diameter and 3.3m high.

Silla Calligraphy

• Silla legend recalls the existence of a scholar (Kim Saeng, b711).
• His calligraphy was so powerful that when hung in a temple the whole building listed to one side
• Calligraphy was hastily rewritten in smaller characters and building righted itself.

Impact of Silla Consolidation

• Established the dominant central authority of the Korean peninsula as a unique and independent polity.
• Separate from the Chinese commanderies which began Korean centralization some 8 centuries before.

Koryo Korea

• Details of shifting power and the movement/establishment of commerce centers.
• Details of the establishment of major capitals during this period, including the establishment of Kaesong.
• Details of the various developments of the castle lords of the late Silla period.

Peasant Rebellion

• Peasants mercilessly squeezed between exactions of extravagant court aristocracy and the castle lords.
• Initial peasant uprisings went uncontained.
• Insurgent bands soon combed countryside and combined into forces large enough to hold wide swaths of territory.

Kyonhwon

• One such rebel was Kyonhwon, a peasant soldier from the mountainous interior.
• Endeavored to restore the lost state of Paekche by sacking Kyongju in 927.
• Executed the Silla king and carried off the royal treasury.

Wang Kon

• Alternative was Wang Kon
• Familiar with international commerce and had experience as a general.
• Offered the country the best chance for unity.
• Determined and devoted to Korean state.
• 918: Named his dynasty Koryo, abbreviation of Koguryo.
• Source of our western name “Korea".

Kaesong

• 936: Wang Kon finally overthrew the Silla.
• Proclaimed the establishment of the Koryo dynasty.
• Moved capital to Kaesong, modeled new capital after Chinese capital Chang'an.

Aristocratic Reforms

• Abolished old bone-rank system
• Chose Silla princess as his queen
• Appointed Silla nobles to Koryo posts.
• Refused to inherit institutions that had caused such aristocratic difficulties for the Silla.

Koryo differed from Chinese example in several ways

• Buddhism was still the state religion.
• Status of women appeared higher in Korea than in China at same time.
• Retained hereditary aristocratic distinctions.
• Chinese examination system for admittance into bureaucracy did exist.
• Only sons of aristocrats were allowed to take the examination, but Extended family system was stronger than in China.

No Peace for Koryo

• Unification of the whole peninsula not enough for lasting peace to Koryo.
• Age-old tendency to fragment into separate states was stopped.
• Influence of the castle lords remained significant.
• Rebellion broke out within 2 years of Wang Kon's death.

Shifting Capitals

• Next emperor suppressed the rebellions
• Moved capital to Pyongyang, farther from troubled political environment of Kaesong
• 3rd emperor, Kwangjong, finally brought castle lords under control.

King Kwangjong

• Kwangjong struck directly at the manpower of provincial gentry.
• 958: Introduced civil service exams to appoint scholars unconnected to powerful families to official posts.
• Regularized grants of land.
• Ensured reverted to crown upon official's death

Reform at Swordpoint

• Decreed that former commoners enslaved through war or poverty should be freed.
• When old aristocrats showed displeasure at these edicts, Kwangjong had them killed immediately, even if they were descended from original cohort that had supported the dynasty.

King versus Aristocracy

• But Kwangjong still required an administration to run his kingdom.
• He still required aristocratic class able to prepare for and fill official posts in Koryo.
• So once again, Koryo gradually converted into an educated aristocratic state with a deep respect for lineage.

Khitan Tribes

• During its 10th century, Koryo successfully withstood invasion by Tungusic Khitan tribes.
• Used the opportunity to push northern border north to its current location along Yalu and Tumen rivers.

Late 10th century

• Confucian scholars were dispatched to take charge of local government.
• 12 newly established provinces.
• By this time, Kaesong had become a large city.
• 1029: 10,000 laborers built wall around Kaesong, crowning its gates with tiles roofs in Chinese style.
• Urban culture with emphasis on secondary and post-secondary education emerged.

Buddhism and Shamanism in ancient Koryo

• Nearly 10,000 monks fed together at seasonal vegetarian feasts in Kaesong.
• 1016 and 1087: Entire Buddhist canon cut onto wood blocks.
• Koryo certainly represents the height of Buddhism in Korean Peninsula.

Koryo's Decay

• Royal weakness.
• Growth of tax-exempt aristocratic landholdings.
• Rivalry among court factions.
• Indifference to the problems of the peasants.

Emerging Warlords

• 1170: Due in part to Confucian influence, pay of military officers dipped increasingly beneath that of civil service officials, causing resentment in military.
• Koryo military officials, perceiving themselves discriminated against by civil officials, seize power.
• Three decades of civil war and revolt ensue.
• Finally, single warlord emerges to consolidate rule in a system reminiscent of the Japanese shogunate.
• His name was Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon.

Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon

• 1169: Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon took direct command of palace guard and stationed military units loyal to him personally around Kaesong.
• In 16 years, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon deposed two kings and set 4 others on the throne.
• He dismissed all civilian ministers from the government.
• When several thousand Buddhist monks took up arms to oppose military rule, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon let his soldiers drive them forcibly from the capital.

Army versus Aristocrats

• Power of Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon rested on the loyalty and courage of his own soldiers, a mixed group including many impoverished peasants and slaves.
• 1219: After Ch'oe's death, accommodation reached between army and civil government.

The Arrival of the Mongols

• Sudden compromise forced by the Mongols.
• Persistent attacks between 1225-1259 left Koryo little choice but to band together for national salvation

Koryo Korea: Political Resurgence and Life under Mongol Rule

• Koryo state greatly weakened by despotic regime of Ch'oe Ch'ung-hon.
• Inept successors further destabilized troubled realm.
• Dynasty was constantly under attack from the outside by northern tribes.
• 1011: Khitan actually captured Koryo capital before being expelled.
• Burned Kaesong to ground in way out of town.

First Interactions...

• Koryo's initial contacts with Mongols were friendly.
• Khitans had wreaked havoc in northern Koryo.
• For two years so Koryo cooperated with Mongols to defeat them.
• After Khitan surrendered, Mongols forced tributary relationship on Goryeo.
• Mongols demanded huge annual tribute in 1219 but King Gojong (1213-1259) refused to pay.
• 1225: Koreans killed Mongol envoy.

1231: Mongols Invade

• Using the killing of their envoy as justification, Ögedei Khan ordered the invasion of Korea.
• Mongol forces marched on capital city Kaeseong.

26 August 1231: Mongols cross the Yalu

• Mongol force surrounded Hamsin-chin (modern-day Uiju).
• Koryo officials surrendered the city to the Mongols.

Mixed Responses to Invasion

• Hong Pok-wõn acted as a defector, submitting the area and 1,500 households.
• Hong given the title "Commander of 10,000 families of Koryo Warriors"
• Hong family later acted as guides for Mongols during campaigns.

Mobilizing the State

• Mongols continued south, bypassing the Western Capital (Pyongyang).
• Where they encountered stiff resistance.
• Slave army led by Ji Gwang-su fought to the death.
• Resistance resulted in shocking civilian toll.
• Mongols eventually reached Chabi Pass, the gateway to Kaesong.
• Koryo forced to sue for peace.

Koryo's surrender did not stop localized conflict

• Mongols returned to sack cities previously taken.
• Mongols attacked the west, south, & north gates repeatedly.
• Used carts of grass & wood as well as towers to try to scale the walls
• Defenders countered with molten iron & fire to siege machines
• Mongols tried to mine the city walls but tunnel collapsed.
• Mongols attacked south wall with 15 large catapults.
• Korean defenders used their own catapults to drive off the attackers.
• Used mud & water to put out fires by inflammatory projectiles
• Mongols withdrew after 40 days, then returned later with reinforcements
• Cities finally submitted...after multiple orders from the Koryo court.
• Korean leaders impressed the Mongols with immense courage.

Catapult

• Catapults were used to launch various things over enemy walls.
• The catapult also launched rocks at walls to try to knock them down.

Trebuchet

• Trebuchet was a high-tech catapult.
• It could launch heavier projectiles farther than regular catapult.
• Was also more accurate & was typically used to destroy walls rather than throw things over them.

Mangonel

• Mangonel also hurled items like rocks at enemy walls.
• Less accurate than a trebuchet, but could hurl projectiles with much more force.
• Typically used for knocking down walls.

Mongol Siege Equipment and Pontoon Bridges

• Details of Mongol siege equipment and pontoon bridges.

Court in Exile

• 1231: Under Mongol attack, Kaesong abandoned, court took refuge offshore on island of Kanghwa.
• Began constructing significant defenses to prepare for Mongol attack.
• Move to Kanghwa Island exploited Mongols weakness, attacking over water
• Mongols immediately launched second attack
• While aristocracy hid, peasantry ordered to gather in mountain strongholds & prosecute guerilla war against invading Mongol forces.

Invasions of Japan

• Koreans mobilized to support Mongols' unsuccessful attempts to invade Japan.
• Results for Korea were devastating.
• Resources of peninsula recklessly consumed.
• Famine stalked land. Only presence of Mongol soldiers held starving peasants in check.

Rise of Provincial Nobility

• Without Mongol support, Koryo dynasty could not have endured.
• During this period, provincial nobles formed great estates, contributing to royal treasury.
• 1360s: Eventual collapse of Mongol power left a void.
• Aristocracy eager to fill this void.

Height of Buddhist Influence

• Koryo saw the growth of Confucian influence as well, but Buddhism still effectively the state religion.
• Buddhist temples & clergy were powerful & often wealthy.
• Some temples had large landholdings and private armies.

Oldest remaining wooden temple buildings date from 13th century.

• Many stone pagodas also survive from Koryo period.

Tripitaka Koreana

• Entire Buddhist scripture codified and carved onto wooden blocks during Koryo's early years.

Literary Life

• Graphic art and poetry flourished, especially among emerging Confucian literati.
• Who expressed themselves in Chinese language.
• Two important historical works date from Koryo era: Samguk Sagi or History of the Three Kingdoms, & Samguk Yusa, or Records of the Three Kingdoms.

The Turkish Bakery

• A brief poem/story.

Koryo Ceramics (celadon, or "greenware")

• Celadon first introduced from China.
• Achieved native style by 12th century
• Celadon bowls and vases first appeared in Koryo era.
• Famous for inlay techniques using black and white clay to create images and patterns.

Koryo Printing

• 1240: Korean sources claim to have invented moveable metal type.
• Paris museum houses sample of Koryo printing dating to 1377 which considerably predates Gutenberg

Death of Koryo

• With political and economic problems, Koryo dynasty could not survive mid-14th century collapse of Mongol empire.
• Koryo court sent general out to face advancing armies of China's new Ming dynasty.
• General realized futility of task and made peace with Ming instead, thus marching on his own court.

Yi Song-gye

• General Yi Song-gye turned on the Koryo court and seized control of it.
• 1392: Yi Song-gye declared a new dynasty.
• Moved capital to location in present-day Seoul.
• Readopted ancient name Choson for dynasty & country.
• Koryo era had come to a close.

Choson Dynasty

• general information about the dynasty

The Last Chinese Dynasty: Ming Dynasty

• Ming was the last Chinese dynasty to rule China.
• Ming's demonstrated the continued vitality of Chinese tradition and its potential for growth and transformation.
• Government was stable until near the end.
• People generally prosperous.
• Final dynasty (Qing) owed much of its success to strong foundation provided by the Ming.

Zheng He

• Vigor of the Ming most spectacularly demonstrated by seven maritime voyages.
• Voyages commissioned by the emperor & led by eunuch Zheng He (1371-1433)
• 1st voyage consisted of 27,800 men,63 large ships & 255 smaller ones.
• Destinations included various areas of Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, Arabia, & the east coast of Africa.

Ming Expeditions

• Expedition can be viewed as aspect of early Ming military & political assertiveness
• Effectively demonstrated Ming power & brought tribute envoys to the Ming court
• Trade also a motivating factor for the expeditions
• Exotic items from across the world
• Ming emperor reportedly most delighted by the receipt of a giraffe

Eunuchs

• As Ming progressed increasing eunuch power signaled a rise in tensions between the eunuchs & Confucian literate.
• By the end of the 16th century, eunuch power had increased dramatically at the expense of the emperor's authority.
• This phenomenon of decay and eunuch dominance really signaled the beginning of the end for the Ming dynasty.

Emperor Wanli (1572-1620)

• Increasingly annoyed by life in Forbidden City
• Quarrelling of advisers, jockeying for favors and bickering among high officials & advisors, and overprotective courtiers.

Forbidden City

• Life as Son of Heaven couldn't be that fun, in many ways.

The Emperor and his Eunuchs

• What's a eunuch & why did they have them?
• Eunuchs existed in courts for thousands of years but Ming used them everywhere.
• More than 10,000 in Beijing by Wanli's time
• Since Wanli wouldn't ever come out, eunuchs became his intermediaries.
• Gave them incredible power & distanced the emperor from the state.

Eunuch Corruption

• By 1590, eunuchs hopelessly corrupt & tyrannical.
• Required bribes to deliver messages in Gugong.
• Tyrannized & extorted money from rural gentry.
• Imprisoned, tortured, & killed political enemies
• Discontent spread across country, especially among urban & local elites.
• Concerned scholars forced to examine causes of social problems
• Placed blame on breakdown in ethical standards, flaws in educational system & rampant individualism.
• Philosophical societies emerged to combat these dangerous trends.

Donglin Academy

• Founded in 1604
• Used all their influence to remove corrupt officials from posts.
• Death of Emperor Wanli resulted in meteoric rise in their stature
• Threatening the power of the eunuchs.

Wei Zhongxian

• 1624: Donglin leader criticized most notoriously corrupt eunuch Wei Zhongxian, but Emperor didn't criticize Wei for his actions.
• Wei believed emperor supported his actions.
• 1624-1626: Wei & eunuchs led active campaign of terror against Donglin members.
• The cost? The disgrace of the state, severe & perhaps irreparable
• 1627: Wei Zhongxian eventually condemned & took his own life, but it was too late.

Wei Zhongxian enduring the torments of hell

• Information about Wei Zhongxian enduring torments of hell.

Mongol Raids

• Nomadic Mongols raided China from north and northwest.
• Once captured a Ming emperor while campaigning against them, they once rode nearly to the gates of Beijing.
• By Late Ming, had to bribe Mongols to keep them in check, but they couldn't always succeed.

Southern Pirates

• Pirated raided from southern coasts.
• Looted cities at will, seized women & children for personal use or ransom.
• Mainly Chinese fugitives & also Japanese & escaped black slaves from Macau

Japanese Invasion of Korea

• 1590's: Japanese army invaded Korea
• Terrible grinding war that involved Chinese troops sent to protect Korea
• Only internal turmoil in Japan ended conflict

Spanish Silver Dollars

• Portuguese (from Macao) middlemen in silk trade with Japan
• Portuguese silver became lynchpin of Chinese economy
• Spanish/Mexican silver became universal currency in China.
• Great wealth for some, but inflation & erratic economic growth disrupted natural economic patterns, leaving some cities in chaos.

Rampant Inflation

• Early 1600s: European conflicts resulted in a drop in available specie
• Inflation skyrocketed, which was a disaster for peasants
• 1630s: 1000 coppers = 1 oz silver
• 1640: 1000 coppers = 1/2 oz silver
• 1643: 1000 coppers = 1/3 oz silver

Li Zicheng

• Court pressed for funds by Jurchen tribesmen in North
• Increased taxes, laid-off Northwestern employees, included a rural Westerner named Li Zicheng
• Li and other soldiers mutinied at his army post in Shaanxi
• Skirmishes between Li and Ming forces continued for years.
• Even looting Ming ancestral tombs
• By early 1640's Li and another rebel, Zhang Xianzhong, had carved out major holdings in China.
• 1642: plague struck, killing half the inhabitants of many towns & villages.

China in 1644

• general information about China in 1644

Emperor Chongzhen

• Chongzhen, the last Ming emperor, tried to revive the dynasty but he was distracted by Jurchen tribesmen in Manchuria.

Yuan Chonghuan

• Many Ming generals fought bravely including general Yuan Chonghuan, who repelled Nurhaci and Manchus at the Liao River.
• But then Yuan was tried and executed by political enemies on trumped-up charges of colluding with Manchus.
• Most terrible death possible, cut to pieces in Beijing market.
• Fake charges became true in earnest as Yuan's fate became known.

The Hanging Tree

• In atmosphere of chaos, Li Zicheng sacked towns around Peking, mounted successful anti-Ming propaganda campaign, and incorporated surrounding soldiers into his army.
• 1644: With Li Zicheng at the gates of Beijing, Chongzhen rang the bell to summon his advisers.
• None came, thus he walked to coal hill & hung himself.

Account of the Death of the Ming Imperial Family

• When the rebels led by Li Zicheng stormed Beijing in 1644, the Chongzhen emperor of the Ming dynasty knew there was no point in fighting
• After hiding his sons with relatives in the hope they would flee, the 33-year-old emperor proceeded to kill his womenfolk.
• Forced his wife(Empress Zhou), to kill herself before attacking with his sword the imperial consort Yuan, 15-year-old Princess Kunxing & 6-year-old Princess Zhaoren.
• Kunxing survived, but father cut off her left arm & left her for dead.
• Treated with courtesy by the succeeding Qing Dynasty but died 2 years later, with child.

The Rise of the Ashikaga

• General information about the rise of the Ashikaga.

Ashikaga Japan

• General information about the Ashikaga period of Japan, including the Sengoku Period.

Go-Daigo

• In the instability & decline between Heian & Kamakura periods, Emperor used chaos to attempt to reassert authority.
• 1333: Emperor Go-Daigo capitalized upon faltering Hojo regency to attempt to reassert prerogatives of throne.

Kemmu Restoration

• Reassertion of imperial control known as the Kemmu Restoration
• Origins of the restoration go back to mid-13th century when two branches of imperial family disputed succession to throne.
• Conflict threatened to destabilize the government
• Bakafu intervened with plan for two branches to alternate occupation of throne.

Go-Daigo escapes burning castle

• general information about Go-Daigo escaping burning castle

Go-Daigo Defies Shogunate

• 1331: Go-Daigo refused to abdicate & defied Kamakura shogunate.
• Go-Daigo captured & exiled to Oki Islands in Sea of Japan.
• But exile failed to quell forces who rose in support of exiled emperor.

Ashikaga Takauji

• 1332: Ashikaga Takauji named commander of force sent to kill Go-Daigo
• Force heads to island but Takauji changes sides & instead escorted Go-Daigo back to Kyoto in triumph
• Takauji, like Yoritomo, the Kamakura founder, belonged to Minamoto lineage.

Nitta Yoshisada

• While Takauji was escorting Go-Daigo back to capitol, Nitta Yoshisada seized control of Kamakura & ended the power of the Hojo family, destroying the Kamakura bakafu.

Imperial Power

• Once returned to power, Go-Daigo continued policy of reassertion of imperial power
• But genuine imperial restoration necessarily leads to reduction of warrior power
• Merged civil & military power in provinces & placed it on hands of civil governors
• Imperial justice no more satisfying to warriors than Hojo justice.
• Emperor failed to give warriors what they considered just rewards for their services.

The Betrayal of Takauji

• While all this was going on with Go-Daigo, Takauji & Nitta Yoshisada were also struggling for power & dominance
• Finally, Go-Daigo appointed his own son "Shogun"
• Takauji disappointed Go-Daigo without any compensatory increase in new regime's military strength.

1336: Nitta Yoshisada awaits the hosts of Ashikaga Takauji prior to the Battle of Minatogawa

• General information about the battle of Minatogawa.

Ashikaga Takauji

• 1338: Takauji has had enough & defeats Nitta Yoshisada
• Dethrones Go-Daigo
• Installs a new, hand-picked emperor
• Receives coveted title of shogun, inaugurating Ashikaga shogunate

Nanboku-chō (Southern & Northern Courts Period)

• Takauji's success didn't bring peace to the capital
• 1338-1361: Kyoto captured four times
• Most warrior families participated in conflict for political or territorial gain
• Many aided both sides to make sure they came out winners
• 139: Southern court agreed to recognize Ashikaga authority if Ashikaga resumed system of alternating emperors
• Shogun agreed, reestablished firm control, then declined

Legacy of Kemmu Restoration

• Later Japanese historians viewed Go-Daigo's southern court as legitimate inheritors of the throne
• Go-Daigo & Nitta Yoshisada became heroes
• Ashikaga Takauji became a historical villain
• An ungenerous view, because he did try to protect the status of the throne.

In or Inu?

• Drunken warrior refused to dismount when he encountered the procession of the cloistered emperor.
• Said “Did you say ‘cloistered emperor’ (in) or ‘dog’ (inu)? If it’s a dog, perhaps I’d better shoot it.”
• Shot emperor’s carriage with arrow, carriage overturned, he tumbled into street, Takauji beheaded him.

The Ashikaga Shogunate

• Unlike predecessors, Ashikaga governed from Kyoto
• Established deputies to rule for them in other regions of Japan
• Ashikaga shoguns assigned "military governors" to rule in the provinces
• Relying upon the "military protectors' office.
• Ashikaga needed support from shugo families.
• Appointed them to important positions within the bakafu.
• Bakafu & shugo engaged in complicated balance of power, trying to manipulate

Systems of Inheritance

• For many years, power remained in Kyoto.
• Prominent provincial families lived in Kyoto and assigned deputies to run

Test your knowledge on the military tactics of the Mongols and the political landscape during the Ashikaga period in Japan. This quiz covers significant events, weaponry, and key figures from these historical eras. Perfect for students of history and enthusiasts alike.