1. Sui-Tang Era

2. Introduction Sui rose in 580 CE Began with Wendi – a Chinese noble
He struck a marriage alliance with his daughter and the ruler of the northern Zhou
He then seized the throne of his son-in-law and proclaimed himself emperor
He also won support of the northern nomads

3. Where is Wendi? His son, Yangdi, murdered him
He then took the throne, extended conquests, established a milder legal code, upgraded Confucian education
He was fond of luxury and construction projects
Built palaces, canals, even built his own forest…
Fought to bring Korea under Chinese control but failed…

4. The Tang
One of Yangdi’s officials – Li Yuan, emerged as the next leader
He laid the basis for the Golden Age of the Tang
Penetrated as deep as Afghanistan
They extended into Tibet, Vietnam, and Manchuria
Built an empire larger than the Han

5. Bureaucracy
Political power was shared by the succession of imperial families and bureaucrats who passed the civil service exam
The aristocracy ran the administrative positions while the educated class worked as the secretaries
The executive department was divided into 6 ministries…

6. The Examination System
The Tang educated in Confucian classics
The exam system was expanded
Different kinds were administered by the Ministry of Rites
The highest offices were reserved for those who could pass the hardest of exams – philosophy and law
Those who excelled in Chinese Literature would earn the title – jinshi - dignitaries

7. Success on the exams afforded you the ability to wear different types of clothing and be exempt from certain punishments
Even though exams were important, birth and family counted for something as well… many families continued the tradition of education and often the government was dominated by certain families…