Post Classical China

Sui, Tang, SongDynasties

500 400 300 200 100 * 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 Buddhism Spreads Quickly Buddha In India Confucius in China

Tang Sung Dynasty Dynasty THE GOLDEN AGE

China reunited under the Sui

Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E.Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E.

“Land Equalization” System –> land redistribution.

Unified coinage. Grand Canal constructed. Established an army of professional

soldiers. People were overworked and

overtaxed!

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal Today

Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

Imperial examination system perfected.(meritocracy established)

Liberal attitude towards all religions. Spread of Buddhism in China

Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries.

Japan, Korea, Persia

Tang Government Organization

Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

New technologies:– Printing --> moveable print – Porcelain– Gunpowder– Mechanical clocks

More cosmopolitan culture.

Reestablished the safety of the Silk Road.

Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia.

Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705

The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone.

Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court.

Construction of new irrigation systems.

Buddhism was the favored statereligion.

Financed the building of many Buddhist temples.

Foot-Binding in Tang China

• Broken toes by 3 years of age.

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

The Results of Foot-Binding

It was a dynasty of prosperity and education.

• Literature, science, technology, art, and poetry flourished.

The Sung (Song) Dynasty960-1279 CE

• Technology continued to advance.

• They created manufactured goods to export to other areas of the world.

• The Arts flourished.• A combination of Buddhism and

Confucianism were added to the civil service exams. (This was

called Neo – Confucianism .) A scholar-official

Confucius says:Peace and social order come by acting

“right” in all of our relationships.• “Those above should be kind to those below.”

Ruler Father Older Sibling Husband Friend

Subject Son Younger Sibling Wife Friend

• “Those below should Respect and Obey those above.”

Buddha Says:

Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

Rice Cultivation Began Under the Song

Agriculture

Cities

Southern Gate of Chang’an

Art and Writing

Poet Li Bo Poet Du Fu