1. JOURNAL 12.1: Who are Taizong and Wu Zhao?

2. Chapter 12: Empires in East Asia
Section 1: Tang and Song China

3. 12.1 OBJECTIVES Identify the main rulers of the Tang Dynasty.
Describe the causes and effects of the Song dynasty’s retreat to the south.
Summarize the achievements of the Tang and Song empires.
Describe changes in Chinese society.

4. Setting the Stage
After Han Dynasty collapsed in A.D. 220, Wendi came to power and united southern and northern China once again
Through his leadership, China entered a Golden Age

5. The Tang Dynasty Expands China
Wendi
First emperor of the Sui (sway) Dynasty
Two emperors
Build the Grand Canal
Connected Huang He to Chang Jiang
Trade route to get rice from the south
1 million peasants 5 years
Rebuilt the Great Wall
People revolted against the Sui
Emperor was murdered

6. Tang Rulers Create a Powerful Empire
Tang Empire ( )
Took power after the Sui
Ruled for 300 years
Powerful leader Tang Taizong
Expanded the empire
Led by Empress Wu Zhao (Woo Jow)
Expanded into Korea
Ruled in the background under weak leaders and then took over herself- Only women EVER!

7. Tang Rulers Create a Powerful Empire cont.
Tang Empire
Strengthened the central government
Expanded network of roads and canals
Promoted foreign trade
Improvements in agriculture

8. Scholar-Officials Tang Wanted a strong beaucracy
Revitalized the civil service system from the Han Dynasty
Those who passed the difficult test were called “scholar-officials”
Tests open to all but not everyone could afford the education necessary to pass
Overall, the civil service system was successful in creating a well-trained gov.

9. The Tang Lose Power Imposed crushing taxes to pay for projects
Muslims invade their territory
Internal rebellion
Emperor killed (child)

10. The Song Dynasty Restores China
After the Tang Dynasty, China divided into separate kingdoms
Song (sung) Dynasty
Taizu
United China
Named himself Song emperor (sung)
Lasted 300 years
Empire was prosperous
Never regained previously lost territory
Bribed neighbors in order to keep the peace
Lost northern portion of their territory to the powerful Jurchen people
New capital set up at Hangzhou

11. An Era of Prosperity and Innovation
China’s population grew to 100 million during the Tang and Song Dynasties
China now the most populous country in the world (still is)

12. Science & Technology Inventions Movable type Gunpowder Porcelain
Printer could arrange blocks of individual characters in a frame and make up a page for printing
Gunpowder
Porcelain
Mechanical clock
Paper money
Magnetic compass for sailing
Innovations
Negative numbers

13. Agriculture Contributed to the growth of China Rice
Rapid growing rice came from Vietnam
Distributed throughout the kingdom
Needed to feed the people of the country

14. Trade and Foreign Contacts
Tang Dynasty
Guarded the Silk Roads
China lost control of the roads during the decline
Therefore, Chinese moved to ocean trade
Advances in sailing technology
Magnetic compass
Traded with Korea, India, Japan, Persian Gulf, and Africa
Chinese exported a lot, including Buddhism
Through trade, other religions entered China

15. Golden Age of Poetry & Art
Tang Dynasty
Produced great poetry
Li Bo- wrote about life’s pleasures
Tu Fu- praised orderliness and Confucian virtues
Critical of war & hardships of soldiers
Song Dynasty
Show Daoist influence
Artists emphasize nature
Black ink was their favorite paint

16. Changes in Chinese Society
Chinese became mobile
Levels of Society
Upper-class
scholar-officials
Gentry- well-to-do people
Urban Middle Class
merchants, shopkeepers, skilled artisans, minor officials, and others
Laborers, soldiers, and servants

17. The Status of Women Women were subservient to men
Declined further during the Tang and Song
Role of women later began to change
Binding the feet of upper-class girls
See page 327
Showed wealth of the husband
Beautiful and Impractical wife