Sinification

__Sinification__ Sinification is the "extensive adoption of Chinese culture." Evidence of sinification can be found in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam (with varying degress of acceptance). For example, in Korea, variants of Buddhism, Chinese writing, a law code patterned after the Han one, universities for Confucian learning, and attempts at a Chinese-style bureaucracy were all introduced. Also, monarchs of the Silla dynasty tried to make Korea a miniature version of Tang China. However, sinification did not only apply to politics and religion. Koreans even adapted Chinese architecture, art styles, agricultral methods, and customs. Overall, Korean dynasties often strove to copy their Chinese neighbors almost exactly, while the Japanese would often take Chinese ideas and cultural aspects and then make them distinctively Japanese, and the Vietnamese resisted most Chinese culture.

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By: Hampton Webb November 10, 2008