1. Post-Classical China

2. Dynasties During Post-Classical
Sui - ( ) – Reunited China after Post-Han warring period and built Grand Canal
Tang – ( ) – Established lasting state system, expanded borders, opposed Buddhism
Song – ( ) – Incorporated Neo-Confucianism and foot binding
Yuan – ( ) – Kublai Khan and Mongol rule
Ming - ( ) – Han (Chinese) rule returns for the final time & Admiral Zheng He

4. Tang China ( )
The Tang Dynasty inherited the united Chinese kingdom from the Sui
With political and economic unity, the Tang setup a strong, lasting imperial
state system, allowing China to thrive as a unified central government
A new drought-resistant strain of rice (Champa Rice) was brought in from
Vietnam, and population increased substantially during the Tang/Song
The Tang emperors were also particularly anti-Buddhist, as Buddhism
was a foreign religion/philosophy, and needed funds for expansion (gold)
Edicts on Buddhism (800s) demanded monasteries pay taxes
And destroyed shrines and idols, eradicating Buddhism in China

6. Song China
The Song Dynasty was known for its official re-establishment of Neo-Confucianism (Han Yu)
Neo-Confucianism reinstated the fundamentals of patriarchy, education, moral examples,
and rituals to maintain social harmony after the impact of Buddhism and warring states
It (and Tang) also allowed wealthy land-owning elites to further encroach on
peasant lands, causing some discontent among the peasants
Foot binding also started under the Song Dynasty, and
it was a distinction of elite/high-class women (900s/1000s)
It was seen as a form of feminine beauty, remaining
small, fragile, and indoors, submissive to men

8. Tribute System – Han, Song and onward
During the Tang and Song, China began to see itself as the most-civilized and
enlightened kingdom in the world (The Middle Kingdom – center of civilization)
This ‘Golden Age’ of imperial China also saw the incorporation of the
Tribute System, which required submission of foreigners to trade
Foreign envoys would send gifts of tribute and submission to the emperor,
and if accepted, the emperor would allow trade and present bestowals (gifts)
On occasion, the Tribute System was not used to show Chinese superiority
Example: Xiongnu Nomads, and Mongols at times were seen as ‘equals’