Chapter 12: Tang & Song Dynasties

Reunification and Renaissance

220 CE.—Han dynasty ends

220-589—Era of Division589-618—Sui dynasty618-907—Tang dynasty960-1279—Song dynasty1279-1368—Mongol

(Yuan) dynasty

Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice

6th century—Sui dynasty comes to power under the rule of Wendi

Wins widespread support by

Lowering taxes

Establishing granaries (wards off famine)

Sui Excesses and Collapse

Yangdi expands on his father’s foundations

Milder legal code

Restoration of exam system (Confucianism)

Promotion of scholar-gentry

Excess, waste and wars lead to collapse

Yangdi assassinated in 618 by his own ministers

Emergence of the TangLi Yuan saves imperial order and lays the foundation for the TangExtends borders of the empire and attempts to assimilate nomads of the C. Asian frontier

Rebuilding the Bureaucracy

Continues revival of Confucian thought and promotion of scholar-gentry

Scholar-gentry staffs the bureaucracy, offsetting power of the nobility

BureaucracyImperial level—executive department

District level—regional and provincial offices

The Examination System

Emphasis on Confucian thought (taught moral & organizational principles needed for good gov’t)

Exams administered by the Ministry of Rites

Jinshi --receive top gov’t jobs and elite social status

Meritocracy exists, but birth/family connections still most important for gaining jobs

State and Religion in Tang/Song Era

Confucian revival threatens Buddhism

Variants—Pure Land, Zen (Chan)

Tang emperors support Buddhism.Empress Wu

Buddhism is a powerful and influential force

Anti-Buddhist Backlash

Buddhism poses various challenges to Taoists and Buddhists

Restriction & persecution under Wuzong

Confucianism emerges as the central ideology from the 9th century until the 20th century.

Rise of the Song

Rivalries and assassinations weaken Tang

Xuangong and Yang Guifei’s relationship signals end of the dynasty

Collapse in 9th c. brought about by:Nomadic groupspowerful provincial governors

Worsening economic conditions

Founding of the SongZhao Kuangyin establishes the Song dynasty

Unable to conquer Liao dynasty to the north (inherent weakness of Song over nomadic groups)

Tribute paid to Liao in exchange for Sinification

Song Politics

Smaller & less powerful than Tang

Weakened military while strengthening scholar-gentry

Lax exam rules quickly bloat the bureaucracy with too many less qualified bureaucrats

Confucian Revival

Neo-Confucians= revivers of Confucian thinking

Stressed rank, obligation, ritual, class, age and gender distinctions (highly patriarchal)

Answers to future problems found in past examples

Decline and Reform

Variety of reasons:

Inability to fight off nomadic groups

High costs of maintaining an army

Elite disdain for military

Efforts at reform (Wang Anshi) fail to carry on through successive emperors

Reaction & Disaster

Neo-Confucians reverse Wang’s reformsNomads (Jurchens) annex territorySouthern Song dynasty rules from 1167 to 1279politically weak; culturally achieved new heights of glory

Golden Age: Tang & Song Prosperity

Major shift in population balance

Public works (Grand Canal) help counter the shift and solidify control over southern regions

Commercial Expansion

Naval technology (junks)= growth of overseas trade

Huge markets, expansion of commerce leads to innovation (flying money)

Rapid urban growth

Chinese junk vs. Santa Maria

Expansion of Agriculture

Rulers encouraged migration to uncultivated areasState regulated irrigation, canal systemsNew seeds, better fertilizer, inventions (wheelbarrow) increase crop yieldsSmaller estates give more power to peasants and not elite landlordsExtended family structure

Family & Society

Position of women initially climbs, then rapidly falls during late Song

Stressed:Authority of elders

Subordination of women

Marriage alliances

Neo-Confucianism

Movement allows for freedom for men and confinement for womenWomen lose:

Legal rightsAccess to educationStatus within society and the home

Best exemplified by footbinding

Footbinding •Originates in the palace of the last king of the Tang Dynasty• continued even when it was banned by the Manchurian Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). •In remote mountainous areas, women still had their feet bound even when the New China was founded in 1949.

Although foot-binding is no longer practiced, many women with bound feet are still alive. Author Beverley Jackson photographed this woman in Yunan Province in 1997.

Invention, Scholarship & Artistic Creativity

Technological breakthroughsBuddhist art & architectureConfucian literatureArt reflects themes of nature, order, balance and simplicity

China’s World Role

No major changes, instead, a consolidation of Chinese civilization

Major technological innovations and most advanced economy in the world

Extends influence over East Asia

Chinese technology will soon change the world