The Chinese Renaissance Unit 2: The Post-Classical Age, 600-

1450Part II – Reconstruction of Society

Background220 CE: Collapse of the Han DynastyDuring the last 2 centuries of Han Rule, large

landowners gained influence in governmentReduced their taxes; raised taxes on peasantsMassive discontent & rebellion

Han military took powerAligned with regional landowners (War Lords)

Han dynasty dissolved in region ruled by war lords

Decline of ConfucianismDuring Han dynasty, elites and intellectuals

embraced Confucian traditions

Confucian traditions were believed to ensure social order and stability

With collapse of Han dynasty and disintegration of China into warring states, interest in Confucianism lessened

Sui589-618 CEFounded a powerful warlordConquered other warlords and reunited

ChinaSui dynasty established power using

legalistic means similar to those of Shi Huangdi

Strong central government, harsh rules, forced labor

Sui Dynasty InnovationsTransportation & communication networkDistribution of land: equal field systemGovernment bureaucracy based of meritGrand Canal: to facilitate trade between

northern and southern China and to make abundant food supplies in south available to north

Tang Dynasty

Tang627-907 CE: expanded territoryTried to establish a Confucian beneficent

governmentStressed Confucian education and civil service

Improved on developments during Sui:Transportation & communications networkDistribution of land: equal field system

Problems: rise in population, bribery by wealthy, land given to Buddhist monasteries

Government bureaucracy based on merit

Tang Foreign RelationsTributary relationship with neighboring lands

neighbors recognized Chinese emperors as overlords

Paid tribute in form of gifts

Kowtow: ritual prostration before emperor

Chinese gave gifts and recognition in return

Imperial PowerThe Tang follow the Han and makes China

once again a great imperial powerRoughly the same time period as the Islamic

EmpiresThese two large empires will stimulate more

traffic along the Silk RoadAs a result both will benefit from cross-cultural

interaction Chinese cities become more cosmopolitan in nature

Rise of BuddhismThe religious &

philosophical ideology of Buddhism became a major aspect of Chinese culture

It blended with Chinese ideas valuesIntegrated the ideas of

Confucianism, Daoism, & other indigenous philosophical systems Became a natural part of

Chinese civilization

Eventually would be persecuted by the state & decline in influence

End of the Tang DynastyTang dynasty declined in power

Ineffective leadership by later emperorsRebellions occurred

Emperors gradually gave control to warlordsState ended

Military governors made their own little kingdoms

East Asia cut off from communication with Islamic world

Warlords controlled separate regions

Song

Song DynastyReunified China after 6 decades of war

Reestablished central bureaucracyPrivate trade grew

Mercantile class bornCultural refinement

New interest in ConfucianismMajor crops: tea & cottonGunpowder 1st used for military purposes

Song EconomyUse of interregional

credit systemFlying money

Beginning of government issued paper moneyInitially failed

Song SocietyDeveloped

sophisticated Neo-Confucian philosophy while Chan (Zen) Buddhism remained popular

Women’s status declined during the SongLost many rights

InnovationsPaperPrintingLetter of credit/cashGunpowder/explosivesThe magnetic

compassJunkPorcelain, fine chinaImprovements in

production of iron & steel