Chapter 8 Outlines

Step One—Read the Chapter and Take Notes As You Go
This outline reflects the major headings and subheadings in this chapter of your textbook. Use it to take notes as you read each section of the chapter. In your notes, try to restate the main idea of each section.

Chapter 8: China and the World: East Asian Connections, 500–1300
  I. Together Again: The Reemergence of a Unified China
  A. A “Golden Age” of Chinese Achievement
    1. Sui (589–618), Tang (618–907), & Song (960–1279)
    2. Bureaucracy and exam system
    3. Economic boom, population growth, and urbanization
    4. Hangzhou
  B. Women in the Song Dynasty
    1. Tang freedoms, Song patriarchy
    2. Weak and distracting
    3. Foot binding 
    4. Changing job opportunities
  C. Cultures in Transit
    1. Buddhism on the road
    2. New forms of Buddhism: Mahayana

  II. China and the Northern Nomads: A Chinese World Order in the Making
  A. The Tribute System in Theory
    1. China as the “middle kingdom”
    2. Tribute missions and kowtows for gifts and prestige
    3. A way to manage barbarians
  B. The Tribute System in Practice
    1. Nomadic raids into China
    2. “Gifts” to Xiongnu and Turkic nomads
  C. Cultural Influence across an Ecological Frontier
    1. Chinese agriculture and lifestyle not possible in the steppes
    2. Southern people absorbed into Chinese culture
    3. Turkic influence on Tang and Song courts and military
    4. Culture of “western barbarians” fashionable in Tang
    5. Nativist backlash in the south

  III. Coping with China: Comparing Korea, Vietnam, and Japan
  A. Korea and China
    1. Silla (688–900), Koryo (918–1392), and Yi (1392–1910)
    2. Tribute, Confucian students, and Confucian patriarchy
    3. Yet distinctly Korean
  B. Vietnam and China
    1. 1,000 years of Chinese rule (111 B.C.E.–939 C.E.)
    2. Sinicization of the elite
    3. Independent tribute state
    4. Many Southeast Asia cultural practices
  C. Japan and China
    1. Voluntary and selective borrowing
    2. Shotoku Taishi (572–622)
    3. Decentralized state creates the Samurai
    4. Buddhism and Shinto
    5. Relative freedom of elite women

  IV. China and the Eurasia World Economy
  A. Spillovers: China’s Impact on Eurasia
    1. Salt making, paper, and printing
    2. Gunpowder and the compass
    3. Finished goods from China, commodities to China
  B. On the Receiving End: China as Economic Beneficiary
    1. Cotton, sugar, and faster rice
    2. Persian windmills and Buddhist printing
    3. Cosmopolitan cities, respected merchants, and monkey gods

  V. China and Buddhism
  A. Making Buddhism Chinese
    1. Foreignness of Buddhism
    2. Social instability and Buddhist comforts
    3. Translating words and concepts
    4. Mahayana and the Pure Land School
    5. Sui emperor Wendi and state support
  B. Losing State Support: The Crisis of Chinese Buddhism
    1. Resentment of wealth, withdrawal, and foreignness
    2. An Lushan rebellion (755–763)
    3. Han Yu’s Confucian counter-attack (819)
    4. Imperial persecution (841–845)
    5. A Confucian thinking cap, a Daoist robe, and Buddhist sandals
  C. Multi-polar ancient economy

  VI. Reflections: Why Do Things Change?
    A. Debate on the cause of change
    B. Not necessary to choose
    C. Contact with strangers
    D. Internal versus external