1. China: Tang and Song Dynasties
Post-Classical Era

2. Han Dynasty
When does it fall?
What is it known for?

3. Period of the Six DynastiesCE
Scholar-Gentry class declined
Coming from a family of educated, high social status, esp. land owners
Non-Chinese nomads rule
Buddhism replaced Confucianism
Economic, technological, intellectual, urban decline

4. Sui Dynasty
Late 500s unites the north and south under strong leadership
Wen’ti (Wendi)
Took control of northern China
Lowered taxes and established granaries
His son, Yan’ti (Yangdi)

5. Yang’ti Reformed the legal code, reinstituted Confucianism
Build the Grand Canal
Connected over 1200 miles, from the Yangtze to the Yellow Rivers
Established political and economic unity ( )
Tried to conquer Korea (unsuccessful)
Hated by people: overworked and overtaxed
Peasant revolts

6. Tang Dynasty 618-907 Known for wealth and power
Rebuilt the Great Wall—Turkic invasions
Military conquests in: Central Asia (Turks) and Northeast Asia (Korea)Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea
Lowered taxes

7. More Tang Dynasty Examination System Scholar officials
Highest offices in government went to individuals who passed exams based on Confucian classics and Chinese literature
Scholar officials
System for choosing was through the 3 Confucian exams (favored wealthy men)

8. Tang Dynasty Dynasty most progressive
Land distribution included widows
Mutual divorce acceptable - women could remarry
Access to broadening education system
Military skills
Social restrictions lifted

9. Empress Wu You read about her…More coming later 690-705
Encouraged spread of Buddhismtried to make it the state religion
Lowered taxes
Military conquest of Korea

10. Confucian Exam

11. Confucian Exam con’d Faults: Benefits: Corruption
Confucian thoughtdid not judge ability to lead military or collect taxes
Benefits:
Gave China an intelligent governing class
No longer ruled by few…

12. Tang Decline/Rise of the Song
Emperor Xuanzong ( )
Initially advanced political & economic reform
Patronized arts
Downfall? A harem girl named Yang Guifei
Revolt in 755
Nomadic peoples/regional governors fed off the disorder

13. Song Dynasty 960-1279 First emperor: Zhao Kuangyin (Taizu)
Failed to defeat the Liao Dynasty in Manchuria, establishing a precedent for weakness in dealing with nomadic peoples

14. Song Military subordinated to the scholar-gentry
Confucian scholar-gentry ideals over Buddhist rivals
Increased salaries, civil service exams, etc.
Revival of Confucian thought: neo-Confucianism

15. Song again: Neo Confucianism
Cultivation of personal morality is highest human goal
Produced superior men to govern/teach
Emphasis on rank, obligation, deference, performance of rituals
Authority of patriarchal head of family was strengthened
“Social harmony and prosperity is maintained when men and women performed the tasks appropriate to their status.”

16. Roots of Decline
Nomads began to carve out kingdoms on northern borders
Paid tribute to nomads to protect against invasion
Emphasis on scholar-gentry concerns contributed to military declinesoon the northern borders fell
The Song fled south (1115) and established a capital at Hangzhou (Yangtze River Basin)

17. Industrial Revolution?
Canal system
Re-opened Silk Roads
Rice-growing dominated area
Chinese junks allowed for Chinese to dominate the seas
Money economy: deposit shops, paper money, credit vouchers
Agricultural expansion

18. You say you want a revolution…
Explosive powder
Tang: fireworks; Song: military use
Flame-throwers, poisonous gas, rocket launchers
Chairs, tea drinking, coal fuel
Compasses, abacuses
Movable type printing (Bi Sheng)

19. Chinese Cities
China’s estimated urban population (10%) exceeded that of all other civilizations
Allowed traders and artisans to prosper
Largest: Changan: 200,000,000 people

20. Women’s Roles (more coming up)
Independence:
Wealthy urban women could have lovers
Women’s rights in divorce
Partners of similar ages
Restriction:
Housemaker, mother, wifely fidelity, widow chastity (neo-Confucian ideals)
Excluded from education
Foot-binding

21. Legacy: Centralized administration Scholar-gentry elite
Civilization expanded as south was integrated into the north
Economyworld leader until 18th C.
Chinese inventions
Outside influences incorporated into existing patterns

22. Old Trees, Level Distance

23. Seeking the Tao in the Autumn Mountains

24. Finches and Bamboo

25. Scholar Viewing a Waterfall

26. Women in China
Tang and On

27. Patriarchical Traditional Guides Confucianism order
Ruler guides subject
Father guides son
Husband guides wife
Confucianism order
Women must obey father, husband, and sons
Father before marriage
Husband during
Sons are husband dies

28. Rights Could not pick spouse Could not divorce or remarry
Husband could divorce her
Could not inherit property or wealth
Concubines

29. Empress Wu Zetian,
The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone. 
Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court.
Construction of new irrigation systems.
Buddhism was the favored state religion.
Financed the building of many Buddhist temples.
She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.
The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family.
Founded the Imperial University
Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system)
Soldiers dropped to lowest status.
Confucianists at work; Daoists at home.
The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake!
Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation
Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported.
Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there.

30. Footbinding Origins unknown - several legends
Began in Tang, fully accepted in Song
Small feet = beauty

31. Footbinding in Tang China
Broken toes by 3 years of age.
The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family.
Founded the Imperial University
Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system)
Soldiers dropped to lowest status.
Confucianists at work; Daoists at home.
The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake!
Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation
Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported.
Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there.
Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

32. Footbinding in Tang China
Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

33. Footbinding in Tang China
For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

34. Women With Bound Feet

35. The Results of Footbinding

36. Footbinding Results 1997 UCSF Study
Findings: more likely to fall, less able to stand from a chair, less able to squat, lower bone density

37. Questions
Footbinding started with the upper classes, why did it become widespread across classes?
Where else in history do we see similar practices?
Does modern society have equivalent practices?