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Medieval China

Medieval China. The Rise and Fall of the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties. Before the Medieval Period. Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE): growth and expansion “Mandate of Heaven” Medieval China’s three dynasties: Sui Dynasty (580 –618) Tang Dynasty (618 –906) Song Dynasty (960 –1127)

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Medieval China

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  1. Medieval China The Rise and Fall of the Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasties

  2. Before the Medieval Period • Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE): growth and expansion • “Mandate of Heaven” • Medieval China’s three dynasties: • Sui Dynasty (580–618) • Tang Dynasty (618–906) • Song Dynasty (960–1127) • Recovery and a time of great glory and development Zhang Qian, explorer during the Han dynasty, travels west

  3. The Collapse of the Han Dynasty • The Han dynasty ended in 220 CE • Strong regional states replaced the Han dynasty • “Period of the Three Kingdoms” Map of the Three Kingdoms

  4. Power Struggles Between the Han and the Sui • People longed for centralized government • Daoism • Political instability did not result in a loss of culture Daoist and Alchemist Tao Hengjing

  5. The Sui Dynasty • After the fall of the Han, warlords ruled China • In 581, Yang Jian seized power and changed name to Emperor Wendi • Reunited north and south to restore the empire • Reestablished Confucianism Emperor Wendi

  6. Emperor Wendi’s Reforms • Land reforms improved position of the peasants • Higher status for the militia • Improved currency system • Unification facilitated trade • Strengthened governmental centralization Portrait of Emperor Wendi

  7. Yang Di’s Construction Projects • Repair projects • The Grand Canal • Large labor force • Costs: finances and human lives

  8. The Collapse of the Sui • Peasant rebellions • Failed military campaigns • Financial problems Yang Di, the last major Sui emperor

  9. The Tang Dynasty618-907 C.E. • Li Yuan • Emperor Tang Taizong • Policies Li Yuan Tang Taizong

  10. Gaozong : Domestic PoliciesEmperor After Taizong • Restored the feudal order • Land reform for peasants • State involvement in economic production • Other economic endeavors • Education and governing officials • Growth of towns and cities

  11. Gaozong:Foreign Interaction • Expansion: Korea, North Vietnam, southern Manchuria and Tibet • Trade with central and western Asia • Spread of Chinese culture • Religious missionaries Buddhist statue

  12. Wu Zhao • Concubine of Gaozong • “Emperor” of a new dynasty • Backlash against women

  13. Class Struggle During the Tang Dynasty • Class distinctions • Disagreements within the ruling class

  14. An Lushan Rebellion • Rebel leader An Lushan • Xuanzong fled capital • Tang dynasty prevails Xuanzong fleeing to Suchuan Lady Yang, the Princess Consort • Lady Yang • Economic and political implications

  15. Tang Government After the Rebellion • Power of regional administrators • Power of court eunuchs • New legal code and administrative procedures • Backlash against some foreign ideas A Tang-era Emperor

  16. The Bureaucracy of Merit • Competitive exams • Altered the class of people receiving governmental positions • Conflicts between the new and established officials • “Rule of Avoidance” Taking exams in the presence of the emperor

  17. Role of Buddhism • Material and spiritual influence • Backlash during the Tang Dynasty • Government moved against the Buddhists Buddhist Statue from Yungang Rock Temple

  18. Chang’an’s Splendor • Cosmopolitan city • City design demonstrated planning and grandeur • The market • Culture and pastimes • Architecture Polo, a game from Persia, was a favorite sport in Chang’an

  19. Tang Innovations • Printing • Papermaking • Shipbuilding • A variety of other Chinese inventions Papermaking

  20. Foreign Interaction • Reestablishment of tributary relationships • Contact with southwest Asia • Changes in clothing • New pastimes • Diffusion of crops and foodstuffs • Increasing trade, including silk Woodcut of a woman winding silk

  21. Tang Art A Tang period stone sculpture of the Buddha Ceramic rider-woman

  22. Tang Literature • Poetry • Han Yu and plain style • Woodblock printing Calligraphy

  23. Poetry: Li Bo “I drink alone with no one to share. Raising up my cup, I welcome the moon… We frolic in revels suited to Spring” Li Bo • Wrote over 20,000 poems • Legend of his death

  24. Other Poets • Du Fu • Bai Juyi Du Fu

  25. The Great Peasant Uprising • Land scramble • Displaced many peasants • Taxes on peasants • Peasant revolts in 860 and 874 • Capital of Chang’an held for two years!!! • Government forces of the Tang finally drive out rebels Depiction of a Chinese peasant revolt

  26. Growing Weakness in the Tang • Moved south • Weakened imperial economy • Weakened bureaucracy • Decreased position of peasants • Careless and casual leadership • Equal-field system deteriorated • Regional military commanders gained power and were beyond the control of the emperor Weakened agriculture in the north forced many people to emigrate south

  27. Collapse of the Tang Dynasty • An Lushan Rebellion • Ineffective control over military and court officials • Series of rebellions • Usurpation of Tang power in 907 • The Ten Kingdoms • Small provinces and regional control Mounted Khitan noble dressed in Chinese silk

  28. TODAY • DO NOW: Which primary source did you find most insightful to understanding Medieval China? What about the source gave you a “window” on this era? • REMINDER: Maps are due today! Chart Monday….. • IN CLASS: We will…. • Conclude discussion of the Song Dynasty….

  29. The Song Dynasty • Song Taizu was the founder • Reigned 960-976 CE • 960–1279 CE • Unification • MORE centralization • Prosperity • EARLY SONG A GOLDEN AGE Emperor Taizu

  30. Song Dynasty, Mid-11th Century

  31. Reestablishment of Central Control under the Song • Economic recovery • Market economy emerges • Established capital at Kaifeng • Population increased • Cities recovered Scene from the capital city of Kaifeng

  32. Governmental Development of the Song • Recovery of power • Rebuilt the scholar-gentry • Emperor appointed new regional leaders Scholar-philosopher Ouyang Xiu

  33. Age of the Civil Government • The best and most educated • Levels of advancement in the exam system • Officials were regularly evaluated for performance • Good government and stability Exam Hall at Nanjing

  34. The Song and the Economy • Economic surge in China led to economic growth in the eastern hemisphere • Expansion • Control over revenues • Industry • Trade • Cosmopolitan cities • Financial instruments • “flying cash” • Paper money A Chinese coin

  35. Trade and the Song • Sea routes to southeast Asia and India • Ports • Navigational technology • Agriculture • Foreign and regional trade Silk was a highly traded commodity in the southern Song

  36. Paper Money and Finance • Emperor Zhenzong • Promissory notes • “Flying Cash” • Taxation and expenditures Earliest extant paper money printed on woodblock

  37. The Economy and Foreign Contact • Korea as tributary state • Trade increased Cultivation and processing of tea

  38. Wang Anshi’s Reforms • Appointed Chief Councilor • Financial stability • Internal weakness and foreign threats Wang Anshi

  39. Military Provisions to organize the army Quotas for military Improved cavalry troops Civil Expanded the number of governmental schools Advocated changes in the nature of the examinations Military and Civil Reforms Wang Anshi

  40. Fall of the Northern Song • Foreign appeasement and internal repression • Ongoing financial strain • Expensive bureaucracy • External pressures…. Treaty with the Khitan in 1004 • Invasion of the Qiang Annual tributes of silk and silver to the Khitan drained Chinese finances

  41. Establishment of the Southern Song • New government in 1127 • Boundary with the Jin • The capital of Hangzhou Map of the Southern Song

  42. The Southern Song Economy • Urban centers • Government revenues • Salt • Tea • alcohol • Wealthier than north • Problems • Rich landlords slipped off tax rolls • Banditry • inflation Marketplaces were popular in Hangzhou, the southern Song capital

  43. Neo-Confucianism • A revival of Confucianism • The five relationships • Morality and responsibility • New branches Han Yu, a Neo-Confucianist

  44. Social Structure • Merchants and artisans became a new class • Women’s status worsened • Laws • Education Women were considered a subordinate class in Song society

  45. Footbinding • Used in the Song Dynasty by the upper classes to indicate status • Not a widespread practice An X-ray of feet exposed to massive footbinding

  46. Song Technological Innovations • Neo-Confucianism sparked an interest in science • Study what is practical • Agriculture, manufacturing, transportation advances • Mathematics and timekeeping • Fractions to study the phases of the moon Zhu Xi, founder of Neo-Confucianism

  47. Military Advances • Produced strong steel weapons • Use of iron • Created body armor • Began to use projectiles and gunpowder The Chinese used projectiles to counter tribal cavalries

  48. Proliferation of Books • Pharmacopoeia • Treatise on Architectural Methods • A Collection of the Most Important Military Technology • The New History of the Five Dynasties and the Mirror of History Woodcut from a book on Chinese Herbal Medicine, compiled by Tang Shenwei of the Song dynasty

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