1. Chinese Dynasties Sui, Tang, Song A.D. 589-1279
Post Classical China
Chinese Dynasties
Sui, Tang, Song
A.D

2. Sui Dynasty A.D
Reunited China after 4 centuries of warring states
Restored the bureaucratic institutions of the Han Dynasty
Sui rulers at first lowered taxes and established granaries for protection against famine
Promoted the scholar gentry
Most notable accomplishment was the building of the grand canals which united the Yellow River and Northern plains to the Yangtze river valley in the South

3. Sui Grand Canal

4. Fall of the Sui
Aristocratic families were threatened by advancement of scholar-gentry
Building projects and luxurious living forced higher tax and service demands on people
Unpopular wars, construction projects and abuse of Chinese peasants led to downfall of dynasty
Emperor assassinated by his own ministers

5. Tang Dynasty Expansions A.D. 618-907
First ruler laid the groundwork for the golden age by conquering nomadic peoples as far to the west as Afghanistan, Korea to the East and Vietnam to the South
Chinese intermarried with peoples to the west along the Silk Road
Continued repairs on the Great Wall begun by the previous dynasty
Larger than Han Dynasty

6. Map of Tang Dynasty

7. Other reforms
Rulers used scholar-gentry bureaucrats to combat the power of the aristocrats
Bureaucracy reached down to the equivalent of the county level
Scholars were educated in academies studying the Confucian classics
Examination system was expanded and civil service advancement was standardized
Exams were increasingly more difficult and those who passed to the highest ranks enjoyed the benefits of the power of their positions
Social connections also played a role in determining bureaucratic positions

8. Religion
As the empire grew, Buddhism became an important force in China
Different sects of Buddhism including Mahayana and Chan or Zen which was appealing to the educated classes of Chinese
Tang dynasty used Confucianism as its training for bureaucrats but Buddhism was popular as evidenced with the building of temples, pagodas, monasteries and nunneries

9. Anti-Buddhism
Scholar gentry threatened by the popularity of Buddhism began a movement against the religion
Proclaimed the religion to be foreign and undermining traditional Chinese values
Much non-taxable land was owned by monasteries
State fear of Buddhist power led to open persecution of Buddhists and destruction of temples and statues
Buddhism continued to exist in China but never as much of a dominant force as during the Tang dynasty
Buddhism left its mark on Chinese art, language and thought but it was supplanted by Confucianism as the central focus of Chinese civilization

10. Social Conditions Status of women improved during the Tang era
Chinese incorporated many customs of the peoples to the West and North – horsemanship and polo became important activities
Changan the capital of the dynasty a cosmopolitan city with traders from though out Asia
Improvements in roads, canals, infrastructure, and shipping allowed for increased exports of goods
Chinese exported porcelain as well as silk

11. Influential Rulers Empress Wu only woman to rule China
Became a favored wife and effectively ruled during illness of the emperor
Took the throne herself at age 65 and ruled until she was 80

12. Images of the Tang Dynasty
Emperor Xuanzong wearing the clothes of a scholar.
Horseman herding horses.
Statues of foreign dignitaries.
Tang glazed figurine

13. Song Dynasty A.D
Reduced power of military that had caused conflicts in the Tang Dynasty only civilians were allowed to be governors
Further increased power of bureaucracy
Failed to gain control of northern China and forced to pay tribute to rulers which eventually led to their downfall
Center of culture for all of East Asia

14. Song Dynasty
depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/1xarsong.htm

15. Neo-Confucianism
Scholarly work on philosophy and new interpretations of Confucian beliefs
Emphasized the beliefs of the strong male-dominated family with development of personal morality and the importance of wisdom of scholars
Developed a hostility to outside influences at a time when innovations were occurring throughout the world
Chinese turned inward and focused on finding answers in their past became less innovative and critical thinking was not encouraged

16. Social Conditions
Position of women improved in Tang and Song Dynasties
In the later years of the Song Dynasty conditions deteriorated for women
An example is the practice of foot binding

17. Golden Age of Tang and Song
Tang encouraged trade and cultural diffusion to the west and also to the south Asian seas.
Ships began to use the compass for navigation in the Song dynasty
Inventions
Gunpowder
Compass as a navigational tool
Block printing
Paper Money
Better irrigation systems
Wheelbarrow

18. Culture These dynasties were creative centers for both poetry and art
Education was directed toward generalists not specialists, a well-educated man was to create poems and art
Art was used to unify the people and teach moral lessons
Chinese landscapes emphasizing the importance of nature were composed in black or brown ink
Abstract symbols were used to depict concepts or philosophical ideas

19. Legacy
The Chinese heavily influenced Japan, Korea and Vietnam during the era of these dynasties.
Buddhism which developed in India, spread to China transmitted Chinese civilization to other areas
Increased agricultural production and techniques circulated throughout East Asia
Printing improved literacy rates in East Asia
Gunpowder and the compass as a navigational aid
had a huge impact on global development