The Sui, Tang,

and Song

Dynasties of

Ancient China

Learning Targets and Intentions of the Lesson

Students Will Be Able to:

1. KNOW how the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties restored

China to greatness and influenced the various empires for

hundreds of years. 2. UNDERSTAND and analyze the

significance of the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties on the

political and social structure of China. 3. List and describe

the impact and the significance of China’s major inventions on

today’s contemporary world (SKILL).

Do Now

What is the Dynastic Cycle? What is the Mandate from Heavenand how can you acquire or lose the mandate?

Review-Dynastic Cycle

-Mandate of Heaven

Period of Disunion (220-589 AD)

Han Dynasty

Collapsed

China split into several Kingdoms

Led by military leaders.

Cultural diffusion

Chinese

Nomadic settlers, and

Invaders

Emergence of Buddhism

Buddhism enters China during

Period of Disunion

wealthy donated land and

money to Buddhist Temples

Buddhism influenced

Art

Literature

Architecture

The Sui,

Tang, &

Song

Dynasties

The Sui DynastyDid not last long (similar to the Qin)

Grand Canal Constructed

Largest artificial river in the world today

Canal locks invented

Professional army started

…however

The People

Overworked

Over taxed

The Grand Canal

Linking northern and

southern China

Water to the south to

grow food to feed the

north

The Tang Dynasty

618- Tang overthrew Sui government

Founder-Taizong: Greatest ruler

Known as the Golden Age of China

(a time of great accomplishments

and innovations)

The only female ruler of China came

from this dynasty- Empress Wu

The Tang Dynasty Falls….

China falls into a brief period of

chaos & disorder

Separate kingdoms competed

for power

China was so divided period is

known as the

Five Dynasties and Ten

Kingdoms

Lasted only 53 years

The Song Dynasty Took control in 960

Lasted 300 years (Tang)

Invented paper money

manage growing wealth

Tang & Song Achievements

Advances in Agriculture:

Song Dynasty:

farming new heights

irrigation techniques

The Dragon Bone device

One person instead of a crew to dig underground well

Light weight portable pump could scoop up water and

pour it into an irrigation canal

Tang & Song Achievements Advances in Agriculture:

Song Dynasty

cultivated the wild lands - Chang Jiang River

New fast-ripening rice;

Several crops a season

Learned to grow cotton

Tea production increased

Agricultural surpluses helped pay taxes

food for all Chinese-resulting in a population increase

Tang & Song Achievements

Artists & Poets:

Tang Dynasty- murals celebrated

Buddhism and nature

Poetry describe the beauty in life

and human emotion

Artists made clay figurine such as

horses that showed their strength

Porcelain items were made of pale-

green glaze called celadon

“The Four Great Inventions of China”

1. Paper was invented in

105 during the Han Dynasty

“The Four Great Inventions of China”

2. Tang

Dynasty

invented the

woodblock

printing

“The Four Great Inventions of China”

3. Tang Dynasty

Gunpowder

Fireworks

altered how wars

were fought

“The Four Great Inventions of China”

4. Tang Dynasty - magnetic compass-

navigate vast distances over land and sea

Old method - sundial/compass

Quick Recap1. What advancements in farming occurred

during the Song dynasty?

2. What was the effect on Chinese

population due to these advancements

3. How could the invention of woodblock

printing effect society?

4. How do you think the magnetic compass

effected Chinese trade?