Tang and Song China

Where We Left Off Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han , (Era of Warring States), Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic, Mao Zedong Han has just fallen as a result of the usual peasant uprisings and collapsing bureaucracy China is now largest empire (population & territory) China falls into the Era of Division All fight for total control of China 3 regions come to power, the Northern Qi, the Northern Zhou, and the Chen

Rebuilding the Imperial Sui Return to strong dynastic control in China Wendi builds the Sui empire by marrying the the daughter of the northern Zhou emperor. Wendi takes the throne from his son-in-law and proclaims himself emperor Unites northern China Wendi wins the support of neighboring nomads and uses them to conquer the Chen 589 establishes Sui Dynasty Wendi lowered taxes and created granaries granaries: storage bins for food in case of flood, bad harvest, or drought Granaries also kept the price of food down in times of food shortages because they were brought to market to sell the surplus grain Expands Buddhism

Sui Excess and Collapse Yangdi, Wendi’s son, kills Wendi and takes the throne for himself Continues conquests Yangdi drives back nomads Supports reorganized Confucianism education; remakes the civil service exam Scholar gentry reestablished 611-614 Attack Korea (failure) Expensive building projects the Grand Canal Loyang (new capital) Chinese workers became mad and frustrated with so many projects as well as the failure to bring Korea back under Chinese rule In 615, Turkic nomads invade China and start the decline of the Sui 618Yangdi assassinated by own ministers

The Grand Canal Built by Yangdi in Sui dynasty stretches from Hangzhou to Peking; 1,100miles crosses five major rivers: Yangtze, Huai, Yellow,Hai, and Qiantang Rivers Used as quick transportation through East China as well as for trade Built to accommodate population shift and transportation of goods and revenue Millet in north and rice in south

The Emergence of the Tang and the Restoration of the Empire Li Yuan is victorious in the fight for control of China in 623 Li Yuan is the Duke of Tang so therefore, he begins the Tang dynasty Tang Taizong, Li Yuan’s second son, takes the throne in 626 Tang armies spread into central Asia and as far as modern-day Afghanistan Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea Turkic nomads were integrated into the Tang military Use of armies to unite China Tang finish repairs on the Great Wall started by the Sui First time North China and south were fully integrated since Han

Tang Dynasty at greatest extent

Story Time p. 129 “Tang Dynasty” Take Notes -

Rebuilding the Bureaucracy Tang monarchs need to rebuild and expand imperial bureaucracy since it had fallen apart after collapse of Han Goal #1: Revive scholar-gentry (bureaucrats) Create large bureaucracy of loyal, well-educated officials to govern vast empire Levels from: Imperial palace to small district Scholar-gentry offsets power of aristocracy, which declines Goal #2: Rework Confucian ideology Educate bureaucrats in Confucian classics Emphasize importance of Confucian philosophy for an effective government

The Growing Importance of the Exam System Number of educated scholars rises Examination system greatly expanded Ministry of Rites administered the civil service exams under Tang dynasty Jinshu – those who passed very difficult exams on philosophy, legal texts, Chinese literature Only those who passed the exam could gain high offices in the bureaucracy. To become bureaucrat and take exam must be recommended by scholar or go to government school Anyone who passed any of the exams warned great respect for themselves and the rest of their family Enhanced social position of scholar gentry provided basis for return to a highly centralized rule under an imperial dynasty

State and Religion in the Tang and Song Despite Tang government’s support for Confucianism, Buddhism gained wide acceptance Empress Wu Endows monasteries Tried to make Buddhism the state religion Commissioned Buddhist sculptures Mahayana – Buddhism popular among commoners in era of turmoil -ultimate wisdom via mediation and break free of cycle of rebirth Chan (Zen) Buddhism common among elite -natural art and beauty, meditation

Anti-Buddhist Backlash Daoists and Confucianists spoke out against Buddhism as an alien religion (due to Buddhist success) Tang lost money because monastic lands not taxed Blamed Confucianists supported taxation of Buddhist monasteries and decry property given to monasteries Wuzong (841-847)- Openly persecuted Buddhism, destroyed 1000’s monasteries Forced Nuns and Monks to live civilian life Split up monastic lands among taxpayers End of Buddhist power, remained but Confucianism dominant 9th to 20th centuries

Tang Decline and Rise of the Song Decline Due to Internal rebellion and nomadic incursion Emperor Xuanzong (713-756)- Reign marked peak of Tang At first interested in politics and economy reforms by his high officials, but then focused on pleasures Took interest in Yang Guifei, young girl from imperial Harem She became promoted to royal concubine Packed government with her greedy relatives Created rivalries within the government 755: An Lishan Rebellion General An Lishan leads mutiny and declares himself Emperor in N. China Xuanzong flees to Sichuan province Overall, does not topple Tang, but severely weakens it 907: Last Tang emperor resigns China appears to enter into period of nomadic dominance, political division and social strife

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period 907-960 Five Dynasties in Northern China succeeded one another rapidly Later Liang Later Tang Later Jin Later Han Later Zhou (General Zhao Kuangyin conquers other kingdoms and unifies China) Ten Kingdoms in Southern China existed concurrently and controlled their own territory Wu Former Shu Wuyue Later Shu Min Jingan Chu Southern Tang Southern Han Northern Han

Founding of the Song 960-1279 9th century revolts left China in pieces Until 960, nomadic dominance, then General Zhao Kuangyin (renamed Emperor Taizu) began his conquest of China Scholarly, gathered books on conquest, not money Became the first self Proclaimed emperor of the Song dynasty, renamed Taizu Destroyed all rivals except Liao Dynasty founded in 907 by The Khitans of Monchiria Song paid heavy tribute to Khitans to prevent them from raiding Khitans became “Sinified” or influenced by Chinese culture, and learned from the economically superior Song about arts, politics and economy

Story Time p. 131 “The Song Dynasty” Take Notes -

The Revival of Confucian Thought Revivers of pure Confucian thought and teachings Went through the process of translating all old texts and inscriptions. Libraries established Stressed the importance of applying philosophical principals to everyday life. They argued that virtue could be obtained through knowledge gained by book learning and personal observation The neo-Confucian emphasis on tradition and hostility to foreign influences was one of forces that stifled innovation and critical thinking among the Chinese elite (hostility to Buddhism and Daoism and they tainted Confucianism) Gender, class, age distinctions reinforced Ensue social harmony

Song Politics: Settling for Partial Restoration The Song never matched the Tang in political or military strength This weakness was a result from imperial policies that were designed to ward off the conditions that had destroyed the Tang empire Only civil officials were allowed to be governors, thereby removing the temptation of regional military commanders to seize power At the same time early Song rulers strongly promoted the interests of the Confucian scholar- gentry

Roots of Decline: Attempts at Reform After the Song emperors had secured their control over China in means that undermined the empire in the long run. By the mid-11 century, Tangut tribes, originally from Tibet had established a kingdom named Xi Xia. The emphasis on civil and scholar-gentry and the growing disdain among the Song elite for the military also took their too on the Chinese In the 1070's and early 1080's Wang Anshi, the chief minister of of the Song & Shenzong emperor, tried to ward off the impending collapse of the dynasty by introducing sweeping reforms Supported agricultural expansion Landlords, scholar gentry taxed Tries to form a bureaucracy that stresses analytical thinking rather than memorization of classics Map 12.2

Reaction and Disaster: The Flight to the South The neo-Confusians came to power after and ended reform and since that point the economic conditions just declined. This led to a weaker military and in 1115 the Jurchens overthrew them and formed the Jin kingdom north of the Song empire The weak Song flee to the South Southern Song (1127-1279) New capital Hangzhou: sophisticated and wealthy Numerous cultural and technological innovations

A New Phase of Commercial Expansion With canal systems and Silk Roads, commercial expansion is booming Commerce expands in cities and trading towns Credit, deposit shops (banks), flying money (credit vouchers) Urban growth and sophistication Changan, Tang capital: 2 million, largest city in world Hangzhou, S. Song capital

Silk Roads Tribal societies previously living in isolation along the Silk Road were drawn to the riches of the Silk Road. Many barbarian tribes became skilled at raiding traders. Chinese rulers protect trade and travelers on Silk Roads Cities developed all along the Silk Roads as trading posts and as rest stops for travelers. From Persia: dates; saffron; pistachio; rugs; tapestries From Africa: frankincense; aloe; gold; salt; timber From India: sandalwood; jasmine; cloth From China: silk; porcelain; paper; tea Transmission of art and religion (Buddhism; Christianity; Islam)

Silk Roads

Indian Ocean Trade A typical junk compared to Columbus' Santa Maria Chinese Junks – refined in late Tang and Song period - are best ships in the world Established market networks along Indian ocean coast Rival Arab control of Indian Ocean Compasses used to increase accuracy in navigation A typical junk compared to Columbus' Santa Maria

Expanding Agrarian Production Economy stimulated by advances in farming Tang and Song rulers try to promote agricultural production and peasants New areas cultivated as China expands Canals help transport produce quickly Developments: new seeds, improved water control, wheelbarrow Tang and Song break up aristocratic estates Divided among peasants more equally

Family in the Tang-Song Era Extended family households preferred Male-dominated and respect for elders supported by Neo-Confucians Elite women have broader opportunities Examples: Empress Wu and Yang Guifei Divorce widely available if both husband and wife consent

Neo-Confucian Support of Male Dominance Neo-Confucians reduce role of women in late Song period Physical confinement: stress women’s role as homemakers and mothers Virtues: virginity for girls, fidelity for wives, chastity for widows Men allowed great freedom, favored in inheritance and divorce Education: Girls not educated, boys are emphasis

Foot Binding The Practice began in the Song Dynasty Involves Wrapping, breaking the bones in the Childs foot Ideal length 3 inches Was a popular practice among the Chinese elite. It was considered a sign of wealth. Was officially banned in the 1900’s but there are still survivors of it today.

Reasons for Foot Binding It was considered a sign of beauty and attractive for grooms-to-be It prevented the women from doing many everyday things. There were also sexual implications and beliefs that went along with it

Cultural Achievements Paper techniques refined Gunpowder and fireworks (9th c.) Abacus developed for counting 1041: Bi Sheng develops printing with moveable type Scholars are now cultural producers In past, Buddhists were artists Secular scenes now more common (again, result of Neo-Confucians) Nature: common theme in poetry, art

Global Connections Less fundamental changes in China than Americas, Europe or middle east Major technological contributions such as paper, printing and gunpowder Until 18th centuries, imperial dynasties were the most politically and economically powerful Established advanced market networks along Indian ocean coast

Lets Practice Which of the following statements concerning the Tang dynasty’s attitude toward Buddhism is most accurate? Under the Tang, Buddhism became the official religion of the state After initial attempts to suppress Buddhism, later Tan emperor actually resuscitated the Buddhist monasteries, particularly in southern China Although Empress Wu attempted to have Buddhism recognized as the official religion of the state, later emperors persecuted Buddhism as an economic threat to the state From the outset, Buddhism was persecuted under the Tang Although Tang rulers dislike the practice of Buddhism, they adopted a policy of toleration

Lets Practice Which of the following statements concerning the Tang dynasty’s attitude toward Buddhism is most accurate? Under the Tang, Buddhism became the official religion of the state After initial attempts to suppress Buddhism, later Tan emperor actually resuscitated the Buddhist monasteries, particularly in southern China Although Empress Wu attempted to have Buddhism recognized as the official religion of the state, later emperors persecuted Buddhism as an economic threat to the state From the outset, Buddhism was persecuted under the Tang Although Tang rulers dislike the practice of Buddhism, they adopted a policy of toleration