Reunification and Renaissance in China: Tang and Song Dynasties

Introduction• Tang and Song dynasties ruled from the 7th-13th centuries!• In which time Chinese society advanced in literally ALL areas of

human endeavors!• It was the largest empire on the earth (during those times) in

population and territory!• Chinese great cities were a striking example of these amazing

accomplishments: Hangzhou • Many things to do in these urban areas like go to the large

markets, parks, go boating, go to nice restaurants, see live entertainments, bath houses, tea houses, opera, and even view paintings!

• Marco Polo “ the most noble city and the best that is in the world” Hangzhou

http://www.shanghaihighlights.com/neighbours/images/hangzhou-b.jpg

Hangzhou

http://icamconferences.org/i-camp/wp-content/uploads/img214342845.jpg

Sui-Tang Era• Sui dynasty rose up in 580’s after collapse of Han and chaotic times of

invasion. Regional kingdoms appeared.• The Sui dyansty was created out of the Northern Zhou kingdom. By

577 the Northern Zhou had conquered the Northern Qi kingdom to make a very large empire. (pg 258)

• Wendi (Yang Jian) was an official and relative of the royal family and struck a marriage alliance between his daughter and the ruler of the northern Zhou empire. Wendi’s daughter became an empress (1 of 5). She had a son. When the emperor died unexpectedly Wendi’s grandson became the emperor. He was only about six and required a regent. Wendi served as regent (after all he ran the court and administrative affairs of the kingdom during the emperor’s life). He was the regent with another man (a commander). The commander tried to seize power and Wendi beat him. After this Wendi then seized the throne and proclaimed himself emperor.

Wendi and Sui Dynasty• He secured his position by winning the favor of

neighboring nomadic military commanders. He reconfirmed their titles and showed little desire to favor the Confucian scholar-gentry at their expense!

• Wendi then extended his empire across north China by 589. Then, they conquered the weak Chen kingdom (to the south). He created a large empire

• Wendi reunited the core areas of China which hadn’t been united in a few centuries!!!

• Wendi won support from the people by:

– Lowering taxes

– Establishing granaries (to keep surplus of grain)

Sui Collapse• Wendi’s son, Yangdi, took the throne and strengthened his father’s goals.

However, he did kill his father to reach the throne. • Yangdi extended the empire, drove back nomadic intruders• Created a milder legal code and devoted resources to upgrading Confucian

education (for the bureaucracy) and restored the civil service exam• These policies were for the scholar-gentry and at the expense of the aristocratic

families and nomadic military commanders• Yangdi also like luxury! He forcibly conscripted hundred of thousands of

peasants to build canals, palaces, and a new capital, Loyang. • He demanded much of the people!• He also led a series of unsuccessful wars:

– Korean campaigns 611-614– Turkish nomads in 615

• Because of demands and war people began to revolt and parts of the empire declared themselves independent. There were even bandit gangs and invaders to boot! In 618 Yangdi was assassinated by his own ministers!

Yangdi

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Sui_Yangdi_Tang.jpg

Tang Dynasty• Imperial disorder was avoided after the assassination of Yangdi by one of

his savvy officials, Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang• He was a loyal supporter of Yangdi until he started to become irrational

and problems started spreading throughout the empire• Li Yuan was convinced by his sons and allies that only rebellion could save

the empire. Yangdi was assassinated in 618• In 623 Li Yuan became the emperor and victor from the struggle for the

throne. In 626 he abdicated the throne in favor of his second son, Tang Taizong. Thus led to the golden age of the Tang

• Tang armies conquered deep into central Asia to Afghanistan, they repaired the Great Wall, and created frontier armies! They recruited Turkic nomadic people for their frontier forces.

• They were able to keep the Turkish people loyal by taking the sons of their tribal leaders. They were sent to the capital and were educated in Chinese ways to hopefully help assimilate them!

Tang Map

Tang Dynasty• Empire incorporated Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, and a vassal kingdom (Silla) in

Korea by 668• Tang established a larger empire than that of the Han and even larger than present day

China! Government:• Continued to revive the scholarly gentry and Confucian bureaucrats • Under the Tang the scholar-gentry offset the powers of the aristocracy• From the Tang era onward, the political power in China was shared by a succession of

imperial families and the bureaucrats of the civil service system• The scholar-gentry class staffed most of the posts the secretariats and executive

departments that oversaw a huge bureaucracy • Imperial palace to subprefecture (or county level)• One secretariat drafted royal decrees and the other looked at regional reports• The executive department was split into 6 ministers: including war, justice, and public

works. Bureau of Censor that kept track of all officials at all levels to ensure they were doing their jobs. Large staff to support imperial household in Changan (new capital).

Tang and civil service• Tang and Song emperors patronized academies to train state officials and

educate them in the Confucian classics (moral and organizational ethics)• Far more scholars during the Tang and Song than during the Han• Had to take civil service exam to pass. Ministry of Rites administered tests

along with the hardest tests (philosophical or legal classics and Chinese literature). If passed the hardest test you got the title, jinshi. Success meant different dress and social status

• However birth and connection got most bureaucrats their positions even if they failed! A few families dominated and passed post from father to son

• Members of the old aristocracy and low-ranking sons of less wives and concubines also became bureaucrats

• Many Buddhists and Buddhism was patronized for the early part of the Tang dyansty

Lungmen-Buddha

State and Religion (Tang and Song)• After the Han collapse many people including the aristocracy had become Buddhists during this time

of chaos• Mahayana Buddhism spread b/c it provided a refuge from a time of war and conflict • Chen or Zen Buddhism spread in the elites b/c it provided a focus on meditation and appreciation of

natural and artistic beauty. • The goal of Buddhism was to know the ultimate wisdom and find release from the cycle of rebirth

through meditation!• By the time of the Tang, Buddhism was a major religion and force at all levels of society• Tang rulers patronized Buddhism while promoting education in the Confucian classics. • Tang Empress Wu was known for her great support for Buddhism. She is the only woman that ruled

China! She was a concubine (13) that became an empress. According to legend, Wu was the concubine for the emperor. Upon the death of the emperor, Wu was supposedly was sent to a monastery and became a nun because she had no sons. Then the son who was now the new emperor came to make an offering and saw the beautiful Wu. His empress decided to have Wu come to the palace to distract her husband from a rival female. She became a powerful concubine again eventually becoming Empress. She got the attention of the emperor and then framed the empress by claiming that she had killed their daughter. Eventually she had the empress killed as well as the other rival. It was said she had their bones broken in their arms and legs and then had them put into wine vats to die!

Empress Wu

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chinaexpat.com/files/u659/empress-wu-picture-1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.chinaexpat.com/blog/ernie/2009/06/11/wu-zetian-woman-who-became-emperor.html&h=384&w=310&sz=93&tbnid=go6w0k2UMQBPyM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=99&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dempress%2Bwu&usg=__RtifNtmBFEjVpioLgAXusGKnm30=&ei=VtbtSrKlKIrQM__RgIQM&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CA8Q9QEwAw

Anti-Buddhist Backlash• Buddhism had mixed with local ideas to manifest into its own

form of Chinese Buddhism. However, Confucian and Dao leaders were worried over so many followers of the faith!

• Confucian scholar bureaucrats said that Buddhism was an economic challenge to imperial order b/c Buddhist monastic lands and their resources were not taxes and the peasants on these lands could not be conscripted.

• Under Emperor Wuzong (841-847) Buddhists became persecuted. Monasteries and shrines were destroyed! Monks, nuns, and peasants had to return to civilian lives.

• Buddhism survived in China but was never again the political force it was under the early Tang. Confucian and Dao took back over

Tang decline and Song Rise• Weakening imperial power under controversy of Empress Wu 690-705 and Empress

Wei (who poisoned her husband, the son of Empress Wu and put her small child on the throne). Another prince led a revolt in the palace against her and won. He became emperor Xuanzong

• High point in Tang dynasty under his rule for a time!• He was a great leader in the beginning but then he stopped focusing on ruling and

began to be obsessed with courtly life and pleasure. He greatly enjoyed playing music and it was said he had 1000 concubines! Xuanzong became infatuated with a beautiful young women, Yang Guifei, after the death of his second wife. She was in the harem of one of the imperial princes. Xuanzong began giving her flute lessons and her status grew. She used her new position to get her greedy relatives access to the upper level of government. She was arrogant and excessive. Xuanzong neglected the state affairs which resulted in disaster. In 755 a revolt broke out which the Tang crushed. However the Tang troops mutinied and killed several Yang family members and forced the emperor to kill Yang Guifei. He did, but never quite recovered. Later rulers Tang rulers were weak.

• Nomadic peoples living on the borders gained powers and took over portions of northern China. The local governors became independent rulers in their own!

Emperor Xuanzong

Tang to Song• Tang couldn’t control the vast empire. In 751 Arab armies defeated

the Chinese on China’s western frontier at the Battle of Talas!• In 907 Chinese rebels sacked and burned the Tang capital at

Changan and murdered the last emperor, a child• Rival warlord divided China into several kingdoms• In 960 an able general reunited China and proclaimed himself Song

Taizu, the first Song (sung) emperor. The Song dynasty lasted from (960-1279). Song armies didn’t regain western lands lost in 751 nor did they regain northern lands. The northern Liao dynasty founded in 907 by the nomadic Khitan peoples in Manchuria made the Song sign treaties that committed them to paying heavy tribute in silver, silk, and tea to keep from invading.

• Song empire was much smaller than Tang

Song Map

Song Politics• Song remained weak due to their imperial policies at subordinating the

military. They didn’t want any military commander to try to seize power so they made the military subordinate to civilian officials, no military leaders could be governors, and rotated their station to prevent them from building up personal power bases.

• Promoted the interests of Confucian scholar-gentry. Many passed the exams and they became better paid. The bureaucracy became bloating with well-paid officials who had little to do!

• Focus on Confucian scholarship, neo-Confucian movement: By book learning, observation, and contact with wise men good nature could be cultivated. They were hostile to foreign philosophical systems, especially Buddhism. This made the Chinese ruler and bureaucrats less open to outside influences! Zhu Xi-philosopher

• Know your role!and accept it! This created harmony.

Decline• How the Song handled the northern nomadic people, Khitan Kingdom of Liao• 11th century Tangut tribes from Tibet formed the Xi Xia kingdom to the southwest

of the kingdom of Liao• The tribute paid drained the people and the army rose to about 1 million• The emphasis on civil administration and growing dislike for the army created

problems• Funds for the military went to scholarly pursuits and entertainments! • In 1070 Wang Anshi tried to reform the problems within the Song administration.

He created well-trained mercenaries, promoted agricultural expansion, taxed the scholars, reorganized university education based on analysis and not memorization. When the emperor Wang Anshi work with, Shenzong, died in 1085 the reforms died and were reversed by neo-Confucians. As a result economic conditions fell and peasant unrest grew!

• In 1115 the Jurchens conquered the Khitans and established the Jin kingdom. They soon conquered the northern Song empire. Southern Song (1167-1279) was quite small and brief, but of immense cultural importance

Tang and Song Prosperity• Sui emperors built canals which the Tang rulers continued building. Great Canal

built by Yangdi helped facilitate trade, communication, and tax collection. It is 1200 miles long!

• Over time the southern provinces became the most fertile for crop production and population!

• Due to canals and conquests trade expanded!• Trade routes between Persia and China (Silk Roads) reopened which intensified

international contacts during the postclassical period• Chinese junks were the best ships in the world along with Arab dhow! They

dominated Asian seas• Had great markets where good all the way from the Mediterranean were sold and

guilds to regulate competition• Established banks and bank notes or credit vouchers to help against robbery. (called

flying money)• 11th century began to issue paper money!• Populations grew and urban cities grew-largest in the entire world!

Chinese junks

                                            

    

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chinaseas.org/junkforsale/forsale1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.chinaseas.org/junkforsale/junkforsale.html&h=803&w=594&sz=241&tbnid=Bvt5WKycDaffmM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchinese%2Bjunks&usg=__MbfvRiROCcOQWTp3EgZhJtDnrvM=&ei=aeztSqmHIIHSMqjQleQH&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&ved=0CBAQ9QEwAQ

Expanding Farming • Rulers of Tang and Song promoted expansion of farmland south• Supported by military garrisons in these areas to protect the

new settlements• Irrigation and embankment systems helped to advance

farming (like the great canals)• Introduced new and better seeds (from Vietnam a new variety of

fast-ripening rice which allowed for 2 harvest a year instead of one) and innovations such as the wheelbarrow

• Sui and Tang rulers broke up large estates of the aristocracy and distributed land more equally among peasants! This also took power from aristocracy.

Canal System

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.yangshuochina.com/sight/UploadPic/2008-6/20086614534838980.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.yangshuochina.com/sight/Yangshuo/sight-42.html&usg=__DFlNUBYLe_f0WM3Z95UmeDRfhYE=&h=219&w=300&sz=45&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=rGUTD4Iynj-iZM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreat%2Bcanal%2Bof%2Bchina%2Band%2Byangdi%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLR,GGLR:2005-49,GGLR:en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Family and Society (Tang and Song)• Family organization similar to earlier times• Position of women improved (elite)• Patriarchy dominated and male hierarchy occurred in households

(extended family)• Authority of elders (laws-a child could be beheaded for striking their

parents or grandparents and if done to an older sibling they could get 2 ½ years of hard labor)

• Matchmakers became common and would match a groom and bride and settle dowry issues. Ages matched up according to Confucian beliefs

• Some women gained power, most likely just the elite. Empress Wu and Wei are great examples. Law allowed for divorce if both parties agreed, a husband couldn’t set aside his wife if her parents were dead or if he had been poor when they met and now was rich. Also some elite women took on complementary husbands or young lovers with their husbands knowledge.

Neo-Confucian Dominance• In general the condition for women during this time in China got worse. • Neo-Confucian scholars gained more power and espoused their belief

in male-domination. Her role was as a homemaker and mother (she had to have sons!) They advocating confining women, emphasized the importance of virginity, and chastity of widows, and fidelity of wives. They discouraged widows from remarrying like in India.

• Men were permitted to have premarital sex without scandal, to take concubines if they could afford them, and to remarry if one of their wives died.

• Neo-Confucians attack Buddhists for promoting alternatives for women like scholarship and the monastic life at the expense of marriage and family

• Created laws that favored male inheritance, divorce, and familial interaction, excluded women from education of civil service

Footbinding• Equal to veil and seclusion of Islam was footbinding of China. Late Song

upper class men preferred women with tiny feet. So to enhance a woman’s marriage contract mothers began to bind the feet of their daughters as early as 5 or 6 years. The toes were turned under and bound with silk. The silk was bound more tightly as she grew. By the time she reached marriageable age her foot had been transformed into the “lotus petal” or “golden lily”. Bound feet were a constant source of pain for the women for her entire life and limited her mobility. It was difficult to take even a few steps. Women with bound feet were crippled for life. To other in society such a women reflected the wealth and prestige of her husband who could afford such a beautiful and impractical wife.

• This was considered unbelievably beautiful and was not to be revealed except to her husband. So looking at pictures is helpful, but should be respected! If you feel that you cannot be respectful then please don’t look

• Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnmOqpoDFEw

Footbinding

http://7uncle.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/footbinding.jpg http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2007-03/bound-feet.jpg

Confucian Fingernails• In addition to footbinding to mark their separation

from the working classes many scholar-officials eventually adopted the fashion of growing their fingernails long. A two-inch fingernail showed clearly that the owner did no manual labor. However, long nails did not prevent the scholars from following the pursuits of the gentry, such as writing poetry, painting, or practicing calligraphy.

Okay…they were not this long! They were kept about 2 inches long just to show their status. Today people grow their fingernails long to win records!!!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ni6iETk73w0/SDkPseCf_iI/AAAAAAAADE0/YmJFn0DsTjU/s400/4u8ys0w.jpg

Invention

• Banks, paper money, engineering feats like the great canal and irrigation, fireworks, gunpowder, grenades and bombs, flamethrowers, poisonous gas, rocket launchers, chairs, tea, kites, abacus, compass, printing, moveable type (Bi Sheng)

• Mechanical Clock• Printing• Gun Powder• Paper Money• Magnetic Compass

Artistic Accomplishments• Reinvigoration of scholar-gentry elite responsible for

much literary and artistic creativity• Buddhist art and architecture patronized by courts• Confucian thinkers became more valued and they were

skillful writers. They were to be good at many things including art and literature. A well-educated man would work for the government and come home to paint, play music, or write poetry. The most famous poet of the Tang era was Li Bo

• Amateurs wrote and painted some of the best work of the time!

http://www.moonshinestud.com/TsuiPo.jpg

http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images/

sungpoet.jpg

World Role• Post classical period vital to the consolidation of Chinese

civilization and culture• Technology and innovation! Trade and economic growth

and contacts with others• Economy one of the most advanced in the world with much

overseas trade, much production, and sophisticated products, and luxury goods like silk and ceramics.

• Inventions of paper, printing, ad gunpowder changed the course of human development!!!

• Song rulers managed to survive the assaults of the northern nomads, but not for long…soon the Mongols would be looking to expand!

Timeline• 220 End of Han Dynasty• 220-589 Era of political division and invasion, Buddhism grew much. Regional kingdoms developed• 589-618 Sui Dynasty: Wendi / Yangdi, great canal and farming projects• 618-626 Gaozu emperor (Li Yuan)• 618-907 Tang Dynasty• 627-649 Tang Taizong emperor (Li Yuan son)• 688 Korean conquest (vassal of Silla)• 690-705 Empress Wu (only Chinese female ruler• 712-756 Xuanzong Emperor• 840’s Period of Buddhist persecution• 907 End of Tang Dynasty• 960-1279 Song Dynasty / Neo-Confucian revival• 1050 Invention of block printing with moveable type by Bi Sheng• 1067-1085 Shenzong Emperor reform of Wang Anshi• 1100 Invention of gunpowder• 1115 Jurchen kingdom• 1119 first reference to the compass• 1127-1279 Southern Song dynasty• 1279-1368 Mongol (Yuan) dynasty rules China

http://www.timelineindex.com/imagesThumb/255_1678.pngPictureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Dynasty

Works Cited

• Emperor Wendi’s pic: