A Brief Chinese History

From the Tang Dynasty to

the Qing Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)

The second golden EraCapital city: Chang’an (a center for

international trade) Founder: Li Yuan

Reflection of mirror correct your dressing;Reflection of history tell you boom-and-bust;Reflection of criticism correct your mistake.

The golden era during the reigns of Tai Zong

The firstfemale monarch in Chinese history624-705

The An Lushan Rebellion

Religions

Islam from Arabia,

Nestorian Christian sect of Syria,

Zoroastrianism from Persia

Tang Poetry (Men of letters)Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, Han Yu, Liu

Zongyuan Calligraphers Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan

Five Dynasties &Ten States (907-960)

Five Dynasties in the north: (907-960)

Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou succeeded each other

Ten States in the south (902-979)

Northern Song (960-1127)

Southern Song (1127-1279)

Liao (907-1125) Western Xia (1032-1227) Jin (1115-1234) Manchus

(Nvzhen)

Song Dynasty

Northern Song

Founder: Zhao Kuangyin The movable printing----

Bi Sheng Gunpowder used in war The compass employed in navigation Song Ci (Su shi)

the highest glory of literature

The Southern Song Capital city: Hangzhou

(a highly developed commercial, political

& cultural center) Neo-Confucianism (Zhu Xi) Li Qingzhao, Xin Qiji, Lu You the first blue and white porcelain

Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes(1206 -1215) Founder : Kublai Khan (1271) The reign title changed into Yuan (Beijing)

The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) Marco Polo The first records of travel by Westerners to China The first foreigner to give a detailed account of the country China under the Mongols with unrivaled splendor and power

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Founder: Zhu Yuanzhang Capital City: Nan Jing

Emperor Yongle Zhu Di ( 明成祖 )

Capital: Beijingthe Forbidden City

Yongle Encyclopedia

Zheng He (Africa, the Red Sea, Mecca)

Journey to the West --- Wu Cheng’enThe Romance of the Three Kingdoms

---Lou

GuanzhongOutlaws of the Marsh ----Shi Nai’an

The eunuchs dominated the politics The eunuchs’ interference in state affairs led to the corruption, chaos and destruction of the country.

1643 Li Zicheng founded new government

and overthrew the Ming Dynasty.

The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) 1616 Nurhachi united

Manchu tribes and re-established the Jin Kingdom

1636 the Jin Kingdom changed into Qing

Emperor Shun Zhi (Beijing in 1644)

The last feudal dynasty The consolidation and

strengthening of central power.

The prosperous period during the reigns of the three emperors (1663-1796)

During the 18th century, China was the largest, richest and most influential country in the world.

Achievements in Literature (Novels)

The Dream of Red Mansions

Caoxueqin The Scholars

Wu Jingzi Strange Tales from a Scholar’s Studio

Pu Songling

A Series of Events 1840 the first Opium War (Semi-colonial &semi-

feudal) 1851-1864 the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom 1856-1860 the second Opium War 1883-1885 The Sino-French War 1894-1895 The Sino-Japanese War 1898 Wu Hsu Reform (the Hundred-day

Reform) 1899-1900 the Boxer Uprising 1900 the invasion of eight imperalist countries 1911 the 1911 Revolution (Provisional Government in Nanjing)