Post-Han Chinese Dynasties Unit Two:

Chinese Dynasties Sui (“sway”) Tang Song

Post-Han China  Period of the Six Dynasties ( CE)  Bureaucracy collapsed  Buddhism gained strength, replacing Confucianism  Non-Chinese nomads rule much Chinese territory

Sui Dynasty ( CE)  Established by Wendi  Followed by Yangdi Reunification under the Sui and Tang Sui Empire reunified China Established a government based on Confucianism but heavily influenced by Buddhism Sui’s rapid decline and fall may have been due to its having spent large amounts of resources on a number of ambitious construction, canal, irrigation, and military projects The Tang Empire: 618 CE Tang state carried out a program of territorial expansion, avoided over-centralization Tang emphasized Confucian tradition

Tang Dynasty ( CE)  Li Yuan  Tang armies extend to Afghanistan, parts of Tibet, Red River Valley in present-day Vietnam, and Manchuria dominating nomads on borders

Xuanzang returning to Chang'an Buddhism in Tang Xuanzang returning to Chang'an Buddhism and the Tang Empire Tang emperors legitimized their rule with Buddhist ideas -Monasteries were important allies of early Tang emperors Mahayana Buddhism -More flexible, adaptable Buddhism spread through Central and East Asia -Followed trade routes -Chang’an central to trade routes -Chang’an = cosmopolitan city

Chang’an

Tang Dynasty ( CE)  Rebuilt Bureaucracy  Confucian (restored)  Political authority shared  Examination System—Ministry of Rites  Training  Some commoners  Granted them special social status

Exam Cells

Tang Dynasty ( CE)— Decline

Tang Dynasty Gossip…  Empress Wu  Empress Wei  Females in general

East Asia After Fall of Han After the fall of the Tang, a number of new states emerged in the former Tang territory: the Liao, the Jin, and the Chinese Song. As the Liao and Jin cut the Chinese off from Central Asia, the Song developed seafaring and strengthened contacts with Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

East Asia in 1000

Industrial Revolution Many mathematic and navigation advancements during the Song dynasty: 1. Song inventors improved the previously invented compass, making it suitable for seafaring. 2. Shipbuilding, the Song introduced the sternpost rudder and watertight bulkheads Ship innovations were later adopted in the Persian Gulf. 3. Standing, professionally trained, regularly paid military. Iron and coal = important strategic resources for military. large amounts of high-grade iron and steel for weapons, armor, and defensive works GUNPOWDER!

Cities during the Song Example: Hangzhou Crowded but well-managed Scholars, monks, shopkeepers Restaurants, parks

Song Dynasty ( CE)  Decline  Nomads on the borders  Neo-Confucianism weakens the military  Poor leadership—Wang Anshi’s reforms of the 11 th Century  Mongols – eventually invade Song China

Legacies – Tang and Song  Grand Canal  Commercial Expansion (Silk Road, Urban Centers)  Agricultural Production  Family (male-dominated households  Technology (compass, junk, printing)  Art (poetry!)  Bureaucracy was re-established

Flaming Arrows

Women vs. Men: Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism  Roles of women and men (Neo- Confucians)  Advocated confining women  Men—permitted far more sexual freedom  Women: less educated, “homemakers”  Laws favored men

Foot-binding  Counterpart to veiling in Islam?  Small feet preferred  At the age of 5-6, a girl’s toes were turned under and bound with silk. It was wound more tightly as she grew. Greatly impaired a woman’s ability to walk. Easier to confine.

Question  As part of the Tang ___________ system, participating countries sent embassies to the Tang capital to acknowledge the Chinese emperor’s supremacy. A.examination B.exchange C.tributary D.colonization

Answer  As part of the Tang ___________ system, participating countries sent embassies to the Tang capital to acknowledge the Chinese emperor’s supremacy. A.examination B.exchange C.tributary (correct) D.colonization Hint: See page 314.

Question  The most dramatic change in the status of Chinese women during the Song dynasty was manifested by A.footbinding. B.admittance of women into the military. C.veiling. D.the introduction of education for women.

Answer The most dramatic change in the status of Chinese women during the Song dynasty was manifested by A.footbinding. (correct) B.admittance of women into the military. C.veiling. D.the introduction of education for women. Hint: See page 327.

Question  The hostility of Tang elites to ___________ resulted in an incalculable cultural loss to China. A.Confucianism B.educated women C.Buddhism D.Islam

Answer  The hostility of Tang elites to ___________ resulted in an incalculable cultural loss to China. A.Confucianism B.educated women C.Buddhism (correct) D.Islam Hint: See page 319.