The Sui and Tang Dynasties Chapter 10 (pp. 284 – 291)

China’s Hegemony For most of the period 600 – 1450 C.E., Chinese dynasties established regional hegemony over East Asia China became the strongest civilization in the world Dynasties like the Sui, Tang and Song reconstituted governments that combined traditional sources of power & legitimacy with innovations better suited to the current circumstances

The Sui Dynasty 581 – 618 C.E. Centralized imperial rule Built the Grand Canal State-sponsored commercial infrastructure Manmade waterways that connected the major rivers in China Increased volume/variety of trade

The Tang Dynasty 618 – 907 Li Shimin seized China’s capital Xi’an (Chang’an) and proclaimed himself emperor of the Tang Dynasty

Accomplishments of the Tang Strong transportation/communication systems Grand Canal Built/maintained an advanced road system Continued to use Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Maritime System Cultural/technological transfers between Tang and Abbasids Chinese merchants setup diasporic communities through Southeast Asia

The Battle of Talas 751 C.E.; Between the Tang and Abbasids; Led to the exchange of printing; Chinese prisoners of war were forced to produce paper in Samarkand.

The Tang Tribute System Existed in earlier dynasties, but was expanded/enhanced to support the enormous Tang dynasty Neighboring realms were required to pay tribute in forms of gifts or money China acted as “the Middle Kingdom”

Religion in the Tang Buddhism had been growing in China since its Classical Period Mostly Mahayana Buddhism It allowed easier incorporation to Chinese culture Empress Wu (690 – 705) was a strong supporter of Buddhism Contributed huge sums to monasteries and to commission paintings & sculptures More than 50,000 temples were built Buddhist art, literature and cultural traditions flourished Ex. Wu Daozi

The Art of Wu Daozi

The Collapse of the Tang Over time, tensions between Confucianists & Buddhists grew Stemmed from ideological & economic differences In the 9th century, Confucian scholar bureaucrats along with emperor Wuzong conspired to end Buddhist influence Burned thousands of monasteries & forced Buddhist monks to flee Results Confucianism reemerged as dominant belief system Tang Dynasty weakened due to internal turmoil and again China declined into a period of decentralization

The Song Dynasty Chapter 10 (pp. 291 – 297)

The Song Dynasty Song reunited China in 960 Emphasized civil administration, industry, education and art “Golden Era” in terms of finance & technology Strong centralized government Increased size of merit-based bureaucratic system (civil service)

Problems Under the Song Finances Large bureaucratic system was expensive, so taxes were raised Led to free peasant revolts Military Led by scholar bureaucrats Little understanding of how to direct armies Jurchens (northern nomads) & other groups overran the northern part of the Song Empire 1279, Mongols conquered the southern Song

Economic Revolutions of the Tang and Song Changes in economy began in Tang & were refined in Song Revolutions Increased agricultural production to deal with growing population Fast-ripening rice from Vietnam Improved irrigation techniques Urbanization Tang capital Chang’an Largest city in the world at the time Song capital Hangzhou

Economic Revolutions of the Tang and Song Revolutions (continued) Technological innovations Porcelain (chinaware) Improved iron & steel metallurgy Gunpowder Movable type printing Magnetic compass Financial inventions As trade grew, merchants developed paper money Letters of credit called “flying cash” allowed merchants to move money (like a bank) Primitive checking

Neo-Confucianism Neo-Confucianism Focused less on social & political order, and more on the soul & spiritual relationships Reconciled relationship with Buddhism Influenced many civilizations throughout East & Southeast Asia

Patriarchal Social Structures Patriarchal structure grew more rigid Especially for the upper-classes Foot binding Demonstrated class & subservience to males