The Dynasty Song The Dynasty Song "The Dynasties Song”--- sung to the tune of "Frère Jacques”

Shang, Zhou, Qin, HanShang, Zhou, Qin, Han

Sui, Tang, SongSui, Tang, Song

Yuan, Ming, Qing, RepublicYuan, Ming, Qing, Republic

Mao ZedongMao Zedong

China’s Golden Age: China’s Golden Age: Themes Themes

Major Themes:

•China emerging as a “superpower” among the third-wave civilizations •China’s deep influence on East Asia—political, cultural, social•The impact that interaction with other peoples had on China (international trade, nomadic military threat – tribute system)•Buddhism spreads and becomes part of popular culture •Economic revolution—most highly commercialized economy in the world •China’s economy and technological innovations had effects throughout Eurasia •Rapid population growth (50 million under Tang, 120 mil. by 1200)

Six Dynasties Period Six Dynasties Period

• "Period of Disunity" or Six Dynasties Period• 220-589 CE• The empire fragmented after Han fell• The North was dominated by invaders from the

borderland and the steppes • The South was ruled by successive "Chinese"

dynasties. • Buddhism spread rapidly between 300-800 CE

Six Dynasties Period Six Dynasties Period • Six successive dynasties had their capital at Jiankang (Nanjing)

• Divisions between the North and South developed and remained part of Chinese history for centuries

• Chinese in the South thought of themselves as the true inheritors of Han ancestry---looked with scorn on the North due to the strong impact of nomadic culture from the steppes on the northern region

• Lack of internal conflicts allowed the South to flourish and become a center for Chinese art, literature, and intellectual thought.

Six Dynasties Period Six Dynasties Period

Sui Dynasty Sui Dynasty

By 589 BCE, Emperor Wendi of the Sui dynasty had forcefully reunited northern and southern China once again after over 300 years of disunity.

By 581 BCE – Sui dynasty established-- Sui rulers provided the political, institutional, and economic foundations for the Tang & Song Dynasties

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

Grand Canal constructed—one million peasants labored for 5 years on its completion—massive amounts of deaths

Canal was a major technological breakthrough—foreshadowing the rise of an advanced China

Grand Canal connected the Huang He and Yangtze Rivers—economic and military unification

Established an army of professional soldiers. People were overworked and overtaxedPeople revolted in 618 and assassinated the Sui emperor

Grand Canal Grand Canal

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

• The two emperors of Sui were devoted Buddhists and promoted the creation of numerous Buddhist temples and sculptures.

• Second emperor, Yangdi (569–618) rebuilt the eastern capital of Luoyang and established relations with Taiwan and Japan.

• Military expansion eastward established colonies along the overland trade routes

• Then failed campaigns, especially against Korea, led to political disarray, rebellions, and dynastic downfall.

Buddhist meditation caves at Luoyang date to the Sui dynasty

TANG DYNASTY POLITCAL TANG DYNASTY POLITCAL OVERVIEWOVERVIEW618-907 CE618-907 CE

Emperor Taizong: 626-Emperor Taizong: 626-649 CE 649 CE

Tang Taizong (“Great Ancestor”)

Li Shimin was second emperor --took the name Tang Taizong an important general—came to power in 626 after

killing brothers and forcing father, Tang Gaozu, into retirement

Expanded China’s borders deep into Korea and Central Asia (Afghanistan)

Reformed the government Role of the military expanded Role of scholar-officials expanded Exam emphasized Confucian values of loyalty

and service

Emperor Taizong: 626-Emperor Taizong: 626-649 CE 649 CE

Tang Taizong (“Great Ancestor”)

Expanded the exam system Education & talent became keys to social mobility—reduced the

power of the old landowning elites Talented class of bureaucrats were generally loyal to the dynasty

and worked to strengthen the state

Needed to place loyal officials all over the empire as China grew – also placed relatives in charge of regions

Placed military bases along Silk Road – believed in well-trained military but sought balance between peace & war

Land reform – put more land into the hands of farmers – increased food production & utilized the Grand Canal for shipping food grown in the south

Tang Capital at Chang’anTang Capital at Chang’an Capital city at Chang’an (Xian) became a cosmopolitan center of learning

and trade…foreign goods, religions, fashions seen here due to numerous merchants, dignitaries, pilgrims

**Under the Tang dynasty, China became a center for foreign exchange in goods and ideas

**Expanded network of roads and canals helped to further unify and strengthen China

Empress Wu Zhao 625-Empress Wu Zhao 625-705705

The only female Empress in China’s history who ruled alone—vicious in her climb to top

Searched for outstanding individuals to attract to her court (successful and powerful people always surround themselves with the best of the best)

Empress Dowager Wu conducted military campaigns that completed the conquest of Korea Korea paid tribute, sinification (extensive adaptation of Chinese

influences) of Korea occurs

Respected and listened to the people Buddhism was the favored state religion.

Financed the building of many Buddhist temples.

BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies

Buddhism in Tang China Buddhism in Tang China

Buddhist sculpture at Longmen Caves near Luoyang, works commissioned byEmpress Wu and late husband Gaozong

Buddhism & State Buddhism & State SupportSupport

Mahayana Buddhism reached its greatest influence in China under the Tang

Tang patronize Buddhism while promoting Confucian education.

(1) Endow monasteries (2) Host Buddhist ceremonies at court(3) Art, literature, architecture—Buddhist themes widely

seen

Empress Wu (r. 690-705) tries to make Buddhism state religion→ powerful monks and monasteries

Emperor Xuanzong 712-Emperor Xuanzong 712-756 756

Became emperor after slaying Wu’s grandson Active ruler early on: reduced power of the Buddhist

monasteries, ordered a new census, addressed issues with land distribution, strengthened military on the frontiers

Initiated a brief golden age of peace and prosperity---great patron of poetry, music, and painting (he was also an artist)

Favored both Daoism and Tibetan Buddhism

Interest in Tibetan Buddhism and love for the courtesan Yang Guifei led to weakening of his power

Battle of Talas 751 CEBattle of Talas 751 CE

Clash between the Arab Abbasid caliphate and the Tang dynasty over control of central Asia

Abbasids united with many of the local tribes and had the superior force

Of the tens of thousands the Tang sent into battle, only a small percentage survived.

Potentially could have led to Arab invasion of China – but low supplies and the challenge of crossing the Hindu Kush mountains led the Abbasids to retreat

Tang lost control of the central Asian trade routes – marks a long decline for the Tang

Rebellion of An Lushan 755-Rebellion of An Lushan 755-763763

An Lushan was a military governor of three strategic provinces in the northeast—half Turkish descent

An Lushan with 100,000 troops started a rebellion against Xuanzong that forced him to flee –attacked the capital of Luoyang

Yang Guifei and her relatives killed

To recover capital—Tang had to make alliances with the Turks and give up many rights

Begins the long slow decline of the Tang

Buddhism in China: Crisis Buddhism in China: Crisis

• 9th century—An Lushan rebellion sparked resentment towards anything foreign

• Buddhism now seen as foreign as well as contradictory to the Confucian-based family system

• 841-845—260,000 monks and nuns were forced to return to secular life

• Monasteries, temples and shrines were confiscated or destroyed • Ban on use of precious gems for Buddhist images • Persecution did not cause Buddhism to vanish---remained an

important part of Chinese popular religion

Long Decline of the TangLong Decline of the Tang

Victim of its own success—expanded beyond its capacity to effectively administer its territories

Frontier generals and officials gained too much power—staged revolts creating internal strife in the mid-700s

Tang ruled for another century but very weak and eventually fell after Chang’an was sacked and destroyed

China entered 50 years of political turmoil until the first Song emperor regained imperial control

Tang China SummaryTang China Summary: 618-907 CE: 618-907 CE

Expanded and strengthened the central government; expanded roads & canals; further unified the empire

Re-conquered northern and western lands lost after the fall of the Han

Imperial examination system more developed

Liberal attitude towards all religions early in dynasty—later Tang rulers started to suppress Buddhism

Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries—promoted foreign trade along Silk Roads and sea routes

SONG DYNASTY OVERVIEWSONG DYNASTY OVERVIEW960-1279 CE960-1279 CE

Song (Sung) Song (Sung) Dynasty:960-1279Dynasty:960-1279

Northern Song Northern Song Dynasty:960-1127Dynasty:960-1127

Shifting Global Perspectives

The Tang Dynasty World View: The Tang Dynasty World View: The Song Dynasty World View: The Song Dynasty World View:

looks east towards the sea Did not expand China’s borders looks east towards the sea Did not expand China’s borders

west along the Silk Road Expansionist Strong military

west along the Silk Road Expansionist Strong military

SONG DYNASTY 960-1279SONG DYNASTY 960-1279Overview Overview

In 960 the general Taizu reunited China and proclaimed himself the first Song emperor

Ruled a smaller empire than the Han or the Tang—but the Song kept China stable, powerful, and wealthy

After the early 1100s, northern China and the capital at Kaifeng fell to the Manchurian people (Jurchens / Jin Empire)

Southern Song Empire (1127-1279): grand new capital established at Hangzhou—coastal city tied to Indian Ocean commerce, described in Marco Polo’s 14th-century writings

Move to the south brought huge economic growth—became economic heartland of China

Southern Song DynastySouthern Song Dynasty

Song Dynasty: Government • Song dynasty—economic, not military, power • Kept a strong centralized government • Founded by general named Taizu

– Forced the military to become under control of the government bureaucracy – Fought against the tribes in the north but failed

• Controversy in government over paying tribute to the nomads—seemed weak to the military faction

• Pro-peace faction— tribute was cheaper than war, & economically good for China

• Focus of government becomes increased prosperity and stability at home

• Diplomacy & a civilian-controlled government key

Song Dynasty: Scholar-Song Dynasty: Scholar-OfficialsOfficials

CONFUCIANISM & CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS

Rise of the gentry (scholar-officials) as the Song increased the prestige and honor that came from passing the exam and working for the government – new upper class

Govt. bureaucracy filled by competitive exams —all the wealthy receive similar educations and develop the same worldview

Song did not want a government dominated by military

Song examination system was more complex than before with different levels

Exams covered general education, Confucian classics, policy issues, poetry Only 10% of candidates allowed to pass at each level Talent and education became the keys to success, not noble birth

Song Dynasty: Foreign Song Dynasty: Foreign PolicyPolicy

Tribute System: pay for protection

** In theory: Chinese saw themselves as the center of the world and superior to non-Chinese peoples

>>Foreign policy goal: use the tribute system to manage relationships with the nomadic pastoralists

>>Tribes would gain trading privileges with China for acknowledging China’s superiority in the region

** In reality: The powerful tribes demanded China recognize them as political equals

>>China sought horses– the tribes controlled much of the Silk Road routes and wanted Chinese goods to trade

>>Used extortion to get what they wanted from China

Song Dynasty: Foreign Song Dynasty: Foreign PolicyPolicy

Tribute System & Assimilation:

**Chinese culture had little impact on the nomads of the steppes --Pastoral societies retained their own way of life

**When nomads ruled parts of China (such as the Jin dynasty) they often adopted aspects of Chinese culture

**China’s elites—hostile towards the influences of the nomads on Chinese culture

– particularly did not like that nomadic women were much freer and more respected than Chinese women

**All non-Chinese states made efforts to maintain their own ethnic identity and to keep themselves from being absorbed by the much more numerous Chinese

TANG & SONG DYNASTIES:TANG & SONG DYNASTIES:ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL

DEVELOPMENTS DEVELOPMENTS

Economic Revolution:Economic Revolution:Growth of a Market Growth of a Market

EconomyEconomyWhat caused the emergence of a market economy

during the Song dynasty?

Increased agricultural production More efficient transportation routes including the growth

of sea tradePopulation growth Urbanization (growth of city living)Industrial production, such as seen with the iron industry Innovative financial tools

Chang’an (Xian): Chang’an (Xian): Tang Cultural MetropolisTang Cultural Metropolis

Under the Sui and Tang—Chang’an became a center of Buddhist learning and a major center of trade on the Silk Roads

Kaifeng: Kaifeng: Northern Song CapitalNorthern Song Capital

• Under the Northern Song Kaifeng developed into an economic center with a vibrant urban life as shown in the Qingming Scroll

Hangzhou: Eastern Capital & Hangzhou: Eastern Capital & New Hub of Southern Song New Hub of Southern Song

Culture Culture

Under the Song, Hangzhou became a legendary city full of markets, culture, pleasure—it was the largest and richest city in the world during the 1200s

Arab merchants revived trade along the Silk Roads and flocked to large Chinese trading centers

Song ships

• Note how the Grand Canal connects Hangzhou, Southern Song capital, to Beijing in the north

Economic Revolution:Economic Revolution:Financing TradeFinancing Trade

Growth of cities & an efficient network of roads & canals -> led to growth of industry, trade, and the empires’ economy—some cities had populations over one million

The use of a credit system (“flying money”)Government issued paper money on massive scale – the

world’s first banknotes Government promoted innovation Merchants formed partnerships to fund trading venturesMore merchants engaged in overseas trade – coming

into contact with more cultures

Economic Exchange: Economic Exchange: Letters of Credit (Early Letters of Credit (Early

Banking)Banking)Trade grew so rapidly during the Tang and Song

era that copper coin shortages developed– Traders began issuing letters of credit (“flying

cash”) as an alternative– Enabled merchants to deposit goods or cash

at one location and draw the equivalent cash or merchandise somewhere else

Coin from Tang Dynasty

Technology: FarmingTechnology: Farming

Heavy iron plows Harnessed oxen and water

buffaloes Enriched soil with manure and

composted organic matter Extensive irrigation systems

Reservoirs, dams, pumps, water wheels

Artificial irrigation greatly increased agricultural production which led to a rapid population expansion

Intensive Rice Cultivation after Intensive Rice Cultivation after 1000 CE1000 CE

Intensive Rice Cultivation after Intensive Rice Cultivation after 1000 CE1000 CE

Demographic shifts: New type of rice from Vietnam allowed for 2 harvests a year—feed a larger population in the cities

**Example of how China also economically benefitted from contact with other societies

**Exchange of goods and ideas was not one way**Learned cotton and sugar production from India leading to farming crops for the market

TANG / SONG:INDUSTRY & TANG / SONG:INDUSTRY & TRADETRADE

China began cotton, tea, and sugar production for export—creation of a market-driven economy

China lost its monopoly on silk (but still had a superior product)

China was the sole supplier of porcelain to the world Advanced metallurgy and mining—greatly expands under Song Sea trade—China’s long coastline had port cities that became

big trade centers—ships sailed to Korea, Japan, India, Persian Gulf, East Africa

Economic Exchange: TeaEconomic Exchange: Tea

Tea trading flourished during Tang and Song era Tea was compressed into bricks and used as money

Tea came into China from Southeast Asia.

TANG / SONG: TANG / SONG: Technological InnovationTechnological Innovation

New technologies: Printing moveable-type printusing characters carved on wood blocks Porcelain (“china”) Gunpowder Mechanical clocks Magnetic compass Improved iron production

New Technologies: New Technologies: PrintingPrinting

Tang printers used block-printing techniquesCarved a reverse image of an entire page into a wooden

block, inked the block, then pressed a sheet of paper on top of it

By the mid-eleventh century, Song printers began to experiment with movable type– Fashioned dies in the shape of characters, arranged them

in a frame, inked them, and pressed the frame over paper sheets

– Speeded up the process and allowed printers to make revisions and corrections

– Facilitated distribution of texts quickly, cheaply– Allowed for printed paper money – helped create a large-

scale commercial economy

New Technologies: New Technologies: GunpowderGunpowder

During the Tang era, Daoist alchemists learned it was dangerous to mix charcoal, saltpeter, sulphur, and arsenicMilitary officials saw possibilities—first

recorded use of gunpowder as a weapon—919 CE

By the tenth-century, the Tang military was using gunpowder in bamboo “fire lances,” a kind of flame thrower and by the eleventh century they had made primitive bombs

New Technologies: Magnetic Compass & Shipbuilding

Magnetic compass – further improved during the Song period The needle was reduced in size and attached to a fixed stem

(rather than floating in water). Small protective case with a glass top made it suitable for sea

travel. Song sailors started using the compass to aid in navigation

around 1100 One factor that led the Southern Song to becoming a sea

power

New Technologies: Magnetic Compass & Shipbuilding

Song made big improvements in shipbuilding - watertight bulkheads improved buoyancy, stern-post rudders improved steering.

Some ships were powered by both oars and sails and large enough to hold several hundred men.

Southern Song needed to keep northern armies from crossing the Yangtze River – needed a strong navy

Song battleships –more advanced than Tang ships – included fire-bomb catapults, protected stations on upper deck for crossbowmen

Tang Sea Hawk warship

Song Battleship

Rudders

New Technologies: Improved Metallurgy

Chinese craftsmen learned new methods to improve the quality of iron

Iron production increased dramatically between the 9th – 12th centuries

Produced high quality weaponry and farming tools Also used to reinforce bridges and in building

construction

Iron technology quickly spread – nomadic peoples in the North adopted it and produced their own iron weapons

Blast furnace

Furnace pouring out iron

New Technologies: New Technologies: PorcelainPorcelain

Tang craftsmen discovered how to produce porcelain which was lighter, thinner, and adaptable to more uses than earlier potteryStrong enough and attractive

enough to be useful and beautifulTang and Song products gained

such a reputation that porcelain came to be called “chinaware”

Tang Marble Glazed Porcelain Figure

Song Social Classes Song Social Classes

**China’s new prosperity had big impact on society—rise of cities, educated gentry, social mobility more common **Peasants grew specialized crops for the market rather than for local consumption

Peasants--largest % of populationCommon laborers, soldiers

Farmers greatly respected by Confucian scholars

Rising middle class of urban artisans, merchants, shopkeepers Merchants not as

respected as farmers because they made $

off the work of others

Some merchants became very wealthy through trade

Greater social mobility - some merchants

educated sons - enter the gentry class

GentryWealthy landowners Scholar-officials who studied

Confucian doctrine & passed civil service exam

Emperor & family Nobles still had wealth and privilege, but power decreased

Gender RolesGender Roles

Women’s status slowly declined (despite attempts at reform by several empresses)

The Song Period saw women at a very low social status—Song rulers thought Buddhism had encouraged too much freedom for women

Seclusion, lack of property rights, foot binding, and exclusion from education are all examples of their lowering status.

Gender RolesGender Roles

Lower class women involved in activities outside the home (farming-rural, variety of occupations—urban)

Silk production—many hands needed to produce silk

Wealthy families secluded women Marriages were arranged with a dowry provided by bride’s

family Daughter went to live with in-laws permanently Giving birth to a male heir—top priority Husbands and sons provided for women (4-6 kids) Acceptable for wealthy husband to have mistresses

Gender Roles: Foot-Binding in Song China

New custom developed – bind the feet of young wealthy girls – “lily feet” became a class symbol – reflected wealth and prestige of her husband

Later the custom spread to the lower classes – meant to improve a girls’ marriage opportunities Feet are tightly bound resulting in the breaking of the arch and curling under of the toes Crippled for life Places woman under close supervision of husband

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Golden Age of Culture Golden Age of Culture

China during the Tang and Song dynasties enjoyed political stability & economic growth – this often leads to new intellectual and artistic achievements

China became a more urban culture— dozens of cities with populations over 100,000 & more exposure to the outside world

Tang & Song China strongly influenced the cultures of Korea & Japan

Two great Song poets: Li Bo and Tu Fu—praised orderliness, Confucian virtues, life’s pleasures

Porcelain production Landscape paintings – pen & ink drawing: Daoist influences,

appreciation for nature & its power

Revival of Confucianism Revival of Confucianism NEO-CONFUCIANISM (“Learning the Principle”)

** Philosophy that emerged during Song dynasty—gave Confucianism new meaning, new structure, new relevance in Chinese society apart from the role Confucianism played in the civil service exam

** Confucian thinking now included some influences from Buddhism and Daoism

**Result was a multi-religious mixture of the 3 belief systems –traditions existed somewhat comfortably together

** More focus on social (role of the family & filial piety) applications of Confucian principles

** Neo-Confucianism emphasized self-cultivation as a path not only to self-fulfillment but to the formation of a virtuous and harmonious society

** Women continued to be viewed as inferior / subservient to men

Song Dynasty Painting Song Dynasty Painting

Daoist influences in art—show the beauty of nature, use of simple lines, calm & tranquil landscape scenes

Song Dynasty Painting Song Dynasty Painting

**Scholar-officials practiced the art of calligraphy and painting

**Monochrome images of old trees, bamboo, rocks, and retirement retreats created by these scholar-artists became emblems of their character and spirit.

**Some artists were purists in their approach to painting while others innovated

““Black is ten colors”Black is ten colors”

Black ink drawings were often accompanied by poetry

Wrap-Up: China’s Innovative Wrap-Up: China’s Innovative SpiritSpirit

• China was undoubtedly the most technologically advanced civilization of pre-modern time

• China developed the world’s first true market economy– production for export instead of subsistence– use of paper money to bypass coin shortages

• Tang and Song advances---had a huge impact on the development of Asia and Europe

• Song golden age comes to an end in the 1270s with the arrival of the

Mongols (established the Yuan Dynasty)