Imperial China: Sui-Tang And Song Dynasties

1. Imperial China: Sui-Tang And Song Dynasties by: Ms. Susan M. Pojer and Mr. Mark Gonzalez Grace Christian Academy of MD

3. “The Middle Kingdom”-the Chinese called their empires b/c they saw themselves as central to and dominate over to the world around them • Zhongguo -the name used for China by the Chinese people-means the “Middle” or “middle kingdom” • Envoys from tributary states would deliver their goods before the emperor w/ a kowtow (a deep bow)

4. Sui Dynasty

5. Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E. • After the fall of the Han, like the Roman Empire, China fragmented into little kingdoms • China unified again under Emperor Sui Wendi • “Land Equalization” System  land redistribution. • Unified coinage. • Grand Canal constructed. • Capital city- Chang’an (Xian) • Established an army of professional soldiers.---People were overworked and overtaxed!

6. The Grand Canal • Impressive water project • Linked the 2 great rivers- the Yellow (Huang He) and Yangzi • 1100 miles long • Integrated the economies of northern and southern China • Major source of transportation of goods in China until replaced by railroads • Still used today

7. The Grand Canal Today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LCLv8Ml2ho

8. The Tang Dynasty

9. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • Ruled for almost 300 years-very stable • Rose out of the chaos at the end of the Sui-Emperor Wendi killed by his own son • Civil Service examination system perfected.(meritocracy) • Liberal attitude towards all religions. • Spread of Buddhism in China • While upholding Confucian values • Golden Ageof foreign relations with other countries-set up tribute system  • Japan, Korea, Persia

10. Tang Government Organization

11. Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E. • New technologies: • Printing moveable print  • Porcelain • Gunpowder • Mechanical clocks • More cosmopolitan culture-influenced by Turkic and Persian cultures • Re-established the safety of the Silk Road. • Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia. 

12. Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705 • The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.  • Compassionate to peasants, but ruthless to her enemies • Construction of new irrigation systems. • Buddhism was the favored statereligion. • Financed the building of many Buddhist temples. • BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.

13. Foot-Binding in Tang China • Broken toes by 3 years of age. • Size 5 ½ shoe on the right Why? Big feet were considered masculine and ugly

14. Foot-Binding in Tang China Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

15. Foot-Binding in Tang China • For upper-class girls, it became a new custom. • Showed the emergence of a new Confucianism-the subordination of women

16. The Results of Foot-Binding * It was a way for men to manage women’s lives and to keep them from venturing far from home

18. Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E. • Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class. • Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books. • Magnetic compassmakes China a great sea power! 

19. Song Peasant Family

20. Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song • The introduction of fast-rippening Champa rice from south Vietnam-increased the food supply in China • China’s population more than doubled and urban areas expanded

21. Song Rice Cultivation