1. Chapter 11: Cultures of East Asia

2. Sections 1: Chinese Empires
Main Idea
The Sui dynasty reunified China, after which the Tang and Song dynasties produced an age of prosperity and achievement.
Objectives
How did the Sui and Tang dynasties reunify China?
How did the Song dynasty strengthen China?
What were some Tang and Song cultural achievements?
How was this period a time of prosperity and social change?

3. Early Dynasties Zhou, 1050-256 BC: Mandate of Heaven
Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty, BC: “China,”
started Great Wall
Han, 206 BC-AD 220: civil service system,
Silk Road

5. Great Wall of China (Qin Empire)

6. Terracotta army of Shih Huang-ti (Qin Empire)

7. the “Silk Road” (Han Dynasty)

8. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
AD Han dynasty collapsed, China split
into rival kingdoms - the “Period of Disunion”

9. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
AD northern ruler Wendi reunified China
and founded the Sui dynasty
Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty (541–604), personal name Yang Jian

10. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
Wendi’s son Yangdi finished the Grand Canal,
linking northern and southern China
The Grand Canal is still an important waterway today

11. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
Yangdi forced millions of peasants to work on
the canal; thousands died, led to rebellion

12. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
618 – Yangdi assassinated; Sui dynasty
ended, Tang began
Yang Di - Emperor Yang of Sui ( ), personal name Yang Guang, alternative name Ying, nickname Amo, also known as Emperor Ming

13. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
Tang extended west, made contact with India;
influenced Korea and Japan

14. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
Most expansion occurred under Taizong; also
built schools to train students for civil service
Emperor Taizong of Tang, ruled China from 626 to 649.  Considered one of the greatest rulers in Chinese history, his accomplishments, both economic and military, were required study for subsequent emperors.  Under his reign, China included modern Viet Nam, Mongolia, and central Asia to Kazakhstan.  He ruled as Tian Kehan, which translates as 'Heavenly Khan". 

15. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
Taizong’s son was weak - wife Wu Zhao
gained power; only female emperor in Chinese
history
Empress Wu Zhao

16. I. The Sui and Tang Dynasties
c. 400 – 845: Age of Buddhism. Appealed to people because it promised peace and escape from suffering

17. II. The Song Dynasty 907 - Tang dynasty ended, China divided
960 - Song dynasty established

18. II. The Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism popular - emphasized
Confucian ethics, spiritual matters

19. Confucian scholars take a civil service examination (reenactment)
II. The Song Dynasty
Civil service exams difficult but a pathway to wealth and status; the successful formed a new social class – the gentry
Confucian scholars take a civil service examination (reenactment)

20. III. Cultural Achievements
The Tang produced great poets Li Bo and Du
Fu, and artists like Wu Daozi
Li Bo
Du Fu

21. III. Cultural Achievements
The Tang made pottery figurines; the Song excelled at porcelain
Red Pottery Figures of Earth Spirits from the Tang Dynasty
Blue-white porcelain, Northern Song Dynasty ( )

22. Rare 900-year-old Song Dynasty porcelain bowl, the Ruyao Washer
Rare 900-year-old Song Dynasty porcelain bowl, the Ruyao Washer. Believed to be the only one of its type in the world, it sold for $26.7 Million at a Sotheby's auction in April 2012.

23. III. Cultural Achievements
Inventions and innovations:
pagoda
magnetic compass

24. III. Cultural Achievements
Inventions and innovations:
gunpowder
woodblock printing
moveable type
paper money

25. IV. Prosperity and Society
Agriculture became more productive because of new irrigation methods & a new type of rice

26. IV. Prosperity and Society
Merchants became more important in society as
trade grew; most people remained peasants
Foreign trade caravan 
Chang'an market scene

27. IV. Prosperity and Society
Sea trade increased when overland trade routes
were lost
Tang Dynasty Ship

28. IV. Prosperity and Society
Women's status declined, foot binding spread –
a symbol of a husband’s wealth and authority
over his wife

30. Emperor Ming, aka Ming the Merciless, from the planet Mongo - archenemy of the heroic Flash Gordon and of all mankind