The Role that Horses Played in the Development of Technology in China

China’s history has been affect very strongly by the horse and its uses. Horses were so important that some emperors were buried with their horses, just as slaves and attendants were. As empires increased in size, horses became a rulers main way of keeping in contact with his land. Also, the power of an army was measured by the number of war chariots, pulled by horses, that a region had. During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese spend extreme amount of money on importing horses from the west. Then, in the Tang Dynasty, horses began to be bred and the types imported were Arab or Turkish.

Since China was always under the threat of dangerous nomadic neighbours, they needed to abandon the war chariot and turn to cavalry. It was a much more effective method to protect themselves and, because of this, was used for a long time after. Even though it required much more manpower, it helped link the east to the west through the Silk Road. A very monumental trade route and a very large accomplishment by the Chinese.

On the Silk Road, horses supplied local needs and were important for the developments of international relations.

China had different uses for different horses depending on what they were going to be used for in the military or for leisure. Horses used for war were various sizes. Large ones were used for pulling, small for speed, and the rest depended on how much they needed to carry.

Horses used for military were trained to have a rider that did not rely on the reins. The horse only responded to pressure applied by feet. They were also trained to ignore the loud noises when in battle and be comfortable with the armour and special tack that was used to conduct it during warfare. Some horses were trained to work together in order to pull a chariot. Some horses that would be used on the front lines were taught and even encouraged to fight, kick, and bite in order to protect themselves and their rider. Some horses that were used for raids were taught to remain absolutely silent which is quite impressive for a large animal such as a horse. The Chinese have exploited the use of the horse to exhaustion but have also, at the same time, demonstrated how smart the animals are and how they can be used.

The Chinese also invented the stirrup. A stirrup is a place to hold the riders foot. It gives the rider control of the horses movements (a run, trot etc.) and also gives the rider a stable place to stand while still on the horse. The Chinese invented it because they realized that the cavalry needed a place to stand when in battle. With the stirrup they could stand, lean forward and shoot while still feeling secure and in control of the horse.

The horse collar was invented in order to evenly spread the weight of a load around the horse, putting less stress in areas and making it easier for the horse to carry heavy loads long distances.

The Chinese use of the horse and the inventions that resulted from this use had a huge impact on world history because most of these uses were applied much later in history and most the the inventions are still used today, including some of the ways that the horses were trained.

http://www.ket.org/artofthehorse/ed/history.htm

http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Horses-in-warfare

http://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/trade/horcamae.html

Discussing Islam

Islam, in the tenth century, dominated the civilized world. It is amazing that it spread over such a large area in only three centuries. It was so widely accepted because it is interconnected in such a way that every concpet fits together perfectly and with reason.It consists of absolute balance.

The tolerance of Islam is a factor in its spread. Because the other religions that already existed accepted the religion, it was more widely accepted by the people in China. This is because the could have seen it in this way:
       Because the other religions, which governed the way they lived at the time, accepted the new and forein religion, it was not seen as a threat to them. It was most likely seen as a good thing and something to be respected because it was respected by the other religions.

Is it syncretic?

If something is syncretic it means that it is an accumulation of different ideas. This is relevant in religion. Some religions, such as Manichaeism, mix the ideas of other traditions and use them in their own faith. Manichaeism is a combination of different religions that were practiced at that time. It is based on the thought that good and evil is present in the universe and that you can be holy through self-sacrifice. It is important to recognize that a religion is syncretic because then you are able to look at it appreciatively instead of criticizing the fact that it isn’t completely unique. Because of this it might feel like you are not practicing Manichaeism but every other religion instead.

Nestorianism

Nestorianism moved to China with the help of merchants, monks and traders. It was new to China but moved in quietly and did not act as if it was supreme or better than the  pre-existing religions that we in China at that time. They almost seemed modest through the writings that told of their faith. They never disrespected Buddhism or Manichaeism and just co-existed. Maybe this was because they were new, like a new kid in town, who doesn’t want to cause any problems and just wants to blend in and become a part of the community. Maybe the Nestorians just wanted to be accepted for who they were and not be disrespected by the older, more supported religions. They were moving into new territory and had to make a ‘good impression’ in order to be fully accepted for who they were. Therefore, it would not have been in their best interests to disrespect the other religions.

Rulers and their Caves

What I thought was interesting about this reading was the fact that as new rulers came into power, the layout and design of the caves changed. This caught my attention because I began to think about how it would be possible to change a long respected tradition. Obviously the rulers had different values which altered their position on how the caves should be designed, but I never considered it a possibility for the caves to actually change as time went on. It can be compared to evolution. As time passed, the caves became increasingly different. The painting styles changes, the layout, the sculptures. Everything was different and yet, everything was similar in respect to its basis. The archeology all erupted from the same source and could all be traced back to this source. It was simply different, like derivatives of the original.

What is also interesting, is the fact that no matter how different the caves got, people still viewed them in the same way. They were still considered caves of Buddha and they were still used as areas of meditation. They simply looked different, signifying the change in rulers. It is like the caves are little pieces of history, telling the modern day archeologist of the time the cave was excavated, and the ruler who initiated the project.

The Dharma

I was interested in the dharma and what it meant to Buddha. Firstly, it was interesting how, when Buddha was asked about who would succeed him, he stated that his teaching should be the teacher. This is what is meant by dharma, and direct translation defines it as, ‘path’, ‘virtue’, ‘quality’, ‘vow’, and ‘nirvana’. Nineteenth century scholars define it as ‘the law’. This makes sense because Buddha referred to his teachings in this way. He believed that his teachings didn’t require a teacher, only people to obey the teachings, or rather, the dharma, or the law.

I also find it interesting that when Buddha was gone, the people didn’t require substitutes for him, but there was belief that the validity of the dharma was decreasing and it would, potentially disappear. However, this should not have even happened because Buddha said that his teachings did not require a teacher to carry them on. Also, it seems strange that the legitimacy of a religion can just go away. If it is a religion, and people believe, then it should not just fade away.

New Religions: Zoroastrianism

Zoroastriansim is a very interesting religion. First of all, I find it odd that most Westerns scholars had not heard of the religions. This may have been because it was tagged, as a foreign religion and it was too primitive to be considered legitimate. However, once merchants and travellers began to return with accounts of the followers, people began to become interested. What is also interesting and unique is that most of the hymns were actually from Zoroaster himself. Unfortunately, his believers distorted his teaching because when scholars attempted to translate the hymns, the followers claimed that they were wrong and inaccurate. This is ironic that these people claimed to be such faithful people, yet they could not even understand the teachings. How can you claim to be part of a religion if you do not even understand what you believe in?

What is also interesting is the fact that the origination of the followers, began from a period of violence and oppression. Could it be that they had nowhere else to turn and, therefore, resorted to Zoroaster’s religion? This might have been done in such a rush that they couldn’t even translate the teachings properly!

What is religion?

I believe that religion provides answers to unsolvable questions. For example, many people have wracked their brains trying to find an explanation for how the first man ended up on earth. No matter what religion we are addressing, most have developed the same explanation or story of creation.

I believe that religion also unites people. This can happen between individuals of the same religion and also individuals with different beliefs because most religions are based on a common concept and so people can understand and relate to one another’s beliefs. However, since some religions do not fall under this category, the extreme differences cause controversy between the believers, raising the argument of “I’m right and you are wrong.”

However, to address this mentality that often strikes up in the minds of scholars and intellectuals, I believe that all religions are, technically, the same. One religion might believe in a sun-god and a water-god, while another believes in one God, that created both sun and water. They are the same idea, just expressed in a different way and, should, therefore, not be criticized.

In conclusion, I believe that religion is relative to the individual. Most people follow the religion they were brought up with and so when encountered with a new and foreign one, they often see it as wrong. This is just because it is a new and exciting concept and everyone should strive to accept it.

Development along the Silk Road

This reading reinforced a statement that was made earlier in the readings; not only silk travelled along the Silk Road. Culture played a major role along the Silk route. What I found most interesting and was unaware of before, was that architecture actually made its way into Sogdiana from foreign places along the route. It was interesting to learned that the complete set up of the houses changed; instead of building outwards, they began building storeys. Houses became more spacious and were superior to the previous dwellings. Most houses were covered with murals which was really only characteristic of palaces and rich merchant homes. However, common people had murals depicting visions of gods and ritual ceremonies.

This is interesting because today, cultures can be easily influenced and changed by other cultures, however, even back then they could change everything about their ways of life, including the structure of common dwellings that were probably around for a very long time. It is understandable that we can easily change our ways today because of the technology that we have. Back then, they didn’t have construction tools and the advanced machinery that we have today; building houses would have taken a while. Painting the walls would have been a slow and intricate process and developing new ways of life to suit these changes would have been extremely difficult.

Xiongnu: A Deadly Neighbour

This reading  made me realize that women in the Han Dynasty, were considered possessions and were traded like the merchants traded goods. I found it surprising that they were handed down to the heir of the throne after the previous ruler died. I don’t think that it is fair that the princess had to marry and elderly man who only got to see twice a year. Furthermore, she wasn’t able to see her family and had to eat food that she was not accustomed to. This was all done in order to promote relationships between cities.

Another thing that was done to satisfy a group of people was the gift that the Chinese gave the hostile nomadic tribe. It is kind of sad that the Chinese were so afraid that they had to give away their own goods which they could have been selling for money. They felt threatened and in danger and many people were killed or taken prisoner by the tribe. In order to prevent this they had to make and stand or please them. I suppose providing goods was their solution.

I also find it interesting how brutish the Xiongnu were to the Chinese. They were not afraid to go in, attack the Chinese, who were powerless against them, and take whatever they wanted, including people and lives. They scared the Chinese and didn’t care about the damage they caused.

Learn more about the Xiongnu at:

http://img.chinaa2z.com/uploadpic/AboutChina/20070927/200709271423567556/20_15_4355f40b0157101.jpg

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