China: Tang and Song Dynasties Post-Classical Era

Han Dynasty When does it fall? What is it known for?

Period of the Six Dynasties 220-589 CE Scholar-Gentry class declined Coming from a family of educated, high social status, esp. land owners Non-Chinese nomads rule Buddhism replaced Confucianism Economic, technological, intellectual, urban decline

Sui Dynasty Late 500s unites the north and south under strong leadership Wen’ti (Wendi) Took control of northern China Lowered taxes and established granaries His son, Yan’ti (Yangdi)

Yang’ti Reformed the legal code, reinstituted Confucianism Build the Grand Canal Connected over 1200 miles, from the Yangtze to the Yellow Rivers Established political and economic unity (610-615) Tried to conquer Korea (unsuccessful) Hated by people: overworked and overtaxed Peasant revolts

Tang Dynasty 618-907 Known for wealth and power Rebuilt the Great Wall—Turkic invasions Military conquests in: Central Asia (Turks) and Northeast Asia (Korea)Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea Lowered taxes

More Tang Dynasty Examination System Scholar officials Highest offices in government went to individuals who passed exams based on Confucian classics and Chinese literature Scholar officials System for choosing was through the 3 Confucian exams (favored wealthy men)

Tang Dynasty Dynasty most progressive Land distribution included widows Mutual divorce acceptable - women could remarry Access to broadening education system Military skills Social restrictions lifted

Empress Wu You read about her…More coming later 690-705 Encouraged spread of Buddhismtried to make it the state religion Lowered taxes Military conquest of Korea

Confucian Exam

Confucian Exam con’d Faults: Benefits: Corruption Confucian thoughtdid not judge ability to lead military or collect taxes Benefits: Gave China an intelligent governing class No longer ruled by few…

Tang Decline/Rise of the Song Emperor Xuanzong (713-756) Initially advanced political & economic reform Patronized arts Downfall? A harem girl named Yang Guifei Revolt in 755 Nomadic peoples/regional governors fed off the disorder

Song Dynasty 960-1279 First emperor: Zhao Kuangyin (Taizu) Failed to defeat the Liao Dynasty in Manchuria, establishing a precedent for weakness in dealing with nomadic peoples

Song Military subordinated to the scholar-gentry Confucian scholar-gentry ideals over Buddhist rivals Increased salaries, civil service exams, etc. Revival of Confucian thought: neo-Confucianism

Song again: Neo Confucianism Cultivation of personal morality is highest human goal Produced superior men to govern/teach Emphasis on rank, obligation, deference, performance of rituals Authority of patriarchal head of family was strengthened “Social harmony and prosperity is maintained when men and women performed the tasks appropriate to their status.”

Roots of Decline Nomads began to carve out kingdoms on northern borders Paid tribute to nomads to protect against invasion Emphasis on scholar-gentry concerns contributed to military declinesoon the northern borders fell The Song fled south (1115) and established a capital at Hangzhou (Yangtze River Basin)

Industrial Revolution? Canal system Re-opened Silk Roads Rice-growing dominated area Chinese junks allowed for Chinese to dominate the seas Money economy: deposit shops, paper money, credit vouchers Agricultural expansion

You say you want a revolution… Explosive powder Tang: fireworks; Song: military use Flame-throwers, poisonous gas, rocket launchers Chairs, tea drinking, coal fuel Compasses, abacuses Movable type printing (Bi Sheng)

Chinese Cities China’s estimated urban population (10%) exceeded that of all other civilizations Allowed traders and artisans to prosper Largest: Changan: 200,000,000 people

Women’s Roles (more coming up) Independence: Wealthy urban women could have lovers Women’s rights in divorce Partners of similar ages Restriction: Housemaker, mother, wifely fidelity, widow chastity (neo-Confucian ideals) Excluded from education Foot-binding

Legacy: Centralized administration Scholar-gentry elite Civilization expanded as south was integrated into the north Economyworld leader until 18th C. Chinese inventions Outside influences incorporated into existing patterns

Old Trees, Level Distance

Seeking the Tao in the Autumn Mountains

Finches and Bamboo

Scholar Viewing a Waterfall

Women in China Tang and On

Patriarchical Traditional Guides Confucianism order Ruler guides subject Father guides son Husband guides wife Confucianism order Women must obey father, husband, and sons Father before marriage Husband during Sons are husband dies

Rights Could not pick spouse Could not divorce or remarry Husband could divorce her Could not inherit property or wealth Concubines

Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705 The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.  Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court. Construction of new irrigation systems. Buddhism was the favored state religion. Financed the building of many Buddhist temples. She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies. The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family. Founded the Imperial University Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system) Soldiers dropped to lowest status. Confucianists at work; Daoists at home. The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake! Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported. Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there.

Footbinding Origins unknown - several legends Began in Tang, fully accepted in Song Small feet = beauty

Footbinding in Tang China Broken toes by 3 years of age. The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family. Founded the Imperial University Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system) Soldiers dropped to lowest status. Confucianists at work; Daoists at home. The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake! Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported. Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there. Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Footbinding in Tang China Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Footbinding in Tang China For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

Women With Bound Feet

The Results of Footbinding

Footbinding Results 1997 UCSF Study Findings: more likely to fall, less able to stand from a chair, less able to squat, lower bone density

Questions Footbinding started with the upper classes, why did it become widespread across classes? Where else in history do we see similar practices? Does modern society have equivalent practices?