Yuan+Dynasty

=**Yuan Dynasty** = By: Alex Girardi, Lauren Kelly and Mathew Ferreira.

The Yuan Dynasty was considered to be an influential period filled with rebellion, rich culture, and detailed art. As seen through the political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic aspects of the dynasty, the people of the Yuan not only progressed, but suffered numerous hardships. Politically, the population fell under the harsh rule of the Mongols, being forced to endure the brutal acts led by Genghis Khan. Eventually, a rebellion broke out and a period of warlord fighting occurred. Economically, successful tax systems were created to increase income and gain more benefits for China. Trade was also amplified as new navigation systems and trade ports by the Great Canal were constructed. Religiously, several surrounding beliefs were accepted into the Yuan Dynasty, especially the customs of Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists. Socially, the population was divided into four classes based on Mongol ruling. Intellectually, poetry, writing, and music enhanced the dynasty’s culture. Similarly, new technologies such as the cannon and the printing press benefited trade along the Silk Road. Artistically, the beauty of art was seen by expressing ideas freely. Many ancient features from the T’ang Dynasty inspired the art that was produced throughout the Yuan period. Although the Yuan Dynasty had many developments that improved daily life, rebellion and harsh rule were evident. The Asian Mongols are considered one of the most ferocious groups of invaders in history, and the only foreign bureaucracy that successfully ruled China for over a century. Though the Song Dynasty remained strong in the south, Mongol invasion with its leader Genghis Khan began in 1210 A.D, (See figure 5). The invasion was against the northern buffer state of Chin, and the Chin capital of Peking fell to the Mongol invaders in 1215 A.D. The Mongols brutal force spread further south and conquered the state of Hsi-Hsia, also known as the Western Xia, leaving only one hundredth of its population alive. In 1235 A.D. the Mongols set their sights on Southern China and the Sung Dynasty. After a long and bloody battle for control, the last Sung emperor gave way to the Yuan Dynasty, ruled by the descendants of Genghis Khan and his son Khubilai Khan. The Mongol government ruled with strength, but was out of touch with its people, ruthless and corrupt. Eventually in 1348 A.D. open rebellion broke out and a twenty year period of warlord fighting followed. By 1368 A.D. the last Khan of the Yuan Dynasty fled north to Peking, ending the only dynasty of foreign control. Politically, the Yuan Dynasty was brief and inglorious, but has been the only instance in Chinese history where the Chinese people were successfully ruled by foreign invaders. Economically, the Yuan Dynasty periodically thrived due to its success in creating a steady income. Early on, the Mongols realized that in order to have a steady profit, a tax system had to be created. Previously used in the T’ang Dynasty, the poll-tax and double tax system were adopted for the north and south. The poll-tax system was collective with the triple grain tax to gain the most amount of revenue, and the double tax system forced peasants to pay twice a year. With both of these newly enforced tax systems, the Yuan Dynasty began to notice a strong income that was comfortable for the Mongols. In addition, the Grand Canal, a reliable source of trade, came under construction once again when the Mongols wanted to ensure that products were ample, (See figure 1). In the article, “Yuan Dynasty, Chinese History,” Ulrich Theobald says, “Technical improvement in open sea navigation during the Song Dynasty has made it possible to ship around the South East Asian archipelago to India and Arabia and vice versa” (Theobald, “Yuan Dynasty Economy”). Theobald also stated that the construction of the Grand Canal helped to create open sea navigation. Once the Grand Canal was renovated to the Mongol’s standards, new trade routes were then opened to west Asia. As a result, diplomats, missionaries, and merchants followed the routes and became a part of the trading system. Spices, products, and textiles were then brought into the country by new trading routes, creating a more culturally vibrant dynasty. Although the Grand Canal was a success to the Yuan Dynasty, it was not adequately constructed to transport enough materials to the north in a timely manner. Transport by sea route became a regulated use of trade; Pingjiang was the first stop where tax was collected, Liujiagang was the harbor it was transported to, and the commodities lastly landed at Zhigu after it passed along the Shandong Peninsula. To complete such a rigorous and complex route, intricate navigation skills were learned and perfected. While gaining an enormous amount of profit from imports and exports, one aspect of trade was controversial. Inner Asian trade routes brought much success to society, however, the Mongols kept the profits for themselves as well as the Mongol ruling elite. Many people of China saw this as a problem because there was no guarantee that any money would be given to the society; the Mongols were keeping all of the major profits, (See figure 2). As a result, the people were then divided into upper and lower class, the first representation of the division of society due to income. The Yuan Dynasty’s thriving economy brought an abundance of wealth to the Mongols due to its taxation, trade routes, and sea route transportation. Religiously, the Yuan Dynasty was greatly influenced by surrounding beliefs and individuals. “Muslims were special allies of the Mongols and had therefore access to many positions prohibited to Chinese” (Theobald, “Yuan Dynasty Religion”). Immediately, Islam was a religion that was widely accepted and recognized by the Mongols. As the merchants came in from the West, Lamaism was another religion that was brought forth. It was initially a religion of Tibet with some Buddhist practices. Similar to Muslim, the religion received support after the followers agreed on a reform with the Mongols. The group that ordered the reform made Tibetan Buddhism free from magic and witchcraft; they were named the Yellow Cap sect. The leader was given the Dalai Lama title of Ocean of Wisdom because many people believed that banning magic from religion was a beneficial thing. The Mongols admired the Tibetan religion because it had deep intellectual philosophy as well as strong moral recognition, so the varieties of religions were largely acknowledged. During the Yuan Dynasty, religion was also used for rebellion. Many unhappy people that disagreed with the harsh Mongol ruling decided to combine Daoist and Buddhist beliefs to anger the Mongols. Buddha was a savior in their eyes, and each prayed that he would save mankind from the ruthless, often strict Mongols. Many groups that tried to religiously take over the Mongols included the White Lotus Society of Mao Ziyuan, the Red Turbans, and the White Cloud Society of Kong Qingjiao. Each group gathered their followers and banned together in hopes of one day changing the Mongol view on religion, (See figure 3). In the Yuan Dynasty, religion had its influence from numerous surrounding opinions and beliefs. During the Yuan Dynasty, the average Mongol family of the Yuan Dynasty seemed to have lived a life of decaying rural leisure. The Mongol Empire employed many foreigners throughout all of its history. Kublai, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, had introduced a hierarchy of reliability by dividing the population of the Yuan Dynasty into four classes; the Mongols, the Semuren, which include Uyghurs, the North Chinese, Kitans, Jurchens and Koreans, and the Southerners. All subjects of the former Song Dynasty were a part of the group as well. The Yuan Dynasty also made great achievements in culture and science, particularly in astronomy. Dramas and novels were also produced in great numbers and a group of dramatists came forth with Guan Hanqing as the representative. Yuan Qu, (Lyrical Song), Tang Poems, and Song Poetry all became part of China’s cultural heritage. There were many inventions that came forth during the Yuan Dynasty, such as the cannon and printing press. Both played a significant role in the progression of China’s culture. Lock gates and the wheel barrow also came over from China directly from traders transporting goods along with the ancient Silk Road. The Yuan Dynasty was a period of importance for Chinese art. This period of art had a central focus of a revival of ancient styles and tradition, mainly from the T’ang Dynasty, which was given new interpretations by the artists of the Yuan Dynasty. The Yuan court was able to contribute to this movement with the separation of the court and intellectuals; this allowed the creative thinkers to freely express their new ideas. Technological advances also helped the art of this time period, such as the red and blue under glazes for ceramic decoration and a new method of carving the lacquer, (See figure 4). The Mongols contributed little to this revival in ancient art, but did contribute the large scale that would later identify this work as Yuan art. Mongols gave things like Buddhist craving and sculptures enormous size that would define this era of Buddhist art. During this time, a new genre of fiction and drama was created by the literati, which is still popular in China today. Ch’ianHsuan, was also prominent painter who drew much inspiration from the T’ang Dynasty during this time period and painted under the Mongol court. Chou Meng-Fu lived in the Mongol court under Khublilai Khan and was a great calligrapher and horse painter. The artistic movement that happened under the Yuan Dynasty helped define the period, even without direct influence from the Mongol rulers. Although the Yuan Dynasty had many developments that improved daily life, rebellion and harsh ruling were evident. Politically, the people of the Yuan were cruelly ruled by the Mongols which became the only foreign invaders to rule the Chinese people. Economically, new tax systems as well as trade routes, ports, and sea navigation in order to increase the income and production of goods. Religiously, Muslim and Tibetan Buddhism beliefs were tolerated and accepted by the Mongols, however, a rebellion by the religiously unhappy was attempted to take over the Mongol ruling. Socially, the people were divided into classes that determined their status by authority. Intellectually, poetry, writing, and music positively affected the dynasty and new technologies were created as well. Artistically, designs and art were inspired by the ancient T’ang Dynasty, and all pieces were created based on free expression. It is true that the Yuan Dynasty was forced to endure the harsh ruling from the Mongols, but with time and influence, many beneficial contributions were made to create a culturally rich dynasty.

Works Cited

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