East Asia: China, Korea, Japan 1837 CE
New intrusions into East Asian history, Western merchants and missionaries, are clamouring to be let into China and the other countries of East Asia.
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What is happening in East Asia: China, Korea, Japan in 1837CE
The Qing empire
On the face of it, much in East Asia remains the same as it has been for a long time. The Qing dynasty of China is still vigorous, its empire as vast as it has ever been, except for a small, remote notch taken out of it by a peace treaty with Russia. The Qing-dominated tributary system still covers most of the states of this vast region – Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma. Japan remains the one notable exception, continuing the self-imposed aloofness it has maintianed through centuries of history.
Western contact
Westerners, however, are an increasingly troubling presence in the region. Their notion of international trade and diplomacy knows nothing of the carefully regulated relationships involved in the tribute system; for them, commercial and political relations between nations are conducted on equal terms. They are knocking more and more clamorously on the doors of East Asian countries to be let into their markets and mission fields. The ruling elites of these nations – conservative Confucians – all react with a mixture of disdain, bafflement and fury. They are determined to keep the Westerners out, especially as many of the European traders – particularly the British – are little better than drugs pushers trying to create a market for opium.
Dig Deeper
The Qing dynasty (brief article)
Korean civilization (brief article)
Tibetan civilization (brief article)
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Civilizations related to East Asia: China, Korea, Japan
1750BCE - 1050BCE Shang Dynasty China 1050BCE - 700BCE The Zhou Dynasty of Ancient China 500BCE - 1900CE Korean Civilization 250BCE - 200BCE The Qin Dynasty of Ancient China 200BCE - 200CE The Han Dynasty of Ancient China 250CE - 1850CE Japanese Civilization 589CE - 610CE Sui dynasty China 600CE - 1900CE Tibetan Civilization 600CE - 900CE Tang Dynasty China 950CE - 1300CE Song Dynasty China 1200CE - 1450CE The Mongol Empire 1350CE - 1650CE Ming Dynasty China 1650CE - 1900CE Qing Dynasty China 1800CE - 2000CE Modern China from the end of the Qing dynasty to present-day Communist China 1800CE - 2000CE Modern Japan 1900CE - 2000CE Modern KoreaSubscribe for more great content – and remove ads
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