Reunification of ChinaSui, Tang and Song Dynasties

I. After the Hana. Centuries of disunity

• 589; Sui, Tang then Song dynasties centralize & revitalize China.

II. Sui Dynasty - 589A. Ruler Wendi reestablished centralized state

1. Repaired Great Wall2. New conquests

- Vietnam, Taiwan3. Revolts due to high taxes ended Sui dynasty

- Tang dynasty emerged

III. Tang Dynasty – Golden Era of Chinese HistoryA. Expanded influence

1. Formed protectorates (defender of) over Tibet, Vietnam, Korea = spread Chinese institutions

2. Tribute from Japan- foreign envoys performed Kowtow before the emperor

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B. Strengthened Central Gov’t1. Empress Wu (one of few female rulers)

- Reduced powers of landlords- Removed their tax power; state taxed peasants

directly.- Accurate censuses = fair & reliable taxation

C. Civil Service Exam Revived1. Stricter2. Education counting more than birthright3. Aristocrat’s role faded in favor of scholar-bureaucrats

Empress Wu – 625-705

D. Extended gov’t functions1. Regulate trade2. Roads & canals

- Grand Canal linking southern rice fields to pop. Centers in the north

3. Flying Money = early currency- Credit instrument = redeemed at end of voyage- Reduced danger of robbery- Led to paper money

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E. Attack on Buddhism1. Revival of Confucianism – “Neo-Confucianism”2. Buddhism = potentially subversive element

- Favored early on; rejected later as alien.- Thousands of shrines, monasteries destroyed.- Remained important minority but…

- Period of growth halted3. Tang felt right and duty to regulate beliefs of

subjects

F. Tang Decline - Late 700’s1. Poverty, taxes, nomadic invasions = protest2. 906 - civil war3. 960 - Song comes to power

IV. Song DynastyA. Controlled less land than Tang

1. North dominated by nomads; - Jurchens = Jin Dynasty

2. Control focused on southern regions

B. Economically Dynamic1. Tax revenues up; focused on merchants not peasants; revolts down2. Domestic (in China) trade increased = tea, cotton3. Foreign trade flourisheda. Highly developed manufacturing sector

b. sophisticated ships/tech.; Junks 4. Imports limited mostly to raw materials

a. full consumer society does not developb. Why? clashed with Confucian ideals against excesses & self-reliance

C. Improved Ag. Productivity & Coal & Iron Output1. Quick-growing Champa rice from Vietnam &

fertilizers = more harvests & yields 2. Massive pop. growth; 100 mill. +3. Expansion of urban life; Big Cities! - Hangzhou

D. Arts & Culture During Tang and Song1. Art, architecture, literature reflected Buddhist,

Daoist influencea. Pagoda introducedb. Art & lit. reliance on natural subjectsc. Traditional order of Neo-Confucianism combined with love of nature inspired by Daoists & Buddhists

E. Scientific Advancement of Tang and Song1. Gov’t-sponsored map making & astronomical

observationa. expanded knowledge of universe

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2. Most significant?a. Explosive powder

- 1st for fireworks- Then weaponry: land mines, hand grenades, projectiles

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b. Wood-Block printing- By 10th cent. - books of all types & every classic in print- paper currency & playing cards followed

c. These techs. spread to West by 15th cent.

F. Neo-Confucianism during Song Era1. Revival of Confucian ideology

a. Emphasis on traditionb. Less receptive to outside ideas; solutions drawn from pastc. Limited long-term innovationd. Reinforced role of patriarch; submissive/inferior role of womene. Worsened conditions for women by Later song Era

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Foot binding – Song Dynasty to early 20th century

G. Song Dynasty Replaced by Mongols1. Yuan Dynasty forms under Kublai Khan

a. China regains control under Ming dynasty