a. Confucianism- set up a structure in society that taught to respect elders. Everyone knew their place in society and must respect that place. Honorable men were internally moral and also externally moral. Confucius thought that leaders should be honorable. Confucianism tries to preserve to social harmony.

b. Taoism- Concerned with the mystical. Tries to preserve balance in the universe. Taoism means “the way.”

Peking was the capital of China and the Forbidden City was where the emperor lived. No one else was allowed in the city. The Mandarins ran the government. They took a sort of civil service exam that tested them on various Confucian texts. These people were in the minority because they were wealthy and educated. A vast majority of the people were peasants. These peasants had a hi

The Emperor was the highest official. The Emperor came from one family (Yamato). He had a slightly different role than in China. The Emperor was viewed as a God. He was a descendent of the sun goddess. The Emperor did not run the country and was more of a ceremonial figure. Had very little power and lived in the city of Kyoto, far away from Edo. Japan had two dominant religions:

3. Taiping Rebellion- the rebellion was brought about by dynastic decline, over taxation, excessive land rents, and discrimination of minority groups. A man named Hung met with an American preacher that converted him into a Christian. He then led a rebellion of peasants to restore the worship of the true god and to overthrow the Manchu dynasty. He proclaimed himself the head of the Taiping and they controlled the Yangtze valley for years. The rebellion spread to the foreign ports. This forced the west to deal with the rebels. The west constantly gave the rebels aid in exchange for supplies. Some of the duties of the port were not paid because the ports were no longer under the control of the Manchu dynasty.

b. The free trading aspirations of the foreigners, against the controlled economy of the Co-Hong.

Buddhism- dominates tradition in East Asia. Japan borrowed this religion from China.

Some topics in this essay:
Forbidden City, Taiping Rebellion-, Mainly Dutch, China China, Commissioner Lin, Nanking Marked, East Asian, China Emperor, , Daimyo Edo, commissioner lin, tries preserve, opium trade, tokugawa shogun, manchu dynasty, mandate heaven,