1. Resurgence of Empire in East Asia Chapter 14

2. Sui Dynasty ( C.E.)
Regional kingdoms follow the collapse of Han dynasty
Yang Jian consolidates control of all of China, initiates Sui dynasty
Massive building projects
Military labor
Conscripted labor

3. The Grand Canal
Intended to promote trade between north and south China
Most Chinese rivers flow west-east
Linked network of earlier canals
2000 kilometers (1240 miles)
Roads on either bank
Economic engine well into 20th century

5. Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Tang Taizong – second emperor
pushed father aside and murdered two brothers to take throne
Built capital at Chang’an
Law and order
Taxes, prices low

6. Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Wu Zhao
Concubine of Tang Taizong at age 13
Became wife
He suffered stroke, she directed affairs
Claimed title of Emperor in 690 C.E.
Ruled to age 80

7. Three Tang Dynasty Strengths
Transportation and communications
Extensive postal, courier services
Equal-field system
Designed to avoid concentration of land in hands of wealthy
20% of land, hereditary ownership
80% redistributed according to formula
Family size, land fertility
Worked well until eighth century

8. Three Tang Dynasty Strengths
Bureaucracy of Merit
Imperial Civil Service Examinations
Most advanced through merit
Posts filled by people with ability
System remained strong until early 20th century

9. Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Military Expansion
Manchuria, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet
One of the largest expansions of China in its history
Established tributary relationships
Gifts
China as “Middle Kingdom”
The kowtow ritual

10. Tang Dynasty Decline
Governmental neglect: emperor obsessed with music, favorite concubine
775 C.E. rebellion under An Lushan, former military commander
Nomadic Uighur mercenaries invited to suppress rebellion, sacked Chang’an and Luoyang
Tang decline continues, rebellions in ninth century, last emperor abdicates 907

11. Song Dynasty ( C.E.)
Emphasis on administration, industry, education, the arts
Military not emphasized
Size of bureaucracy heavy drain on economy
Two peasant rebellions in twelfth century
Civil service leadership of military
Lacked military training
Unable to contain nomadic attacks
Song fell to, wait for it ……

13. Economic, Social, and Cultural Developments of Post Classical East Asia Chapter 14

14. Tang & Song Economic Development
Important new development: Vietnamese fast-ripening rice, two crops per year
Technology: iron plows, use of draft animals
Soil fertilization, improved irrigation
Water wheels, canals
Terrace farming

15. Tang & Song Economic Development
Effect of increased agricultural production
Population Growth
Urbanization
Job Diversification and Specialization
Increased Trade
Economic Growth

16. Tang & Song Economic Development
Technology & Industry
Porcelain (“chinaware”)
Increase of iron production due to use of coke, not coal, in furnaces
Gunpowder invented
Earlier printing techniques refined
Moveable type by mid-eleventh century

17. Tang & Song Economic Development
Letters of credit developed to deal with copper coin shortages
Promissory notes, checks also used
Development of independently produced paper money
Not as stable, riots when not honored
Government claims monopoly on money production in eleventh century

18. Tang & Song Social Structures
Patriarchal social structure strengthened
Increased emphasis on ancestor worship
Elaborate grave rituals
Extended family gatherings in honor of deceased ancestors
Foot binding gains popularity
Increased control by male family members
Foot Binding in China

19. Tang & Song Cultural Changes
Declining confidence in Confucianism after collapse of Han dynasty
Increasing popularity of Buddhism
Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Islam also appear
Mahayana Buddhism especially
popular in western China,
C.E.

20. Tang & Song Cultural Changes
Buddhist Conflicts with Chinese Culture
Buddhism:
Text-based (Buddhist teachings)
Emphasis on Metaphysics
Ascetic ideal
Celibacy
isolation
Confucianism:
Text-based (Confucian teachings)
Daoism not text-based
Emphasis on ethics, politics
Family-centered
Procreation
Filial piety

21. Tang & Song Cultural Changes
Buddhist Conflicts with Chinese Culture
Buddhists adapt ideology to Chinese climate
Dharma translated as dao
Nirvana translated as wuwei
Chan school of Buddhism (Japanese Zen) placed little emphasis on written texts.
This made a place for Daoist values in Buddhism

22. China and Korea
Silla Dynasty: Tang armies withdraw, Korea recognizes Tang as emperor
Technically a vassal state, but highly independent
Chinese influence on Korean culture pervasive

23. China and Vietnam Vietnamese adaptation to Chinese culture, technology
Even so, there was ongoing resentment at political domination
Vietnam asserted independence when Tang dynasty falls in tenth century

24. China and Early Japan Chinese armies never invade Japan
Japan adopted a number of Chinese customs & traditions
Japanese imitates Tang administration but did not adopt civil service exams.
Adoption of Confucian, Buddhist teachings, yet retention of Shinto religion

25. The emperor reigned, but did not always rule!
Early Japan
Civil war between Taira and Minamoto clans in twelfth century
Minamoto leader named shogun, 1185 C.E.
Military authority in hands
of samurai
Professional warriors
The emperor reigned, but did not always rule!