Medieval China

1. Medieval China

2. China • Han dynasty collapse in 220 AD • Era of Division • Political disorder and chaotic warfare after Qin-Han era • For 350 years- no emperors strong enough to hold China together • Non Chinese nomads • Ruled much of China • Foreign relations • Buddhism • Confucian teachings will lose status • More than 30 dynasties rose and fell

3. Sui Dynasty • Dynasty create by Wendi • Able to reunite China because of the support of elite nomadic warriors • Two emperors • Most important accomplishments – Grand Canal • Connects the Huang He and Yangtze River • Why built? Yangtze – food producing area • 1,000 miles • 5 years to complete • Creation of granaries • Store surplus in good years • Relieve threat of famine

6. Downfall of Sui • Expenses of major building projects • Military campaigns

7. Religion • Following fall of Han Dynasties- number of different religion in China • Nestorians, Manicheans, Zoroastrians, & Islam • But religion that had greatest impact was Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism appealed to many because • emphasis on a peaceful and quiet existence • A life apart from worldly values • Zen Buddhism • Emphasis on mediation and appreciation of beauty • Won converts in the educated class– generally followed tenets of Confucianism

8. Pure land Buddhism • Strain of Mahayana Buddhism • Appeal to Chinese commoners • Salvationist • Offer refuge from war and turmoil

9. Confucians and Daoists reacted to Buddhism • Confucian saw Buddhism as • Drain on treasury and labor pool • Because Buddhism dismissed the pursuit of material accumulation • Campaign to convince emperor that the Buddhist monastic system was an economic threat • Persecution of Buddhism – 840’s • Will survive but in a smaller way with less influence

10. Daoists saw Buddhism as • Rival religion that was winning many of it own

11. Neo-Confucianism • Older Confucianism had focused on • Practical politics and morality • Neo-Confucianists borrowed Buddhist ideas about soul and individual • Became guiding doctrine for Song Dynasty and basis for civil service • At core is the systematic approach to both heavens and the role of individual • Emphasis • Filial piety • Maintenance of proper roles • Loyalty to one’s superiors

12. Impact of Neo-Confucianism • Reinforce class, age, gender classifications • Historical experiences – most practical guide to life • Hostile to foreign philosophical– Buddhism • Favor traditionalism over innovation and critical thinking

13. Tang & Song Dynasty • 618 CE- Tang • Founder– Li Yuan • Expanded territory • Manchuria, Mongolia, Tibet & Korea • Song • Founder- Zhao Kuangin • Territory will be smaller than that of the Tang Dynasty • Military answers to scholar-gentry which will leave it open to nomadic invasions on the frontier

14. Empire will revive rapidly under Tang because Confucian traditions had been preserved in many of the kingdoms • Tang empire • Larger than Han • Boundaries extend beyond borders of modern day China

15. Both Tang and Song relative stable because • Bureaucratic system that was based on merit through use of civil service examinations • Focus on Confucian principles • Bring backs Confucian scholar-gentry • At expense of aristocracy • Rites • Ministry of central imperial government responsible for examination system

16. Created a large core of educated, talented and loyal government workers • Jinshi • Special title for individuals who has passed the most difficult exams on all the Chinese literature • Despite a high percentage of people who will receive a position due to testing, birth will continue to be an important in getting a high office.

17. Accomplish in the areas of • art, architecture, science, philosophy, porcelain-making, silk-weaving, building of transportation • Tang poetry is was unique • Tells about daily life in China • Song built on Tang Dynasty talent for poetry • More with practical applications of words • Form of encyclopedias and histories • Under Song Dynasty • China invented printing process • Spread of literary accomplishments throughout Asia • Will later influence the development of Literature in Korea and Japan

18. Built extensive transportation and communication– including canals • Develop new business practices that led to increase trade and cultural diffusion • Paper money • Letters of credit

19. Power based on trade and expansion • Developed economic and political strategies • Tang power based on military garrisons along the central trade routes and at capital of Chang’an (Xi’an) • Eastern terminal of Silk road • Largest city in the world of the time • City was multinational and multi religious • Center of Tang tribute system • Where various countries acknowledge the supremacy of the Chinese Emperor and sent ambassadors to the city with gifts • Indirect rule of these vassal states spread Chinese influence far and also brought religion into China

20. Song Dynasty under pressure of nomads • Withdrew to south • Establish capital city at Hangzhou • Located at southern end of Grand Canal • Concentrate on building an industrial society • Printing of books important because spread of agricultural and technological knowledge • Led to increase in productivity and population growth • Song were an urban population • With some of the largest cities in world

21. Song Dynasties new technologies + advances • Gunpowder • Improvement for junks (ships) • Magnetic compass • Water tight bulkheads • Stern post rudder • Production of steel • Introduction of Champa rice from Vietnam • Fast ripening rice increase food supply resulting in population growth. • More than double • Had at least 10 cities with a population of 1 million

22. Women • Highly patriarchal • Consider by men to be inferior • But also consider women’s beauty and femininity as virtues worth protecting

23. Wu Zhao Tang Dynasty • Assume title of emperor • Only woman to do so in China • Strengthen central government • Restore bureaucracy and civil service • Talent and education more important than noble birth • Will attempt to have Buddhism recognized as the state religion

24. TaizongTang Dynasty • Greatest emperor • Expanded China • Re-conquer areas lost since Han dynasty • Promote foreign trade • Promoted improvements in agriculture

25. Fall of Tang Dynasty • Overtaxing the peasants • Inability to maintain order • Series of internal rebellions • 907AD Chinese Rebels sacked and burn capital • Murder the last Tang emperor– a Child

26. Chinese Art • Painting reaches new height • Emphasizes beauty of natural landscapes • Did not use bright colors • Black is color of choice

27. Chinese Achievements • Moveable type • Speeds up the process • Gunpowder • Coal • abacus • Porcelain • Mechanical clock • Bridges • Paper money • Magnetic compass • Will help China become a great naval power • Will spread Chinese culture, especially Buddhism throughout East Asia

28. Social advancement • Gentry- new social class of powerful well to do individuals • Attain status through education and civil service (employment) rather than land ownership

29. Lily foot- • Binding of young girls of nobility feet to prevent growth • feet bound at the age of 5 • Do not want the feet to grow more than 5 inches • Cripple women to point that confine to their homes • Sign of status

30. Scholar officials will adopt the fashion of growing long fingernails • Long nail show that individual did not do manual labor.