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The Chinese Renaissance

The Chinese Renaissance . Unit 2: The Post-Classical Age, 600-1450 Part II – Reconstruction of Society. Background. 220 CE: Collapse of the Han Dynasty During the last 2 centuries of Han Rule, large landowners gained influence in government Reduced their taxes; raised taxes on peasants

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The Chinese Renaissance

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  1. The Chinese Renaissance Unit 2: The Post-Classical Age, 600-1450 Part II – Reconstruction of Society

  2. Background • 220 CE: Collapse of the Han Dynasty • During the last 2 centuries of Han Rule, large landowners gained influence in government • Reduced their taxes; raised taxes on peasants • Massive discontent & rebellion • Han military took power • Aligned with regional landowners (War Lords) • Han dynasty dissolved in region ruled by war lords

  3. Decline of Confucianism • During Han dynasty, elites and intellectuals embraced Confucian traditions • Confucian traditions were believed to ensure social order and stability • With collapse of Han dynasty and disintegration of China into warring states, interest in Confucianism lessened

  4. Sui • 589-618 CE • Founded a powerful warlord • Conquered other warlords and reunited China • Sui dynasty established power using legalistic means similar to those of Shi Huangdi • Strong central government, harsh rules, forced labor

  5. Sui Dynasty Innovations • Transportation & communication network • Distribution of land: equal field system • Government bureaucracy based of merit • Grand Canal: to facilitate trade between northern and southern China and to make abundant food supplies in south available to north

  6. Tang Dynasty

  7. Tang • 627-907 CE: expanded territory • Tried to establish a Confucian beneficent government • Stressed Confucian education and civil service • Improved on developments during Sui: • Transportation & communications network • Distribution of land: equal field system • Problems: rise in population, bribery by wealthy, land given to Buddhist monasteries • Government bureaucracy based on merit

  8. Tang Foreign Relations • Tributary relationship with neighboring lands neighbors recognized Chinese emperors as overlords • Paid tribute in form of gifts • Kowtow: ritual prostration before emperor • Chinese gave gifts and recognition in return

  9. Imperial Power • The Tang follow the Han and makes China once again a great imperial power • Roughly the same time period as the Islamic Empires • These two large empires will stimulate more traffic along the Silk Road • As a result both will benefit from cross-cultural interaction • Chinese cities become more cosmopolitan in nature

  10. Rise of Buddhism • The religious & philosophical ideology of Buddhism became a major aspect of Chinese culture • It blended with Chinese ideas values • Integrated the ideas of Confucianism, Daoism, & other indigenous philosophical systems • Became a natural part of Chinese civilization • Eventually would be persecuted by the state & decline in influence

  11. End of the Tang Dynasty • Tang dynasty declined in power • Ineffective leadership by later emperors • Rebellions occurred • Emperors gradually gave control to warlords • State ended • Military governors made their own little kingdoms • East Asia cut off from communication with Islamic world • Warlords controlled separate regions

  12. Song

  13. Song Dynasty • Reunified China after 6 decades of war • Reestablished central bureaucracy • Private trade grew • Mercantile class born • Cultural refinement • New interest in Confucianism • Major crops: tea & cotton • Gunpowder 1st used for military purposes

  14. Song Economy • Use of interregional credit system • Flying money • Beginning of government issued paper money • Initially failed

  15. Song Society • Developed sophisticated Neo-Confucian philosophy while Chan (Zen) Buddhism remained popular • Women’s status declined during the Song • Lost many rights

  16. Innovations • Paper • Printing • Letter of credit/cash • Gunpowder/explosives • The magnetic compass • Junk • Porcelain, fine china • Improvements in production of iron & steel

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