RESURGENCE OF EMPIRE IN EAST ASIA CHINA UNDER THE SUI, TANG, AND SONG
ANARCHY IN CHINA Three Kingdoms 220-280 Shu Han 221 263 Wei 220-265 Most powerful, eventually conquered Shu Built an army of Chinese infantry and nomadic cavalry as mounted bowmen These assimilated nomads later overthrew Wei and founded own dynasties Wu 222 280 Jin Dynasty 265-420 Western Jin 265 316 and Eastern Jin 317 420 Only time during interregnum when China was united Intermixture of nomads and Chinese accelerated Sixteen Kingdoms 304 420 Southern and Northern Dynasties 420-589 Southern Dynasties Liu Song 420 479 Southern Qi 479 502 Liang 502-557 Chen 557 ~589 Northern Dynasties Later [Northern] Wei 386 534 Eastern Wei 534-550 Western Wei 535 556 Northern Qi 550 577 Northern Zhou 557 ~581 Period Resembled Western European history after the collapse of the Romans Disunity and civil war between nomads and Chinese warlords Rival states, dynasties, each controlling a part of the old Han state Aristocrats, provincial nobles held land and real influence Many of the northern dynasties were nomadic, both Turkish and Mongol Confucianism in decline, Buddhism in ascendancy due to its relationship with the nomads Confucian trained bureaucrats still held much influence Common Chinese subject to taxes, warfare, drafting into army, frequent invasions, bandits
BUDDHISM ARRIVES IN CHINA Foreign religions in China: Nestorian, Muslim, Buddhist merchant communities Oases on the Silk Road were very mixed Became location for foreign settlements, transmission of foreign faiths to China Buddhism in China Attraction: moral standards, intellectual sophistication, salvation, appeal to women, poor Monasteries became large landowners, helped the poor and needy Posed a challenge to Chinese cultural traditions Buddhism and Daoism Chinese monks explained Buddhist concepts in Daoist vocabulary Dharma as dao, and nirvana as wuwei Teaching: one son in monastery would benefit whole family for 10 generations Mahayana Buddhism Buddhism blended with Chinese characteristics Buddha as a man became Buddha as a god, saint Stupa became a pagoda; Buddha became fat or feminine Chan Buddhism A further evolution of Buddhism Chan (or Zen in Japanese) was a popular Buddhist sect Emphasized intuition and sudden flashes of insight Mediation techniques resembled Daoist practice Monasteries appeared in all major cities Hostility to Buddhism Resistance from Daoists and Confucians Popular criticism focused on celibacy, alien origin, Governmental criticism: unproductive land, could not tax Persecution Critics of Buddhism found allies in the imperial court Tang emperor ordered closure of monasteries in 840s Buddhism survived because of popular support
SUI DYNASTY After fall of the Han, turmoil lasted for more than 350 years Three major states contended for rule; further fragmentation Nomads constantly invaded, created their own states, dynasties The rule of the Sui Reunification by Yang Jian in 589 Constructions of palaces and granaries, repairing the Great Wall Military expeditions in central Asia and Korea High taxes and compulsory labor services The Grand Canal One of the world's largest waterworks before modern times Purpose: bring abundant food supplies of the south to the north Linked the Yangtze and the Huang-Hi The canal integrated the economies of the south and north The fall of the Sui High taxes and forced labor generated hostility among the people Military reverses in Korea Rebellions broke out in north China beginning in 610 Sui Yangdi was assassinated in 618, the end of the dynasty
IMAGES OF SUI CHINA
THE TANG DYNASTY Founding of the Tang Dynasty (618 907 CE) A rebel leader seized Chang'an, proclaimed a new dynasty, the Tang Tang Taizong 2 nd Tang emperor, a ruthless but extremely competent ruler China enjoyed an era of unusual stability and prosperity Extensive networks of transportation and communications Adopted the equal-field system Bureaucracy of merit Recruited government officials through civil service examinations Career bureaucrats relied on central government, loyal to the dynasty Restored Confucianism as state ideology, training for bureaucrats Foreign relations Political theory: China was the Middle Kingdom, or the center of civilization Tributary system became diplomatic policy Tang decline Casual and careless leadership led to dynastic crisis Rebellion of An Lushan in 755, weakened the dynasty The Uighurs became de facto rulers The equal-field system deteriorated A large scale peasant rebellion led by Huang Chao lasted from 875 to 884 Regional commanders gained power, beyond control of the emperor The last Tang emperor abdicated his throne in 907
TANG CHINA
TANG ART
SONG DYNASTY (960-1279 C.E.) Song Taizu Reigned 960-976 C.E. Founder of the Song dynasty Song weaknesses Song never had military, diplomatic strength of Sui, Tang Financial problems Enormous bureaucracy with high salary devoured surplus Forced to pay large tribute to nomads to avoid war Military problems Civil bureaucrats in charge of military forces Military was largely foot soldiers at war with cavalry nomads External pressures Semi-nomadic Khitan, nomadic Jurchen attacked in north Constant drain on treasury to pay tribute to nomads The Song moved to the south, ruled south China until 1279 Nomads invaded, overran northern Song lands Song retreated to the South along Yangtze, moved capital After defeat, constantly forced to pay tribute
THE SONG WORLD NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DYNASTIES
THE SONG ARTISTIC WORLD
DEMOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS An agricultural revolution Twice flowering, fast-ripening rice increased food supplies New agricultural techniques increased production Population growth 45 to 115 million inhabitants Between 600 and 1200 C.E. Urbanization: China most urbanized country in period Chang'an had about 2 million residents Hangzhou had about 1 million residents Many cities boasted population of 100,000 or more Commercialized agriculture Some regions depended on other regions for food Extreme surplus of southern rice allowed cities to flourish Necessitate vast grain shipments to cities
CH ANG-AN & HANGZHOU
NEO-CONFUCIANISM Taoist, Buddhist Synthesis with Confucianism Early Confucianism focused on practical issues Politics, Public Morality, Social Relationships Confucians drew inspiration From Buddhism Spirituality Logical thought Argumentation of Buddhism From Taoism Cosmology Metaphysical issues: nature of soul Man's relation with cosmos Xenophobia Contributes, too Invasions by nomads, Turks and Mongols threatened state Foreign ideas began to circulate Too many threats to society, traditions Zhu Xi (1130-1200 C.E.), most prominent Neo-Confucian scholar Neo-Confucian influence Adapted Buddhist, Taoist themes, reasoning to Confucian interests Made Buddhism Chinese but stressed Chinese roots, values Influenced East Asian thought In China, it was an officially recognized creed Influenced Korea, Vietnam, and Japan for half a millennium
PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY Developments reinforced patriarchal society Chinese reaction to foreign ideas Reaction to Buddhist s gender equality Neo-Confucianism emphasized patriarchy Ancestor worship revived Preserving of family Family wealth became paramount Results Tightening of patriarchal structure Reinforcing of male domination Foot binding gained popularity during the Song Emphasized dependence of women on men, home Wealthy, aristocrats could afford practice, hire servants to do work Feet of women broken, reformed around stilts Women could not walk without pain but had to shuffle Forced women to remain at home, dependent on others Male sense of beauty at women s expense Poor, peasant women not subject to footbinding Women had to work with men to support family Men could not afford to have women at home, idle
TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY Porcelain High quality porcelain since the Tang, known as chinaware Technology diffused to other societies, especially to Abbasid Arabia Exported vast quantities to southeast Asia, India, Persia, and Africa Metallurgy Improvement: used coke instead of coal in furnaces to make iron, steel Iron production increased tenfold between the early 9th and 12th century Gunpowder Discovered by Daoist alchemists during the Tang Bamboo "fire lances," a kind of flame thrower, and primitive bombs Gunpowder chemistry diffused throughout Eurasia Printing Became common during the Tang From block-printing to movable type Books became widespread Naval technology "South-pointing needle" - the magnetic compass Double hulled junks with rudder, water-tight compartments
SONG LIFE
A MARKET ECONOMY Merchants in Charge Only period in China where merchants socially superior to aristocrats Merchants attempted to intermarry with aristocrats, become landowners Merchants attempted to have sons admitted as Confucian bureaucrats Merchants tended to espouse Confucianism as way into traditional elites Most large cities had large merchant communities Financial instruments Banking and credit institution Flying money " were letters of credit Paper money backed by state, treasury A cosmopolitan society Foreign merchants in large cities of China Mostly Arab (Muslim), Indian, S.E. Asian Chinese merchants journeyed throughout region Economic surge in China An economic revolution in China Made China the wealthiest nation in the world at time Promoted economic growth in the eastern hemisphere