China, Japan, And Islam

Front 1

China
-Official Yang Lien (Ming Dynasty)

Back 1

oYang Lien is a high official who was on the Board of Censors which investigated officials conduct.
oHe wrote to Emperor Xizong and was trying to expose to the actions of the Eunuch Wei Zhongzion.
oHe was concerned with the abuse of power. He thought it was duty as an official to speak up. He is concerned about the corruption of the court. Zhongzion is able to order execution without talking to Xizong.
oThe Emperor was not very strong and he had been the one to promote Xizong.He closed his eyes to what Xizong did. He also relied on the eunuch’s for help with the court so he maybe didn’t want to say anything.
oYang is trying to tell the Emperor he should keep the eunuch’s under control.
oYang is adamant that Xizong should be punished for his actions. If this is not done there is risk in un-satisfaction with the subjects and threats of offending heaven.
oYang is a very brave official and he ultimately sacrificed his life.
oEmperor Xizong ignored the letter and in 1625 Yang on Wei’s orders was accu

Front 2

China
Confucianism in China
-Meritorious Deeds at No Cost

Back 2

oThis lists actions seen as good for "people in general".
oAn ideal society is everyone fulfilling their functions.
oThe ideal that you aren’t living by yourself you have to think of others.
oThey emphasize the respect of family and maintaining order. The top of the hierarchy are the scholars.
oThe local gentry (government officials) must respect women, correct grave injustice put on people, don't be arrogant, and instruct children to be compassionate toward all and to avoid anger.
oScholars (educated individuals and potential officals) set the examples for others to follow and also settle disrupts between others and are tolerant of others when they make mistakes. They also inspire students to learn and dont encourage the spread of immoral novels.
oMerchants are seen as condescending and untrustworthy. They are also seen as having no morals.
oPeasants must do good with their farming.
oCraftsman must make their work strong and not cheat the people they sell to.

Front 3

China
Merchants in a Confucian World
-Wang Daokun, Biographies of Zhu

Back 3

oZhu Jiefu had been a Confucian scholar until the death of his Father.
oHis shaoji took his Father’s money, she finally arranged a funeral and everything was done correctly.
oInstead of suffering Zhu put up his scholar hat and went into the family salt business. He did this to honor his family which is a virtue of a scholar. He studied greatly the laws of salt merchandizing and was respected by all other merchants.
oZhu settled disputes for other merchants and was offered money but never took it. He stated, “Even if my acts have not been at the lofty level of a knight-errant, I did not do them for the sake of money” (Andrea/Overfield, p. 83).
oHe also raised and educated the child of his concubine.
oIn 1568 Zhu had been sentenced to be in army on account of an enemy laying a trap against him.
oHe told his son not to let his example stop his from reaching his own goals.
oZhu had all the great values of a scholar, but was also a great merchant.

Front 4

China
Merchants in a Confucian World
-Wang Daokun, Biographies of Wang

Back 4

oGentleman Wang owned a bank and was a merchant. He had great pride in helping others.
oDuring a drought he proposed the rich to distribute money and get food so people wouldn’t have to travel to a grainer and possible die during the journey.
oHe helped people with disputes and gave people money to help them in times of need.
oWang was seen more as a merchant with his values since he hadn’t studied for the scholar exam.
oWang’s family had a large amount of sons which was a Confucian value. Both Zhu and Wang had great values from Confucian.

Front 5

China
-Emperor Kangxi (Ching Dynasty)

Back 5

oHe was a lot better Emperor. He was a lot more intelligent and fair in his governing. He was actively involved in the court unlike Xizong.
oHe stated his responsibilities and thought the most important was the responsibility of giving people life or killing them.
oHe is conciseness of his power and he wants to make sure his orders are obeyed. He does this by giving examples of ones who do not obey.
oHe thought the eunuchs were supposed to be passive and not have too much power. He would never let them get involved into the ordering. If you give them too much power they will become uppity but if you ignore them they will go behind your back. He had them work menial jobs. He ignores their frowns and smiles and makes sure they stay poor.
oHe thought some of the problems of the Civil/Military Service Exam were cheating & corruption of examiners (playing favorites, giving favors to relatives, & memorization of text).
oHe thought the best should be selected by their riding and archery.
oHe thought Western

Front 6

Japan
Teaching the Young in Tokugawa Japan
-Kaibara and Token Ekiken:
Common Sense Teachings for Japanese Children

Back 6

oBefore the age of 6 children have a lot of freedom. After that they are taught basic/practical things. This is the beginning of the ability to see the difference between the upper and lower classes of society.
oBy age 7 children are not allowed to dine together. At the age of 8 they start to learn ancient studies and etiquette. They must mind their manners and pay attention to the hierarchy. They learn at a young age the proper way to eat, how to speak to their elders, and serve tea to them. Respect toward seniors, teachers, elder brothers/sisters, employees, and servants. Do not let the children behave as they please.
oAt the age of 10 children are taught by teachers learning and reading Confucius classics. They must be taught the meaning of the 5 constant virtues and understand the way of the 5 human relationships. When not engaged in readings teach them literacy and military arts.
oAt the age of 15 they begin the study if Great Learning. They must learn to cultivate their personalities. These values a

Front 7

Japan
Teaching the Young in Tokugawa Japan
-Kaibara and Token Ekiken:
Common Sense Teachings for Women

Back 7

oWoman are expected to take care of the household. She is expected to honor her mother and father in law more than her own parents.
oThe duty of the wife is obedience to the husband. She should look upon her husband as if he was heaven.
oParents must be strict to instill the things expected of them. An honest heart is more precious than a face of beauty.
oWomen must respect the servant girls because if it doesn’t happen it will disturb the household.
oThese are ideas that they thing will help have order in society.

Front 8

Japan
The Reunification of Japan Under Hideoyoshi and the Tokugawa Clan:
-Edict on the Collection of Swords (1588)
-Laws Governing Military Household (1615)
-Closed Country Edict (1635

Back 8

Collection of Swords
oIt was issued by Hideoyoshi because they were worried about uprising if the peasants had weapons.
oThis was the first attempt to take weapons away from everyone below the samurai. Everyone at that time had weapons and they didn’t think it was needed.
oThe weapons collected were used in the construction of Buddha. Good karma will come from Buddha for the farmers. The farmers are then expected to devote themselves to the fields.
oThey claim is it for the benefit of the farmers but really it’s to controlling the people from rebelling.

Military Laws
oThe daimyo are restricted from gambling or drinking parties. Sexual indulgence or gambling lead to the downfall of the state.
oAll marriages have to be approved because there is the possibility of alliance between a daimyo marriage and possible uprising.
oYou can’t build castles. Daimyo should not be accompanied by a large number of soldiers.
oThey want to control and prevent alliances/uprisings between daimyo.

Closed Country

Front 9

Japan
Neo-Confucianism and Christianity
Hideyoshi Edict on Christianity:
-Notice by Hideyoshi a Japanese ruler
-Matteo Ricci Journal
-Paul Simon Report to the Pope V

Back 9

Notice
oHe made the first move against Japanese Christianity with his notice.
oHe doesn’t mind practicing your own beliefs but he doesn’t want you to push your views on others.
oHe doesn’t want others to believe in Christianity because they are seen as being untrustworthy.
oHe was concerned with security, the peasants rising up and going against him.
oIt’s not what they do it’s the ability to organize.
oOrdained- Christians are accused of destroying the original religion.
oThose who do not disturb Buddhism may freely travel.

Journal
oAn Italian Jesuit who took control of the Jesuits missinary efforts in China. They targeted officials and the imperial court.
oJudges say we shouldn’t pay respect to the images of our ancestors. They disturb the city and this alarms the government.
oThey should refrain from converting the people and they are prevented from having gatherings in their homes.

Paul Simon
oHe was a friar who wrote to Pope Paul V after his visit to the court of Shah Abbas I.
o He w

Front 10

Islam
Islamic Empires:
The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, Turkish Letters

Back 10

oHe wanted to travel to the port to represent King Ferdinand to resolve the conflict over Hungary.
oHe was hostile toward the Suniman. They didn’t have a very good opinion of Europeans at this time.
oThe sultan selected his officers by selecting the lower classes the ones of ability (merit not birth). Not because of who they were like the way other countries do it. It was another way to break the control of the nobility (aristocracy).
oThe country was more powerful because it was combined of many nations. People didn’t invade because they would have to bring their own necessities because the country was bare.

Front 11

Islam
Eskandar Beg Monshi, History of Shah Abbas the Great

Back 11

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Front 12

Islam
Jahangir, Memoirs

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