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Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties. Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E. “Land Equalization” System –> land redistribution Unified coinage Established army of professional soldiers People were overworked and overtaxed!. Financial Stress. War for Korea further strains finances
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Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties
Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E. • “Land Equalization” System –> land redistribution • Unified coinage • Established army of professional soldiers • People were overworked and overtaxed!
Financial Stress • War for Korea further strains finances • Grand Canal constructed • Strained financial resources
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
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
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
Foot-Binding in Tang China • Broken toes by 3 years of age. • Size 5 ½ shoe on the right
Foot-Binding in Tang China Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.
Foot-Binding in Tang China • For upper-class girls, it became new custom
End of Tang Dynasty • Causes of decline • Misrule • Court intrigues • Economic exploitation • Rebellions • Made it possible for northern invaders to defeat them • Next 50 years saw fragmentation of China • Five northern dynasties • Ten southern kingdoms
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!
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."
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."
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."
Chinese Renaissance: Sui to Song Dynasties