Sui-Tang Dynasties(589-907)

Sui Dynasty (581-618)

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Yang Jiang (Sui Wen Di): The First Sui EmperorSui Wen Di, who had been a leader of the Northern Zhou,

Went on a mission to unite China and reigned from 581-604 AD. His capital city was Chang’an.

Major Accomplishments: - Conquered Northern Zhou and Chen dynasties, united China for first time in four centuries

- Repaired Great Wall

- Canal system linking fertile central region with northern plain

- Expeditions to check on Turks on Central Asian steppe

- Son and successor: Yang Guang (Sui Yang Di, Yang Kuang, Sui Yang Ti) lost the money Yang Jiang had built up, lots of revolts, assassinated in 618, causes collapse

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Sui Art

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Sui Sculpture Influenced by Buddhism

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Tang Dynasty (618-906)

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Tang Emperors Li Yuan (Pictured right) reigned from 618-

626 when he abdicated in order to let his ambitious son, Taizong, reign

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Taizong (Pictured left) reigned from 627-649. His Reign marked the blossoming of the Tang era and he is recognized as one of the greatest leaders in Chinese history. During his rule, Chinese influence was extended to Afghanistan and Turkistan as well as south to Tibet.

Taizong was succeeded by Gaozong, who reigned from 649-683.Gaozong brought Korea and Japan into tributary relationship withChina. Empress Wu, his wife, continued this consolidation. Then Tang Xuansong reigned from 712-756. Under Xuanzong, military commanders Began to establish independent authority and central administration declined, As did the empire due to border wars and rebellions.

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Tang Government System

Tang Code of Laws (Based on Confucian thought) Strong Central Government Hand-picked chief officials Council of Ministers=advisors Inspectors sent to provinces to check on activities of

local governors Promoted trade (Jade, porcelain, rice, silks, spice,

tea, etc. along trade routes) Welcomed new thought and new ideas and

technology and new religions such as Zoroastrianism and Christianity

Chang’an

The Tang Dynasty’s capital city of Chang’an was one of the great cultural centers of the world.

Art, poetry, scholarly thought, merchants, and government and religious leaders flourished there.

A Tang Dynasty poemIn calligraphy Tang dynasty sculpture

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Tang Earth Spirits

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Tang Dynasty art!

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What to Remember:

The Sui Dynasty was short-lived but important because it unified China and paved the way for the Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was one of the most glorious periods in Chinese history. Culture flourished, government was well organized, and the country was unified.

Picture Bibliography

Picture 1: "China Map Guide." China Highlights. 27 Sept. 2006 <http://www.chinahighlights.com>. Picture 2: “Emperor Wen Di- Sui Dynasty. China Page. China the Beautiful. 26 Sept. 2006

<http://www.chinapage.com/emperor/sui0701.jpg>. Picture 3: China- Sui Dynasty. Asian Spirit. Asian Spirit Gallery. 26 Sept. 2006

<asianspiritgallery.com/images/china/ch_l_sui1.jpg>. Picture 4: Sui Dynasty China. History for Kids. 27 Sept. 2006 <www.historyforkids.org/.../china600scene.jpg>. Picture 5: China Images. Minnesota State University. 27 Sept. 2006 <www.mnsu.edu/.../china/images/sui1.gif>. Picture 6: Sui Dynasty Urn. China Culture. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://www.chinaculture.org/img/2003-09/24/hist31_01.jpg>. Picture 7: Sui Dynasty China. History For Kids. 27 Sept. 2006

<http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/art/pictures/suicamel.jpg>. Picture 8: Tang Dynasty. China Highlights. China Tours. 25 Sept. 2006 <www.chinahighlights.com>. Picture 9: Nillson, John Erik. Antique Chinese Art. Gotheborg. 26 Sept. 2006 <www.gotheborg.com>. Picture 10: Li Yuan. China Translation. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://www.chinatranslation.org/china/img/china-13.jpg>. Picture 11: Tang Dynasty Poetry. Chinese Art Net Online Gallery. 26 Sept. 2006 <www.chineseartnet.com>. Picture 12: Jade Figure. Copper Canyon Adventures. 25 Sept. 2006 <http://www.coppercanyonadventures.com/Tang

%20Dynasty%20sculpture.JPG>. Picture 13: Tang Dynasty. Asian Art. 27 Sept. 2006 <http://www.asianart.com/marcrichards/large/3529.jpg>. Picture 14: Tang Dragon. Fantasy Art. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://www.fantasyarts.net/dragons/dragon_Tang.jpg>. Picture 15: Tang Horse. Oriental Rugs. 26 Sept. 2006 <www.persiancarpetguide.com>.

Bibliography Benn, Charles. China's Golden Age: Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty. Oxford:

Oxford UP, 2002.

Fairbank, John K., and Merle Goldman. China: a New History. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1992.

Skaff, Jonathan Karam. "Survival in the Frontier Zone: Comparative Perspectives on Identity and Political Allegiance in China's Inner Asian Borderlands During

the Sui-Tang Dynastic Transition (617-630)." Journal of World History 15 (2004): 117-153. Project MUSE. Engelhard Family Library, McLean. 27 Sept.

2006.

“Sui Dynasty.” World Book.

"Sui." Encyclopedia Brittanica.

"Tang Dynasty." World Book.

"Tang." Encyclopedia Brittanica.