The Reunification and Revival of Post-Classical China

1. The Reunification and Revival of Post-Classical China Chapter Twelve AP World History Ms. Tully

2. Quick Review of Chinese History • Xia, Shang, Zhou Dynasties • Era of Warring States • Qin Dynasty • Han Dynasty • Three Kingdoms Period (Northern Qi; Northern Zhou; Chen)

3. Sui Dynasty (589-618) • Return to strong dynastic control in China • Wendi, Northern Zhou Emperor • Widespread popularity • Buddhist; expands Buddhism

5. Sui Collapse • Yangdi, Son of Wendi • Milder legal code, supports Confucian education • Scholar-gentry reestablished • Expensive building projects & excessive luxury • 611-614: Attack Korea  failure • 618: Assassinated by own ministers

6. Grand Canal • Canal system built by Sui & Tang • Build to accommodate population shift and transportation of goods and revenue • Millet in North, Rice in South • 1100 miles long • 1 million forced laborers

7. Tang Dynasty (618-907) • Li Yuan, Duke of Tang  Emperor Gauzo of Tang • Used armies to unite China  Assimilation of Turkic nomads • Expands empire into Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria, Korea • Great Wall repaired and strengthened

8. Tang Dynastyat greatest extent

9. Rebuilding the Bureaucracy • Bureaucracy collapsed with Han dynasty • Goal #1: Revive scholar-gentry (bureaucrats) • Goal #2: Rework Confucian ideology • Levels of political control needed from Imperial palace to small district • Executive department w/ 6 ministries • Bureau of Censors • New capital Chang’an

10. The Growing Importance of the Examination System • Examination system expanded  # of educated scholars rises • Ministry of Rites established to administer exams • Jinshi: those who passed the most difficult/highest exams • Special social privileges emerge • Entrance into bureaucracy still exclusive

11. State and Religion in the Tang • Buddhism had grown in popularity during Six Dynasties Era • Mahayana Buddhism • Chan (Zen) Buddhism • Early tang supported Buddhism; Empress Wu (690-705)

14. Anti-Buddhist Backlash • Buddhist success leads to criticism by Confucians • Tang lost revenue and labor power • 841-847: Persecution under Emperor Wuzong • Confucianism emerges as the central ideology; Buddhism is weakened

15. Tang Decline • 8th C: Signs of decline • Emperor Xuanzong (713-756) • Yang Guifei royal concubine of Xuanzong • 755: An Lishan Rebellion • 907: last Tang emperor resigns

16. Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period907-960 • Five Dynasties in Northern China succeeded one another rapidly • Later Liang • Later Tang • Later Jin • Later Han • Later Zhou (General Zhao Kuangyinconquers other kingdoms and unifies China) Ten Kingdoms in Southern China existed concurrently and controlled their own territory • Wu • Wuyue • Min • Chu • Southern Han • Former Shu • Later Shu • Jingan • Southern Tang • Northern Han

17. Song Dynasty (960-1279) • Northern Song: 960-1127 • Southern Song: 1127-1279 • 960: General Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu) founds Song Dynasty • Could not defeat northern Liao dynasty in Manchuria • Not as politically or militarily as powerful as Tang dynasty • Continued growth of bureaucracy

18. Neo-Confucians • Revivers of pure Confucian thought and teachings • Importance of philosophy in everyday life; stress personal morality • Hostility to foreign ideas • Emphasis on tradition: gender, class, age distinctions reinforced • Became dominant interpretation of Confucianism

19. Attempts at Reform & Southern Song Dynasty • Increase in tribute to nomadic tribes • Large military an increasing burden • Wang Anshi (1070s – 1080s)  introduces reforms • Agricultural expansion; landlords/scholars-gentry taxed • Bureaucratic reforms  analytical thinking over memorization • 1085: Emperor Shenzong dies; reforms reversed by neo-Confucians and new emperor • 1115: Jin Kingdom founded north of Song Empire • Song flee to south  new capital at Hangzhou

21. A New Phase of Commercial Expansion • Canal systems + Silk Roads = commercial expansion booming! • Commerce expands in cities and trading towns • Urban growth; Chang’an capital w/ 2 million ppl

22. Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Trade • Tribal societies drawn to riches of Silk Road  raided traders • Chinese rulers protect trade and travelers on Silk Roads  urban development • Increase in ocean trade  Chinese Junks • Established market network along Indian ocean coast  rival Arabs for control

24. Expanding Agrarian Production • Economy stimulated by advances in farming • Tang and Song rulers try to promote agricultural production and peasants • Canals help transport produce quickly • Breakup of aristocratic estates  divided up among peasantry

25. Family in the Tang-Song Era • Male-dominated and respect for elders supported by Neo-Confucians • Elite women have broader opportunities • Arranged marriages • Divorce widely available if both husband and wife consent • Neo-Confucian greatly reduce role of women in late Song period  confinement, repression

26. Foot-Binding • Symbol of subordination • Begin binding feet at 2-5 y/o • Ideal length: 3 inches • Considered highly attractive and erotic by men • Dies out by early 20th C

28. Cultural Achievements • Renaissance of Chinese poetry & painting  nature theme • Scholars are now cultural producers • Paper techniques refined  development of moveable type in 1041 • Gunpowder & fireworks (9th C) • Abacus, wheelbarrow