Lecture08 tang&song china

China during the Sui, China during the Sui, Tang, & Song DynastiesTang, & Song Dynasties

Sui 589-618Sui 589-618

Tang 618-907Tang 618-907

Song 960 -1279Song 960 -1279

Background

After the fall of the Han Empire in 220 After the fall of the Han Empire in 220 c.e., northern China was controlled by c.e., northern China was controlled by Central Asian & Tibetan nomads; no Central Asian & Tibetan nomads; no group in southern China was strong group in southern China was strong enough to control the entire regionenough to control the entire region (30 (30 dynasties in about 300 years claimed the dynasties in about 300 years claimed the Mandate of Heaven).Mandate of Heaven).

For 350 years, regional rule was the For 350 years, regional rule was the political reality.political reality.

BackgroundBy 589, the first By 589, the first

emperor of the Sui emperor of the Sui dynasty had dynasty had forcefully reunited forcefully reunited northern and northern and southern China once southern China once again. again.

The foundations for The foundations for the Tang & Song the Tang & Song Dynasties were laid.Dynasties were laid.

China during the Sui, China during the Sui, Tang, & Song DynastiesTang, & Song Dynasties

Sui 589-618Sui 589-618

Tang 618-907Tang 618-907

Song 960 -1279Song 960 -1279

“A Golden Age”

China during the Tang and Song China during the Tang and Song dynasties enjoyed political dynasties enjoyed political stability, economic growth, and stability, economic growth, and intellectual and artistic intellectual and artistic achievement.achievement.

SUI, TANG, & SONG SUI, TANG, & SONG CHINACHINA

The more things change, the more The more things change, the more they stay the same.they stay the same.

Comparatively, Chinese culture retained Comparatively, Chinese culture retained many of its characteristics from Ancient many of its characteristics from Ancient through the Tang & Song era.through the Tang & Song era.

Confucianism remained a foundation of Confucianism remained a foundation of society and culturesociety and culture

China continued to be superior in many China continued to be superior in many advancements, in technology, and ideasadvancements, in technology, and ideas

Emperor and the bureaucracy Emperor and the bureaucracy

Written language Written language separate from separate from spoken languagesspoken languages

The social class The social class structure and structure and gender roles gender roles remained relatively remained relatively constant.constant.

CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINAOF CHINA

DURING THE SUI, TANG, and DURING THE SUI, TANG, and SONG DYNASTIESSONG DYNASTIES

Politics & Government The frontiers were stabilized & attempts The frontiers were stabilized & attempts

at expansion were partially successful.at expansion were partially successful. Centralized government returned along Centralized government returned along

with a bureaucracy of trained civil with a bureaucracy of trained civil servants.servants.

Agriculture

Agricultural production improved & crop Agricultural production improved & crop specialization intensified with improved specialization intensified with improved infrastructure and printing and iron infrastructure and printing and iron implementsimplements.

Champa rice –

Could be harvested

twice

INDUSTRY & TRADEINDUSTRY & TRADE

China lost its monopoly on silk (but still China lost its monopoly on silk (but still had a superior product)had a superior product)

China was the sole supplier of porcelain China was the sole supplier of porcelain to the worldto the world

China began cotton, tea, and sugar China began cotton, tea, and sugar production and export.production and export.

Advanced metallurgy and miningAdvanced metallurgy and mining

TRADE Regional trade Regional trade

improved with improved with improved improved infrastructure infrastructure Indian Ocean trade Indian Ocean trade increased with increased with Tang control over Tang control over coastal Southern coastal Southern China China

Silk Road trade Silk Road trade increasedincreased

FinanceThe use of a credit system (flying The use of a credit system (flying

money)money)Government issued paper money.Government issued paper money.Some areas of the economy were Some areas of the economy were

privatized during the Song era.privatized during the Song era.Growth of cities led to growth of Growth of cities led to growth of

industry, trade, and the empires’ industry, trade, and the empires’ economyeconomy

Some ResultsLand was no longer the ONLY Land was no longer the ONLY

source of wealth.source of wealth.Trade led to cultural and Trade led to cultural and

technological influences—stronger technological influences—stronger connections with Korea, Japan, connections with Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia.Vietnam, and other parts of Asia.

Chinese trade became an even Chinese trade became an even stronger force in Eurasia.stronger force in Eurasia.

Social Classes

Landowners (landed gentry) were at the Landowners (landed gentry) were at the top of the social class system. top of the social class system.

Scholar-gentry and military leaders were Scholar-gentry and military leaders were another group in the upper class.another group in the upper class.

Merchants and artisans could acquire a Merchants and artisans could acquire a great deal of wealth from industry and great deal of wealth from industry and trade (but were in the lower class).trade (but were in the lower class).

Soldiers, peasants, and slaves were at Soldiers, peasants, and slaves were at the bottom of the social classes.the bottom of the social classes.

Gender Roles Women’s status slowly Women’s status slowly

declined (despite attempts at declined (despite attempts at reform by several empresses).reform by several empresses).

The Song Period saw women The Song Period saw women

at a very low social status.at a very low social status.Seclusion, lack of property Seclusion, lack of property

rights, footbinding, and exclusion rights, footbinding, and exclusion from education are from education are

all examples of their lowering all examples of their lowering status.status.

From Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai From Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai

““A girl's beauty and desirability were A girl's beauty and desirability were counted more by the size of her feet than by counted more by the size of her feet than by the beauty of her face. Matchmakers were the beauty of her face. Matchmakers were not asked, 'Is she beautiful?' but 'How small not asked, 'Is she beautiful?' but 'How small are her feet?' A plain face is given by are her feet?' A plain face is given by heaven but poorly bound feet are a sign of heaven but poorly bound feet are a sign of laziness.” laziness.”

Technology

First chain driven mechanism - the clock First chain driven mechanism - the clock (1088)(1088)

Gunpowder Gunpowder Paper production and block printing Paper production and block printing

techniques were invented and then techniques were invented and then advanced—moveable type.advanced—moveable type.

Boat building and navigational Boat building and navigational technology was more advanced than the technology was more advanced than the rest of the world.rest of the world.

Advancements included: Tang and Song China had the largest Tang and Song China had the largest

cities in the world at that time.cities in the world at that time. Song Chinese were the first to use Song Chinese were the first to use

fractions in computations and equations.fractions in computations and equations. Solar year was accurately measured Solar year was accurately measured Doctors in Song China compiled and Doctors in Song China compiled and

printed medical textsprinted medical texts

In terms of advancements, innovations, In terms of advancements, innovations, and knowledge, China benefited from and knowledge, China benefited from centuries of Chinese scholarship and centuries of Chinese scholarship and technology.technology.

Influences from other parts of the world Influences from other parts of the world (especially during the Tang period) also (especially during the Tang period) also had a considerable effect.had a considerable effect.