Chapter 12: Tang & Song Dynasties

1. Chapter 12: Tang & Song Dynasties Reunification and Renaissance 220 CE.—Han dynasty ends 220-589—Era of Division 589-618—Sui dynasty 618-907—Tang dynasty 960-1279—Song dynasty 1279-1368—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 groupspowerful 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 (1644-1911). • 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