Editing History of East Asia (section)

==Ancient East Asia (4,000 BC- 1,000 AD)==

===Ancient Chinese dynasties===
The [[Xia dynasty]] of China (from c. 2100 to c. 1600 BC) is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records such as [[Sima Qian]]'s ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'' and ''[[Bamboo Annals]]''.<ref name="state1">{{cite web |url=http://exchanges.state.gov/culprop/cn04sum.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215094418/http://exchanges.state.gov/culprop/cn04sum.html |archive-date=15 December 2007|title=Public Summary Request Of The People's Republic Of China To The Government Of The United States Of America Under Article 9 Of The 1970 Unesco Convention|publisher=Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. State Department|access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="The Ancient Dynasties">{{cite web|url=http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html |title=The Ancient Dynasties|publisher=University of Maryland |access-date=12 January 2008}}</ref>

Following this was the [[Shang dynasty]], which ruled in the [[Yellow River]] valley. The classic account of the Shang comes from texts such as the ''[[Book of Documents]]'', ''[[Bamboo Annals]]'' and ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]''. According to the traditional chronology, the Shang ruled from 1766 BC to 1122 BC, but according to the chronology based upon the "current text" of ''Bamboo Annals'', they ruled from 1556 BC to 1046 BC.

The [[Zhou dynasty]] of {{circa|lk=no|1046}}–256 BC lasted longer than any other dynasty in [[History of China|Chinese history]]. However, the actual political and military control of China by the dynasty, surnamed [[Jī (surname)|Ji]] ({{zh|c=姬}}), lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as the [[Western Zhou]]. This period of Chinese history produced what many consider the zenith of Chinese [[bronze]]-ware making. The dynasty also spans the period in which the written script evolved into its modern form with the use of an archaic clerical script that emerged during the late [[Warring States period]].

===Nomads on the Mongolian Steppe===
The territories of modern-day [[Mongolia]] and [[Inner Mongolia]] in ancient times was inhabited by nomadic tribes. The cultures and languages in these areas were fluid and changed frequently. The use of horses to herd and move started during the Iron Age. A large area of Mongolia was under the influence of [[Turkic peoples]], while the southwestern part of Mongolia was mostly under the influence of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European peoples]] such as the [[Tocharians]] and [[Scythians|Scythian]] tribes. In antiquity, the eastern portions of both [[Mongolia]] and [[Inner Mongolia]] were inhabited by Mongolic peoples descended from the [[Donghu people]] and numerous other tribes These were [[Tengrism|Tengriist]] horse-riding pastoralist kingdoms that had close contact with the agrarian Chinese. As a nomadic confederation composed of various clans the Donghu were prosperous in the 4th century BC, forcing surrounding tribes to pay tribute and constantly harassing the Chinese [[Zhao (state)|State of Zhao]] (325 BC, during the early years of the reign of [[King Wuling of Zhao|Wuling]]). To appease the nomads local Chinese rulers often gave important hostages and arranged marriages. In 208 BC Xiongnu emperor [[Modu Chanyu]], in his first major military campaign, defeated the [[Donghu people|Donghu]], who split into the new tribes [[Xianbei]] and [[Wuhuan]]. The [[Xiongnu]] were the largest nomadic enemies of the Han dynasty fighting [[Han–Xiongnu War|wars]] for over three centuries with the Han dynasty before dissolving. Afterwards the Xianbei returned to rule the Steppe north of the [[Great Wall of China|Great Wall]]. The titles of Khangan and [[Khan (title)|Khan]] originated from the [[Xianbei]].

===Ancient Korea===
According to the ''[[Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms]]'', [[Gojoseon]] was established in 2333 BC by [[Dangun]], who was said to be the offspring of a heavenly prince and a bear-woman. Gojoseon fostered an independent culture in [[Liaoning]] and along the [[Taedong River]]. In 108 BC, the Chinese [[Han dynasty]] under [[Emperor Wu of Han|Emperor Wu]] invaded and conquered Gojoseon. The Han established four commanderies to administer the former Gojoseon territory. After the fragmentation of the Han Empire during the 3rd century and the subsequent chaotic 4th century, the area was lost from the Chinese was reconquered by the Empire of [[Goguryeo]] in 313 AD.

[[File:Three Kingdoms of Korea Map.png|thumb|upright=0.8|The [[Three Kingdoms of Korea]], at the end of the 5th century]]
In 58 BC, the Korean Peninsula was divided into three kingdoms, [[Baekje]], [[Silla]] and [[Goguryeo]]. Although they shared a similar language and culture, these three kingdoms constantly fought with each other for control of the peninsula. Furthermore, Goguryeo had been engaged in constant wars with the Chinese. This included the [[Goguryeo–Sui War]], where the Kingdom of Goguryeo managed to repel the invading forces of the [[Sui dynasty]].

As the Kingdom of Silla conquered nearby city-states, they gained access to the [[Yellow Sea]], making direct contact with the [[Tang dynasty]] possible. The Tang dynasty teamed up with Silla and formed a strategy to invade Goguryeo. Since Goguryeo had been able to repel earlier Chinese invasions from the North, perhaps Gorguryeo would fall if it were attacked by Silla from the south at the same time. However, in order to do this, the Tang-Silla alliance had to eliminate Goguryeo's nominal ally Baekje and secure a base of operations in southern Korea for a second front. In 660, the coalition troops of Silla and Tang of China attacked Baekje, resulting in the annexation of Baekje by Silla. Together, Silla and Tang effectively eliminated Baekje when they captured the capital of Sabi, as well as Baekje's last king, Uija, and most of the royal family.
However, [[Yamato period|Yamato]] Japan and Baekje had been long-standing and very close allies. In 663, Baekje revival forces and a Japanese naval fleet convened in southern Baekje to confront the Silla forces in the [[Battle of Baekgang]]. The Tang dynasty also sent 7,000 soldiers and 170 ships. After five naval confrontations that took place in August 663 at Baekgang, considered the lower reaches of Tongjin river, the Silla–Tang forces emerged victorious.

The Silla–Tang forces turned their attention to Goguryeo. Although Goguryeo had repelled the Sui dynasty a century earlier, attacks by the Tang dynasty from the west proved too formidable. The Silla–Tang alliance emerged victorious in the [[Goguryeo–Tang War]]. Silla thus unified most of the Korean Peninsula in 668. The kingdom's reliance on China's Tang dynasty had its price. Silla had to forcibly resist the imposition of Chinese rule over the entire peninsula. Silla then fought for nearly a decade to expel Chinese forces to finally establish a unified kingdom as far north as modern [[Pyongyang]].

===Early Japan===
Japan was inhabited more than 30,000 years ago, when land bridges connected Japan to Korea and China to the south and Siberia to the north. With rising sea levels, the 4 major islands took form around 20,000 years ago, and the lands connecting today's Japan to the continental Asia completely disappeared 15,000 to 10,000 years ago. Thereafter, some migrations continued by way of the Korean peninsula, which would serve as Japan's main avenue for cultural exchange with the continental Asia until the medieval period. The mythology of ancient Japan is contained within the [[Kojiki]] ('Records of Ancient Matters') which describes the creation myth of Japan and its lineage of Emperors to the Sun Goddess [[Amaterasu]].

Ancient [[pottery]] has been uncovered in Japan, particularly in [[Kyushu]], that points to two major periods: the [[Jōmon period|Jōmon]] (c. 7,500–250 BC, 縄文時代 ''Jōmon Jidai'' ) and the [[Yayoi period|Yayoi]] (c. 250 BC – 250 AD, 弥生時代 ''Yayoi Jidai''). ''Jōmon'' can be translated as 'cord marks' and refers to the pattern on the pottery of the time; this style was more ornate than the later Yayoi type, which has been found at more widespread sites (e.g. around Tokyo) and seems to have been developed for more practical purposes.

===Birth of Confucianism and Taoism===
{{Main|Confucianism|Taoism}}

Confucianism and Taoism originated in the [[Spring and Autumn period]], arising from the historic figures of [[Confucius]] and [[Laozi]]. They have functioned has both competing and complementary belief systems. Confucianism emphasizes social order and filial piety while Taoism emphasizes the universal force of the [[Tao]] and spiritual well-being.

Confucianism is an [[ethics|ethical]] and [[philosophy|philosophical]] system that developed during the [[Spring and Autumn period]]. It later developed [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] and [[cosmology|cosmological]] elements in the [[Han dynasty]].{{sfn|Craig|1998|p=550}} Following the official abandonment of [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalism]] in China after the [[Qin dynasty]], Confucianism became the official state ideology of the Han. Nonetheless, from the Han period onwards, most Chinese emperors have used a mix of [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalism]] and [[Confucianism]] as their ruling doctrine. The disintegration of the Han in the second century CE opened the way for the [[soteriology|soteriological]] doctrines of [[Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]] to dominate intellectual life at that time.

A Confucian revival began during the [[Tang dynasty]]. In the late Tang, Confucianism developed aspects on the model of Buddhism and Taoism that gradually evolved into what is now known as [[Neo-Confucianism]]. This reinvigorated form was adopted as the basis of the [[imperial exams]] and the core philosophy of the [[scholar-official]] class in the [[Song dynasty]]. Confucianism would reign supreme as an ideology influencing all of East Asia until the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911.

Taoism as a movement originates from the semi mystical figure of Laozi, who allegedly lived during the 6th–5th century BC. His teachings revolved around personal serenity, balance in the universe and the life source of the [[Taoism|Tao]]. The first organized form of Taoism, the [[Tianshi Dao|Tianshi]] (Celestial Masters') school (later known as [[Zhengyi Dao|Zhengyi]] school), developed from the [[Five Pecks of Rice]] movement at the end of the 2nd century CE; the latter had been founded by [[Zhang Daoling]], who claimed that Laozi appeared to him in the year 142.{{sfn|Robinet|1997|p=54}} The Tianshi school was officially recognized by ruler [[Cao Cao]] in 215, legitimizing Cao Cao's rise to power in return.{{sfn|Robinet|1997|p=1}} Laozi received imperial recognition as a divinity in the mid-2nd century BCE.{{sfn|Robinet|1997|p=50}}

Taoism, in form of the [[Shangqing School]], gained official status in China again during the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907), whose emperors claimed [[Laozi]] as their relative.{{sfn|Robinet|1997|p=184}} The Shangqing movement, however, had developed much earlier, in the 4th century, on the basis of a series of revelations by gods and spirits to a certain Yang Xi in the years between 364 and 370.{{sfn|Robinet|1997|p=115}}

===Qin and Han dynasties===
{{Main|Qin dynasty|Han dynasty}}

In 221 BC, the state of Qin succeeded in conquering the other six states, creating the first imperial dynasty of China. Following the death of the emperor Qin Shi Huang, the Qin dynasty collapsed and control was taken over by the Han dynasty in 206 BC. In 220 AD, the Han empire collapsed into the [[Three Kingdoms]]. The series of trade routes known as [[Silk Road]] began during the Han dynasty.

Qin Shi Huang ruled the unified China directly with absolute power. In contrast to the decentralized and feudal rule of earlier dynasties the Qin set up a number of 'commanderies' around the country which answered directly to the emperor. Nationwide the political philosophy of [[Legalism (Chinese philosophy)|Legalism]] was used as a means of the statecraft and writings promoting rival ideas such as Confucianism were prohibited or controlled. In his reign Qin created the first continuous [[Great Wall]] with the use of forced labor and [[Qin campaign against the Yue tribes|Invasions]] were launched southward to annex Northern Vietnam. Eventually, rebels rose against the Qin's brutal reign and fought civil wars for control of China. Ultimately the Han dynasty arose and ruled China for over four centuries in what accounted for a long period in prosperity, with a brief interruption by the [[Xin dynasty]]. The Han dynasty fought constant wars with nomadic Xiongnu for centuries before finally dissolving the tribe.

The Han dynasty played a great role in developing the Silk Road which would transfer wealth and ideas across Eurasia for millennia, and also invented paper. Though the Han enjoyed great military and economic success it was strained by the rise of aristocrats who disobeyed the central government. Public frustration provoked the [[Yellow Turban Rebellion]] – though a failure it nonetheless accelerated the empire's downfall. After 208 AD the Han dynasty broke up into [[Three Kingdoms|rival kingdoms]]. China would remain divided until 581 under the Sui dynasty, during the era of division Buddhism would be introduced to China for the first time.

===Era of disunion in China===
{{Main|Three Kingdoms|Sixteen Kingdoms|Northern and Southern dynasties}}

The [[Three Kingdoms]] period consisted of the kingdom of [[Cao Wei|Wei]], [[Shu Han|Shu]], and [[Eastern Wu|Wu]]. It began when the ruler of Wei, [[Cao Cao]], was defeated by [[Liu Bei]] and [[Sun Quan]] at the [[Battle of Red Cliffs]]. After Cao Cao's death in AD 220, his son Cao Pi became emperor of Wei. Liu Bei and Sun Quan declared themselves emperor of Shu and Wu respectively. Many famous personages in Chinese history were born during this period, including [[Hua Tuo]] and the great military strategist [[Zhuge Liang]]. [[Buddhism]], which was introduced during the Han dynasty, also became popular in this period. Two years after [[Conquest of Shu by Wei|Wei conquered Shu]] in AD 263, [[Sima Yan]], Wei's Imperial Chancellor, overthrew Wei and started the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Western Jin dynasty]]. The conquest of Wu by the Western Jin dynasty ended the Three Kingdoms period, and China was unified again. However, the Western Jin did not last long. Following the death of [[Emperor Wu of Jin|Sima Yan]], the [[War of the Eight Princes]] began. This war weakened the Jin dynasty, and it soon fell to the kingdom of [[Han-Zhao]]. This ushered in the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]].

The [[Northern Wei]] was established by the [[Tuoba]] clan of the [[Xianbei]] people in AD 386, when they united the northern part of China. During the Northern Wei, Buddhism flourished, and became an important tool for the emperors of the Northern Wei, since they were believed to be living [[incarnation]]s of [[Buddha]]. Soon, the Northern Wei was divided into the [[Eastern Wei]] and [[Western Wei]]. These were followed by the [[Northern Zhou]] and [[Northern Qi]]. In the south, the dynasties were much less stable than the Northern dynasties. The four Southern dynasties were weakened by conflicts between the ruling families.

===Spread of Buddhism===
Buddhism, also one of the major religions in East Asia, was introduced into China during the [[Han dynasty]] from [[Nepal]] in the 1st century BC. Buddhism was originally introduced to [[Korean Buddhism|Korea]] from China in 372, and eventually arrived in Japan around the turn of the 6th century.

For a long time Buddhism remained a foreign religion with a few believers in China. During the [[Tang dynasty]], a fair amount of translations from Sanskrit into Chinese were done by Chinese priests, and Buddhism became one of the major religions of the Chinese along with the other two indigenous religions. In Korea, Buddhism was not seen to conflict with the rites of nature worship; it was allowed to blend in with Shamanism. Thus, the mountains that were believed to be the residence of spirits in pre-Buddhist times became the sites of Buddhist temples. Though Buddhism initially enjoyed wide acceptance, even being supported as the state ideology during the [[Goguryeo]], [[Silla]], [[Baekje]], [[Balhae]], and [[Goryeo]] periods, Buddhism in Korea suffered extreme repression during the [[Joseon dynasty]].

In Japan, Buddhism and [[Shinto]] were combined using the theological theory "Ryōbushintō", which says Shinto deities are avatars of various Buddhist entities, including Buddhas and Bodhisattvas ([[Shinbutsu-shūgō]]). This became the mainstream notion of Japanese religion. In fact until the Meiji government declared their separation in the mid-19th century, many Japanese people believed that Buddhism and Shinto were one religion.

In Mongolia, Buddhism flourished two times; first in the [[Mongol Empire]] (13th–14th centuries), and finally in the [[Qing dynasty]] (16th–19th centuries) from Tibet in the last 2000 years. It was mixed in with [[Tengrism|Tengeriism]] and [[Mongolian shamanism|Shamanism]].

===Sui dynasty===
{{Main|Sui dynasty}}

In AD 581, Yang Jian overthrew the Northern Zhou, and established the [[Sui dynasty]]. Later, Yang Jian, who became [[Emperor Wen of Sui|Sui Wendi]], conquered the [[Chen dynasty]], and united China. However, this dynasty was short-lived. Sui Wendi's successor, [[Emperor Yang of Sui|Sui Yangdi]], expanded the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]], and launched [[Goguryeo–Sui War|four disastrous wars]] against the [[Goguryeo]]. These projects depleted the resources and the workforce of the Sui. In AD 618, Sui Yangdi was murdered. [[Emperor Gaozu of Tang|Li Yuan]], the former governor of [[Taiyuan]], declared himself the emperor, and founded the [[Tang dynasty]].

===Spread of civil service===
A government system supported by a large class of Confucian [[scholar-bureaucrats|literati]] selected through civil service examinations was perfected under Tang rule. This competitive procedure was designed to draw the best talents into government. But perhaps an even greater consideration for the Tang rulers, aware that imperial dependence on powerful aristocratic families and warlords would have destabilizing consequences, was to create a body of career officials having no autonomous territorial or functional power base. As it turned out, these scholar-officials acquired status in their local communities, family ties, and shared values that connected them to the imperial court. From Tang times until the closing days of the [[Qing dynasty]] in 1911–1912, scholar officials often functioned often as between the grassroots level and the government. This model of government had an influence on Japan and Korea.