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The Sui and Tang Dynasties

The Sui and Tang Dynasties. Chapter 10 (pp. 284 – 291). China’s Hegemony. For most of the period 600 – 1450 C.E., Chinese dynasties established regional hegemony over East Asia China became the strongest civilization in the world

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The Sui and Tang Dynasties

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  1. The Suiand Tang Dynasties Chapter 10 (pp. 284 – 291)

  2. China’s Hegemony • For most of the period 600 – 1450 C.E., Chinese dynasties established regional hegemony over East Asia • China became the strongest civilization in the world • Dynasties like the Sui, Tang and Song reconstituted governments that combined traditional sources of power & legitimacy with innovations better suited to the current circumstances

  3. The Sui Dynasty • 581 – 618 C.E. • Centralized imperial rule • Built the Grand Canal • State-sponsored commercial infrastructure • Manmade waterways that connected the major rivers in China • Increased volume/variety of trade

  4. The Tang Dynasty • 618 – 907 • Li Shiminseized China’s capital Xi’an (Chang’an) and proclaimed himself emperor of the Tang Dynasty

  5. Accomplishments of the Tang • Strong transportation/communication systems • Grand Canal • Built/maintained an advanced road system • Continued to use Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Maritime System • Cultural/technological transfers between Tang and Abbasids • Chinese merchants setup diasporic communities through Southeast Asia

  6. The Battle of Talas

  7. The Tang Tribute System • Tribute System • Existed in earlier dynasties, but was expanded/enhanced to support the enormous Tang dynasty • Neighboring realms were required to pay tribute in forms of gifts or money • China acted as “the Middle Kingdom”

  8. Religion in the Tang • Buddhism had been growing in China since its Classical Period • Mostly Mahayana Buddhism • It allowed easier incorporation to Chinese culture • Empress Wu (690 – 705) was a strong supporter of Buddhism • Contributed huge sums to monasteries and to commission paintings & sculptures • More than 50,000 temples were built • Buddhist art, literature and cultural traditions flourished • Ex. Wu Daozi

  9. The Art of Wu Daozi

  10. The Collapse of the Tang • Over time, tensions between Confucianists & Buddhists grew • Stemmed from ideological & economic differences • In the 9th century, Confucian scholar bureaucrats along with emperor Wuzong conspired to end Buddhist influence • Burned thousands of monasteries & forced Buddhist monks to flee • Results • Confucianism reemerged as dominant belief system • Tang Dynasty weakened due to internal turmoil and again China declined into a period of decentralization

  11. The Song Dynasty Chapter 10 (pp. 291 – 297)

  12. The Song Dynasty • Song reunited China in 960 • Emphasized civil administration, industry, education and art • “Golden Era” in terms of finance & technology • Strong centralized government • Increased size of merit-based bureaucratic system (civil service)

  13. Problems Under the Song • Finances • Large bureaucratic system was expensive, so taxes were raised • Led to free peasant revolts • Military • Led by scholar bureaucrats • Little understanding of how to direct armies • Jurchens (northern nomads) & other groups overran the northern part of the Song Empire • 1279, Mongols conquered the southern Song

  14. Economic Revolutions of the Tang and Song • Changes in economy began in Tang & were refined in Song • Revolutions • Increased agricultural production to deal with growing population • Fast-ripening rice from Vietnam • Improved irrigation techniques • Urbanization • Tang capital Chang’an • Largest city in the world at the time • Song capital Hangzhou

  15. Economic Revolutions of the Tang and Song • Revolutions (continued) • Technological innovations • Porcelain (chinaware) • Improved iron & steel metallurgy • Gunpowder • Movable type printing • Magnetic compass • Financial inventions • As trade grew, merchants developed paper money • Letters of credit called “flying cash” allowed merchants to move money (like a bank) • Primitive checking

  16. Neo-Confucianism • Neo-Confucianism • Focused less on social & political order, and more on the soul & spiritual relationships • Reconciled relationship with Buddhism • Influenced many civilizations throughout East & Southeast Asia

  17. Patriarchal Social Structures • Patriarchal structure grew more rigid • Especially for the upper-classes • Foot binding • Demonstrated class & subservience to males

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