Two Golden Ages of China

How did the Tang Dynasty reunify China?How did the Song dynasty grow so rich?

How did China create an ordered society?What were the cultural achievements of the Tang and Song

dynasties?

The Tang Dynasty Reunifies China

• The Han dynasty collapsed in 220 and China remained divided for almost 400 years– During this time, technology improved and farming

techniques produced more crops– Buddhism spread and learning and arts flourished– Cities survived, even though they were not ruled by one

common emperor– Various invaders came in, but they tended to adopt the

Chinese culture rather than destroy it• Finally, in 618, a father and son team crushed all

their rivals and established the Tang Dynasty

The Tang Empire• The emperor, Tang Taizong, was a general, an historian, a reformer,

and a master calligraphy artist• He conquered many other territories in Asia, eventually making

Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea tributary states (they could rule themselves but had to pay China regularly)

• The well-organized Chinese bureaucracy was re-established and the civil service system (with the exam that anyone could take) was set back up

• He weakened the power of large land-holders by taking away their land and giving it to peasants…and then made money by taxing all land-holders, including the peasants

• Eventually, high taxes, corruption, rebellions, loss of territories, and drought/famine led to the overthrow of the Tang dynasty in 907

- Floods, famines, earthquakes- Invasions

- Peasant revolts

- Restores Peace-Appoints loyal officials- Builds canals and

roads- Repairs defensive

walls

- Neglects government duties

- Corrupt officials- Heavy taxes to pay for fun- Allows walls to decay

- Loses control

The Song Dynasty

• Zhao Kuangyin reunited much of China in 960 and began the Song dynasty, which lasted for 319 years.

• The Song dynasty wasn’t as big as the Tang and faced much more regular invasions, but it lasted longer

• Farming achievements gave the dynasty strength:– A new, faster-growing rice allowed for two crops per year,

which meant more money…which meant more free time for the development of arts

– A canal system allowed food to be shipped and sold faster, further, and easier

China’s Ordered Society

Emperor

Emperor’s Court: Aristocratic Families

Gentry

Peasants

Merchants

Slaves

China’s Ordered Society• The Gentry: the wealthy, land-owning class

– Could spend years studying Confucius’ teachings to pass the civil service exam– Often served as allies of the emperor’s officials

• Peasants: worked the land and lived on what they made– Sometimes supplemented their income with handicrafts– Lived in small villages away from the emperor; their lives weren’t often affected by the

emperor – Could study and take the civil service exam; if a peasant passed, his whole family would

rise up in society• Merchants: had a lower status than peasants because they made their money

from the work of others– They could train up their son to take the civil service exam to rise in society

• Slaves: Could not take civil service exam; slavery had a limited role in China• Women:

– Had a subordinate role and were valued less than boys– Ran family affairs within the home– Custom of foot-binding came about during this time (kept women in the home)

Tang and Song: Inventions, Culture, and Art

• Porcelain-making techniques were perfected along with glazes… called “chinaware” or “china”

• Tang literature (prose, poetry, and philosophy) is still very widely read

• They developed a smallpox vaccine and a spinning wheel• Gunpowder was developed in 850 for use in fireworks (and,

later, weapons)…the Song were the first to use a cannon• Block printing was invented in the 700s (Tang dynasty) and

moveable type was invented in the 1040s– Block: a full page of Chinese characters was carved onto a wooden

block…ink was applied…it was pressed onto paper– Moveable Type: Precut characters combined to form a page

Tang

Song