Tang Dynasty

Beginnings  General Li Yuan founded Tang dynasty  Named Taizong – “Great Ancestor” – Tang Taizong

Government  Chang’an 1 Million people, including foreigners who were traders and merchants 1 Million people, including foreigners who were traders and merchants 30 square miles 30 square miles

Government  Civil service exams Supported by government schools Supported by government schools Forbidden to serve in native places “ rule of avoidance” Forbidden to serve in native places “ rule of avoidance” Limited to terms of 3 years Limited to terms of 3 years Moved to different districts Moved to different districts Reduced power of great families Reduced power of great families

Government  Military based on Militia  Revenue system – based on land tax  Government monopoly on Salt, tea, and liquor  Rebuilt road and canal network with post stations

Transportation and Communications  Built network of roads with inns, postal stations, and horses On horse, communications could reach the edges of the empire in eight days On horse, communications could reach the edges of the empire in eight days Fresh seafood traveled over 600 miles from coast to Chang’an Fresh seafood traveled over 600 miles from coast to Chang’an

Culture  Golden Age of Art and Literature  Art Glazes on Pottery Glazes on Pottery Focused on Human Figure Focused on Human Figure Monochromatic Monochromatic

Equal-Field System  Instituted to ensure equitable distribution of land.  Allotted land for families based on needs of family and fertility of land 1/5 th of land was privately owned, the rest was available to redistributed as needed. 1/5 th of land was privately owned, the rest was available to redistributed as needed.

Dish in the Shape of a Leaf Night Shining White

Phoenix- headed ewer Floral Medallions

Seated Buddha Standing Court Lady

Culture cont’d  Poets  Lia Bai

Technology  Cast iron  Crossbow  Gunpowder,  Compass  Porcelain  Coal as fuel  Waterwheels  Paper Currency  Wheelbarrow  Wallpaper

Expansion  Overseas trade expanded with absorption of Fujian and absorption of southeast coast  Reincorporated northern Vietnam, Xinjiang, and southern Manchuria  Incorporated Korea as a tributary state

Collapse  Revenue base began to erode  Imperial land grants to notables who avoided taxes  Population grew more quickly than land and money could provide  Began outlawing contact with other ethnicities

Collapse  Military supported by mercenaries  Eunuchs’ power increasing  Rebellions Country divided by generals Country divided by generals Attacked by groups in the north, taking control of including southern Manchuria Attacked by groups in the north, taking control of including southern Manchuria  Ended in chaos and civil war

Song Dynasty

Beginnings  Follows Five Dynasty Period and later Zhou Period  General Guo Wei rival of Later Zhou conquered middle Yangzi region of Chu  Kingdom of Shu of Sichuan

Government  Issued paper currency credited growth of commerce  Civil Service recruited for higher posts from educated who passed three levels of imperial examinations  Personal Property assessed for Taxation  Trained Militia and supplied with Arms Strengthen Loyalty and Quality of Army Strengthen Loyalty and Quality of Army

Government  Government Schools  Open to anyone of ability  Allowed others a chance at office holding  Paid Mongols and others in silk and other goods as a way to pacify would be attackers

Culture  Paintings focusing on Landscapes  Harmony between humans and nature  Patronized by Rich Urban Merchants  Popularization of Vernacular Language

Summer Mountains

Scholar on Horseback with Traveling Hat

Chinese Song dynasty Henan jar

Glazed Clay Jar

Technology  Improved Farming Techniques – Irrigation, fertilization, metal tools and proto- machines  Ships with water-tight compartments  Waterwheels  Incline Planes  Canal Locks  Gunpowder  Mortars

Depletion of Empire  Shrank in size, gave up land including Taipei,  Abandoned Tibet  Manchuria in Khitan control  Vietnam and Korea more independent

Collapse of Northern Song  Alliance with Jurchen against Khitan  Unimpressed with Song’s military abilities  Captured capital of Kaifeng 1126  Treaty with Jurchen fixed border at Huai River Pay annual tribute Pay annual tribute

Collapse of Southern Song  Attacks by Jurchen and Mongols Attacks by Jurchen take over Northern China Attacks by Jurchen take over Northern China Song establish Southern Song Dynasty Song establish Southern Song Dynasty Mongols eventually take over Song China and establish Yuan Dyansty Including Chinghis and Kubilai Khan Mongols eventually take over Song China and establish Yuan Dyansty Including Chinghis and Kubilai Khan

Quiz 1. What significant contribution did Bi Sheng make to Chinese history? 2. What was the focus of paintings done in the Song dynasty? 3. What was the reason given for Chinese marriages being between men and women of a similar age? 4. Explain the term “complementary husband”. 5. Why were the peasant class slow to adopt the practice of footbinding?

Bonus  What is naphtha?