Sui-Tang-Song ChinaSui-Tang-Song China

Chinese Regionalism

220-589 (Post Han-Sui)

A time of political division, economic turmoil, and social conflict.

Regional Kingdoms:

Nomadic Invasions Endless wars amongst rival kingdoms Re-emergence of rule by aristocrats Decline of Bureaucracy Decline of Confucianism Rise of Buddhism Economic decline Great Wall divided Technological stagnation …it was bad.

“Era of Division” 220-589 C.E.

Conquest and rule my non-Chinese peoples

(Barbarians) shocked the Chinese. Huns and Xiongnu eroded the frontier

defenses.

China’s turbulent 4th century

Confucianism: stressed ideas and practices

that promoted social etiquette, family values, and political stability.

These ideas were criticized for their failure and their value during the regional era.

Regional monarchs began to “re-embrace” the value system, while scholars often condemned its shortcomings.

Confucianism in the Regional Era

The Re-unification of China under the Sui

Re-emergence of Empire: Sui Dynasty 589-618 C.E.

Founded by Yang Jian Valued Chin style

leadership with tight political control.

Used propaganda Conquered southern

China in a Naval War

Harsh, codified laws Standardized everything Written test for office holders Beginnings of civil service exam Refusal to serve in areas of birth “eyes and ears of the ruler” Elaborate building projects such as the capital

Changan

Return to Chin ways

Changan during the Sui

Emperor Yangdi and the Grand Canal

Aka Yang Guang Great achievement:

the Grand Canal Purpose

A short lived dynasty: 589-618 C.E Despite the overwhelming success of the state

economically as a result of the Grand Canal. Failed campaigns of conquest into Korea and

against Central Asian Turks Relentless taxes to support these campaigns

Fall of the Sui

The Tang Dynasty

Founded by Li Yuan China’s Greatest

Dynasty? Golden Age?

“Qin-Han, Sui-Tang”

Tang Taizong

Ambitious, Ruthless, arguably China’s greatest emperor.

Believed in a Confucian, Chin, yet benevolent state.’

Stable, peaceful, prosperous…

1. Well articulated roads and communication

networks. (Canals) 2. Equal field distribution system of land

sharing 3. Reliance on a very highly skilled

bureaucracy governed by a civil service exam.

Reasons for Tang Success?

Civil Service Exam

Tang Conquest

Brought Manchuria, the Silla Kingdom of Korea, Vietnam, and as far west as the Aral Sea (Russia) under their control.

Tang Decline

Incapable emperors Dynastic wars (Du Fu) An Lushan Rebellion Talas River Battle of

751 Loss of Silk Roads Transfer of Power to

Islam Buddhist Crisis of the

mid 9th Century.

The Late Tang period saw individual armies

loyal to their warlords dominating Chinese life. Period between the Tang and Song Age saw a

return to regionalism. With non-Chinese peoples ruling North China.

907-960 China was dominated by Political Fragmentation and Rivalry.

Transition

The Song Dynasty

Song contradiction Early political

stability: 960-1127 Effective

monarchs Civil Bureaucracy Founded by Zhao

Guangyin Drunken generals

story

Military weakness Economic costs of Bureaucracy Taxation issues Peasant woes Rise of nomads-The Khitan, Jurchen, and the

Mongols

Song Shortcomings and Decline

Song split

1215: lost control to Jin Dynasty Reverted to control Southern China 1279 Southern Song crushed by Mongols.

Song Demise

Neo-Confucianism

Wang Anshi: political and economic innovations Metaphysical (being) school of Zu Xi

Good v. Evil: Confucian study and Buddhist meditation can treat evil.

His work will be studied and admired for a millenium.

Tang/Song Culture

“Champa” Rice: Porcelain Metallurgy Paper production “Flying Cash” Urbanization

Tang/Song Economics

Geography? Comparison with Greece? Warrior Aristorcarcy Rigid society 5% of the population was slave Hundreds of early political units Clan based society governed by warrior

chieftans Early socieity: Yamato Clan Religious beliefs: Shinto-the Way of the Gods

Japanese Characteristics

Early Buddhism

Deficits of Shinto faith Diffusion of things Chinese

Seventeen Article Constitution-Buddhist and Confucian document

Taika Reforms-attempt to recreate a Confucian style system in Japan (Exam, Bureaucracy)

Japan

The earliest inhabitants of Japan were

nomadic peoples from northeast Asia Ruled by several dozen states by the middle

of the first millennium C.E. Inspired by the Tang example, one clan

claimed imperial authority over others Built a new capital (Nara) in 710 C.E.,

modeled on Chang'an Adopted Confucianism and Buddhism, but

maintained their Shinto rites

Nara Japan (710-794 C.E.)

Heian Japan

Heian Japan (794-1185 C.E.) Moved to new capital, Heian

(modern Kyoto), in 794 Japanese emperors as ceremonial

figureheads and symbols of authority

Effective power in the hands of the Fujiwara family

Emperor did not rule, which explains the longevity of the imperial house

Chinese learning dominated Japanese education and political thought

Buddhism exploded during this time, despite a strong reaction against it.

Feuds amongst the great

families Local ambitions and political

division War between the Taira and

Minamoto clans Rise of Samurai class Rise of Yorimotoa Minamoto as

Shogun (Kamakura Shogunate)

Heian Decline

Japanese Cultural Achievements

Began to make their mark in literature.

Murasaki Shikibu-a female courtess during the Heian Age wrote the Tale of Genji.

A story of court life and personality of Japanese during the age.

First novel in human history

The equal-field system began to fail Aristocratic clans accumulated most land Taira and Minamoto, the two most powerful

clans, engaged in wars Clan leader of Minamoto claimed title shogun,

military governor; ruled in Kamakura

Decline of Heian Japan