1. Confucianism has been described as the cornerstone of the Sino-sphere countries. Explain and comment on this statement.

Please, support your answer with at least three specific examples. Confucianism is the main system of thought in China and ruled all aspects of life. Its influence dictated many aspects of life. Values: o Filial piety o Gentleman o Relationships o Loyalty o Promotion based on personal qualities Examples: o Authorities of officials as critics of monarchs in China and Korea. o Social structure

2. You have been appointed as special advisor to the prime minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda. Your first assignment is to provide the prime minister with an analytic and historically informed brief on the Japanese-Korean conflict. The brief must explain the gist of the matter and discuss the prospects for peace today: why the conflict started and why it is still unresolved. - Japan always many times tried to gain control of Korea as a way to reaching China. This was unrealistic. o Queen Min - Imperial Japans rule of Korea from 19101945. o Comfort women o Atrocities o March 1st demonstrations o Discrimination - Joint history project - Apologies - Today o Dokdo/Takeshima islands o Yasukini shrine 3. Who were the Pearl Concubine and Queen Min? What role have they played in the history of China and Korea? Please, support your answer with two specific examples. - Consort Zhen, concubine of the Guanxu emperor of China - Queen Min, conflicted with the expansionist interests of Japan. Brutally murdered. 4. Meiji was a significant period in the history of Japan. To what extent is it accurate to argue that Meiji has changed Japanese society? Write and essay in

which you compare and contrast the Japanese, Korean and Chinese societies in XIX and XX century. - Japanese underwent strong reforms. o Samurais o Work o Social structure o Production o Opened to the world - China more resistant to Change. o Qing dynasty wastes money o Opium war o Debilitated monarchy. o Boxers o Pu Yi - Korea. In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries. On August 22, 1910, Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan, which had defeated the Russian Empire in 1905. 5. Evaluate the role of Westerners in the modern history of China, Korea and Japan. Please, support your answer with at least three specific examples. - Trade o Guangzhou o Nanjing - Priests - Occupation - Imperialism - Technology

Short definitions Sino-sphere: area of influence of Chinese culture. Ronin: samurai without a master. Land of morning calm: Korea. Yi Sunshin: Korean hero against the Japanese. Hideyoshi: daimyo, warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period in Japan. Meiji: emperor of Japan as the nation rose from a feudal shogunate to become a world power. Emperor Pu Yi: last emperor of China. March 1st movement: Korean protest against Japanese occupation in 1919. Buddhim: Shinto: indigenous spirituality of Japan. Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism: Comfort women: women who were sexual slaves of the Japanese during WWII. Geisha: Shogun: Dokto/Takeshima: territories of dispute between Japan and Korea. Yasukuni shrine: Shinto shrine in Tokyo that commemorates those who fought on behalf of the emperor of Japan. In particular it includes the names of many war criminals from WWII.