China's influence on the development of Japanese and Korean culture
drafted 15 August 1997
by Greg McCulley
There are several topics in life that have prerequisites of knowledge in order to be fully appreciated.For example, to discuss the ins and outs of the Internet, one should have a semi-working knowledge of computers. A similar parallel can be drawn in discussing countries in Monsoon Asia, or more specifically, in discussing China. One can study China without a reference to other countries and be just fine the opposite, however, does not hold true. China had such a profound impact on its neighboring countries that to neglect a discussion of her would be folly. An example of this, is with Korea and Japan. China had great impact on the development of the cultures of both Japan and Korea.
Korean culture was influenced by Chinese culture largely due to China's occupation of the area during the Han dynasty in about 200 B.C. The Korean peninsula was a military colony, and until the fall of the Han empire in 220 A.D., the inhabitants of Korea were the benefactors of the state-of-the-art of China, to include: the cultivation of wheat and rice, and the use of paper, to name a few (Rhodes, 124). Post-Han Korea saw the emergence of new kingdoms, but many of the Chinese traditions and styles of living remained. Korean leaders set themselves up in style, following the lead of Chinese leaders with much finery. Other evidence of Chinese influence lies with the passage of the Chinese writing style to Korea. Even today, there are about 1000; basic Chinese characters used in Korean language (Bloodworth, 216). Much of the inspiration of artwork came from Chinese origins, to include bronze statuary, pottery, and other forms of artistry. Korean culture was almost fervent to establish an identity, to distinguish itself from its previous origins. But in several areas of society, especially in the area of Confucian values and similar institutions, there was evident inspiration from China.
Another country that was influenced heavily by China is Japan. Chinese influence reached Japan through the spread of Buddhism in the year 552. Buddhism made it to the Japanese islands by way of Korea, due to Japan's close interaction with and proximity to Korea. But, unlike Chinese influence on Korea, which was due in large part to Chinese occupation, Japan enjoyed ties to China;s leaders through direct and intentional diplomatic relations. Prince Shotoku sent ambassadors to China in earnest. Through these exchanges, much cultural interaction took place. Musical, artistic, decorative gardening, and architectural styles made their way to Japan in this way. Evidence of this lies in the physical appearance of the Golden Pavilion at Kyoto, whose style was taken from a Chinese original (Murphey, 134). Another way that exchange took place was through the Buddhist pilgrimages that took place in the 7th century. It was during this time that the Constitution of Shotoku was created (604 A.D.) (Grousset, 269). Also, the Chinese emperors position made its way to Japan; the Japanese emperor was the central figure over a unified state, and represented all power in the government, just as in China. Japanese writing, like Korean, possesses a great deal of Chinese influence as well: some two thousand basic characters. In short, almost all of Japan;s cultural, managerial, and artistic tendencies were affected by Chinese stimuli. Arguably, one of the more impressive elements of Japanese traditional culture, the Japanese tea ceremony, is not wholly Japanese at all, but taken from China.
Clearly, the development of Japanese and Korean cultures was heavily influenced by Chinese culture. While so many aspects of Chinese life were incorporated, it important to note that this was not an informal colonization of sorts. Both Japan and Korea learned from the Chinese, but they interwove this input with their own emerging traditions and values. What resulted are two diverse cultures that simply owe a great deal to a common, powerful father figure: China.