1. POST-CLASSICAL PERIOD
EAST ASIA
POST-CLASSICAL PERIOD

2. Background China dominated East Asia during Post-Classical Age.
China enjoyed wealth, political stability, and artistic and intellectual achievements
The fall of the Han Dynasty resulted in anarchy
Political unity returned under the Sui Dynasty ( C.E.)

3. The Sui Dynasty C.E.
Sui Yangdi founded empire through violence.
Ruled as a hard dictator/emperor.
Greatest accomplishment was the Grand Canal.
Transported rice from Yangtze River valley to the north.
Resulted in expanded trade.
Emperor was assassinated in 618.

4. The Tang Dynasty C.E.
Rulers extended the empire further into Asia.
Was the center of a tribute system with their neighbors.
Caused China to be the economic and political power in Asia.
Tribute states required to perform the “kowtow”.
Expanded the bureaucracy with the civil service exam
Buddhism spread into China though monks.
Military leader, An Lushan, began a rebellion which weakened the dynasty.

5. The Song Dynasty C.E
Smaller than the Tang due to nomads (Jin) taking northern land.
Size of government and bureaucracy increased.
Increased cost of government contributed to decline.
Scholar-gentry (government officials who were experts in Confucianism) in charge of military.
Nomadic invasions took over northern territory.
Dynasty ended when Mongol Empire conquered region.

6. Economic Developments
Agriculture reform led to economic growth
Equal field system = all Chinese have land to farm
Goal to remove land from upper classes
Improvements in irrigation
Fast-ripening rice brought from Vietnam
Proto-industrialization = producing commercial goods without factories
Expanded foreign trade and use of paper currency
Cities of over 1 million people

8. Social and Cultural Developments
Government expansion created new class = scholar gentry
Scholar gentry was most influential class
Merchants were the lowest class
Women became more subjugated with the practice of foot binding
Inventions included: paper, printing, magnetic compass, gunpowder, fine porcelain, paper money
Poetry (Li Bo, Du Fu) and landscape painting flourished

9. Religious Diversity Buddhism arrived in China via Silk Roads
Buddhist doctrines combined with Daoism (Chan or Zen Buddhism)
Native religions suffered and became syncretic
Neo-Confucianism evolved in response (blended with Daoism and Buddhism)

10. Korea and Vietnam China expands north and south during golden age
Tang collected tribute from the Korean Silla Kingdom
Korea imitated China building a similar civilization (Sinification)
Koreans did not have scholar gentry, but nobles ran the gov’t
Vietnam did not assimilate with the Chinese
Vietnam lived in nuclear families in independent villages
Vietnam gave tribute to China, retained own culture, but did convert to Buddhism