fracture and unification: the qin, han, sui, and tang dynasties … · 2013. 10. 21. · sui, and...
TRANSCRIPT
Fracture and Unification: The Qin, Han,
Sui, and Tang Dynasties
200 BCE-900 CE
Let’s Review… Shang Dynasty – China’s first Dynasty
All based around Huang He River (Yellow River) – China’s Sorrow
King’s – regional administration to family members
Early Writing (Oracle Bones)
Government – flood control/irrigation channels
Zhou Dynasty- 1122BCE
Mandate of Heaven (Legitimize switch of dynastic family)
Longest lasting dynasty (600 Years)
Transformed Warfare (Archery, Horseback)
Decentralized – local rulers run empire (feudal system)
The constant competition would undo the Dynasty and lead to the…
Era of Warring States-
480BCE-220BCE (Almost two centuries of turmoil)
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) Qin (pron. Chin) = 1 of Warring States of period c. 481-
221 BCE
Conquered others, declaring creation of empire 221 BCE
Qin Shi Huandi (r. 221-210 BCE) = first emperor
Built Great Wall of China
Enormous tomb complex
Economic power of state: goal = increase productivity
Centralization of administration
“Bureaucratization”
Ideologies of the Empire
Confucius (551-479 BCE)
Moral order
Emphasis on hierarchy, ritual, arts
Ideal = the moral leader (Gentleman), shaped by education
Legalism
Strict laws and enforcement
Daoism
Mystical philosophy
Emphasis on simplicity
Legalist effort to suppress Confucianism
Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)
Brief civil war accompanied the fall of the Qin dynasty
Liu Bang established a new dynasty through warfare
Social/political hierarchy established by privileged scholars
Emperor Wu (156 B.C.E.–29 March, 87 B.C.E.)
Centralized Confucianism
A basis for promotion in civil service
Established as absolute in Tang dynasty
How do we know? The Court Historians
Military Power“Militarism” - Large-scale expansion of
army
Men 20-50 were conscripted into
military
Standing army 300,000-1,000,000
Mandatory one year training & service
Could be called back during war
Constant battles w/ Xiongnu (Huns)
Demanded tribute from enemies
Technology included the Crossbow and horses from Mongolia
Economics New technology = economic prosperity
Paper
Compass
Breast strap harness for horses
Tapping of Natural Gas pockets
Iron industry and production of steel
Tight government control over business
Parthian traders (Intermediaries between Rome/China) c.57
B.C.E. –
Silk Reaches Rome
Changes in the Han Empire
Population shift from north to south
Population of South grows by 50%
Natural Disasters –Yellow River breaks banks twice
Violence (massacres and warfare)
Fall of Han Dynasty - 9 C.E. Temporary fall– No succession followed by 20 yrs of turmoil
Later Han dynasty (23-220 CE)
Not as powerful as former empire
Alliances w/ barbarians – Sinicization – absorption by foreign
peoples (like Rome)
Oppression of peasants
Increased Taxation – many move under landlords (European
Fedualism)
Government has difficulty controlling these landlords.
Fall of Han Dynasty - 184 C.E.Fall of Han- New Era in China
Yellow Turban (Scarves) Revolt
Led by Zhang Jue - Doaist
Onset of more revolts afterwards
Internal political problems - factions (emperor, bureaucrats,
advisors, palace guards, eunuchs, court women)
Empire broken up among warlords
Feudal life ensues.
Society and Culture North-South division upon the fall
1. Variety of ecological reasons
2. Mix with nomadic peoples
Several nomadic groups conquered parts of the north
Tradition of unity remained
Disintegration period: arts flourished
Chinese language = unifying force
Buddhism appeared in China during 1st CE
ReunificationSui (581- 618 C.E.) and Tang dynasty (618 - 907 C.E.)
New centralization
Grand Canal (1,104 mi)
Massive economic undertaking
Connected North & South
Art/Technology advances
Block printing
Porcelain
Poetry
Flourishing of Buddhism
1. Assimilation = major theme
2. Great expansion into central Asia
3. Political control short but influence longstanding
Examples:
i. Vietnam
1. Periodic revolts against Chinese domination
a. Annam = province for 1000 years
2. Adopted various Chinese customs
ii. Korea
1. Vassal state
2. Deep cultural influence
iii. Japan
1. Cultural influence
a. Waves of Korean and Chinese immigration
2. Japanese emperor as figurehead – struggle for separation
Imper
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