Chinese society saw many technological advances under the Ming dynasty, including the development of massive ships called junks, the magnetic compass, and innovations in papermaking and printing. Gunpowder was also discovered, which was later used for weapons and spread to other regions. The arts flourished with calligraphy, poetry, painting and ceramics. Religions like Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism influenced thought and society, with Confucianism eventually becoming the dominant philosophy emphasized by scholars and officials to promote social order and stability. Chinese innovations and culture spread widely across Asia as neighboring regions adopted Chinese writing, government structures, and other cultural traditions.

1. “Chinese Society”
I. Technological Advances
A. Shipbuilding and Navigation
a. under Ming dynasty, massive ships were built called “junks” that could
hold 500 people
b. watertight compartments and if a leak occurred, they could seal it
c. the magnetic compass: piece of metal that pointed to the north and
allowed sailors to travel longer distances and not get lost
B. Paper and Printing
a. the Chinese wrote on strips of silk or bamboo until paper was invented
in 105
b. 800s, Chinese make books using block printing, which was a text
carved into a wooden block and ink was spread over mold
c. technology in printing = cheap books = more schools = more educated
people = common people able to become scholar-official
d. historians debate the origin of printing in that some argue it started in
Europe in the 1400s
C. Gunpowder
a. 900s, chemists mix ingredients for fireworks but are later used for
bombs, rockets, and other weapons
b. gunpowder spreads into Muslim city-states and Europe
c. was used by the Turk’s to take over Constantinople
D. Inventions Help Trade
a. irrigation is designed
b. harnesses for animals that pulled wagons or plows
c. silk spinning
II. Chinese Arts and Culture
A. The Three Perfections
a. calligraphy: the writing of the Chinese characters (over 40,000)
b. poetry and painting
B. Ceramics and Porcelain
a. still called “China”
b. thinner and stronger that other materials made for dishes
C. Other Trade Items
a. the silk industry became more organized and was able to produce more
products with higher demand
III. Religion and Thought
A. Daoism
a. earth, heaven, and people should follow Dao (“the way”)
b. emphasizes leaving society to become one with nature
B. Buddhism
a. founded by an Indian spiritual leader named Siddartha Gautama also
know as the Buddha (“the Enlightened One”)
b. encourages life without worldly desires to avoid suffering and seek
enlightenment through perfect wisdom
c. the appeal was end of suffering

2. C. Decline of Buddhism
a. criticisms were foreign culture and religion, withdrawal from society,
and lavish monasteries
b. in the 9th century, Buddhists were being persecuted by a Daoist emperor
destroying thousands of monasteries, temples, and monks and nuns’
lifestyles
D. Confucianism
a. opposition to Buddhism came from the followers of Confucius
b. Confucianism is a system of moral behaviors important to the scholar
officials
c. Confucius lived during a time of war and corruption so his philosophy
was designed to restore peace and stability
d. Values: lead by example, gain virtue by education, respect your family,
follow social order, citizens should follow rulers, rulers should respect
citizens, and by doing all of these, China would maintain order
E. Neo-Confucianism
a. new religious thoughts arose due to Buddhism becoming popular
b. Confucianism changes because of the influence of Buddhism and
Daoism and they reinterpreted the Dao (“the way”) as self improvement
and education
IV. Chinese Influence Spreads
A. The Impact of Chinese Thought
a. other Asian city-states, like Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, adopted
Confucius thought in government
b. Buddhism spread the Korea and Japan by A.D. 300s
B. Chinese Culture
a. Asian lands adopted the Chinese writing methods and capitals
b. chopsticks and other cooking systems spread through Asia