Dynasty Song
Name a characteristic of each Chinese dynasty we’ve studied thus far
Shang?
Zhou?
Qin?
Han?
Changes & ContinuitiesResembled Han:
Repetition of dynastic cycleProfessional bureaucracy, exam systemConfucianism key among eliteDominance in greater East Asia
Changes:Greater support of long-distance trade & commercialization make China richest, most urban societyGreater unification of N & S ChinaNew Buddhist influence
Issues of Significance
Buddhism & Neo-Confucianism
Commercialization of Chinese economy
Spread & adaptation of Chinese culture beyond borders
Buddhism & Neo-Confucianism
Under Han:Confucianism, Daoism, & ancestor worship popular
Between dynasties:Confucianism suffers loss of credibilityForeign religions & Buddhism
Sui, Tang, Song:Confucianism revived in exam systemBuddhism promoted until late Tang (supplanted by Neo-Confucianism), but remained influential
Buddhism
Came via Silk Roads
Rich in texts
Preached about metaphysical
MonasteriesSocial functions
Celibacy
Neo-Confucianism
Reaction to Buddhist persecution
Continued practical study of politics & morality
Focused on social order
Neo?Emphasis on tradition
Greater religious emphasis
Buddhism & Neo-Confucianism
1. Why did Buddhism initially become popular in China?
2. Why was there a backlash against Buddhism?
3. What does the timing of this backlash say about progress of postclassical China?
4. What was the position of Buddhism following the repression?
Women in Chinese Society
Grab a red “World Civilizations” document reader from the shelf.
On pg.153-155, read the primary doc on women. Then answer:1. What roles for men and women are portrayed in the
story?
2. What lessons is the Chinese reader supposed to learn from the story?
3. What does this story reveal about Chinese social structure more generally?
• If you finish…look at the pictures on pg. 62, 63, 65
Sui vs. Qin
What similarities do the Sui & Qin share?
Give an example from the Sui dynasty to support each similarity.
Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.)
Governing?Governing?
Analogous to QinShort-lived
Harsh rule
Completed infrastructure projects
Gained power through warrior nobility
Began restoration of civil service exams
Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?
Re-united ChinaGrand Canal:
Further unites N & S ChinaPromoted domestic trade connecting Yellow & Yangtze Rivers
Question:
In what ways did the Tang try to address the weakness of the Sui?
What were the results of these efforts?
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Governing?Governing?
Attempt to balance 2 powerful forcesMilitary strength
Civilian bureaucracy
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Governing?Governing?
Military strengthMilitary family, devoted horsemen
Emphasized cavalry & horse breeding
Colonies of soldier-farmers along Silk Road
Large territory expanded Chinese rule conquered Korea in 668, northern Vietnam, expanded culture in Japan
westward against Turkish tribes in Central Asia (influence in Afghanistan, Persia)
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Governing?Governing?
Civilian bureaucracyPerfected civil service exams
Created a monetary system of copper coins & silk ribbons
Wrote a set of laws w/ planned revision every two decades
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?
Agricultural growth & land reform Limit power of rural aristocracy
Gave some peasants a chance to gain wealth
Equal-field systemGranted equal amounts of land to each adult male in return for taxes
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?
Trade thrivedInternal prosperity
Cities largest & most populous in world
Ch'ang-an, capital: population = 2,000,000
Brought foreign influence into ChinaForeign fashions, music, cuisine, art from Central Asia, India, Persia, & Byzantium
Judaism, Nestorian Christianity
Flying Money
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?
Trade thrived, but… Either under government monopolies (e.g., tea, salt, wine)
Or as "tribute" from foreign lands and reciprocal "gifts" going back out
Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)
Reasons for Decline?Reasons for Decline?
Scholar class became entrenched1. Weak / young emperors manipulated
2. Granted scholars estates to promote bureaucratic jobs
• Took land from peasants & increased tax burden
3. Less focus on military• Defeat in 751 to Arabs on Silk Road
• Made Islam rather than Buddhism the dominant religion in Central Asia
Question:
In what ways did the Song try to address the weakness of the Tang?
What were the results of these efforts?
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Governing?Governing?
Weakened military influence in favor of bureaucratic gentry
Civil-service exam expanded & number of bureaucrats increased
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Governing?Governing?
Confucian bureaucrats in charge of the military
Hostile toward the military
Tended to be pacifistDownplayed status of soldiers, military skills, & athletics
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?Political unity stimulated prosperity
Growth centered in maritime south
1. Independent merchant class grew in power
2. Technological advances meant new trade
3. Trade yielded exchange & cosmopolitan society
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?1. Independent merchant class grew in
power• Non-governmental commerce widespread
But…• Commerce not respectable
• When someone accumulated wealth, bought land rather than invest in manufacturing
• Remained somewhat dependent favors of bureaucrats • Paid share of $$$ from enterprise to government
operations & personal gifts
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?2.Technological advances meant new
tradePorcelain
Iron production
Gunpowder
Printing
Improved ships & navigation tools
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Impact on Daily Life?Impact on Daily Life?3.Trade yielded exchange &
cosmopolitan societyRevenues 3x that of Tang era
New rice strain (Champa) allowed Chinese farmers to double output
Urbanization– Five cities of 1,000,000– Foreign trader establish durable neighborhoods
Paper money
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Reasons for Decline?Reasons for Decline?
2 phrase decline:
1. First, retreat to south
2. Then, total collapse
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Reasons for Retreat to South?Reasons for Retreat to South?
Weak military Little attention given to arts of warfare
Met defense needs through expensive mercenary nomads
Central Asian nomads harassed China’s northern borders for 200 yrs
Song royal family forced south
Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.)
Reasons for Total Collapse?Reasons for Total Collapse?
Fiscal difficulties Population growth outstripped economic growth
Bloated central bureaucracy: expensiveAlso, factions opposed reform, putting individual economic interests ahead of the common good
Inflation from paper money & raised taxes Rebellion
So… Chinese Renaissance?
• Connections to past traditions • Role of & beliefs of philosophy• Ideals of man & education• Religious interactions• Changes in class structure• Technological & artistic advancement
Chinese Renaissance
Revival & reestablishment of Confucianism with Greco-Roman classics
Confucian ideal of scholar-gentry with concept of Renaissance Man
Buddhist and Neo-Confucian backlash with Roman Catholicism & Protestant reform
Urbanization & increased global trade & exploration
Growth of merchants class with growth of European middle class
Explosion of technology and artistic creativity, including art, literature, etc.
Increase in societal literacy due to moveable type printing
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