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The Tang and Song Empires

The Tang and Song Empires. The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia. After the Han. Period of the Six Dynasties 220-589 CE Landed families Rule by non-Chinese nomads Buddhism Econ., Technological, Urban decline. The Restoration of Centralized Imperial Rule in China

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The Tang and Song Empires

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  1. The Tang and Song Empires The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia

  2. After the Han • Period of the Six Dynasties 220-589 CE • Landed families • Rule by non-Chinese nomads • Buddhism • Econ., Technological, Urban decline

  3. The Restoration of Centralized Imperial Rule in China Est. by Wendi (won support by lowering taxes and est. granaries) Government based on Confucianism and Buddhism Yangdi: The Grand Canal- transportation system that linked the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers Fast Decline: spent too much money/ unsuccessful wars The Sui (589-618)

  4. Government Structure: Empire/Emperor Avoided over centralization- gave local nobles, officials and religious power Capital- Chang’an- cosmopolitan; foreigners resided there Tributary System- independent countries recognize Chinese emperor as supreme The Tang (618- 907)

  5. The Tang • Culture • Descendants of Turkic elites- continued Turkic influence which can be seen in pottery and warfare strategies • Confucian traditions- civil service exam • Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism dominated • Legitimized rulers- kings bring subjects into a Buddhist realm • Buddhism- spread through Central and East Asia through the trade routes

  6. The Buddhist Backlash • 9thc broke power of Buddhist monasteries • Buddhism seen as undermining the family system and as eroding the tax base • 1000’s were monks and nuns • Tax free land • Encouraged women to partake in politics • Buddhism became associated with the evils of society and with foreigners

  7. Trade Roads, river transport and canals  growth in trade Exported far more than it imported Most desired products: porcelain and silk Decline With expansion came reliance on provincial military governors Internal rebellions The Tang

  8. After the fall of the Tang a major state to emerge was the Chinese Song The Song Dynasty (960-1279)

  9. Founder of the Song Dynasty T'ai Tsu

  10. The Song • Government: • Emperor • Civil Service Exam (Confucianism) • Broke domination of the hereditary aristocracy • Govt service based on merit • Moveable type • Mass- produce examination texts • Spread info. on new agr. technology  increase production  increase population

  11. Neo-Confucianism Reaction to popularity of Buddhism/Daoism Human nature is moral, rational, and essentially good Emphasized individual moral and social responsibility Ideal person= sage (person with mental serenity who could deal with social ills) The Song

  12. The Song • Economy • Interregional credit system “flying money” • Govt issued paper money • Women • Subordinate to men • Could not own property • Remarriage forbidden • Foot binding- forced toes under towards the heel • status symbol

  13. Perfect Bound Foot was 3 inches long “Golden Lotus”

  14. Bound feet had to be washed and cared for daily.  • If toe nails grew into the instep, infection could set in.  • If the bindings were too tight, gangrene and blood poisoning could occur.  • The bound foot was painful and tender forever.  • It often had an unpleasant smell.

  15. Decline Song fled and est. a smaller kingdom (Southern Song) 1127-1279 • Military weakness on northern border • had to pay tribute to the Liao Dynasty in order to prevent raids • Tangut from Tibet also another threat  pay tribute • Cost of maintaining a large army drained resources and put burden on peasants • Jurchens est. a kingdom in 1125 and invaded China

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