Throughout the medieval period, East Asia saw unprecedented economic growth, created sophisticated governments, and experienced a cultural boom. China drove this development and led in technological innovations such as mastering the printing press and perfecting the compass for overseas navigation. The Song Dynasty (960–1279) in particular advanced new forms of governance through the creation of an elite corps of educated civil servants and established thriving trade with its neighbors in Southeast Asia and beyond. China’s vitality earned it tremendous influence over its neighbors, including Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. The sources in this chapter focus on the economic successes of China during the medieval period, as well as its cultural developments, and include accounts from Heian Japan (794–1185) and the Kamakura period (1185–1333), high points in the development of Japanese government and culture.