China: Sui, Tang & Song Dynasties

China awakes from a long sleep Sui & Tang China Sui Dynasty (589-618)

. China re-unified under Yang Jian Wendi (r. 581-604) . strong centralised govt . Infrastructure . roads, granaries, palaces . Grand Canal -- 2000km (600-608 CE) . connected Chang Jiang (Yangtze) to Huang He (Yellow) . Hangzhou to Zhou . conscripted +5 million to build canal Yang Jian Wendi . integrated economies of N & S China Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)

. Tang Taizong .  sense of duty . Confucian ruler concerned w/subjects . stable gov’t, low taxes . tributary relations w/neighbouring states . Japan, Korea, Vietnam

. Later rulers led to decline of Tang . rebellion led by Gen. An Lushan (755-763 CE) . Tang enlist Uighur nomads to end rebellion

. Decline & Collapse follows Dynastic Cycle

Tang Taizong (r. 627-649) Politics

Goals of Tang Taizong 1. Stability 2.  power of aristocracy . Expand Civil Service exams . positions -- merit-based . power & influence of bureaucrats . Equal Field System . took some land from aristocrats .  pwr of aristocrats . Re-allocated land to peasants . successful peasants scholar-gentry

Landed Aristocrats . Communication & transportation "Horses are the military preparedness of the state; network if Heaven takes this preparedness away, the state . postal service - couriers, inns, etc. will totter and fall." Book of T'ang, 8th century . overland trade routes safe from banditry By the middle of the 7th century, Tang China claimed 706,000 horses. Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Song Dynasty - Politics

Continuation of Tang policies .  Power of aristocracy . Farmers able to buy and sell land .  independence .  income &  power . Result: .  new class = scholar-gentry

Song Taizu Tang & Song Technology & Industrial Developments

Moveable type printing- Naval Technology First Book printed in 868 Magnetic compass Gunpowder-Advanced military & mining

Metallurgy-Advances Abacus - number in picture = allowed for production 6,302,715,408) & detail Porcelain Vase-Porcelain poured into molds. Uniform shapes & designs. Became popular trade item. Agricultural Developments & Expansion

. ‘fast-ripening’ rice (hard rice)  2 harvests /year

. Iron plows, oxen & water buffalo, &  irrigation (pumps & water wheels .  food production .  population (210 CE-1200) .  45 million 115 million .  urbanisation .  commercialisation & specialisation . goods shipped t/o China .  military expansion Tang & Song Economy

. Market Economy . Financial instruments . Banks . ‘flying cash’ . letters of credit . checks . Cosmopolitan society . trade led to infusion of foreign goods, customs, Coin ideas . music, art, religion, etc. . spices, cloth, gems . Economic growth Flying Cash Tang & Song Culture

. Religion -- generally  degree of tolerance . Spread via Silk Road & maritime routes . Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaesim, Islam . During Tang some destruction Buddhist temples (Confucian & Doaist- inspired) . Dunhuang  major centre for Buddhist learning . Buddhism & Daoism fuse elements (syncretism)  Chan Buddhism . foundation for Zen Buddhism . spread to Japan & Korea Tang and Song Culture

. Philosophy Neo-Confucianism . Zhu Xi fuses Buddhist with Confucianism . forms Neo-Confucianism . focus on ideas of li (respect, principles) & qi (existence) . alternative to Buddhism for Chinese intellectuals . ideas collected into the Four Books . Became part of education w/ The Five Classics . philosophy with examination system & gentry-class impeded change. Zhu Xi (1130-1200) . Very conservative Tang & Song Social Hierarchy

Merchants

.  Social hierarchy . addition of scholar-gentry .  patriarchy . Women’s status continues to decline . Footbinding among aristocracy & scholar-gentry Results of Foot binding . sign of wealth & status . not practical for lower classes . abolished in early 20th century Tang and Song Culture

China’s Renaissance . Scholar-Gentry seen as major forces in Tang & Song art & literature . Expansion of literature, philosophy . Poetry Li Bo & Du Fu . Du Fu often cited as ‘greatest poet' . poems often reflected everyday life of peasants . Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism major influences on art . Major Themes . nature . man’s struggle w/nature

Song Poet Painting The Song is Over

.  Influence & Reliance on Bureaucracy . Generals encouraged to retire . Replaced military leaders with bureaucrats . Military decisions not made by trained Generals . Dynastic Cycle . internal discontent . Corruption . Cost of bureaucracy . Threats by Mongols  Song move capital south to Guangzhou . Chingiss Khan conquers China & defeat Song in 1279