Sui Tang Song
Slide 2: Background information. What was happening at the end of the Han Dynasty:
In the last period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 AD), the renowned Huangjin Peasants' Uprising broke out. After the government's quelling of the uprising, local warlords teemed all over the country, struggling for predominant power over the country. Two military groups under the local warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in the middle reaches of the Yellow River stood out as the mightiest. After Guandu (in present Henan Province) Battle in 200AD between the two warlords, Cao Cao unified the region north of the Yellow River. Thereafter, Cao Cao began an assault of the southern regimes.
On southern land, two local warlords, Sun Quan and Liu Bei, took possession of the eastern and western areas respectively to the south of the Yangtze River. The strengths of the two warlords were comparatively weaker than that of Cao Cao in the north. Under the advice of Zhuge Liang, the military counselor of Liu Bei, the military forces of Liu Bei and Sun Quan united as a firm front against Cao Cao. They overwhelmingly won victory in the Chibi Battle (Chibi: near present Puyin City of Hubei Province), after which Cao Cao was beaten back to the north.
Because of the chaos caused by war, economic development during the Three Kingdoms Period deteriorated. Luckily, there were several remarkable technological advances as the appendants of the war, such as the invention of gunpowder (used in fireworks and later as a weapon for attack by fire). Catering to the needs of war, technologies for metal-smelting and shipbuilding were greatly improved. Advances in other social aspects also could be noted: the improved mill wheel was used in agricultural irrigation, and irrigation projects were built during the reign of Cao Cao (220 - 265). During the same period, there were many special silk developments in Luoyang and Xiangyi (the present Sui County in Henan Province), and the Wu's silk products and the Shu'sShu Brocade sold well.
Slide 3:
Sui Background: The Sui Dynasty was short-lived under the second Emperor Yang's several tyrannical policies, and spanned only 38 years, from 581 to 618. During his reign, the Emperor demanded that his citizens build the Grand Canal-a monumental feat of ancient transportation engineering, and to reconstruct the capital-Chang'an City. The unbearable burden of taxes and compulsory labor led to a series of revolts which finally disintegrated the Sui Dynasty.
Slide Four: Benefits
Land Redistribution System: The central government carried out a series of economical reform policies to try to combat the financial crisis which included a reinstatement of the Land Equalization System which distributed land according to the number of the people in each household. This policy aimed to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. In permitting citizens to farm the land they owned and retain their land holdings, the farmer's passion enhanced resulting in the improvement of the agricultural productivity during the Sui Dynasty. Moreover, Emperor Wen levied lower taxes on the farmers and businessmen which also promote the development of social economy.
Formalized Confucian Exam System: Emperor Wen set up the Imperial Examination System to curtail corruption by ensuring that officials were selected based on merits rather than by birth. The system of civil service examinations that began during the Sui Dynasty would be used by successive Chinese dynasties for the next 1,300 years.
Silk Road Trade: Foreign relations weakened during the Sui Dynasty, due to the long-lasting political turmoil, with the exception of the prosperous Silk Road which promoted exchange between China and the Western Asia and laid a foundation for relationships that would grow during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Emperor Yang sent Pei Ju to the Western Regions to induce merchants to trade with the merchants in China. This consolidated the China's status and influence in the Asian arena during the Sui Dynasty.
Grand Canal Created: The Grand Canal was also constructed during the reigns of Emperor Wen and his son, Emperor Yang. The Canal project was created to improve the transportation condition between the south and the north of China, and was about 5,000 li (about 1,553 miles) long. The canal carved a path from northern China (Beijing) to Southern China (Hangzhou), passing through the central Luoyang City. This project connected the Yellow River with the Yangtze River and accelerated the economic and cultural exchanges between the two areas. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal continues to benefit people all over China. Sections of the Great Wall in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia were also constructed during this period in response to attacks from the Tujue (Turks) tribe.
Slide Five: Map of the Grand Canal
Slide Six: Map of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
Background: Liyuan, an aristocrat stationed in present-day Shanxi Province during the last part of the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618), took advantage of the political chaos to seize Chang'an City as his capital in the year 618, beginning another new and prosperous dynasty in Chinese history, the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).It is regarded as one of the most prosperous dynasties in Chinese history. Many historians often compare it with the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220AD) which was another golden time in Chinese civilization. The Tang's national territory was larger than that of the Han Dynasty. Compared to the far-reaching influence of Han culture, Tang culture has had greater influence on both the Chinese and people abroad.
After the outbreak of the Anshi Turmoil, during which Emperor Li Longji neglected state affairs and fell in love with his concubine, Yang KweiFei, the Tang Dynasty's power ebbed. Finally, because of domestic economic instability and regional separatism, the dynasty came to an end. In 907, the leader of a peasant uprising, Zhu Wen, established a new regime-Later Liang, and China began a half-century of political fragmentation, known as the Five Dynasties and Ten States.
Slide 7:
Religious Toleration: Originating in ancient India around the time of Confucius, Buddhism flourished during the Tang Dynasty. Since then it has thoroughly became a part of China's traditional culture. A monk, Xuanzang, and his party went to Tianzhu (present-day India) in order to obtain the Buddhist sutra. Journey to the West, one of the four great classics of ancient China, recorded this historical event in a mythological form.
New Technologies: In handicrafts: Areas for producing silk products, flax products and porcelain were distributed all over the country; large-scale production of ocean-going boats made China their base during the Tang Dynasty; product categories increased, as in the case of damask silk, which had more than twenty categories and the famous Tang tricolor porcelain appeared during this period. Engraved block printing appeared at the beginning of the dynasty and explosive powder had been put into military use since the middle of the Tang Dynasty.
Foreign Relations: Admired by people abroad, Tang culture spread to Asia, Europe and Africa. Neighboring countries sought and established relations with thegovernment and the capital, Chang'an, became the center of cultural exchanges between the East and the West. These countries included Xinluo (the countries in the Korean Peninsula), Japan, Tianzhu (present-day India), Bosi (present-day Iran), etc. The ambassadors of the Tang Dynasty and the above countries visited each other which promoted cultural exchanges. They sent each other special local products and books on various subjects.
Trade Routes Thrived: Economic development recorded in the Tang Dynasty was unprecedented. Several conditions brought this about: transportation either by road or by sea was convenient due to the unhindered Silk Road; the early emperors' wise policies such as alleviating forced labor and some taxes made people work more enthusiastically; the government paid greater attention to foreign relations, which promoted frequent transactions between China and nations abroad. In agriculture: South China became an important base for food supplies; cropland irrigation and tools for agriculture were further developed, including the invention of the Quyuan Plough and the Tong Irrigator; tea became a daily necessity and farm produce in general was more commercialized. In commerce: Due to practical transportation on canals and the Yangtze River, the merchant fleet shuttled in an endless stream. The KaiyuanTongbao, a Tang-dynasty gold-plated coin, became the standard currency; Gui Fang (a shop for money exchange) appeared and became a rudimentary bank, some six or seven hundred years earlier than what appeared in the Mediterranean area. Near the end of thedynasty, the night market appeared in some flourishing cities such as Chang'an (present-day Xian) and Luoyang near the Yellow River, as well as in Yangzhou and Chengdu along the Yangtze River.
Slide 8: Social Classes
During the Tang Dynasty there were basically eight social classes. The emperor and his family were usually the most powerful in the Tang Dynasty’s social hierarchy. If, however the emperor had worked his way up to power rather than coming from an eminent family it was possible for the aristocracy to become more powerful in certain instances. The aristocracy was the next in the social hierarchy, followed by the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy was divided into two separate levels of honor the scholars and the functionaries.
The eunuchs came next in the social hierarchy as they functioned as servants in the emperor’s palace. The clergy were above the peasants who in turn were higher in the hierarchy than the artisans and traders. Slaves were the lowest in the Tang Dynasty’s social structure.
Laws were enacted to ensure that each of these social classes behaved in a manner befitting their station. These laws encompassed what each group was allowed to wear and own.
The social structure during the Tang Dynasty was a little more fluid than in many of the other times in China’s history. This is due to the institution of the imperial examinations which allowed men of low social standing to improve their lot through hard work, perseverance and ability. It was this fluidity that prevented the stagnation that had become apparent in many of the previous dynasties.
Gender: The Tang Dynasty’s attitude towards women was more liberal than was previously found. Women were accorded with more respect and power. Women were even allowed to take religious orders and become priestesses. This social standing, however, was mostly afforded to women in and close to the large cities with the majority of rural women continuing as before. High-class courtesans were also provided with a great deal of respect and were often allowed to join in discussions and debates with men of high social rank.
Slide 9 – 10 Foot-binding
Foot binding in China was a practice that involved systematically wrapping a woman’s foot in cloth bandages over a period of years, forcing it to grow in a particular way. This usually left women unable to walk properly and was extremely painful.
Foot binding literally restructures the shape of the foot by breaking the arch and four toes on both feet. This process begins at a young age, usually around seven years of age. The feet would be repeatedly rebound up until a girl stopped growing.
Not all women practiced foot binding in China. For example, many ethnic minority groups, such as the Manchu’s, did not practice food binding at all. Likewise Hakka Chinese women did not bind their feet. Because Hakka men often worked far from home, women were required to labor on farms. Foot binding would mean they could not adequately perform agricultural labor.
The origins of ancient Chinese foot binding are unclear. Some believe that the practice started after the Tang Dynasty (which ended in 907 AD). According to a legend, a beautiful concubine danced on her toes like a ballerina inside of a giant lotus flower. Since the shape of the concubine’s toes resembled bound feet, this became an image of beauty and grace.
Other accounts claim that the practice began during the Tang Dynasty. The earliest written records of foot binding are found in the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD), leading some scholars to believe it began during this period.
There are various theories as to why foot binding was continually practiced in China for 1000 years. The major reason is that many men found bound feet to be highly erotic. This can be seen in a special name given to bound feet: “golden lilies.” Specially designed food binding shoes known as “lotus shoes” were made to fit bound feet and were also seen as highly attractive.
In turn, many families felt pressure to bind their daughters’ feet to increase her chances of entering a good marriage. Essentially, ancient Chinese foot binding was seen as an investment in a girl’s future.
Another theory is that foot binding was used as a way to ensure female submission in a patriarchal society. Since women with bound feet were physically disabled, they would be dependent on male labor for survival. This perpetuated the superior role of men in Chinese society.
Slide 11: Tang Government
Like all ancient Chinese dynasties, the Tang Dynasty was a monarchy, ruled by an all-powerful emperor since it was founded by the ancient Li family in 618. Li Yuan was the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty. His rule initiated several centuries of economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy.
One of the factors of success of the Tang Dynasty governing system was the reforms it instituted by modifying and building upon the Sui legal code. This was an exacting, complicated, yet simple-to-understand set of laws that were very specific about what was basically allowed in Tang society, what was a crime, and what individual punishments were for violating the legal code. In short, everyone knew the score.
The Tang Dynasty government had three basic departments that created policies and laws. These frameworks of laws were administered by six ministries, which were personnel administration, military, finance, rites, justice, and public works. This super-efficient system of government worked so well, it outlived the Tang Dynasty itself, which crumbled in 907. The Tang system of government was the model upon which all subsequent dynasties based their own systems, and it was also used by other countries and kingdoms, such as those in Vietnam and Korea.
Another factor for the success of the Tang Dynasty system of government was the emphasis on education. The Tang rulers felt that a well-educated public was not a threat to authority, but rather, a foundation of a stable, prosperous society. Another feature of the Tang Dynasty government was its obsessive record keeping and accounting of many aspects of life and commerce. This naturally created deep layers of accountability and certainty, which bolstered the strength of the government and society.
Slide 12: Empress Wu Zetian
She entered the Tang Palace at the age of 14 to become Emperor Taizong’s concubine. During this time she had struggles since she was not the favorite of the emperor. She was praised for her beauty and literary talents but since she still had so much to learn she was not able to rise to become one of the emperor’s favorite concubines. It was during this time that she met Prince Li Zhi who later became emperor. When Emperor Taizong died in 649, Wu Zetian was then sent to a temple where she was to serve the rest of her life as a Buddhist nun. It was also during this time that Li Zhi became Emperor Gaozong, and it was fate that he met Wu Zetian during her early life in the palace. The new emperor was still enamored by Wu Zetian’s beauty, and during this time Empress Wang, the mother of the new emperor was struggling with Consort Xiao. To divert his son’s affection from Xiao, Wu Zetian was then brought back to the palace to become a concubine of the new emperor.
Wu Zetian wanted to become more than the emperor’s concubine. She was very grateful to the empress for bringing her back in the palace and was very respectful to her. During this time she was able to gain the favor of both the emperor and empress which earned her the position Zhaoyi. She then became the highest ranking concubine out of the nine but still under the Empress. Historians have accounted that it was during this time Wu Zetian and Empress Wang deposed of Consort Xiao into a commoner. Still, Wu’s desire to become the first woman emperor overwhelmed her.