China: Tang and Song Dynasties Post-Classical Era

China: Tang and Song

DynastiesPost-Classical Era

Han Dynasty When does it fall? What is it known for?

Period of the Six Dynasties

220-589 CE Scholar-Gentry class declined

– Coming from a family of educated, high social status, esp. land owners

Non-Chinese nomads rule Buddhism replaced Confucianism Economic, technological, intellectual,

urban decline

Sui Dynasty Late 500s unites the north and south

under strong leadership Wen’ti (Wendi)

– Took control of northern China– Lowered taxes and established granaries

His son, Yan’ti (Yangdi)

Yang’ti Reformed the legal code, reinstituted

Confucianism Build the Grand Canal

– Connected over 1200 miles, from the Yangtze to the Yellow Rivers

– Established political and economic unity (610-615)

Tried to conquer Korea (unsuccessful) Hated by people: overworked and overtaxed Peasant revolts

Tang Dynasty 618-907 Known for wealth and power Rebuilt the Great Wall—Turkic invasions Military conquests in: Central Asia (Turks)

and Northeast Asia (Korea)Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea

Lowered taxes

More Tang Dynasty Examination System

– Highest offices in government went to individuals who passed exams based on Confucian classics and Chinese literature

Scholar officials– System for choosing was through the 3

Confucian exams (favored wealthy men)

Tang Dynasty Dynasty most progressive Land distribution included widows Mutual divorce acceptable - women

could remarry Access to broadening education

system Military skills Social restrictions lifted

Empress Wu You read about her…More coming

later 690-705 Encouraged spread of

Buddhismtried to make it the state religion

Lowered taxes Military conquest of Korea

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Confucian Exam con’d Faults:

– Corruption– Confucian thoughtdid not judge ability

to lead military or collect taxes Benefits:

– Gave China an intelligent governing class– No longer ruled by few…

Tang Decline/Rise of the Song

Emperor Xuanzong (713-756)– Initially advanced political & economic

reform– Patronized arts– Downfall? A harem girl named Yang

Guifei– Revolt in 755

Nomadic peoples/regional governors fed off the disorder

Song Dynasty 960-1279 First emperor: Zhao Kuangyin (Taizu) Failed to defeat the Liao Dynasty in

Manchuria, establishing a precedent for weakness in dealing with nomadic peoples

Song Military subordinated to the scholar-

gentry Confucian scholar-gentry ideals over

Buddhist rivals Increased salaries, civil service

exams, etc. Revival of Confucian thought: neo-

Confucianism

Song again: Neo Confucianism

Cultivation of personal morality is highest human goal

Produced superior men to govern/teach Emphasis on rank, obligation, deference,

performance of rituals Authority of patriarchal head of family was

strengthened “Social harmony and prosperity is maintained

when men and women performed the tasks appropriate to their status.”

Roots of Decline Nomads began to carve out kingdoms on

northern borders Paid tribute to nomads to protect against

invasion Emphasis on scholar-gentry concerns

contributed to military declinesoon the northern borders fell

The Song fled south (1115) and established a capital at Hangzhou (Yangtze River Basin)

Industrial Revolution? Canal system Re-opened Silk Roads Rice-growing dominated area Chinese junks allowed for Chinese to

dominate the seas Money economy: deposit shops, paper

money, credit vouchers Agricultural expansion

You say you want a revolution…

Explosive powder– Tang: fireworks; Song: military use

Flame-throwers, poisonous gas, rocket launchers

Chairs, tea drinking, coal fuel Compasses, abacuses Movable type printing (Bi Sheng)

Chinese Cities China’s estimated urban population

(10%) exceeded that of all other civilizations

Allowed traders and artisans to prosper

Largest: Changan: 200,000,000 people

Women’s Roles (more coming up)

Independence:– Wealthy urban women could have lovers– Women’s rights in divorce– Partners of similar ages

Restriction:– Housemaker, mother, wifely fidelity, widow

chastity (neo-Confucian ideals)– Excluded from education– Foot-binding

Legacy: Centralized administration Scholar-gentry elite Civilization expanded as south was

integrated into the north Economyworld leader until 18th C. Chinese inventions Outside influences incorporated into

existing patterns

Old Trees, Level Distance

Seeking the Tao in the Autumn

Mountains

Finches and Bamboo

Scholar Viewing a Waterfall

Women in China

Tang and On

Patriarchical Traditional Guides

– Ruler guides subject– Father guides son– Husband guides wife

Confucianism order Women must obey father, husband,

and sons

Rights Could not pick spouse Could not divorce or remarry Husband could divorce her Could not inherit property or wealth Concubines

Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705

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.

She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies.

Footbinding Origins unknown -

several legends Began in Tang, fully

accepted in Song Small feet = beauty

Footbinding in Tang ChinaFootbinding in Tang China

Broken toes by 3 years of age.

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Footbinding in Tang ChinaFootbinding in Tang China

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Footbinding in Tang ChinaFootbinding in Tang China

For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

Women With Bound Feet

The Results of FootbindingThe Results of Footbinding

Footbinding Results 1997 UCSF Study Findings: more likely to fall, less able

to stand from a chair, less able to squat, lower bone density

Questions Footbinding started with the upper

classes, why did it become widespread across classes?

Where else in history do we see similar practices?

Does modern society have equivalent practices?