Question 1

How did the Tokugawa "Great Peace" work? How did the society and economy of Japan change during the Tokugawa era,and how did Japanese culture reflect those changes?

Accepted Answer

The Tokugawa "Great Peace" or Edo period, which lasted from 1603 to 1868, was a time of relative stability and isolation for Japan. The Tokugawa shogunate implemented strict social and political controls to maintain order and prevent internal conflict. They established a rigid social hierarchy, with the samurai class at the top, followed by peasants, artisans, and merchants. This system, known as the "four divisions of society," helped to maintain social order and stability.

During the Tokugawa era, Japan experienced significant economic and social changes. The shogunate implemented policies to promote economic growth and stability, such as land reforms and the establishment of a national currency. This led to the growth of a thriving merchant class and the development of urban centers. The economy also saw the rise of a money economy, with the use of coins and paper money becoming more widespread.

These changes in society and the economy had a significant impact on Japanese culture. The rise of the merchant class led to the development of a consumer culture, with a focus on luxury goods and entertainment. This period also saw the flourishing of traditional arts such as kabuki theater, ukiyo-e woodblock prints, and tea ceremonies. Additionally, the peace and stability of the era allowed for the development of literature, poetry, and philosophy.

Overall, the Tokugawa "Great Peace" had a profound impact on Japanese society, economy, and culture. It led to the development of a distinct and vibrant cultural identity, with a focus on tradition, art, and social order. However, the strict social hierarchy and isolationist policies also contributed to the eventual decline of the Tokugawa shogunate and the opening of Japan to the outside world in the late 19th century.

Question 2

What were the internal and external pressures that bore on the Qing rulers as China began to experience closer contact with the West? How effective were their short-term and long-term responses,and why?

Accepted Answer

The Qing rulers faced both internal and external pressures as China began to experience closer contact with the West. Internally, the Qing dynasty was already facing challenges such as corruption, economic instability, and social unrest. Externally, the increasing presence of Western powers, particularly through trade and military incursions, posed a threat to China's sovereignty and traditional way of life.

In response to these pressures, the Qing rulers implemented both short-term and long-term strategies. In the short-term, they attempted to resist Western influence through policies such as the Canton System, which restricted foreign trade to a single port and imposed strict regulations on foreign merchants. They also attempted to modernize their military and administrative systems to better defend against Western encroachment.

However, these short-term responses were largely ineffective in the face of the rapidly advancing Western powers. The Opium Wars, for example, exposed the weaknesses of the Qing military and forced China to cede territory and open more ports to foreign trade. In the long-term, the Qing rulers attempted to modernize and reform China through initiatives such as the Self-Strengthening Movement, which aimed to adopt Western technology and ideas while preserving traditional Chinese values.

Despite these efforts, the Qing rulers were ultimately unable to effectively address the internal and external pressures facing China. The dynasty continued to decline, leading to the eventual overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912.

Overall, the Qing rulers' responses to the internal and external pressures were largely ineffective due to a combination of internal weaknesses, resistance to change, and the overwhelming power of the Western forces. Their attempts at modernization and reform were too little, too late, and ultimately failed to prevent the decline of the Qing dynasty.

Question 3

Identify the following terms.
-Li Zicheng

Accepted Answer

Li Zicheng (1606 – c. 1645) was a Chinese rebel leader who led an uprising against the Ming dynasty and briefly established himself as the emperor of China in 1644. He is known for founding the short-lived Shun dynasty, which lasted for only about a year before being overthrown by the Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China.

Born into a peasant family, Li Zicheng started his career as a minor government worker but later joined the rebel forces due to the heavy burden of taxes and the widespread corruption within the Ming government. His rebellion was one of several that contributed to the weakening and eventual fall of the Ming dynasty.

Li Zicheng's forces captured the Ming capital, Beijing, in April 1644, which led to the suicide of the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen. Declaring himself the Emperor of the Shun dynasty, Li Zicheng attempted to consolidate his rule. However, his reign was short-lived. The Qing forces, led by the Manchu prince Dorgon, allied with the Ming general Wu Sangui, who had been betrayed by Li Zicheng, and together they defeated Li's army at the Battle of Shanhai Pass.

After his defeat, Li Zicheng fled and became a fugitive. His exact fate is unknown, but he is believed to have died around 1645, either killed in battle or by his own hand to avoid capture. Li Zicheng remains a controversial figure in Chinese history, seen by some as a hero who stood up against a corrupt regime, and by others as a ruthless opportunist who contributed to the chaos of the period.

Question 4

Discuss the three unifiers of Japan in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries,and the possible reasons for their success.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

Identify the following terms.
-Zhu Yuanzhang

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-Zhu Yuanzhang...

Question 6

Identify the following terms.
-Beijing

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-Beijing...

Question 7

Was Qianlong's response to Lord Macartney's request to open China to British trade realistic or unrealistic? Was the emperor's negative response a logical outgrowth of China's history? Why and/or why not?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Was Japan,after the expulsion of foreigners,actually more of a "Hermit Kingdom" than Korea? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

How did Qing China and Tokugawa Japan respond to the coming of the Europeans,and what explains the differences? What impact did European contacts have on these two East Asian civilizations through the end of the eighteenth century?

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

Identify the following terms.
-Ming dynasty

Accepted Answer

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-Ming dynasty...

Question 11

Why was capitalism seemingly more successful in Japan than in China in the early modern era?

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Question 12

Identify the following terms.
-Qing dynasty

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-Qing dynasty...

Question 13

"Kangxi was the very model of a Chinese emperor." Discuss pro and con.

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Question 14

Identify the following terms.
-Manchus/Jurchen

Accepted Answer

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-Manchus/Jurchen...

Question 15

How,and why,was the Ming dynasty followed by another non-Chinese dynasty so soon after the Yuan? Was it again a situation in which Chinese disunity proved fatal? Why? Why were the Manchus so successful at establishing a foreign dynasty in China,and what were the main characteristics of Manchu rule? How did economy and society change during the Ming and Qing eras,and to what degree did these changes seem to lead toward an industrial revolution on the European model?

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Question 16

What were the most significant developments of the reigns of Kangxi,Yongzheng,and Qianlong?

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Question 17

Identify the following terms.
-Yongle

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-Yongle...

Question 18

What were the most significant cultural and socioeconomic developments which occurred in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate?

Accepted Answer

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Question 19

To what degree did developments in Korea during the period discussed in this chapter reflect conditions in China and Japan? What were the unique aspects of Vietnamese civilization?

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Question 20

Would Europeans have made a greater,faster,and more favorable impression in East Asia if they had confined themselves to trade and not become involved in religious,and often political,activities there?

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Quiz 17: The East Asian World

How did the Tokugawa "Great Peace" work? How did the society and economy of Japan change during the Tokugawa era,and how did Japanese culture reflect those changes?

What were the internal and external pressures that bore on the Qing rulers as China began to experience closer contact with the West? How effective were their short-term and long-term responses,and why?

Identify the following terms. -Li Zicheng

Discuss the three unifiers of Japan in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries,and the possible reasons for their success.

Identify the following terms. -Zhu Yuanzhang

Identify the following terms. -Beijing

Was Qianlong's response to Lord Macartney's request to open China to British trade realistic or unrealistic? Was the emperor's negative response a logical outgrowth of China's history? Why and/or why not?

Was Japan,after the expulsion of foreigners,actually more of a "Hermit Kingdom" than Korea? Why or why not?

How did Qing China and Tokugawa Japan respond to the coming of the Europeans,and what explains the differences? What impact did European contacts have on these two East Asian civilizations through the end of the eighteenth century?

Identify the following terms. -Ming dynasty

Why was capitalism seemingly more successful in Japan than in China in the early modern era?

Identify the following terms. -Qing dynasty

"Kangxi was the very model of a Chinese emperor." Discuss pro and con.

Identify the following terms. -Manchus/Jurchen

What were the most significant developments of the reigns of Kangxi,Yongzheng,and Qianlong?

Identify the following terms. -Yongle

What were the most significant cultural and socioeconomic developments which occurred in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate?

To what degree did developments in Korea during the period discussed in this chapter reflect conditions in China and Japan? What were the unique aspects of Vietnamese civilization?

Would Europeans have made a greater,faster,and more favorable impression in East Asia if they had confined themselves to trade and not become involved in religious,and often political,activities there?