China ReunitesDaily Lesson and Discussion Notes: 4-1

Objectives:

Explain how the Sui and Explain how the Sui and Tang dynasties rebuilt Tang dynasties rebuilt China’s empireChina’s empire

Discuss why Buddhism Discuss why Buddhism became popular and became popular and spreadspread

Describe the ideas of Describe the ideas of Confucius and the new Confucius and the new class of scholar-officialsclass of scholar-officials

Objective 1:

Explain how the Sui and Explain how the Sui and Tang dynasties rebuilt Tang dynasties rebuilt China’s empireChina’s empire

I. RebuildingRebuilding China’s Empire (pages 253-256)

A. After the HanHan empire ended in AD 220, China broke into 1717 kingdoms and became very chaotic. WarlordsWarlords, military people who run a government, fought each other for control.

B. China lost controlcontrol of some of its conquered people, such as the people of KoreaKorea.

C. China was reunited in AD 581 by a general named WendiWendi who declared himself emperor. He founded the SuiSui dynasty.

D. Wendi’sWendi’s son YangdiYangdi took the throne after his father’s death. YangdiYangdi made important improvements to China. His greatest achievement was the Grand CanalGrand Canal, which links the Chang Jiang (YangtzeYangtze River) and Huang He (YellowYellow River).

E. Shipping products on the Grand Grand CanalCanal helped unite China’s economyeconomy. An economyeconomy is an organized way in which people produceproduce, sellsell, and buybuy things.

F. Yangdi’s improvements placed hardshipshardships on the Chinese people. They rebelledrebelled and killedkilled Yangdi.

Objective 1: explain how explain how the Sui and Tang dynasties the Sui and Tang dynasties rebuilt China’s empirerebuilt China’s empire The Sui dynasty helped to rebuild China by forcing the Chinese people to work on extensive public works projects like the Grand Canal (promoted domestic trade) and the rebuilding of the Great Wall (provided security from northern raiders) and to serve in the army

G. The TangTang dynasty was established by one of Yangdi’s generalsgenerals. The TangTang dynasty ruled for about 300300 years, from AD 618 to AD 907. The Tang dynasty brought about many reformsreforms to improve government. Reforms are changeschanges that bring improvements.

The Tang capital city of Changan may have had a population of one million people at its peak. The city had large blocks that included houses, businesses, and temples set along straight street. Its layout inspired the design of many later cities. The area containing the royal palace, shown below, was bordered by parklands.

H. One of the most powerful Tang emperors was TaizongTaizong. He reinstated the civil service civil service examinationexamination. Empress Wu added more officials to the government and strengthened China’s militarymilitary.

I. The Tang dynasty expandedexpanded China’s empire and regained much of its powerpower in Asia.

J. By the mid-AD 700s, the TurksTurks began to threaten the Tang dynasty’s hold in Asia. They took control of centralcentral Asia and the Silk RoadSilk Road, damaging China’s economy. The Tang dynasty weakened and fell.

K. A Chinese general established the SongSong dynasty, which ruled for about 300300 years, from AD 960 to AD 1279.

Objective 1: Explain how Explain how the Sui and Tang dynasties the Sui and Tang dynasties rebuilt China’s empirerebuilt China’s empire The Tang dynasty helped rebuild China by carrying out a number of reforms. The civil service exam was reinstated; land was given to the farmers; and peace was brought to the countryside. China’s military forces were also strengthen.

Objective 2:

Discuss why Buddhism became popular and spread

II. BuddhismBuddhism Spreads to China (pages 256-257)

A. BuddhismBuddhism was brought to China during the HanHan dynasty about AD 150150.

B. The TangTang dynasty allowed people to practice Buddhism and supported the building of Buddhist templestemples.

C. MonasteriesMonasteries are places where monksmonks and nunsnuns meditate and worship. In China, monasteries provided services for people.

D. As Buddhism became more popularpopular, the Tang dynasty began to feel threatenedthreatened. The rulers ordered many Buddhist monasteries and temples destroyeddestroyed in AD 845.

E. Buddhism spread from ChinaChina to KoreaKorea, and the KoreanKorean government supported the religion.

F. Buddhism spread to the nearby islands of JapanJapan

Objective 2: Discuss why Buddhism became popular and spread After the Han dynasty, China was torn by civil war. War, disease, and starvation was killing millions of Chinese. People were suffering. Buddhism taught that if people followed its principles, they could escape their suffering and find comfort and peace.

Objective 3:

Describe the ideas of Describe the ideas of Confucius and the new Confucius and the new class of scholar-officialsclass of scholar-officials

III. New ConfucianConfucian Ideas (pages 258-259)

A. ConfuciusConfucius and his followers believed governmentgovernment officials should be wisewise.

B. TangTang and SongSong rulers reinstated civil civil service service examinatioexaminationsns. These challenging examinations were supposed to recruit goodgood government officials.

C. The Tang dynasty supported neo-Confucianismneo-Confucianism to reduce Buddhism’s popularity. Neo-Neo-ConfucianismConfucianism taught that people should take part in lifelife and helphelp each other.

D. The SongSong dynasty adopted neo-Confucianism as their official philosophyphilosophy, or belief system.

E. The examinatexaminationion system created a wealthywealthy class of scholar-scholar-officialsofficials.

Objective 3: Describe the ideas of Confucius and the new class of scholar-officials Created to reduce the popularity of Buddhism, neo-Confucianism taught that life in this world was just as important as the afterlife. Followers were expected to take part in life and help others.

A new wealthy class in China, the scholar-officials developed as a result of the civil service examinations. Soon, this new class began to influence Chinese thought and government.