For week ten I found it really interesting to learn about the Northern Dynasties, especially after learning about the Song Dynasty. As per usual with non-Chinese dynasties, the Kitan slowly started taking on different Chinese traditions in order to claim the Mandate of Heaven. Despite this adaptation, the Kitans still held a distinct cultural identity, but the same cannot be said for the Jurchen. The Jurchens’ merger with Chinese society led to the endangerment of their tribal ways, but this loss also contributed to many gains. Originally the Song planned to use the Jurchen as a counterweight to the Kitans, but after the defeat of the Kitans the Jurchen grew more and more powerful. Through the Jin dynasty (the time when the Jurchen ruled) there were many efforts to revive the traditional Jurchen ways but only ended in failure. Overall these northern dynasties had a long lasting effect on China. 

Reading this does feel odd after reading about how the Jin destroyed many of Li Qingzhao’s collections. From one side I understand that the Jin dynasty needed to do certain acts as a way to gain power, but on the other hand all of the texts and knowledge lost from these conquests is simply devastating. It’s very interesting how many non-Chinese dynasties try to follow the same track of taking on Chinese traditions in order to attain power and, as can be seen between the Kitan and the Jurchen, the more Chinese the better. 

Alright so I guess this is going to be my third out of five blogs done, I just need to finish these up and I’ll be all good. I’m currently trying to see when our final conversation can be with my schedule for this semester, since I don’t have it memorized yet.