CHAPTER 17Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization:

The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

World Civilizations: The Global ExperienceFifth Edition

Stearns/Adas/Schwartz/Gilbert

Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the Song III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The Basis of a Golden Age

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

WendiNoblemanLeads nomadic leaders to control

northern China589, defeat of Chen kingdom

Established Sui dynastyChina During the Era of Division, The Sui Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

A. Sui Excesses and CollapseYangdi

Son of WendiLegal reformReorganized Confucian educationScholar-gentry reestablishedLoyang

New capitalBuilding projects

Canals built across empireAttacked KoreaDefeated by Turks, 615Assassinated, 618

China During the Era of Division, The Sui Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

B. The Emergence of the Tang and the Restoration of the Empire

Li Yuan, Duke of TangUses armies to unite ChinaExtends borders to AfghanistanUse of Turks in army

Empire into Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, KoreaGreat Wall repaired

C. Rebuilding the BureaucracyUnity

Aristocracy weakenedConfucian ideology revisedScholar-gentry elite reestablishedBureaucracyBureau of Censors

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

D. The Growing Importance of the Examination System

Ministry of Rites

Birth, connections important for office

E. State and Religion in the Tang and Song Eras

Confucianism and Buddhism potential rivalsBuddhism had been centralMahayana Buddhism popular in era of

turmoilChan (Zen) Buddhism common among elite

Early Tang support BuddhismEmpress Wu (690-705)

Endows monasteriesTried to make Buddhism the state

religion50,000 monasteries by c. 850

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

I. Rebuilding the Imperial Edifice in the Sui-Tang Eras

F. The Anti-Buddhist Backlash

Confucians in administrationSupport taxation of Buddhist

monasteries

Persecution under Emperor Wuzong (841-847)

Monasteries destroyedLands redistributed

Confucian emerges the central ideology

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the Song

Emperor Xuanzong (713-756)Height of Tang powerMistress, Yang Guifei

PowerfulRelatives gain power in

government755, revolt

But leaders ineffectualFrontier peoples, governors

benefit

A. The Founding of the Song Dynasty907, last Tang emperor resigns

Zhao Kuangyin (Taizu)960, founds Song dynastyLiao dynasty, Manchura

Khitan nomadsUnconquered by Taizu

Song unable to defeat northern nomads

Song pay tribute to Liao

China During the Song Dynasty Era

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the Song

B. Song Politics: Settling for Partial Restoration

Scholar-gentry patronizedGiven power over military

C. The Revival of Confucian ThoughtLibraries established

Old texts recovered

Neo-confuciansStress on personal moralityZhu Xi

Importance of philosophy in everyday life

Hostility to foreign ideasGender, class, age distinctions

reinforced

China During the Song Dynasty Era

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

II. Tang Decline and the Rise of the Song

D. Roots of Decline: Attempts at Reform

Khitan independence encourages others

Tangut, Tibet

Xi Xia

Song pay tribute

Wang Anshi

Confucian scholar, chief minister

Reforms

Supported agricultural expansion

Landlords, scholar-gentry taxed

E. Reaction and Disaster: The Flight to the South

1085, emperor supporting Wang Anshi dies

Reforms reversed

Jurchens defeat Liao

1115, found Jin kingdom

Invade China

Song flee south

New capital at Hangzhou

Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279)

China During the Southern Song Dynasty Era

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The Basis of a Golden Age

Canal systemBuilt to accommodate population shiftYangdi's Grand Canal

Links North to South

A. A New Phase of Commercial ExpansionSilk routes reopened

Greater contact with Buddhist, Islamic regions

Sea tradeDeveloped by late Tang, SongJunks

Commerce expandsCreditDeposit shopsFlying money

Urban growth Changan

Tang capital2 million

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The Basis of a Golden Age

B. Expanding Agrarian Production and Life in the Country

New areas cultivatedCanals help transport produce

Aristocratic estatesDivided among peasantsScholar-gentry replace aristocracy

C. Family and Society in the Tang-Song Era

Great continuityMarriage brokersElite women have broader opportunities

Empresses Wu, WeiYang Guifei

Divorce widely available

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The Basis of a Golden Age

D. The Neo-Confucian Assertion of Male Dominance

Neo-Confucians reduce role of womenConfinementMen allowed great freedomMen favored in inheritance, divorceWomen not educatedFoot binding

Chapter 17: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Stearns et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience, 5th Edition Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman, Copyright 2007

III. Tang and Song Prosperity: The Basis of a Golden Age

E. A Glorious Age: Invention and Artistic Creativity

Influence over neighborsEconomy stimulated by advances in farming,

finance

ExplosivesUsed by Song for armaments

Compasses, abacusBi Sheng

Printing with moveable type

F. Scholarly Refinement and Artistic AccomplishmentScholar-gentry key

Change from Buddhist artistsSecular scenes more common

Li BoPoet

Nature a common theme in poetry, art