China+A+Missed+Opportunity+for+Global+Dominance+Max+Chung

DAY I

Questions: 1. On what philosophical assumptions are the Hongwu emperor’s words and actions based? Zhu Yuanzhang’s words and his tenets are rigorously based on the fundamental concept of Confucianism.

2. Do you think that his actions will solve the problems he refers to? Why or why not? His hostile actions will solve the problems because he is trying to manipulate his absolute authority over his citizens to create “fear”, the main source also utilized during the Renaissance period to manage felonies and national administration.

Questions: 1. Does the emperor’s approach to solving the problem of evil behavior in this excerpt differ from that in the first? If so, how? His approach mainly deals with the imperfection of human beings against temptation while contrasting the mediocre individuals with his life experiences as a refined human being. Through the context, he displays his power and pride by describing “his greatness” and concludes the simplicity of becoming a moral, humane mortal being, “like himself”.

2. On what philosophical assumptions are Hongwu’s words here based? Think Chinese philosophy. Hongwu’s words are thoroughly based on Confucius philosophy, the Confucianism.

3. As an official, what would be your reaction to the emperor’s admonitions? I would say that the emperor is simply falsifying himself to become the admired model of the perfect human being and is trying to convey others to restrain from evil actions and pursue his commands and authorities to become one of the refined beings.

4. The emperor clearly holds himself up as a model of self-restraint for his officials to emulate. As an official, how would you take this? The emperor is clearly trying to showoff his greatness to his citizens to “protect his reputation and preserve his life”. Plus, concerning his abstinence in women’s beauty, when he conquered the city of Wuchang, he took over all the concubines of its emperor, Chen Youliang, who invaded parts of the Ming dynasty beforehand. It is hard to imagine a man who claims to be a divine-like creature when he cannot even manifest forbearance over a single invasion over his colossal dynasty.

5. Would your reaction be changed if you suddenly learned that the Hongwu emperor had dozens of concubines and consorts, with whom he fathered twenty-six sons and sixteen daughters? My reaction will still retain as Hongwu being the antithesis of a model-like mankind as described in his admonition. As mentioned, Hongwu is condemning his citizens for their immorality whilst he himself indirectly demonstrates all the criteria that he believes are both unconstitutional and morally wrong.

DAY II

What route might they have all taken? Describe it...
The King of England would take the ship to France and affiliate with the Holy Roman Emperor, the emperor of Byzantium, and the Kings of France and Catille. Then go on a journey to the Southern Coast of France and meets up with the doge of Venice where they all take the ship from Mediterranean Sea to the North Atlantic Ocean. to the coast. There, the King of Portugal would join the group and go across the coast of Africa and all the way to the Indian Ocean. The ships would then pass through the Selat Melaka (Ocean between Indonesia and Malaysia) and go straight up to the Ming Empire.


 * Look carefully at the Yuan and Ming Dynasties and make some generalizations about China under those dynasties. Size? Change from previous dynasties? From your reading, make any observations you can about the two time periods. **

Concerning the size comparison, Yuan Dynasty prevails over the Ming Dynasty (extending its landmass further towards both North and West) whilst they both share vast areas of common territories. Both dynasties have deviated from its old convention of divided dynasties and had a single emperor who had the absolute power to successfully manage the empire. For instance, Ming emperors pacified their citizens by abolishing Mongol laws and customs. Both empires have prospered through trades with other nations and retained its power and affluence through rigorous protection against foreigners. In fact, the empire's wealth and authority was so extraordinary that other nations had to pay tribute to maintain their relationship with the dynasties (which were reimbursed with a greater presents though). Most importantly, the Yuan Dynasty was governed by a Mongol and the Ming Dynasty was governed by a Chinese.

**While reading pages 49-50, explain some of the factors that affected the Chinese attitudes toward foreigners.**

Mandarins received Confucian erudition which stated the vitality of tao (interaction of natural forces). They deemed rural farmers to be the foundation of their dynasty and deplored foreigners and merchants for they were incessantly disquieting the tao. Most eunuchs were either slaves or felonies of foreign intruders, abducted by the Chinese to serve for the emperor. After their castration, they were immediately entitled as royal beings and acquired social privileges that even Mandarins (after series of intensive studying) could not achieve. Mandarins abhorred the eunuchs and gained deriding reputation about foreigners in general.


 * SO, using your math skills, refer to the following map and figure out how big that new capital would be. **

By the 1400's the population would have reached around 2.5 million, extending up to 12.5 million during the 1600's.

**Can you find the old city in the modern city? Where is it? What is there now?** ||
 * The Forbidden City is now the Palace Museum, and is located at the centre of the map below: **

The modern day Imperial City is located surrounding the modern Forbidden City, the Palace Museum. There are Beihai Park, China Art Gallery, a hospital, hotels, and many other residences.


 * If it WAS, where would it reach if it began at the Yalu River? Use the map in MWH Atlas p A18-19 to estimate where you would end up if the wall really extended 6,400 kms due west of Beijing. ** ||

If the Great Wall was a jointed 6400 kms wall, it would have reached beyond the border of Tajikistan and ended at about Dushanbe.


 * Through what MODERN countries did the silk roads go? **

The terrestrial road passed through: China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, Persia, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon (Northern Road), Bangladesh, Thibet, India, Pakistan, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red sea, Somalia and Egypt (Southern Road).

October 7, 2011 CW


 * Is there evidence here that Zhu Di truly did not understand what was happening to his rule? **

After the catastrophe, Zhu Di encountered unknown epidemics and eventually got brain damaged. In fact, he was cured with elixir consisting arsenic and mercury that were the catalysts of his disease; his ailment was further aggravated. Additionally, he lost many of his favorite concubines and reputation of being the Son of Heaven which resulted in mental issues. Hence, his inept intelligence and psychological handicap are evidences for his uncertainty of his fiasco.


 * List all the things that happened to the old emperor near the end of his life. **

Near Zhu Di's death, he encountered an exacerbating ailment; he became mentally foible and sterile so he could not produce any more descendant. A mandarin cabinet developed an army force and abolished Zhu Di's foreign policy and proved that he was incompetent as an emperor of his own realm. Zhu Di temporarily entrusted his duty to his son, Zhu Gaozhi, who had to cope with all the conflicts and wars politicians and the military have created to rebel against Zhu Di. To make the matter worse, Zhu Gaozhi also faced economic tragedy due to the Zhu Di's grand plan to construct the Grand Canal and channels for treasure ships, renovate the Forbidden City, and expand the Great Wall.


 * All voyages of the treasure ships are to be stopped." Explain how this edict changed the history of not only China but of the WORLD. How did this leave open the "door" for Europe to take center stage now? **

At the time, the empire was depleted with natural resources due to the Emperor Zhu Di's extravagant desire to utilize them in construction of monuments and the Great Wall. Zhu Gaozhi's edict ceased to further develop maritime technology along with the trading with foreign countries. Soon, the already exhausted resources could not keep up with the daily demands of the citizens and many died of hunger and unknown diseases pertaining to lack of nutrients. Also, the isolation from global community ceased the dissemination of their influence on other nations; the dynasty could not facilitate the advancement of their technology, plus, had no other competitors to copy off from. The empire started to face its decline while the European nations were planning for a global predominance.

October 11, 2011HW


 * As you continue reading write down any instances of ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION done as a result of the emperor's ambitions.**

- Overabundant cut down of hardwood trees to build fleets - Devastated terrain from the construction of the Grand Canal - Depletion of local resources around the Great Wall


 * DIPLOMACY is the art of talking and negotiating without having to resort to conflict. On pg. 60, there is a discussion on how Chinese diplomacy was different than later European diplomacy. Explain this difference. **

Ancient Chinese diplomacy was strict about the social rankings, especially matters relating to the emperor. Everybody was required to bow to the emperor and was not allowed to even glimpse at his face. In cases of dealing with foreign countries, European diplomacy preferred direct colonization and conflict whilst Chinese diplomacy would try to abstain from brawls through bribery, trade, and influences.

**Explain how Zhu Di strived to make Beijing the world's INTELLECTUAL capital.**

As an interest, Zhu Di asked many scientists to research about astronomy and through the interpretation of astronomical algorithms, the capital was able to use the information in practical manners such as directing location while shipping and defining the approximate day of the year.

Also, while trading with foreign countries, Chinese not only profited from monetary gain, but also received information about their cultural convention, including history, geography, and manners.


 * In your reader's log, jot down a few facts about it. **