1. China’s Golden Age

2. Mandate of Heaven Ethics determine a good ruler Weather
War also factors

3. Tang Dynasty Rulers Ruled for 300 years
Li Yuan founded the Tang Dynasty
Son Tang Taizong deposed him
Brought a stable government back to China

4. Tang Dynasty Rulers Revived Chinas Bureaucracy
Government departments with fixed responsibility
Created an efficient government
Argued as one of Chinas greatest emperors
Empress Wu, China’ only female Emperor

5. The Tang Capital Capital Chang’an Population 2 million
Largest city in the world
Grid pattern
2 markets
Major commercial center

6. Arts and Literature Golden age for art and Literature Fine paintings
Ceramics, glazed pots and figurines
Buddhist Temples with Statues
Poetry, Li Bo

7. The Song Era of good Government
Class of scholar-officials-highly educated civil servants
Examinations
Those of passed qualified
Monitored officials
Could not serve in home district
Change job every 3 years

8. The Merit System
Hiring or promoting based on talent and skill, rather than wealth or social status
Officials who did well moved up
By promoting scholar class built up loyal base
Nobles power reduced
Scholar-officials became highest ranking group

9. The Shift to the South Economic growth under Song
Urbanization- growth of cities
Several cities with 1 million population
Many in south next to Yangtze River
Withdrew from north after Barbarian invasion
Fled to Hangzhou as new capital

10. Daosim Means way of nature Living closer with nature
Started as philosophy
Had temples, priests, monasteries

11. Buddhism taught life involves suffering
Give up world desires and seek enlightenment
Achieve enlighten to enter nirvana
Escape rebirth

12. Buddhism in China Strengthened between Han and Tang dynasties
Appeal based on salvation
Adapted over time to include parts of Daoism
Two schools of thought
Pure Land
Salvation through faith
Chan
Meditation, awareness and living in the moment

13. Opposition to Buddhism
Criticized as an alien religion
Others criticized withdrawal from the world
Also Wealth and power

14. Opposition to Buddhism
Violent persecutions
Emperor Wuzong hated Buddhists
854 ordered destruction of 4,600 monasteries and 40,000 temples
250,000 forced to give up religious life
Did not regain power and popularity in China

15. Confucianism Most opposition to Buddhism came from Confucians
System of ethics and morals was main belief system before Buddhism

16. Confucian thought
Designed to bring peace and stability to China in 551
Based on respect for family
Fixed role in society
Respect social rank
Maintain order
Moral virtue

17. Neo-Confucianism Buddhism cause Confucians to think more religiously
Influenced by Buddhism and Daoism
Changed the Dao to self improvement
Focus on education

18. Southern Rice Farming The water was mostly in south Main crop was rice
Required flooded fields
Developed pumps
Developed new strands of rice
Harvest 2-3 crops a yr

19. Land Tenure Went from government control to purchased land
Wealthy owned land
Farmers were tenants

20. Ships and Navigation Oceangoing ships that could hold 500 people
Multiple decks and masts
Water tight compartments
Magnetic compass

21. Gunpowder and Printing
Gunpowder first used for fireworks
Bombs, rockets, and other weapons
Block printing
Price of books cheapened
More schools
High rates of literacy

22. Growth of Trade Increase farm production Drop in transportation costs
Grand canal
Money economy
Paper currency
Production of Silk
Porcelain
Iron