1. Tang & Song Dynasties Reunification and Renaissance
220 CE.—Han dynasty ends
—Era of Division
—Sui dynasty
—Tang dynasty
—Song dynasty
—Mongol (Yuan) dynasty

2. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice
6th century—Sui dynasty comes to power under the rule of Wendi
Wins widespread support by
Lowering taxes
Establishing granaries (wards off famine)

3. Sui Excesses and Collapse
Yangdi expands on his father’s foundations
Milder legal code
Restoration of exam system (Confucianism)
Promotion of scholar-gentry
Excess, waste and wars lead to collapse
Yangdi assassinated in 618 by his own ministers

4. Emergence of the Tang
Li Yuan saves imperial order and lays the foundation for the Tang
Extends borders of the empire and attempts to assimilate nomads of the C. Asian frontier

5. Rebuilding the Bureaucracy
Continues revival of Confucian thought and promotion of scholar-gentry
Scholar-gentry staffs the bureaucracy, offsetting power of the nobility
Bureaucracy
Imperial level—executive department
District level—regional and provincial offices

6. The Examination System
Emphasis on Confucian thought (taught moral & organizational principles needed for good gov’t)
Exams administered by the Ministry of Rites
Jinshi --receive top gov’t jobs and elite social status
Meritocracy exists, but birth/family connections still most important for gaining jobs

7. State and Religion in Tang/Song Era
Confucian revival threatens Buddhism
Variants—Pure Land, Zen (Chan)
Tang emperors support Buddhism.
Empress Wu
Buddhism is a powerful and influential force

8. Anti-Buddhist Backlash
Buddhism poses various challenges to Taoists and Buddhists
Restriction & persecution under Wuzong
Confucianism emerges as the central ideology from the 9th century until the 20th century.

9. Rise of the Song Rivalries and assassinations weaken Tang
Xuangong and Yang Guifei’s relationship signals end of the dynasty
Collapse in 9th c. brought about by:
Nomadic groups powerful provincial governors
Worsening economic conditions

10. Founding of the Song Zhao Kuangyin establishes the Song dynasty
Unable to conquer Liao dynasty to the north (inherent weakness of Song over nomadic groups)
Tribute paid to Liao in exchange for Sinification

11. Song Politics Smaller & less powerful than Tang
Weakened military while strengthening scholar-gentry
Lax exam rules quickly bloat the bureaucracy with too many less qualified bureaucrats

12. Confucian Revival Neo-Confucians= revivers of Confucian thinking
Stressed rank, obligation, ritual, class, age and gender distinctions (highly patriarchal)
Answers to future problems found in past examples

13. Decline and Reform Variety of reasons:
Inability to fight off nomadic groups
High costs of maintaining an army
Elite disdain for military
Efforts at reform (Wang Anshi) fail to carry on through successive emperors

14. Reaction & Disaster Neo-Confucians reverse Wang’s reforms
Nomads (Jurchens) annex territory
Southern Song dynasty rules from 1167 to 1279
politically weak; culturally achieved new heights of glory

15. Golden Age: Tang & Song Prosperity
Major shift in population balance
Public works (Grand Canal) help counter the shift and solidify control over southern regions

16. Commercial Expansion
Naval technology (junks)= growth of overseas trade
Huge markets, expansion of commerce leads to innovation (flying money)
Rapid urban growth

17. Chinese junk vs. Santa Maria

18. Expansion of Agriculture
Rulers encouraged migration to uncultivated areas
State regulated irrigation, canal systems
New seeds, better fertilizer, inventions (wheelbarrow) increase crop yields
Smaller estates give more power to peasants and not elite landlords
Extended family structure

19. Family & Society
Position of women initially climbs, then rapidly falls during late Song
Stressed:
Authority of elders
Subordination of women
Marriage alliances

20. Neo-Confucianism
Movement allows for freedom for men and confinement for women
Women lose:
Legal rights
Access to education
Status within society and the home
Best exemplified by footbinding

21. Footbinding
Originates in the palace of the last king of the Tang Dynasty
continued even when it was banned by the Manchurian Qing Dynasty ( ).
In remote mountainous areas, women still had their feet bound even when the New China was founded in 1949.

22. Although foot-binding is no longer practiced, many women with bound feet are still alive. Author Beverley Jackson photographed this woman in Yunan Province in 1997.

25. Invention, Scholarship & Artistic Creativity
Technological breakthroughs
Buddhist art & architecture
Confucian literature
Art reflects themes of nature, order, balance and simplicity

26. China’s World Role
No major changes, instead, a consolidation of Chinese civilization
Major technological innovations and most advanced economy in the world
Extends influence over East Asia
Chinese technology will soon change the world