Unit 4, Lesson 6 Centralized Imperial Rule in Chinamshouapworld.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/9/1/14918798/4.06_centralized...The Return of Centralized Imperial Rule in China By the year

Essential Questions• HowwascentralizedimperialrulerestoredinChina?

• Whatweretheimportantpolitical,economic,andtechnologicaldevelopmentsoftheSuidynasty?

• Whatweretheimportantpolitical,economic,andtechnologicaldevelopmentsoftheTangdynasty?

• Whatweretheimportantpolitical,economic,andtechnologicaldevelopmentsoftheSongdynasty?

Unit 4, Lesson 6

Centralized Imperial Rule in China

Keywordsblock printing

Bodhisattva

Chang’an

civil service examinations

commercial market-oriented cultivation

equal-field system

fast-ripening rice

heavy iron plow

merit

metallurgy

moveable type

porcelain

printing

Uighur

Wu Zhao

Copyright © 2011, K12 Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in whole or in part, including illustrations, without the express prior written consent of K12 Inc.

The Return of Centralized Imperial Rule in ChinaBytheyear220C.E.themightyHandynastyofChinahadfallenintoruin.ForthenextfewcenturiesChinawouldbefragmentedintomanyregionalkingdoms.Eachregionlookedtogainandretainasmuchpoweraspossible.SomeregionsweregovernedaccordingtothetraditionalChinesesystem(underthepowerofakingoranemperorandalargebureaucracyconductingallinChineseandastaterunbyConfucianideals),whileothersadoptedgoverningsystemsfromTibet,theTurks,orBuddhism.Regardlessofhowthingswererun,eachkingdomfacedthesameissue:thefighttooverpowerneighborsandregaincontrolofallofChina.Unfortunately,nosinglekingdomhadthepowerorresourcestocontrolallofmightyChina.Insteadthethirdthroughsixthcenturiesinvolvedconstantwarbetweenthekingdoms,andlandandpowerconstantlychangedhands.ItwasatimewhenacentralizedChinadidnotexistpolitically,economically,orculturally.ThisallchangedwhenYangJiantookcontroloftheSuiprovinceinthenorthofChina.Hesentmilitaryexpeditionstotakeoverneighboringareasandby589C.E.controlledallofChina.SobeganthereturnofasingleunitedChinacentralizedbyimperialrule.

The Sui DynastyYangJiancreatedtheSuidynasty.HeandhissonruledaunitedChinafromC.E.581through615.TheSuidynastywascenteredinthenorth,butencouragedpopulationgrowthsouthalongtheYangziRiverthatwouldbecentraltoChina’s

Set the StageThe artisan starts with clay and fires it at a low temperature, creating a strong but clear material that seems to be part glass. Then the glaze is fired at high temperatures to create high glosses and bright colors. This is how the Chinese made ceramics. Ceramics were an art central to Chinese culture from ancient times, improved upon and changed over centuries to create new forms of art from the same basic process. These items were sometimes called porcelain, taken from an Italian word for a cowry shell, because the gloss resembled the inside of the shell.

When China finally began to open to the West, Europeans were amazed by the fine porcelain work they encountered. They had never seen ceramic work of this beauty, delicacy, or detail. Porcelain of all shapes and sizes was sent back to the homes of Europe. Of particular liking to the European ladies were the fine plate and serving wares made from this delicate porcelain. This beautiful Chinese craft could be found in the finest salons of Europe.

Interestingly, Europeans never called this beautiful ceramic work porcelain. They simply referred to it using the name of where it came from: China. Today, the word china has replaced porcelain in most English language uses.

Unit 4, Lesson 6 2


future.TheSuicreatedastrongcentralgovernmentthatwouldsetthestagefortheTangandSongdynasties.Theselaterdynastiesranorganizedandefficientcentralizedcommercialandindustrialenterprisesthataffectedtheentireeasternhemisphere.TheSuidynastywasimportantbecauseitcreatedandusedthestruc-turesandinstitutionsthatalloweddynasticChinatoexpandandthriveaftertheSuidynastywasgone.

The Politics of the Sui DynastyThewarlordfromthenorthYangJianunquestioninglyrestoredcentralizedimpe-rialruletoChina.HeclaimedtheMandateofHeavenandbecameemperorofallChina.Heruledastrictlydisciplinedpoliticalsystem.ThecenterofYangJian’sempirewasathisnewcapitalatChang’an(builtintheWeiRiverValley,inthemodernprovinceofShaanxi).InordertobuildhisstrongcentralgovernmentYangmadeenormousdemandsonhissubjects.Chinesesubjectswereconscriptedintothemilitary,chargedexorbitanttaxesandforcedintocompulsorylaborservices.ThisharshtreatmentwasthebackboneofthestrongSuicentralimperialgov-ernment.UnfortunatelyitwasalsotheundoingoftheSui.SubjectsoftheSuiweredisgruntledandunhappywiththeirlotinlife.Aftertheadditionalstrainofsomeexpensive(andnotallsuccessful)militarycampaignsinKoreaandVietnam,thesecondandlastSuiemperor(SuiYangdi)wasassassinatedbyoneofhisownministers.

Sui EconomicsTheeconomiesoftheSuidynastyweregoodforthefuture,butunfortunateforthepeoplelivingduringthedynasty.TheGrandCanalintegratedtheeconomiesofthenorthandsouth.Thisintegrationbeganthethriv-ingcommercialenterpriseoftheunitedChinaoflaterdynasties.TheSuirulerscreatedstrongeconomicinsti-tutionsthatwouldprovidethebasisforChina’sfuturemonetarysuccess.UnfortunatelyallofthesesuccesseswereatthecostofthepeasantsoftheSuidynasty.Chi-nesepeasantssufferedundertheexcessivelyhightaxesandconstantforcedlaboroftheSuidynasty.Suieco-nomicpoliciessecuredthefuturebutatahighfinancialandsocialcost.

Sui Technological AccomplishmentsThoughshort-lived,theSuidynastymadeenormoustechnologicaladvancements.Usingforcedpeasantlabor,theSuibuiltpalacesandgranaries,andmadeextensiverepairstothedefensiveGreatWallinthenorth.TheycreatedirrigationsystemsintheYangziValley,allow-ingforpopulationgrowththere.However,thegreatesttechnologicalaccomplishmentoftheSuimustbetheGrandCanal.

Chang’an the capital of the Chinese empire, originally built by the Sui

These statues of Sui dynasty women bringing offerings are a good representation of the constant taxation and forced labor of the subjects of the Sui.

Unit 4, Lesson 6 3


TheGrandCanalisboththeoldestandlongestcanalintheworld.ItislongerthantheSuezandPanamacanalsputtogether.Whencompleted,theGrandCanalextendedfromHangzhouinthesouthtothedynasticcapitalatChang’aninthewestandendedinthenorthnearcurrent-dayBeijing.Itencompassedatotalof1,240miles(2,000kilometers),wasfortypaceswide,andhadroadsrunningparalleltoitonbothbanks.EmperorSuiYangdi(r.604–618)createdtheGrandCanalbystartingwithexistingcanals.ThesecanalshadoriginallybeenbuiltduringtheWudynasty(486B.C.E).TheywereextendedduringtheQidynastyandthencompletedduringtheSui.Thisfinalstageofbuildingtooksixyearsandrequiredsixmillionworkerstocomplete(threemillionofwhichdiedduringconstruction).EmperorYangdirebuiltandaddedtothesecanalsuntilonecouldtraveltheentirelengthofChinafromnorthtosouthbywater.Watertransportwasthequickestandmostefficientwaytotransportgoods,especiallyfood.ThemanyriversofChinamadewatertransportpossible,butmostoftheriversruneasttowest.TheGrandCanalconnectedmanyoftheseriversincludingtheYangtze,YellowHuaihe,Quiantang,andHaihe.ThecreationoftheGrandCanalallowedefficiencyintransportationtosuchcitiesasHebei,Tianjin,Beijing,Jiangsu,Shandong,andZhejiang.

Thecanal’ssuccessinimprovingmovementofgoodsandhelpingtobuildtheChineseeconomyisaresultthathaslasteduntiltoday.Italsoplayedahugepartinstrengtheningculturalconnectionsacrosstheempire.TheGrandCanalwasnotonlythegreatestaccomplishmentoftheSuidynastybutalsoabigpartofitsdownfall.Unfortunatelythebuildingofthecanalcostenormoussumsofmoneyandthelivesofmanyoftheworkers.Becauseoftheselosses,manyChineseduringconstructionfeltthatitwasanenormouswasteoflifeandresources.ThissentimentwouldeventuallyhelpleadtothedownfalloftheSuidynasty.

The Tang DynastyTheTangdynastycamequicklyontheheelsoftheassassinationofthelastSuiemperor.Arebelleaderdeclaredhimselfemperor,tookthereinsofChina,andestablishedtheTang.TheTangemperors(whoweredescendedfromtheTurkelitesandChineseofficialsofthenorth)ruledChinaforalmostthreehundredyears(C.E.618–907).TangrulersestablishedandmaintainedcontactsthroughouttheEasternHemisphere.Theyhadeconomic,political,andsocialrelationshipsacrossthehemisphere.ThemanyregionsandculturestheTangcameintocontactwithgreatlyinfluencedChinesesports,religion,music,language,literature,art,clothing,andotherareas.ThediversityandcomplexitythatthisculturalexchangecreatedintheTangdynastyhascausedmanyhistorianstolabelitasa“cosmopolitan”society.TheTangdynastymadeChinathemostimportantplaceinAsia,ifnottheentireEasternHemisphere.

TheTangruleofChinawasasuccessbyallmeasures.Thedynastygrewandflourishedwellintothelateeighthcentury.ItwasonlyatthistimethattheyfinallyhadtogiveintoencroachmentbytheTurks.ThedynastyhiredanarmyofUighurs(Turkishnomads)tohelpfighttheotherTurksandtoputdowninternalrebellions.UnfortunatelyfortheTangrulers,thiseffortwouldbethebeginningoftheend.Morerebellionsandencroachmentsmeantmoreandmorepower

1SELf-ChECK

How did the Sui dynasty

come to an end?

Uighurs Turkish nomads hired as an army to protect the Tang from rebellion and outside encroachments

Unit 4, Lesson 6 4


wasbeinghandedovertotherebelsandtheTurkstoprotectwhatwasleftofthedynasty.Eventually,outofpowerandoptions,thelastTangemperorgaveuphisthroneinC.E.907.

The Politics of the Tang DynastyThepoliticalsystemduringtheTangdynastywasstableandefficient.TheTangemperorsusedthetraditionalChinesebureaucracysystem,Buddhistideals,mili-tarypower,andChina’splaceastheMiddleKingdomtocreateahighlysuccessfulgovernment.

China’sbureaucraticsystemwasbasedonmerit.Thosewhowishedtoearnaplaceinthegovernmentbureaucracyworkedtheirwaythroughtherig-orousConfucianeducationprogram.TheystudiedasophisticatedcurriculumthatincludedclassicalChineseliteratureandphilosophy.Oncehiseducationwascomplete,abureaucraticcandidatewasrequiredtositfortheimperialcivil service examinations.Theonlywaytogetapositioninthegovernmentwastogetahighscoreontheexams(withafewexceptionsofsonsofinfluentialfamilieswhoknewhowtouseawellplacedbribe).Thebureaucracywasahighlyintelligentandtalentedclass,andtheywereextremelyloyaltothedynasty.ForthefirsttimeinChina,educatedmenwithnofamilyconnectionscouldbecomegovernmentoffi-cials.Thiseducatedclassofbureaucraticofficialsbegantoreplacetheoldaristocracyinsocialstatus.MenwererecruitedfromsouthernChinaandtheseofficialsgreatlyaddedtothesizeandstatusofthisneweliteclass.ThissystemwassoeffectivethatitwouldlastforthebetterpartofthenextthirteencenturiesinChina.

TheTangemperorswerealsoastuteintheiruseofBuddhismaspartofthestate.ManyoftheregionalkingdomsthathadexistedaftertheHandynastybutbeforethereunificationofChinabytheSuiwerebasedinBuddhistidealsandusedBuddhismtolegitimizetheirgovernments.TheTangfollowedthisprecedent.TheyinterpretedcertainBuddhistdoctrinetomeanthatrulersexistedtoweldmankindintoaharmoniousBuddhistsociety.TheTangemperorsusedthisideatolegitimizetheirpower.Theirspiritualjobwastorulebecausetheyhadtocreatethissociety.TangemperorsalsoinvokedprotectiveBuddhistspiritsforthemselvesandfortheirpeople.Inaddition,Buddhistmonkswerelargecon-tributorstothedynasty’streasuryandweresomeoftheemperors’mostinfluentialsupporters.

ThearmiesoftheTangdynastywereaforcetobereckonedwith.EmperorTaizong(r.627–650)putdowntherebellionsinthenorthandnorthwest,allowingeasytradeandcommunication.Theyusedtheforemost

2SELf-ChECK

In what direction do

most of the rivers of

China run?

merit something that deserves reward or praise

civil service examinations the difficult set of tests required to gain a position in the Chinese imperial government

This representation of a tomb guard is an excellent example of the pride the Tang held in their military.

Unit 4, Lesson 6 5


Barbarian steed, pride of Ferghana,

All jags and angles, well-knit bones;

two ears cocked, like bamboo tubes split sideways;

four hoofs fleet, as though buoyed on the wind.

Wherever headed, no distance too challenging,

fit indeed for a life-or-death charge.

With a mount superlative as this,

ten-thousand-mile sorties are at your command!

This selection gives historians an opportunity to make appropriate use of relevant historical evidence.

The poem shows something about the author. Du Fu wrote his poems during the Tang dynasty. His work was mostly autobiographical, showing what it was like living in a military society. As he moved around China and the military of China changed, so did his work.

Historians can also look at this poem for content. It shows how impor-tant the military was in the life of China, and it shows pride in the military of the time, not fear or frustration. Clearly the cavalry was held in special esteem, based on his description of the steed of the officer.

Historians can also learn something about the audience of the piece, namely Tang dynasty Chinese. The pride shown by Du Fu helps to show how the people of China felt about their military during the Tang. Clearly the military was strong and the people of China believed they could not be defeated. The Chinese probably supported the Tang military exploits and the strength of their military was a source of pride.

The format of the poem also tells historians something. The poem doesn’t rhyme but has a clear meter. This style of poetry was probably common during Tang era.

While the knowledge historians can glean from this poem is limited, when combined with other sources it spreads much light on Du Fu and the society in which he lived.

A Piece ofhISToRy

Officer Fang’s Barbarian Steed

Unit 4, Lesson 6 6


technologyinweaponryandtransportation.Tangarmiesdidnothesitatetotakeonexpeditionsintoneighboringlands.DuringtheTangdynasty,ChinesearmiesconqueredManchuria,Korea,northernVietnam,landneartheAralSea(inthewest)andpartsofTibet.TheChineseempireduringtheTangdynastywasgeo-graphicallyoneofthelargestinChinesehistory.

China’sroleastheMiddleKingdominAsiawasrevivedandusedtoeveryadvantageduringtheTangdynasty.ItwasanoldtraditionthatChinawascon-sideredthe“MiddleKingdom”orthecenterofimportanceinAsia.FollowingthistraditionmeantthatoutlyingregionsofAsiathatwerenotpartoftheChineseempirestillbroughttributetotheChineseemperorandkowtowedinhispresence.Akowtowiswhenapersonkneelsonthegroundandtoucheshisorherforeheadtothegroundasanactofsubmission,obedience,ortribute.EmissariesfromthemanypartsofAsiahadtraditionallykowtowedtotheChineseemperorasasym-boloftheirsubmissiontoChina.DuringtheTangdynasty,tributetotheMiddleKingdomwasmoreofasymbolthanarealitybecauseChinahadnorealpoliticalpowerovertheseotherareas.However,bymaintainingthetradition,theTangsolidifiedtheireconomic,cultural,social,andmilitarytieswiththerestofAsia.

OneofthefewthingsthatweakenedtheTangdynasty’sgovernmentwasitsforward-thinkingacceptanceofwomeninpowerfulpoliticalroles.Wu Zhao(626–705)becameemperorofChinain690.ShewasaconcubineofthesecondTangemperorandbykillingorotherwiseeliminatingallofherrivalsinthecourt,becameempress.ShelearnedallthewaysofTangpoliticsandexpelledmanypoliti-calrivals.Shebeganrunningthegovernmentin660whentheemperorbecameincapacitatedbyastroke.In684theemperordiedandsheofficiallybecameregentofChina,rulingforheryoungson.In690WuZhaodecidedtoseizepower,deposeherownson,anddeclareherselfemperor.ShewasnotonlythefirstbuttheonlyfemaleemperorofChina.Sheclaimedtobeabodhisattva,whichisanenlight-enedBuddhistsoulthatchoosestoremainonearthtohelpguideothers.Sheusedthisclaimtolegitimizeherrule.InmanycirclesWuZhaobecamejustanotherexampleoftheevilofawomanwithpower.Shewasaccusedofhorrifyingactsofmurderandtorture.ShewashatedforherBuddhistfervorandvilifiedforhavingwildsexualappetites(mostlikelyfalse).ShewasadevoutBuddhistandsupportedthebuildingofmonasteriesandtheblossomingofBuddhistartduringherreign.ShewasthefirstChineseemperortotakeaBuddhisttitle:Divine-EmpressWhoRulestheUniverse.WuZhaowasresponsibleformuchoftheTangmilitarypowerandsuccessaswellastheestablishmentofasolidbureaucraticofficialclassbasedineducation.Whetherhersuccessasanemperorwastemperedbywildactionswilllikelyneverbeknown.Inreality,notenoughrecordsexisttoshowmuchaboutWuZhao,butsheruleduntil705,whenshewasdeposedatovereightyyearsold.ForcenturiesthemenofChinawouldexclaimthatitwaswomenofpowerlikeWuZhaothatweakenedandbrokeChina.

Tang EconomicsTheTangdynastywashighlyprosperouslargelyduetothesecondemperorofthedynasty:TangTaizong.DuringTangTaizong’srule,banditryended,thepriceofriceremainedlow,andthetaxratewasalow2.5percent.Chinabegantohave

3SELf-ChECK

What areas were

conquered by the

Tang dynasty?

Wu Zhao female emperor of the Tang dynasty

bodhisattva an enlightened spirit who remains on earth to assist others

Unit 4, Lesson 6 7


astrongeconomyduringhisruleanditonlycontinuedtogrowthroughouttheTangperiod.Thiswasinlargepartduetotheequal-fieldsystemandthesupportofthemonasticcommunity.

Theequal-field systemwastheequitabledistributionoflandtomembersofthesociety.Landwasallottedtoafamilybasedonthefertilityoftheareaandtheneedoftherecipient.Thepurposewastoavoidtheconcentrationoflandpropertywithinafewfamilies.ThisconcentrationoflandinthehandsofjustafewhadcausedsocialupheavalduringtheHandynasty.Undertheequal-fieldsystem,one-fifthofthelandallottedcouldbeinheritedbythenextgeneration,withtherestremainingavailableforredistributionasneeded.Theequal-fieldsystemwashighlysuccessfulduringtheTangdynasty.Onlyinthelateeighthcenturydidthesystemshowsignsofweakening.Atthatpointlandallocationwasstrainedbecauseofarisingpopulation.Overtime,influentialfamilieshadfoundwaystousebribestoholdontolandthatwasmeantforredistribution.Withanincreasingpopulationandadecliningsupplyofland,thesystemthathadmadetheTangcountrysidesoprosperousfelltoruin.

BuddhistmonasteriesalsoplayedanimportantpartintheTangeconomy.Muchofthewealthofthedynastycamefromlargedonationsmadebythemonasteries.Buddhistmoniesfundedmanymilitaryoperations.Inexchange,Buddhistmonas-teriesreceivedtaxexemptions,landgrants,andotherimperialgifts.Unfortunatelyitwasthelargeparcelsoflandthatweresetasideformonasteriesthatplayedalargeroleinendingthesuccessoftheequal-fieldsystem.

Tang Technological AccomplishmentsTheTangdynastyworkedontechnologythatincreaseditsalreadysuccessfulpoliti-calandeconomicendeavors.ChineseoftheTangerawereskilledinhorsemanship,androdeusingironstirrups.Theybattledwithcrossbowsandarmoredinfantryman.AllthesewerealargepartofTangmilitarysuccess.Inaddition,theTangbuiltandmaintainedroadsthatthataidednotonlyinmilitaryexcursionsbutalsocommercialones.Horsesandhumansusedtheroads,andtheentireChineseempirecouldbecrossedinonlyeightdays.TheTangbuiltinns,postoffices,andstablesalongtheimportantroutestomaketransportationeasier.TheTangdynastycreatedasystemoftransportationandcommunicationthatmadeefficienttradeandbattlepossible.

Tang CultureBuddhismwasanimportantpartofChinesecultureduringtheTangdynasty.Itflourishedinpartduetostatesponsorship,butalsobecausemanynewBuddhisttextsandideastravelledbacktoChinawithmerchants.TradersontheSilkRoadbroughtbacknotonlyspicesfromIndia,butalsoBuddhistphilosophy,practices,andsacredtexts.TwotypesofBuddhistmovementswereespeciallypopular:ChanorZenBuddhismandPureLandBuddhism.ThesewerepurelyChinesetypesofBuddhism.TheseschoolsofBuddhistthoughtquicklyspreadthroughoutEastAsia.ChinawasthecenterofBuddhistthought.TangreligiousthoughtwasalsoinfluencedbyotherreligionsfromtheWestbecauseoftheopenandtolerantnatureoftheTangrulers.

TheTangdynastymadegreataccomplishmentsinthearts,especiallyduringtheeighthcentury.EmperorZuanzong(r.712–756)wascalledMingHuangor

equal-field system system of land distribution based on land fertility and family need

4SELf-ChECK

Why did many in China

hate Wu Zhao?

Unit 4, Lesson 6 8


“theBrilliantMonarch.”HisreigniswhatistodayconsideredtheclassicalperiodofChineseartandliterature.LiBo(c.700–762)andDuFu(722–770)werefamouspoetsoftheperiod.TheywroteofthewildlivesoftheTangcourtsandtheconstantmilitarycampaigns.LiBaiandBaiJuyialsowrotepoetryduringthisperiod.TheirworkcontinuestogivehistoriansawindowintolifeduringtheTangdynasty.Inart,WuDaozi,whowaspaintingcirca710–760,andWangWeisetthestandardforlaterChineseart.WuDaoziwasacourtpainterknownforhisvigorousbrushwork.WangWeiwasbothapoetandpainterknownforhisnaturalistwork.PaintingsoftheTangperiodarefilledwithmostlyrealistimages.TherewasagreatflourishingofBuddhistartduringthisperiod.AmongthemanywonderfulsculpturescreatedduringthistimeistheLeshanBuddha,whichisthelargestofitskind.

The Song DynastyTheSongdynasty(960–1127)tookpowerafterthefallofthepowerfulTang.TheSongemperorsweretheheirstothesuccessfulChineseempirebuiltbytheSuiand

This map shows how large the Tang was at its height. Impressively the entire empire could be crossed in only eight days. Also note the decrease in the size of the empire during the Song dynasty.

Hangzhou

Kaifeng

Chang´anE a s t

C h i n aS e a

Y e l l o wS e a

S e a o f J a p a n( E a s t S e a )

S o u t hC h i n a

S e aB a y o fB e n g a l

Yangtze River

In

dus R

iver

Mekong River

Ganges River

Huang He River

Taiwan

Gobi

Taklimakan Desert

CHINATIBET

ANNAM(VIETNAM)

RUSSIA

INDIA

KOREAJAPAN

PA C I F I CO C E A N

H I M A L AYA S

HIND U KUS H

MANCHURIA

The Great Wall of China is a series of defensive walls built in stages over a period of more than 2,000 years.

Capital of Song Dynasty

Capital of southern Song Dynasty

Capital of Tang Dynasty

40°

20°

40°

20°

100° 120° 140°

140°

80°

100° 120°80°

800 mi0 400

4000 800 km

Dynasty

Tang 750

Song 1050

Southern Song 1145

Jin 1145

Silk Road

Grand Canal

Great Wall of China

Tang and Song Dynasties, 618–1279

Unit 4, Lesson 6 9


Tangbeforethem.Theresultwasadynastythatwashighlysuccessfuleconomically;thehardworkofmanycenturiesbeforecametofruitionduringtheSong.TheSongempirewasanurbansociety,knownforitsabundantshops,restaurants,taverns,gardens,teahouses,andbrothels.TheSongwouldleavetheirmarkonChina.

The Politics of the Song DynastyTheSongdynastywasluckytoinheritthestrongcentralizedimperialgovernmentthathadbeensocarefullystructuredandmaintainedbytheSuiandTangdynas-ties.TheSongrulersbuiltandmaintainedaneffectivecentralizedbureaucracythatpulledfromthenewscholarlyelite.Theyreplacedmilitarygovernors(andtheirsupporters)withcivilserviceofficialsofthecentralgovernment.MorepowerwasnowinthehandsofthecentralSonggovernmentthaneverbefore.Powerrestedinthepersonoftheemperorandhispalacebureaucracy.

Bymaintainingthegovernmentofthepreviousdynasties,theywerenotfacedwithpoliticaltroubles.ThemajorissueoftheSongemperorswasalargepopula-tionsurge.Theyspentmuchtimemanagingfooddistribution.Overallthehighlycentralizedandstronggovernmentthatwaspasseddowntothemmademanagingthelargerpopulationpossible,andlefttheSongrulerstimeandresourcestofocusonbuildingwhatwouldbecomethehighlysuccessfuleconomyofthedynasty.

Song EconomicsTheSongeconomywasthestrengthofthedynasty.Therewasagreatsurgeinagri-culturalproductionpartlybecausefast-ripening ricewasdiscoveredinVietnam.WhenthisparticularstrainofricewasputintothefertilesoilofChina,farmerscouldharvesttwocropsayear.GrowingagriculturalsuccessledtoashiftinthewayChinesefarmersworkedtheirland.Theyturnedtocommercial market-oriented cultivation.FarmersinChinagrewgreateramountsofwhatevercropswerebestsuitedtotheirlandratherthandiversifyingtoprovideafulldiet.Bysellingtheircrops,theywereabletosupplementtheirdietsandbuyrice.

AgriculturalsuccessledtogreatertradebothacrossChinaandtherestofAsia.ChinesemerchantsduringtheSongperiodbeganathrivingtradeonthecoastsoftheIndianOcean.Tradegrewtoincludemanyexoticandluxuryitemssuchasfeathers,pearls,tortoiseshells,incense,melons,andhorses.Chinawasespeciallysuccessfulintradingfinesilksanduniqueandbeautifulporcelain.

AstheSongeconomygrew,coppercurrencywasinshortage,sopeoplebegantoissue“flyingcash”:lettersofcreditthatreplacedcoppercurrency.TheselettersofcrediteventuallydevelopedintotheuseofpapermoneyacrossChina.Whilethisworkedforawhile,eventuallytheprivateprintingofmoneycausedproblemsintheeconomy.Whenmerchantsranintosituationswheretheycouldnothonorthemoneytheyhadprinted,riotsensued.Asaresult,intheeleventhcenturytheSonggovernmentmadeprivateprintingofmoneyillegalandtookovertheprint-ingitself.OfficialSongmoneyhadserialnumbersandwarningstocounterfeiters.ThesupplyofpapermoneywasanenormousstimulustothegrowingsuccessoftheSongeconomy.

ThegrowingSongeconomyledtotheurbanizationofSongculture.Songcit-ieswerenotonlycentersofadministration,butalsotrade,industry,andmaritime

fast-ripening rice a type of rice that has a shorter growing season

commercial market-oriented cultiva-tion the growing of crops meant for sale rather than individual consumption

porcelain translucent ceramic with a high glaze

Unit 4, Lesson 6 10


commerce.AnewclassroseupinChinesecities.Sometimesreferredtoasthegentry,thisclasswasmadeupofthenewscholar-officials,merchants,shopkeepersandartists.Thoseoutsidetheinnergovernmentcircleandtheclassoflandownerscouldmakemoney,andthesenewgentrytookadvantageofit.Songcitiesgrewinsizeandwealth.Privateenterprisewasthrivingalongwithprinting,education,andthenewmarketeconomy.

Song Technological AccomplishmentsTheSongdynastymademanytechnologicalaccomplishments.Theseaccomplish-mentswerecenteredinthreeareas:agriculturaldevelopment,militaryadvance-ments,andnewtradegoods.

TheagriculturaltechnologythatwasinventedandadvancedduringtheSongdynastywasakeyelementinasurgeinagriculturalproduction.Songfarmersbeganusingheavy iron plows.Inthenorth,oxenwereharnessedtopulltheseplows,whileinthesouthwaterbuffalowereputtothesameuse.Manureandcompostwereusedtofertilizethesoilandincreasegrowth.Irrigationsystemswereputintoplacetocreatemorearablelandandextendthegrowingseason.Thesesystemswerequiteadvanced,makinguseofreservoirs,dikes,dams,canals,pumps,andwaterwheels(whichwerepoweredbybothpeopleandanimals).Songerafarmersalsobegantouseterracedmountainsides,whichincombinationwithirrigationgreatlyincreasedtheamountofarablelandinChina.Byincreasingtheavailablelandforfarmingandimprovingsystemsoffarming,Chineseagriculturalproduc-tionnumberssoared.

WhiletheSongwasnotthemilitarymightthattheTanghadbeen,thedynastycreatedsomemilitarytechnologythatwouldforeverchangewarinthefuture.Oneexamplewastheimprovementinnavaltechnologyintheformofthemagneticcompass.Thesecondwastheinventionofgunpowder.GunpowderwasactuallydiscoveredwhenaTaoistalchemistmadeamistake,butitsuseinweaponrywasquicklyassessedandputtousebyboththeSongandtheirenemies.TheSongpeoplewerealsoskilledinmetallurgy,creatinganimprovedtypeofironusefulforbothmilitaryproductsandineverydaylife.

TheSongdynastyalsointroducednewtradegoods.Thefirstwasporcelain,madeintostatuaryandotherdécor(andlaterplatesandotherkitchenimple-ments).Secondwerethestridesmadeinprinting.Songinventorsfirstcreatedblock printing,thenmoveable type.BlockprintingwasmoresuccessfulbecauseofthenumberandtypeofcharactersusedinChineselanguages.Printedtextssoonbecamereadilyavailableandanothersourceofincomeforthethriv-ingSongeconomy.

TheSongdynastymadeefficientuseoftechnologytomovetheeconomyforward.

Song CultureReligionduringtheSongdynastywastheprogenyoftheconflictbetweeneasternschoolsofthoughtduringtheprecedingdynasties.TraditionalConfucianthinkersshunnedtheBuddhismthattookholdduringtheTang.ThepeopleofChina,how-ever,wereattractedtoBuddhism,especiallyitsemphasisonhighmoralstandards,

5SELf-ChECK

What were some

luxury items traded

by the Song dynasty

merchants?

heavy iron plow a plow made of iron that can more efficiently harvest a field

metallurgy the technique of working metals into compounds and desired shapes and refining them into their ores

printing producing writing using block type, moveable type, or mechanics rather than by hand

block printing type of printing that uses hand-carved blocks of wood

moveable type printing that involves each character on a separate piece of metal

Unit 4, Lesson 6 11


intellectualism,andpromiseofsalvation.ConfucianemphasisonfamilywasinconflictwiththeBuddhistdemandforcelibacyandmonasticism.

Atthispoint,manyBuddhistideasweremeldedintotraditionalChinesethinking.TheBuddhistworddharma(whichisthecentralforcethatgovernstheuniverse)becamesynonymouswithDao(theuniversalidealsthatgovernrightandwrong)inChineseBuddhism.Theneedforamonasticlifestylewouldbesatisfiedfortengenerationsbysendingjustonesontothemonastery.ChineseBuddhismbecameknownasChan.ThisBuddhistschoolfocusedonintuition,instancesofmentalclarity,andmomentsofinsight.ChanBuddhismwasawaytobeginmeld-ingBuddhistthoughtwithtraditionalChinesephilosophy.

However,therewasmuchresistancetoBuddhisminChina.TheConfu-ciansputgreatpressureontheTangrulerstoexpelBuddhismfromChinaaltogether.TheSongemperorsappeasedtheConfuciansbymakingthecivilexamsbasedalmostentirelyonConfucianphilosophyandideas.TheydidnotseektoeliminateBuddhismaltogether,butrathertoincorporateBuddhistideasintotraditionalChineseones.ManySongerascholarscametoappreciateBuddhistideasduringtheirintensiveyearsofstudy.RatherthandismisstheseideasaswrongorconflictingwithChineseandConfucianvalues,theywereintriguedbythemandadoptedsomeofthemastheirown.Thesescholars,knownasNeo-Confucians,combinedsomeBuddhistconceptswithConfu-cianideas.TheywereintriguedbytheBuddhistinterestinthenatureofthehumansoulandtheindividual’srelationshiptothecosmos.EarlyChinesehaddismissedboththeseideasasinoppositiontotheConfucianteachingsabouttheimportanceofthegroupovertheindividual.Neo-ConfucianismsoughttoalignthesetwoareasofthoughtinawaythatmadesensetoChineselife.ThewritingsofZhuXiespousedNeo-ConfucianthoughtandhelpeditspreadtootherareasofAsia.

SummaryChinaspentcenturiesdividedintoregionalkingdomsafterthefalloftheHandynasty—noneabletosummontheresourcestoreuniteChina.Inthelatesixthcentury,YangJianmanagedtoreuniteChinaunderacentralimperialruleonceagain.YangJianbecamethefirstemperoroftheSuidynasty.TheSuiwasim-portantbecauseitreunifiedChina.TheSuiemperorcreatedtheinstitutionsnecessarytorunChinabyacentralimperialruleandforthiscentralunifiedempiretomaintainitselflongaftertheSuiweregone.WhenthesecondandfinalSuiemperorwaskilled,theTangdynastytookover.TheTangdynastywastheheightofChineseimperialpowerandefficiency.ThebureaucraticsystemoftheTangtookthetraditionalConfuciansystemtoitsheight.Tangmilitarypowerwasmightyandmadetheempiregeographicallyenormous.WhentheTangfinallyfell(afteralmostthreecenturies),theSongemperorstookoverandmadeChinaacommercialempire.TherootsputdownintheSuiandthemightandefficiencyoftheTangledtotheenormousgrowthandeconomicsuccessoftheSong.TheSongdynastywasatimeofgrowingpopulation,expandingtrade,andtechnologicaladvancements.

6SELf-ChECK

What enabled Song

farmers to grow

crops on the terraced

mountainsides?

Unit 4, Lesson 6 12


Looking AheadThereunificationofChinawouldleadtocenturiesmoreofimperialrule.Chinesetrade,particularlyduringtheTangandSongdynasties,wouldleavealastingimpres-sionontheculturesoftherestofAsia.TheexoticnatureofChinesegoodswouldlaterleadtotheirhighvalueinEuropeanmarketsandtheentranceofEuropeanpowersintoChinesepolitics.Becauseofthesuccessoftheeconomiesofthesedynasties,EuropewouldlaterencroachonChinaandstrivetocontroltradethere.

1.The Sui dynasty ended when the final Sui emperor, Sui Yangdi, was assassinated by one of his ministers.

2.Most of the rivers of China run in an east-west direction.

3.The Tang dynasty conquered Korea, northern Vietnam, Manchuria, parts of Tibet, and land along the Aral Sea.

4.Many in China hated Wu Zhao because she was a powerful woman as the emperor. Many Chinese believed that only evil could come from power in the hands of a woman.

5.Some luxury items traded by the Song dynasty merchants were feathers, pearls, tortoise shells, incense, melons, and horses.

6.Song farmers were able to grow crops on the terraced mountainsides because they had many forms of irrigation available to them.

SELf-ChECK AnSWERS

Unit 4, Lesson 6 13


Unit 4, Lesson 6All images © K12 Inc. unless otherwise noted. 1 Tomb guard, Tang dynasty. The Art Archive/Musée Cernuschi Paris/Gianni Dagli Orti 3 Three women bearing offerings. The Art Archive/Musée Guimet Paris/Gianni Dagli Orti 5 Tomb guard, Tang dynasty. The Art Archive/Musée Cernuschi Paris/Gianni Dagli Orti 6 The Selected Poems of Du Fu, trans. Burton Watson (Columbia University Press, 2002), 2. Reprinted with permission of the publisher.


Documents

Unit 4, Lesson 6 Centralized Imperial Rule in Chinamshouapworld.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/9/1/14918798/4.06_centralized...The Return of Centralized Imperial Rule in China By the year