Early Chinese Empires 581-755CE

Ancient China Qin Dynasty Han Dynasty 206BCE - 220CE Founded by Emperor Gaozu Briefly interrupted by Xin Dynasty (Wang Mang) “Golden Age” Succeeded by Three Kingdoms 220-280CE Fell due to internal corruption and natural disasters Confucianism prevalent Fragmented for several centuries Reunited under Sui Dynasty

Sui Dynasty 581-615 Father & son rulers Capital at Chang’an Built the 1,100 mile Grand Canal linking Yellow & Yangzi Rivers Facilitate communication & trade with the south Also constructed irrigation systems in Yangzi valley Improved the Great Wall Military ambitions toward Korea, Vietnam, and Inner Asia Required organization & mustering resources Overextension compounded political dilemma stemming from military defeat & assassination of second Sui emperor Defeated by Turks from Inner Asia

Tang Empire 618-907 Li family took dynastic name Tang Descended from Turkik elites that built small states in northern China after the Han Appreciated pastoral nomadic culture of Inner Asia & Chinese traditions Li Shimin (r.626-649) extended power into Inner Asia Retained many Sui governing practices Avoided overcentralization by allowing local nobles, gentry, officials, and religious establishments to exercise power Combined Chinese weapons with Inner Asian horsemanship

Buddhism & Tang Empire Rulers followed Inner Asian precedents in political use of Buddhism Interpretations of doctrine accorded kings & emperors spiritual function of welding humankind into a harmonious Buddhist society Protecting spirits were to help the ruler govern & prevent harm from coming to his people Mahayana Buddhism prevalent Permitted absorption of local gods & goddesses Encouraged translating scripture into local languages Accepted religious practices not based on texts Adaptable to different societies & classes of people Invigorated travel, language learning, and cultural exchange Monasteries collaborated with princes Princes enlisted monastic leaders to pray for them, preach on their behalf, and contribute wealth to the war chest Monasteries received tax exemptions, land privileges, and gifts in return Complexity of influence increased as Tang Empire expanded westward Many people visited Chang’an, taking away recent ideas and styles Regional cultures & identities remained strong Historians denote Tang China as being “cosmopolitan” due to its breadth & diversity

Upheavals & Repression 750-859 Increasing turmoil as result of conflict with Tibetans and Turkic Uighurs Backlash against “foreigners” which included Buddhists according to Confucians Tang elites saw Buddhism as undermining Confucian idea of the family as the model for the state Also attacked for encouraging women in politics 840 – government moved to crush monasteries whose tax exemptions allowed them to accumulate land, serfs, and precious objects 4,600 temples destroyed within 5 years Some centers protected by local warlords Buddhism never recovered the influence of early Tang times

End of Tang Empire 897-907 Campaigns of expansion in 7th century left empire dependent on local military commanders & complex tax collection system Reverses led to demoralization & underfunding of military Rebellion on the frontier for 8 years Resulted in new powers for provincial military governors Thereby weakening central power Uprising between 879-881 Led by Huang Chao, a member of the gentry Attracted poor farmers & tenants who had oppressive bosses or landlords New hatred of “barbarians” spurred murder of thousands of foreign residents in Canton and Beijing Local warlords finally wiped out rebels Tang society didn’t find peace Refugees, migrant workers, and homeless people common sights Never regained power after Huang Chao’s rebellion

After the Tang Liao Empire Tanggut State Song Empire Khitan People Nomadic peoples of the northeastern frontier Mahayana Buddhism Tanggut State Minyak People Inner Asian frontier in northwestern China Tibetan Buddhism Song Empire Central China Chinese-speaking Came into being in 960 Confucian

Song Empire 960-1279 Divided into two distinct periods Northern Song Capital in Bianjing Controlled most of inner China Southern Song Period after Song lost control of northern China to the Jin Dynasty Court retreated south of the Yangtze River Bolstered naval strength Developed new military technology, incl. gunpowder Fought with northern rivals for control of mines for iron and coal

Song Achievements First government to nationally issue paper money Establish permanent standing navy First known use of gunpowder First discernment of true north using a compass Introduced use of fractions Precise calendar Junk – oceangoing ship Movable-Type Printing Press – each character is cast on separate piece of metal, replacing woodblock printing & making printing cheaper

Song Society Civil man outranked the military man Private academies became influential in culture and politics Neo-Confucianism – new approaches to understanding Confucian texts Popular Buddhist sects also persisted Meditation by Buddhists and Confucians Examinations to fill civil service positions Hereditary class distinctions meant less than in Tang times Men from wealthy families still had advantage Shift from an aristocratic elite to a bureaucratic elite Population Growth Growth of merchant class Women subordinate, disenfranchised, and restricted Fashionable to be moderately literate Footbinding spread among elites Vibrant culture Spread of literature & knowledge Public festivals Lively entertainment quarters in cities

End of the Song Dynasty Kublai Khan led assaults against the Song through the 1260s Officially declared the creation of the Yuan Dynasty in 1271 Defeated Song troops again in 1275 Most Song territory captured by 1276 Finally crushed Song resistance in 1279 8 year-old emperor committed suicide, along with Prime Minister and 800 members of royal clan Rest of imperial family unharmed

Yuan Dynasty Basics Established by Kublai Khan Mongols had ruled northern China for decades, but not in traditional Chinese dynasty style Isolated from other khanates First foreign dynasty to rule all of China Lasted until 1368 Considered both a successor to the Mongol Empire and an imperial Chinese dynasty Bore the Mandate of Heaven in Chinese histories Replaced by the Ming Dynasty

Primary Sources Analects for Women – Outlines roles and expectations for women as inferred from Confucian teachings Remonstrance Against New Laws – a scholar and official’s opinion about new laws designed to address declining tax revenue & increasing government expenses Tang Law Code – Defines the Ten Abominations in Tang society