Next is the religion of both civilizations. Religion played a huge role in both civilizations. The religions shaped how society acted and functioned. For example, in India there was Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism was more famous throughout India but Buddhism was also relevant.
WHAP Essay #1 When comparing and contrasting the influence of China on Southeast Asia, We notice that the surrounding countries all were influenced in some manner by the political, religious, and social developments of china. Both Korea and Japan were influenced by China's political structure and methods; however, they each grasped this influence and utilized them in similar, but different ways. When Confucianism and Buddhism diffused out of China, Korea and Japan accepted them differently. Lastly, the society of both Japan and Korea differed in vastly different aspects. Korea and Japan observed the political systems of China, particularly the T'ang Dynasty and its court, and applied them in different ways to their own cultures.
Japan however, never succeeded in creating an effective centralized and bureaucratic state to match that of China but they did try to borrow that idea from China and produced it to the best of their ability. China was a major state during the period of 600-1450, therefore many of their ideas, recourses and culture were borrowed by many other states. Because of the fact that many borrowed from China, the state also became greater. Southeast Asia and Japan were two that borrowed heavily from Chinese culture. They borrowed their rituals, religions and
Qin Shi created the great wall of china in order to protect the Chinese civilization from barbarians. Then came a new era as the tang dynasty rose in AD 618-907. Buddhism also came along becoming china’s predominant
Chinese, 100 C.E. - 600 C.E. In every civilization there are unique cultural and political structures, even though not all are continued. These structures help to better clarify our understanding of the civilization, and why societies are the way they are today. When compared to other civilizations in the classical era, China’s culture and politic structures seem to have more continuity than change.
How did the trade networks of the Hellenistic era help set the stage for the silk roads? 3. In general, what goods from what regions were traded along the silk roads? 4. How did Buddhism become the most popular faith in all of East Asia?
Confucianism and Daoism still remain as the most permanent cultural systems of China today. Many people argue that Confucianism is not a religion and is more of ethical rules and moral philosophies. (Pg 31) The people of China seem to follow Confucianism and use it during their daily lives. Confucianism does not really have any theology behind it at all. It also avoids subjects such as what happens after death or any other worldly subjects.
They isolated themselves from other countries; but after their imperialisms in the late 1800s, the countries went on different paths. China remained traditional and denied modernization and suffered because of it, while Japan emulated the imperial powers and became an imperial power themselves. Before the early 1700s and the late 1800s, China was a leading nation. China was fairly strong during earlier periods of history. It had a strong and peaceful government during the Qing Empire and imperial powers such as Britain and the U.S. were interested in Chinese goods.
Yangwen Zheng, the author of The Social Life of opium in China, 1483-1999, mainly focused on how opium affected the social and cultural life in China rather than discuss the political aspect. He believed that opium helps us understand social control. Here are the few research questions that Yangwen Zheng had pointed out: (1) how opium items transformed from a medicine to a luxury item? (2) Why opium became so popular and widespread after people discovered its recreational value? (3) How and when did opium come to lodge itself within the sophisticated Chinese material culture?
In addition to having many political similarities, the Middle East and East Asia shared several religious similarities. In the Byzantine Empire and China, major religions were introduced and spread through the teachings of a “prophet”. In Byzantium, the major religion was Islam and its prophet was Muhammad. In China, the major religion was Buddhism, with Buddha as its prophet. Jesus could be thought of as a prophet in the Western World as well.