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Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties

Explore the advancements and challenges of the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties in Chinese history, from land redistribution and financial stress to the Golden Age of foreign relations and urban development. Discover the impacts of Empress Wu Zetian and foot-binding customs, leading to the rise and decline of these powerful dynasties.

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Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties

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  1. Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties

  2. Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E. • “Land Equalization” System –> land redistribution • Unified coinage • Established army of professional soldiers • People were overworked and overtaxed!

  3. Financial Stress • War for Korea further strains finances • Grand Canal constructed • Strained financial resources

  4. The Grand Canal

  5. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • High point of Chinese history • Imperial examination system perfected • Liberal attitude towards all religions • Spread of Buddhism in China • Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries • Japan, Korea, Persia

  6. Tang Gov’t. Organization

  7. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • New technologies: • Printing --> moveable print • Porcelain • Gunpowder • Mechanical clocks • More cosmopolitan culture • Reestablished safety of Silk Road • Tea came into China from Southeast Asia

  8. Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705 • Only Chinese Empress to rule alone • Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court • Constructed new irrigation systems • Buddhism was favored statereligion • Financed building of many Buddhist temples • BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies

  9. Foot-Binding in Tang China • Broken toes by 3 years of age. • Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

  10. Foot-Binding in Tang China Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

  11. Foot-Binding in Tang China • For upper-class girls, it became new custom

  12. Results of Foot-Binding

  13. End of Tang Dynasty • Causes of decline • Misrule • Economic exploitation • Rebellions • Made it possible for northern invaders to defeat them • Next 50 years saw fragmentation of China

  14. Song [Sung] Dynasty,960-1279 C.E. • Creation of urban, merchant middle class • Neo-Confucianists wanted to purify Confucianism • Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books • Magnetic compassmade China great sea power!

  15. Confucian Inspired Sayings • "Women are to be led and to follow others.“ • "A woman ruler is like a hen crowing.“ • "Woman's greatest duty is to produce a son."

  16. Confucian Inspired Sayings • "We should not be too familiar with the lower orders or with women." • "The woman with no talent is the one who has merit.“ • "Those who cannot be taught, cannot be instructed. These are women and eunuchs."

  17. Confucian Inspired Sayings • "A husband can marry twice, but his wife must never remarry.“ • "Man is honored for strength; a woman is beautiful on account of her gentleness." • "Disorder is not sent down by Heaven, it is produced by women."

  18. Song Peasant Family

  19. Song Began Rice Cultivation

  20. Song Rice Cultivation

  21. Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties

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