Tang & Song China

Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang spreads Buddhism to Tibet

Post Han • Period of disunity

• Decline of Confucian bureaucracy

• Buddhism enters & flourishes (why?)

Sui dynasty – return to dynastic

imperialism / exams

• Brief & violent – assassinations of both main

emperors

Tang dynasty (618-907 CE)

• Li Yuan secures frontiers

• extends empire into Tibet, Manchuria &

Vietnam – impact?

• Korea a tributary kingdom

• Importance of Buddhism leads to higher

status for women

• Chinese weapons

Civil Servant system

• Rulers restored Confucian imperial

bureaucracy

• Bureau of Censors evaluated all levels of

bureaucracy

• Examinations become more regular &

determine rank

• (examinations on Confucian works)

Tang Religious issues • Tang rulers patronized Mah. Buddhist

monasteries and Confucian schools

• Monasteries increased to 50,000!

• Monasteries untaxed; housed anyone

• Resented by Daoists & Confucians

• Later Emperor Wu began suppression of

Buddhism & recovery of lands

“The three teachings are one!”

• Confucius,

• Laozi,

• Buddha

(Zhu Xi – Neo-Confucian

philosophy)

Developments of the Tang

• Grand Canal * Li Bo - poet

• Commercial shipping

• Early Junks

• Chang’an - Capital city of 2 million!

• State funded irrigation & canals

• Distribution of lands to peasants

• Better status for women

Tang decline • Disruptions in royal family

• Empress Wu

• Later Emperor’s concubine issue

• Confucian discontent with powerful women

• A failed rebellion – An Lushan

• Nomads…regional govts/warlords increase

%

Song Dynasty (960-1279) • Partial restoration of empire

• Civil servants (scholar-gentry) limited military

growth; Exams continued but easier

• Bureaucracy became larger & less efficient though

more open to lower classes

• Public welfare: clinics, retirement homes

• Postal service; theater

Song Developments

• Gunpowder

• Junks – more sophisticated

• Compasses for sea navigation

• Abacus

• Landscape painting at height

• Cartography/atlas

• Astronomical clock

• Paper banknotes (1st in the world)

Technology, science, and engineering

• Measuring distance and mechanical navigation

• Mathematics and cartography

• Movable type printing

• Hydraulic engineering

• Structural engineering and architecture

• Archaeology

• floating pontoon bridges

Moveable Type

later Neo-Confucianism

• Hostile to outside ideas

• Tradition, social hierarchy, gender distinction

more rigid – Male dominance

• Women – restricted to household / no education

• footbinding emerges- esp. among upper class

Footbinding

Decline, re-centering & fall

• Military weakness

• Neighboring kingdoms demanded tribute

• Chancellor Wang attempts reforms: tax,

land, businesses

• Govt conflict/struggle

Rise of Jin Empire

((Jurchens/Manchurians)

• Conquered Liao

• Attacked Song, capt. Kaifeng (capital)

• Established “Beijing” as capital of Jin

• Fought Song; forced treaty

• Jin elite who moved into N. China became acculturated

Southern Song (1127-1279)

• Retreats below the Yangtze river because of the

expansion of the Jin

• Increase in shipbuilding & maritime trade /

permanent navy w/ catapults & gunpowder

bombs

• Eventually falls to the Mongols who conquer

the Jin, then the Song

Southern Song

(Next Unit – Enter

the Mongols !!!!!)

Korea

• Be sure you can explain…

–How did China impact Korea?

–How did Korea develop differently?

Korea

• China – writing, Buddhism, Confucianism, wood

block printing, movable type

• Diff: writing system simplified to syllabic symbols

• Unified towards end of Tang

• Koryo family

• Friendly with Song because of fear of neighboring

states (Liao)

Vietnam

• Be sure you can explain…

–How did China impact Vietnam?

–How did Vietnam develop

differently?

Vietnam • Eastern part of southeast Asia: Annam & Champa (parts

developed with diff. influences)

• China Annam: Buddhism, Confucianism, rice

• Diff:

–Champa influenced by India & Malaysia through Indian

Ocean trade; contrib. “champa rice”

–Higher status for women – NO FOOTBINDING!

• Early – tribute of Tang; later: friendly with Song

Japan

• Be sure you can explain…

–How did China impact Japan?

–How did Japan develop differently?

Japan

• Archipelago; only 11% arable land!

• China: Buddhism (Zen), Confucianism,

government structure, building techniques;

Mandate of Heaven

• Diff:

–Ceremonial emperor (tenno)

–No walled cities

Feudalism in Japan

A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of

land, and military service.

Japan:

Shogun

Daimyo Daimyo

Samurai Samurai Samurai

Peasant Peasant Peasant Peasant

Land - Shoen

Land - Shoen

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

The emperor

reigned, but did not

always rule!

Feudalism in Europe

A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty and military service.

European knight Samurai Warrior

vs.

Medieval Warriors

Knight’s Armor Samurai Armor

vs.

Medieval Warriors

Samurai fighting the Mongols

Chivalry & Bushido

• What common values and expectations

did these 2 codes of conduct have?

• To whom did the codes apply?

• Why did the codes develop?

• 義 – Gi – Rectitude

• 勇 – Yū – Courage

• 仁 – Jin – Benevolence

• 礼 – Rei – Respect

• 誠 – Makoto or 信 - Shin– Honesty

• 名誉 – Meiyo – Honor, Glory

• 忠義 – Chū – Loyalty • Others that are sometimes added to these:

• 孝 - Kō - Filial piety

• 智 - Chi - Wisdom

• 悌 - Tei - Care for the aged

• -Translations from: Random House's Japanese-English, English-Japanese Dictionary

Influenced by

Confucianism