Chinese Civilization: Chinese Civilization: Tang & Song DynastiesTang & Song Dynasties

Sui-Tang EraSui-Tang Era Fall of the Fall of the Han Han dynasty dynasty

= 589 CE= 589 CE WendiWendi unifies China under the unifies China under the

SuiSui dynasty dynasty Wendi used alliances, Wendi used alliances,

intrigue, warfare to achieve intrigue, warfare to achieve goalsgoals

Conquered KoreaConquered Korea

YangdiYangdi murders his murders his father father WendiWendi to gain the to gain the thronethrone

Chinese Warlords were military leaders Chinese Warlords were military leaders who run a government, and fought who run a government, and fought with each other while nomads with each other while nomads conquered parts of northern China. conquered parts of northern China.

Made educational and legal reforms Made educational and legal reforms Supported the Scholar-GentrySupported the Scholar-Gentry Military defeats and expensive building Military defeats and expensive building

projects led to revolts and downfallprojects led to revolts and downfall Unites China’s economy – which is an Unites China’s economy – which is an

organized way in which people organized way in which people produce, sell, and buy things. produce, sell, and buy things.

Sui-Tang ContSui-Tang Cont Li YuanLi Yuan followed followed

Yangdi Yangdi Founder of the Founder of the

Tang DynastyTang Dynasty Expanded China’s Expanded China’s

boundariesboundaries Set new capital at Set new capital at

ChanganChangan

Scholar-Gentry and Exam Scholar-Gentry and Exam SystemSystem

Most powerful Tang emperor was Most powerful Tang emperor was Taizong.Taizong.

Empress Wu added more officials to the Empress Wu added more officials to the government. She also strengthened government. She also strengthened China’s military system. China’s military system.

Institutes reforms or changes that bring Institutes reforms or changes that bring about improvements. about improvements.

Tang used Tang used scholar-gentry scholar-gentry to create an to create an effective bureaucracyeffective bureaucracy

Expanded Confucian-based Expanded Confucian-based examination system examination system Administered by Administered by Ministry of RitesMinistry of Rites Provided qualified bureaucrats Provided qualified bureaucrats

Jinshi = Jinshi = those who passed highest level those who passed highest level examsexams

Many gained positions through family Many gained positions through family connections, not meritconnections, not merit

Buddhism in the Tang Buddhism in the Tang EraEra

Buddhism experienced Buddhism experienced resurgence resurgence

Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism won won many conversions many conversions Provided refuge from war and Provided refuge from war and

turmoil turmoil Members of the elite were Members of the elite were

attracted to attracted to Chan Chan Buddhism Buddhism (known as (known as ZenZen) in West) in West

Empress Wu Empress Wu supported supported Buddhism Buddhism

Emperor Wuzong Emperor Wuzong suppressed and Buddhism in suppressed and Buddhism in mid-9mid-9thth century century Buddhism survived, but in a Buddhism survived, but in a

reduced statereduced state

Tang Decline and Rise of Tang Decline and Rise of the Songthe Song

Emperor Emperor Xuanzong Xuanzong ((shyahn zawng) shyahn zawng) marks highpoint of marks highpoint of the Tangthe Tang Yang Guifei Yang Guifei was his was his

famous lover famous lover In 755 revolts In 755 revolts

became became widespread, widespread, showing discontent showing discontent with rulewith rule

Nomadic incursions Nomadic incursions occurred regularly occurred regularly

Founding of the SongFounding of the Song In 960, In 960, Zhao Kuangyin Zhao Kuangyin

defeated most rivals defeated most rivals after Xuanzong’s death after Xuanzong’s death Founded the Founded the Song Song

dynasty dynasty Zhao could not conquer Zhao could not conquer

Liao Liao Dynasty in the Dynasty in the northnorth Liao Liao was founded in 907 was founded in 907

by the by the Khitan, Khitan, a a nomadic people from nomadic people from ManchuriaManchuria

Smaller in territory Smaller in territory compared to the compared to the TangTang

Song Politics and Confucian Song Politics and Confucian RevivalRevival

The Song favored The Song favored scholar-gentry scholar-gentry at expense of military at expense of military Song empire was never as formidable as the Tang Song empire was never as formidable as the Tang Tang supports the building of monasteries in China where Tang supports the building of monasteries in China where

the monks could meditate and worship. the monks could meditate and worship. Confucian ideals were emphasized Confucian ideals were emphasized Zu Xi (Ju She) Zu Xi (Ju She) and the and the neo-Confucians neo-Confucians revived ancient revived ancient

Confucian teachings Confucian teachings Neo-Confucian thinking had great impact on all Neo-Confucian thinking had great impact on all

dynasties following the Song. It taught that life in this dynasties following the Song. It taught that life in this world was just as important as the afterlife. Followers world was just as important as the afterlife. Followers were expected to take part in life and help others. were expected to take part in life and help others.

Confucianism remains the central ideology until the 20Confucianism remains the central ideology until the 20thth century and will later spread to Japan.century and will later spread to Japan.

GovernmentGovernment Government SchoolsGovernment Schools Open to anyone of Open to anyone of abilityability Allowed others a chance at Allowed others a chance at office holdingoffice holding

Paid Mongols and others in Paid Mongols and others in silk and other goods as a way silk and other goods as a way to pacify would be attackersto pacify would be attackers

GovernmentGovernment Issued paper currency credited Issued paper currency credited

growth of commercegrowth of commerce Civil Service recruited for higher posts Civil Service recruited for higher posts

from educated who passed three from educated who passed three levels of imperial examinationslevels of imperial examinations

Personal Property assessed for Personal Property assessed for TaxationTaxation

Trained Militia and supplied with ArmsTrained Militia and supplied with ArmsStrengthen Loyalty and Quality of Strengthen Loyalty and Quality of ArmyArmy

TechnologyTechnologyCast ironCast ironCrossbowCrossbowGunpowder,Gunpowder,Compass Compass PorcelainPorcelain

Coal as fuelCoal as fuelWaterwheelsWaterwheelsPaper Paper CurrencyCurrency

WheelbarrowWheelbarrowWallpaperWallpaper

TechnologyTechnology Improved Improved

Farming Farming Techniques – Techniques – Irrigation, Irrigation, fertilization, fertilization, metal tools metal tools and proto-and proto-machinesmachines

Ships with Ships with water-tight water-tight compartmentcompartmentss

WaterwheelsWaterwheels Incline PlanesIncline Planes Canal LocksCanal Locks GunpowderGunpowder MortarsMortars

Decline of the SongDecline of the Song Signs of the Signs of the

Song’s decline: Song’s decline: Tangut Tangut people’s people’s

kingdom of kingdom of Xi Xia Xi Xia in the 11in the 11thth century century

Cost of the Cost of the military military

Wang Anshi’s Wang Anshi’s reform failuresreform failures

Decline of the Song Decline of the Song (cont)(cont)

In 1115, the In 1115, the JurchensJurchens (nomads) overthrew (nomads) overthrew the Liao dynasty the Liao dynasty Established the Established the Jin Jin

KingdomKingdom north of the north of the Song empire Song empire

Forced the Song to flee Forced the Song to flee south south

Southern Song Southern Song is is formed formed Culturally radiant and Culturally radiant and

artistic artistic Fell to the MongolsFell to the Mongols

Song DynastiesSong Dynasties

Tang and Song Tang and Song ProsperityProsperity

Yangdi’s Yangdi’s Grand Canal Grand Canal linked centers of Chinese linked centers of Chinese civilization civilization Made it possible to Made it possible to

transport grain and food transport grain and food Tang conquests led to Tang conquests led to

increased trade and increased trade and contact contact Overseas contact made in Overseas contact made in

junks junks (Chinese boats)(Chinese boats) Urban centers grewUrban centers grew

More people living in cities More people living in cities than any other civilizationthan any other civilization

““Flying money” Flying money” introduced introduced

Credit vouchers Credit vouchers Other innovations: Other innovations:

Coal, gunpowder, complex Coal, gunpowder, complex bridges, abacus bridges, abacus

Agrarian Expansion of the Agrarian Expansion of the TangTang

Movement of population south led to: Movement of population south led to: Agricultural improvements Agricultural improvements Agricultural expansion Agricultural expansion Land reform Land reform

Aided peasant quality of life Aided peasant quality of life

Why? Why? Southern China was/is more fertile Southern China was/is more fertile

Due to fertile valleys of the Yangtze and Due to fertile valleys of the Yangtze and other river systemsother river systems

Family and Society in the Family and Society in the Tang/SongTang/Song

Women remained Women remained clearly subordinate clearly subordinate to men to men Women in upper Women in upper

classes had increased classes had increased opportunities opportunities

Neo-Confucian Neo-Confucian scholars stressed scholars stressed male dominance male dominance Men were allowed to Men were allowed to

have concubineshave concubines Some women forced Some women forced

into into foot-bindingfoot-binding

Scholarly and Artistic Scholarly and Artistic AchievementAchievement

Tan and Song eras Tan and Song eras are remembered as a are remembered as a time of remarkable time of remarkable Chinese Chinese accomplishments accomplishments Science Science Technology Technology Literature Literature Fine Arts Fine Arts

Landscape paintings Landscape paintings made famousmade famous

Li BoLi Bo’s poetry is a ’s poetry is a good example of good example of everyday themes everyday themes intellectuals prizedintellectuals prized

Review:Review: What was the dynasty that What was the dynasty that

immediately followed the Qin-Han?immediately followed the Qin-Han? Who started the Sui dynasty? Who started the Sui dynasty? What led to the downfall of the Sui? What led to the downfall of the Sui?

Review (cont)Review (cont)

Who founded the Tang Dynasty?Who founded the Tang Dynasty? Who did Pure Land Buddhism appeal Who did Pure Land Buddhism appeal

to (what class)? to (what class)? Who founded the Song dynasty? Who founded the Song dynasty? Which was larger in territory, the Which was larger in territory, the

Tang or Song? Tang or Song?

Review (cont)Review (cont) What caused the Song dynasty to What caused the Song dynasty to

move or flee south? move or flee south? Define foot binding – what did it Define foot binding – what did it

mean for Chinese women? mean for Chinese women? What were some technological What were some technological

inventions of the Tang-Song era? inventions of the Tang-Song era? Who caused the Southern Song to Who caused the Southern Song to

fall? fall?