1. The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia
Sui-Tang-Song China

2. Chinese Regionalism 220-589 (Post Han-Sui)
A time of political division, economic turmoil, and social conflict.
Regional Kingdoms:

3. “Era of Division” 220-589 C.E. Nomadic Invasions
Endless wars amongst rival kingdoms
Re-emergence of rule by aristocrats
Decline of Bureaucracy
Decline of Confucianism
Rise of Buddhism
Economic decline
Great Wall divided
Technological stagnation
…it was bad.

4. China’s turbulent 4th century
Conquest and rule my non-Chinese peoples (Barbarians) shocked the Chinese.
Huns and Xiongnu eroded the frontier defenses.

5. Confucianism in the Regional Era
Confucianism: stressed ideas and practices that promoted social etiquette, family values, and political stability.
These ideas were criticized for their failure and their value during the regional era.
Regional monarchs began to “re-embrace” the value system, while scholars often condemned its shortcomings.

6. The Re-unification of China under the Sui

8. Re-emergence of Empire: Sui Dynasty 589-618 C.E.
Founded by Yang Jian
Valued Chin style leadership with tight political control.
Used propaganda
Conquered southern China in a Naval War

10. Return to Chin ways Harsh, codified laws Standardized everything
Written test for office holders
Beginnings of civil service exam
Refusal to serve in areas of birth
“eyes and ears of the ruler”
Elaborate building projects such as the capital Changan

11. Changan during the Sui

12. Emperor Yangdi and the Grand Canal
Aka Yang Guang
Great achievement: the Grand Canal
Purpose

15. Fall of the Sui A short lived dynasty: 589-618 C.E
Despite the overwhelming success of the state economically as a result of the Grand Canal.
Failed campaigns of conquest into Korea and against Central Asian Turks
Relentless taxes to support these campaigns

16. The Tang Dynasty Founded by Li Yuan
China’s Greatest Dynasty? Golden Age?
“Qin-Han, Sui-Tang”

17. Tang Taizong Ambitious, Ruthless, arguably China’s greatest emperor.
Believed in a Confucian, Chin, yet benevolent state.’
Stable, peaceful, prosperous…

18. Reasons for Tang Success?
1. Well articulated roads and communication networks. (Canals)
2. Equal field distribution system of land sharing
3. Reliance on a very highly skilled bureaucracy governed by a civil service exam.

19. Civil Service Exam

20. Tang Conquest
Brought Manchuria, the Silla Kingdom of Korea, Vietnam, and as far west as the Aral Sea (Russia) under their control.

21. Tang Decline Incapable emperors Dynastic wars (Du Fu)
An Lushan Rebellion
Talas River Battle of 751
Loss of Silk Roads
Transfer of Power to Islam
Buddhist Crisis of the mid 9th Century.

22. Transition
The Late Tang period saw individual armies loyal to their warlords dominating Chinese life.
Period between the Tang and Song Age saw a return to regionalism. With non-Chinese peoples ruling North China.
China was dominated by Political Fragmentation and Rivalry.

23. The Song Dynasty Song contradiction
Early political stability:
Effective monarchs
Civil Bureaucracy
Founded by Zhao Guangyin
Drunken generals story

24. Song Shortcomings and Decline
Military weakness
Economic costs of Bureaucracy
Taxation issues
Peasant woes
Rise of nomads-The Khitan, Jurchen, and the Mongols

25. Song split

27. Song Demise 1215: lost control to Jin Dynasty
Reverted to control Southern China
1279 Southern Song crushed by Mongols.

28. Tang/Song Culture Neo-Confucianism
Wang Anshi: political and economic innovations
Metaphysical (being) school of Zu Xi
Good v. Evil: Confucian study and Buddhist meditation can treat evil.
His work will be studied and admired for a millenium.

29. Tang/Song Economics “Champa” Rice: Porcelain Metallurgy
Paper production
“Flying Cash”
Urbanization

30. Japanese Characteristics
Geography?
Comparison with Greece?
Warrior Aristorcarcy
Rigid society
5% of the population was slave
Hundreds of early political units
Clan based society governed by warrior chieftans
Early socieity: Yamato Clan
Religious beliefs: Shinto-the Way of the Gods

31. Japan
Early Buddhism
Deficits of Shinto faith
Diffusion of things Chinese
Seventeen Article Constitution-Buddhist and Confucian document
Taika Reforms-attempt to recreate a Confucian style system in Japan (Exam, Bureaucracy)

32. Nara Japan ( C.E.)
The earliest inhabitants of Japan were nomadic peoples from northeast Asia
Ruled by several dozen states by the middle of the first millennium C.E.
Inspired by the Tang example, one clan claimed imperial authority over others
Built a new capital (Nara) in 710 C.E., modeled on Chang'an
Adopted Confucianism and Buddhism, but maintained their Shinto rites

33. Heian Japan Heian Japan (794-1185 C.E.)
Moved to new capital, Heian (modern Kyoto), in 794
Japanese emperors as ceremonial figureheads and symbols of authority
Effective power in the hands of the Fujiwara family
Emperor did not rule, which explains the longevity of the imperial house
Chinese learning dominated Japanese education and political thought
Buddhism exploded during this time, despite a strong reaction against it.

35. Heian Decline Feuds amongst the great families
Local ambitions and political division
War between the Taira and Minamoto clans
Rise of Samurai class
Rise of Yorimotoa Minamoto as Shogun (Kamakura Shogunate)

36. Japanese Cultural Achievements
Began to make their mark in literature.
Murasaki Shikibu-a female courtess during the Heian Age wrote the Tale of Genji.
A story of court life and personality of Japanese during the age.
First novel in human history

37. Decline of Heian Japan The equal-field system began to fail
Aristocratic clans accumulated most land
Taira and Minamoto, the two most powerful clans, engaged in wars
Clan leader of Minamoto claimed title shogun, military governor; ruled in Kamakura