china: tang and song dynasties post-classical era
TRANSCRIPT
China: Tang and Song
DynastiesPost-Classical Era
Han Dynasty When does it fall? What is it known for?
Period of the Six Dynasties
220-589 CE Scholar-Gentry class declined
– Coming from a family of educated, high social status, esp. land owners
Non-Chinese nomads rule Buddhism replaced Confucianism Economic, technological, intellectual,
urban decline
Sui Dynasty Late 500s unites the north and south
under strong leadership Wen’ti (Wendi)
– Took control of northern China– Lowered taxes and established granaries
His son, Yan’ti (Yangdi)
Yang’ti Reformed the legal code, reinstituted
Confucianism Build the Grand Canal
– Connected over 1200 miles, from the Yangtze to the Yellow Rivers
– Established political and economic unity (610-615)
Tried to conquer Korea (unsuccessful) Hated by people: overworked and overtaxed Peasant revolts
Tang Dynasty 618-907 Known for wealth and power Rebuilt the Great Wall—Turkic invasions Military conquests in: Central Asia (Turks)
and Northeast Asia (Korea)Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea
Lowered taxes
More Tang Dynasty Examination System
– Highest offices in government went to individuals who passed exams based on Confucian classics and Chinese literature
Scholar officials– System for choosing was through the 3
Confucian exams (favored wealthy men)
Tang Dynasty Dynasty most progressive Land distribution included widows Mutual divorce acceptable - women
could remarry Access to broadening education
system Military skills Social restrictions lifted
Empress Wu You read about her…More coming
later 690-705 Encouraged spread of
Buddhismtried to make it the state religion
Lowered taxes Military conquest of Korea
Confucian ExamC o n fu c ia n E xam S ys tem
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F a il P a ssC h in a 's e lite
* N o ta xe s ; n o m ilita ry;n o m a n ua l la b or
E xam 3
P a ssg ive n in P ro vin c ia l C a p ita l
E xam 2
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Confucian Exam con’d Faults:
– Corruption– Confucian thoughtdid not judge ability
to lead military or collect taxes Benefits:
– Gave China an intelligent governing class– No longer ruled by few…
Tang Decline/Rise of the Song
Emperor Xuanzong (713-756)– Initially advanced political & economic
reform– Patronized arts– Downfall? A harem girl named Yang
Guifei– Revolt in 755
Nomadic peoples/regional governors fed off the disorder
Song Dynasty 960-1279 First emperor: Zhao Kuangyin (Taizu) Failed to defeat the Liao Dynasty in
Manchuria, establishing a precedent for weakness in dealing with nomadic peoples
Song Military subordinated to the scholar-
gentry Confucian scholar-gentry ideals over
Buddhist rivals Increased salaries, civil service
exams, etc. Revival of Confucian thought: neo-
Confucianism
Song again: Neo Confucianism
Cultivation of personal morality is highest human goal
Produced superior men to govern/teach Emphasis on rank, obligation, deference,
performance of rituals Authority of patriarchal head of family was
strengthened “Social harmony and prosperity is maintained
when men and women performed the tasks appropriate to their status.”
Roots of Decline Nomads began to carve out kingdoms on
northern borders Paid tribute to nomads to protect against
invasion Emphasis on scholar-gentry concerns
contributed to military declinesoon the northern borders fell
The Song fled south (1115) and established a capital at Hangzhou (Yangtze River Basin)
Industrial Revolution? Canal system Re-opened Silk Roads Rice-growing dominated area Chinese junks allowed for Chinese to
dominate the seas Money economy: deposit shops, paper
money, credit vouchers Agricultural expansion
You say you want a revolution…
Explosive powder– Tang: fireworks; Song: military use
Flame-throwers, poisonous gas, rocket launchers
Chairs, tea drinking, coal fuel Compasses, abacuses Movable type printing (Bi Sheng)
Chinese Cities China’s estimated urban population
(10%) exceeded that of all other civilizations
Allowed traders and artisans to prosper
Largest: Changan: 200,000,000 people
Women’s Roles (more coming up)
Independence:– Wealthy urban women could have lovers– Women’s rights in divorce– Partners of similar ages
Restriction:– Housemaker, mother, wifely fidelity, widow
chastity (neo-Confucian ideals)– Excluded from education– Foot-binding
Legacy: Centralized administration Scholar-gentry elite Civilization expanded as south was
integrated into the north Economyworld leader until 18th C. Chinese inventions Outside influences incorporated into
existing patterns
Old Trees, Level Distance
Seeking the Tao in the Autumn
Mountains
Finches and Bamboo
Scholar Viewing a Waterfall
Women in China
Tang and On
Patriarchical Traditional Guides
– Ruler guides subject– Father guides son– Husband guides wife
Confucianism order Women must obey father, husband,
and sons
Rights Could not pick spouse Could not divorce or remarry Husband could divorce her Could not inherit property or wealth Concubines
Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705
Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705
The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.
Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court.
Construction of new irrigation systems.
Buddhism was the favored statereligion.
Financed the building of many Buddhist temples.
She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.
Footbinding Origins unknown -
several legends Began in Tang, fully
accepted in Song Small feet = beauty
Footbinding in Tang ChinaFootbinding in Tang China
Broken toes by 3 years of age.
Size 5 ½ shoe on the right
Footbinding in Tang ChinaFootbinding in Tang China
Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.
Footbinding in Tang ChinaFootbinding in Tang China
For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.
Women With Bound Feet
The Results of FootbindingThe Results of Footbinding
Footbinding Results 1997 UCSF Study Findings: more likely to fall, less able
to stand from a chair, less able to squat, lower bone density
Questions Footbinding started with the upper
classes, why did it become widespread across classes?
Where else in history do we see similar practices?
Does modern society have equivalent practices?