1. How Many Dynasties are in Post-Classical China 600-1450?
Do Now: Please take out DBQ graphic organizers on Buddhism in China
What missing voices/additional documents? What would their perspective
Offer? Can you think of other documents (ex. A census from Tang Dynasty
Accounting for Buddhist population and service)
Tang and Song China
The Golden Age of China
How Many Dynasties are in Post-Classical China ?

3. Sui Dynasty
Emperor Wendi united traditional core of China after fall of Han
Wendi lowered taxes / instituted land reform
Murdered by son Yangdi

4. Sui Dynasty Yangdi re-established civil service exams
Advanced scholar-gentry
Forced labor of peasants for construction of Grand Canal
Unsuccessfully tried to take Korea
Decline due to failure in war, breakaway provinces, pressure from northern nomads
Yangdi assassinated by own ministers

5. Tang Dynasty Tang established by one of Yangdi’s officials
Tang armies conquered as far as Afghanistan- Tang largest Chinese empire
Completed repairs on Great Wall
Empire extended into Tibet, Vietnam, and Manchuria

6. Tang Dynasty
Korea was conquered and vassal kingdom, Silla, established
Scholar-gentry used to administer vast lands
Scholar-gentry used to offset nobles
Civil service exam expanded
Merit important but nobles found place in scholar-gentry

8. Tang Dynasty
Buddhism found home in China due to patronage by royal family
Buddhism became strong social, economic, and political force
Attempt made by Empress Wu to elevate Buddhism to state religion

9. Tang Dynasty Rise of Buddhism in China (mid 9th century)
Buddhism changed by Chinese society
Buddhism seen as threat by Confucians and Daoists
Why?

10. Tang Dynasty Buddhists restricted and persecuted
Buddhism survived but severely weakened
Emperor Xanzong and concubine, Yang Guifei
Revolts killed many of Yang’s relatives- forced emperor to execute Yang
Rebellions, breakaway provinces, and weak rulers brought end to Tang
Yang Guifei

11. Song Dynasty Last Tang emperor forced to resign
Emperor Taizu reunited much of China but north remained under control of nomadic Jin
Song paid tribute to nomads
Military came under control of government- increasing status of scholar-gentry
Emperor Taizu

13. Song Dynasty
Civil service exams became routine- every three years at three levels: district, province, and imperial
Rise of Neo-Confucianism
Stressed morality as highest goal
Hostile to outside influences and ideas
Stress on traditionalism stifled technological innovation and creative thought
Emphasized rank, obligation, deference, and gender distinctions

14. Song Dynasty
Decline due to financial stress: tribute payments to northern nomads, cost of maintaining large army on border
Increased taxes caused social unrest
Army poorly led and equipped due to control by scholar-gentry
Reforms between by Chief Minister Wang Anshi: cheap loans, taxes on landlords and scholar-gentry, establishment of trained mercenary army

15. Song Dynasty Reforms opposed by scholar-gentry
Reforms ended with death of emperor and influence of Neo-Confucianism on succeeding emperor
North forces shrinking of Song into rump state
Song conquered by Mongols

16. Golden Age of China
Grand Canal expanded by Tang caused shift in populations within China
South saw increase in population and food production
Canal increased communication within China, increased revenues, opened up south to commerce
Silk Road, cut by nomads, was re-opened and revitalized by Tang

17. The Silk Road

18. Golden Age of China Increased sea trade under Tang and Song
Use of Chinese Junks
Trade and markets regulated
Guilds established
Deposit shops (banks)
Paper money
Flying money (credit vouchers)
Chinese Junk

19. Golden Age of China
Levels of urbanization not seen in West until Industrial Revolution
Industry- iron production greater in Song than in Britain during Industrial Revolution

20. Life in China
Canal allowed peasants to market produce throughout empire
Large estates broken up for peasant land- accompanying loss of power of nobility
Power of males intensified. Child who struck parents could be beheaded. Child who struck older sibling could get 2 ½ years hard labor

21. Chinese women making silk
Life in China
Chinese women making silk
Marriage put off until late in life- as late as 30 for scholar-gentry
Women could divorce
Neo-Confucianism reinforced male dominance
Footbinding became visible symbol of women’s subjugation

22. Life in China Footbinding Symbol of women’s subjugation
Started with upper classes
Began around age 5-6
Limited women’s mobility
Practice spread to peasant class
Seen as attractive- unbound feet would severely limit marriage prospects

23. Life in China Technological advances
Most basic types of bridges developed (truss, suspension, etc.)
Application of gunpowder for weaponry
Compass first used for navigation
Abacus
Moveable type

24. COT: Post-Classical China 600-1450
In Post-Classical China ( ) the mandate of heaven remained a way to determine dynastic succession providing structure through rebuilding of infrastructure (Great Wall and the new Grand Canal linking the Yangtze to the Yellow Rivers), the role of the civil service bureaucracy would facilitate sound political decision making through the organization of the economy based on Confucian principles, however, trade would increase expanding both China’s size (during the Tang Dynasty) and their hegemony (sinification of Korea, Viet Nam and Japan) and extension of maritime (junk ship trade across the Indian Ocean) and caravan trade (across the silk routes) .
In post-classical China the increase in trade (proto-industrialism/commercial expansion) would lead Tang-Song China to actively pursue tributary ties. The influence of Buddhism through trade routes would lead to great internal conflict eventually developing into neo-Confucianism. With all of this trading influence, however, the status of merchants would not be elevated based on Confucian principles.

25. COT Changes Continuities Civil Service system expanded
Grand Canal (liking Yellow with Yangtze)
Elevated status of women then foot binding
Dynasties (Sui-Tang-Song)
Size of empire ( Tang the largest)
Urbanization (Chang ‘An and Guang Zhou)
Woman Empress (Wu Zeitan)
Banking, letters of credit, paper”flying”money
Neo-Confucianism- mixing Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism
Gunpowder weaponry (Song Dynasty)
Abacus
Removable type printing
Compass
Porcelain
Mechanical clock
Civil service meritocracy
Infrastructure rebuilt every new dynasty ( in accordance with Mandate of Heaven)
Mandate of Heaven
Patriarchy (deference in Confucianism)
Silk Road and Indian Ocean
Confucianism (role in Civil Sevice)
Buddhism
Gunpowder ( for fireworks)
Paper production (although spreads West after Battle of Talas River with Abbasid Caliphate)
Role of forced labor
Role of military