210 likes | 295 Views
China:. Six Dynasties Period Sui Dynasty Tang Dynasty Song Dynasty. Six Dynasties Period 222-589 AD. Collapse of Han in 221 AD (That is 221 CE – “common era”) Six Dynasties period No stable, single government Local autonomy Buddhism emerges as important
E N D
China: Six Dynasties Period Sui Dynasty Tang Dynasty Song Dynasty
Six Dynasties Period222-589 AD • Collapse of Han in 221 AD • (That is 221 CE – “common era”) • Six Dynasties period • No stable, single government • Local autonomy • Buddhism emerges as important • Adopted as official religion in “Ming” Dynasty of this period (not the same as later Ming)
Six Dynasties Period:Buddhism Buddhism spreads from Ming elite to popular sector Weakened Confucian Scholar Hierarchy Political and social chaos leaves people looking for comfort
Six Dynasties PeriodBuddhism Buddhism addresses issues missed by native Chinese concepts Addresses the next world more directly and simply Chinese Buddhism Provides Bodhisattvas Offers comfort and solace to the weak and oppressed: Women Laborers
Sui Dynasty: 589-619 AD Reestablish order Begin rebuilding China a single empire Refine art
Tang Dynasty:618 –905 AD Northern origins Develop equestrian military technologies learned from the horsemen of the plains Expanded China’s borders and affected all nations around China A highlight of Chinese power and political influence
Tang First EmperorGao Zu • Takes on the same name as the first emperor of Han • Name means High Progenitor
Builds a hierarchical international system China is the ‘father’ and the other nations are ‘sons’ Sometimes the metaphor is big brother/little brothers Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, etc. all recognize China as the central nation Tributary System
Tang Era Tributary System China’s Tributary system symbolized by the Kowtow
Block printing and wide use of paper from 680 AD Paper developed @107 AD: not used much until Tang
Tang Dynasty officials adopt and promote Buddhism Buddhist art flourishes Tun-Huang Grotto
China’s FirstEmpress Empress Wu 683-705 AD Only woman to rule in her own name as Empress Other women became Regents Concubine to Emperor Alliance with Buddhist monks and with Eunuchs Slaughter all contenders to the throne
Institutes Confucian Civil Service Exam Recruit and promote new officials by exam Intended to weaken rival clans and build loyalty to Empress Wu Opens up path for upward mobility Empress Wu &Civil Service Exams
Confucian Civil Service Exam Tests knowledge of Confucian classics Literacy Calligraphy History Philosophy Poetry
Civil Service Exam Establishes meaningful meritocracy Limits influence of family connections and patronage Creates common knowledge base for officials Creates a well educated bureaucracy Also creates a sort of ‘group think’ mentality that limits flexibility and creativity later
Tang: Agriculture Wet Rice cultivation @ 800 AD Increases yields New varieties mature quicker Population expands
Taxes, Tea, and Flying Money • Tang Dynasty suffers from insufficient tax revenue • Solution: Tea monopoly • Leads to “flying money” or a system of bank notes that enable more commerce
Tang Collapse • Tang Dynasty after the rebellion of An Lushan in 860 AD weakens • Collapses through rebellions in the north in 905 AD • Ends with no successor • Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Song Dynasty Two periods of Song Dynasty: • Song: 960-1126 AD • Southern Song 1127-1279 AD • Greater Commerce • Regular paper money system develops