Tang & Song DynastiesGolden Ages of China

Chapter 12: Tang & Song Dynasties

2100-1600 BCE –Xia 1046-256 BCE Zhou Dynasty 256 – 221 BCE Warring Period 221-206 BCE Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty

(legalism) 220 CE.—Han dynasty ends 220-589—Era of Division

(Feudalism) 589-618—Sui dynasty (Legalism) 618-907—Tang dynasty (Buddhism) 960-1279—Song dynasty

(Confucianism) 1279-1368—Mongol (Yuan) dynasty

Sui Dynasty - Restoring order After 300 Years of disorder. No

unified empire. 6th century—Sui dynasty comes to power under the rule of Wendi

Rules with “Legalism”brutal rule. (same as Shi Huangdi of Qin Dynasty

Reunites China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. (long period of Disorder) Feudalism Middle Age stuff

Wins widespread support by Lowering taxes Establishing granaries (wards

off famine) Major Building projects

Grand Canal

• One of the world's largest waterworks before modern times

• Purpose: bring abundant food supplies of the south to the north

• Linked the Yangtze and the Huang-Hi

• The canal integrated the economies of the south and north

Downfall Loss of Mandate of Heaven

Excess, waste and wars lead to collapse

Grand Canal “Tour” Leads to Peasant Revolt lets watch a video!!!! Yangdi assassinated

in 618 by his own ministers

Two Great Dynasties in China

During the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, China becomes the richest, powerful, and most advanced country in the world.

Key Point: Tang and Song

China experienced an era of prosperity and technological innovation.

Chinese inventions from this period, such as printing, the mechanical clock, gunpowder, and the compass, changed history.

The Tang Dynasty World View:

The Song Dynasty World View:

The Song Dynasty World View: looks east towards the sea

looks east towards the sea

west along the Silk Road

Silk Road – trading network with the west.

west along the Silk Road

Silk Road – trading network with the west.

Trade/Foreign Contacts

Silk Road linked tradingRoutes, to the middle East Tang Dynasty was

Westward looking

Trade/Foreign Contacts

Song Dynasty Looks Eastward

Junks ocean ships east,

Korea Japan India Persian Gulf East Africa

Vietnam Land based

Signification Chinese influence on Korea, Vietnam and Japan

Flying Money

Tang/Song begin using paper “flying money” money in trade

The Qin Dynasty used Coin money

Agriculture

imported fast-ripening rice from Vietnam

Agriculture

imported fast-ripening rice from Vietnam

allowed two crops each season instead of one

Agriculture

imported fast-ripening rice from Vietnam

allowed two crops each season instead of one

fueled population increase

Tang DynastyEmpress Wu only Empress of China Adopts Buddhism from

missionaries from India Establishes monasteries

China Buddhism begins to reflect China Temples become Pagoda style. The Buddha become Budi, (fat happy Buddha)

Tang Dynasty and Empress WuUses Confucius Civil Service Exam

Confucius promoted the Scholarly Gentry. Learned class

Thus “anyone” could take the grueling test to become a public official

This promoted competence in the bureaucracy

Many degrees

The better you did the higher your rank

Science and Technology

mathematics flourished adopted the use of

algebra and the concept of zero

Science and Technology

mathematics flourished adopted the use of

algebra and the concept of zero

invented movable type

Science and Technology

mathematics flourished adopted the use of

algebra and the concept of zero

invented movable type developed gunpowder

Inventions of Tang and Song China

Golden Age of Art

wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement Much based on Dao principles

Harmony, Nature, Balance, self discovery

Notice soft colors along with poetry with paintings

Golden Age of Art

wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement

great poetry Li Bo and Du Fu

Golden Age of Art

wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement

great poetry Li Bo and Du Fu

Three-color ware was one of the greatest contributions of the Tang Dynasty

Golden Age of Art

wealth, education, and urban culture = artistic achievement

great poetry Li Bo and Du Fu

Three-color ware was one of the greatest contributions of the Tang Dynasty.

Many figurines, predominantly horses and camels, were produced.

Most of these pieces have been found in the more affluent tombs of the Tang period

Tang Only Song OnlyBoth

Expanded the empire,

had the only female ruler,

adopted Buddhism

Prospered through trade,

improved agriculture, created great

art and literature

Ruled smaller empire,

developed into great sea

power, created paper money and movable

type

The Tang and Song Dynasties Compared