Transcript Chapter 12
Discussion Notes Importance of this Chapter Transition from Han to Sui was a period of political chaos known as the “period of Six Dynasties” (220-589 C.E.) Scholar-gentry lost ground to landed families Nomadic peoples ruled much of China Buddhism replaced Confucianism as a primary force in cultural life. =economic, technological and urban decline. Importance – Sui-Tang-Song restore Chinese civilization Political unity returned with Sui and Tang nomads and nobility were brought under state control Bureaucracy was rebuilt Primary political focus was on southern and eastern coastal areas which was further south of the original core area. Song restored the Confucian order and was a time of artistic, literary and technological flourishing. (Neo-Confucianism) Male Dominance reached new heights with the Neo-Confucianism. How did the Sui rise to Power? Wendi used support from nomadic military leaders to win control of northern China. He then defeated the Chen kingdom which ruled much of the south. These efforts allowed him to establish rule over the traditional Chinese core. Its one thing to conquer and another to rule. He gained popularity by lowering taxes and establishing granaries to ensure a stable, cheap food supply. How did the Sui Collapse? Wendi’s son Yangdi was so ambitious that he killed his father to gain the throne. On the one hand, he continued to strengthen the state by further success against the nomads. He reformed the legal code and the Confucian educational system therefore bringing the scholar-gentry back into the administration. On the other hand Yangdi spent a lot of resources on The new capitol at Loyang A series of canals to link the empire Unsuccessful attempts at conquering Korea As resentment grew inside the kingdom external pressures grew. Unsuccessful defense from Turkic nomads in central Asia in 615. Assassination occurred after widespread revolt in 618. The Tang Takes Over Li Yuan was known as the Duke of Tang. He had been a former supporter of the Sui. Thankfully, he gained control and stabilized the empire. Tang armies were strong and were able to defend and extend all the way to Afghanistan. Utilized Turkic nomads in its army and tried to assimilate them into the Chinese culture. The Tang Takes Over The Great Wall was repaired. The empire continued to expand into Tibet, Vietnam, Manchuria and Korea. In what way was the rise of the Tang associated with the Confucian renaissance? It was the restored scholar-gentry elite and reworked Confucian ideology that helped the Tang maintain centralized authority. The exam system was extended but birth and family connections remained important for attaining high office. Civil service advancement patterns were regulated through the Ministry of Rites. The power of the aristocracy was reduced. The Bureau of Censors however helped maintain strict controls over the bureaucracy. State Religion in the Tang-Song Era Many regional leaders and early leaders of the Tang had been Buddhist supporters. Confucian revival threatened Buddhism’s place in Chinese life. Though monks had given it some Chinese qualities, it was still seen as foreign. Mahayana won commoner converts during political chaos Chan won elite converts as it stressed meditation and appreciation of natural and artistic beauty. Support Followed by Backlash Empress Wu (690-705) – big supporter Endowed monasteries 50,000 by mid ninth century Commissioned colossal statues of Buddha Sought to make Buddhism the state religion. Confucianists and Daoists opposed Buddhist growth as a foreign faith. Daoist stressed their own magical and predictive powers. Confucianists argued that untaxed Buddhist monasteries posed an economic threat to the empire Confucianism Victorious Emperor Wuzong (841-847) Open persecution of Buddhists and Buddhism Thousands of monasteries and shrines destroyed Hundreds of thousands of monks and nuns lost religious employment Buddhist lands were taxed or redistributed to taxpaying nobles and peasants. Confucianism emerged as the enduring central ideology of Chinese civilization. What accounts for the decline of the Tang dynasty? The peak of Tang power had been during the rule of Emperor Xuanzong (713-756) He initially advanced political and economic reform Later he turned to patronizing the arts and the pleasures of the imperial city. That’s when the trouble really started. The Chinese Siren Xuangzong became infatuated with an imperial harem woman, Yang Guifei She filled upper levels of government with her relatives and gained authority in court politics. Rival cliques stimulated unrest, while lack of royal direction caused economic distress and military weakness. A serious revolt took place in 755. The rebels were defeated and Yang Guifei was killed, but Zuanzong and succeeding rulers provided weak leadership for the dynasty. Nomadic frontier peoples and regional governors used the disorder to gain virtual independence. Worsening economic conditions in the ninth century caused many revolts, some of them popular movements by peasants. In what way was the Song empire weaker than the Tang? After the last Tang emperor resigned in 907 Zhao Kuangyin (Taizu) reunited China and started the Song Dynasty. His dynasty never defeated the Liao of Manchuria that had been formed by the Khitan nomads in 907. At a later point, the Song would end up paying tribute to the Liao, maintain large military force there which ultimately contributed to the drain on state resources. The peasants always take on the burden of the spending done by the government. Despite positive efforts to place the scholar-gentry above Buddhist and aristocratic rivals who work against centralization, the Song never matched the political or military strength of the Tang. There was an over-correction for the way the Tang ended that created a military subordinated to the scholar-gentry. According to the text, the scholar-gentry became bloated resulting in a lot of useless, highly paid paper shufflers. Wang Anshi- Chief Minister Tried to rescue the Song by using legalist principals. Encouraged agricultural expansion through cheap loans and government-assisted irrigation projects. The landlord and scholar-gentry were taxed, and the revenues went for military reform. Attempted to revitalize the education system by giving preference to analytical skills. Without the Emperor… The new emperor supported opposing reformers and reversed Wang’s policies. This led to economic difficulties that led to military ineffectiveness. Nomadic Jurchens overthrew the Liao and pressed into China. The Song fled south and established a capitol at Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Basin this lasted from 1127-1279. What were the aspects of economic prosperity during the Tang-Song era? This was considered a Golden Age due to the amount and new trade routes that opened. The Grand Canal 1200 + miles long connected the traditional core areas (produced wheat) with the newer Southern constituents that harvested rice The Canal made Northern rule of the food producing south much easier. Population did end up shifting to the south. Consequences The canal system promoted commercial expansion. The Silk Routes were reopened bringing China back in contact with Buddhist and Muslim worlds. China exported their manufactured goods for products they saw as luxury items. Of course many of their manufactured goods were identified by those to the west as luxury items. * Peaches! It is important to recognize that China really didn’t need the commerce with people from the west as much as the people of the west sought Chinese products. Discuss the status of women during the Tang-Song era. Women’s position was improved by Buddhism for a short period of time under Tang and early Song. Marriage alliance done by professional female go- betweens. Partners were of the same age Marriage did not occur until puberty Upper-class consumated later than commoners Upper class women had opportunity for personal expression. Empress Wu, Empress Wei, Yan Guifei Legal rights for women in divorce situation. Wealthy urban women could have lovers. This was followed by a severe decline with Neo-Confucianism. Roles stressed included home-maker and mother, bridal virginity, wifely fidelity, widow chastity while men were permitted free sexual behavior and remarriage. Men favored in new laws of inheritance and divorce. Females excluded from education system. Painful footbinding What was the overall impact of the TangSong era on Chinese history? Central administration and bureaucracy were re- established and strengthened. The scholar-gentry class came back to the forefront for another 650 years. Much more territory controlled and more neighboring areas influenced by China. Was the market leader in orientation until the eighteenth century. Numerous inventions What innovations were made during the Tang-Song era? Junks allowed Chinese merchants to go directly to prominent port areas and were the best ships in the world. Enlarged market quarters. Deposit shops Paper Money Credit vouchers – flying money New crops Invention Technology – Grand Canal, dikes and dams, irrigation systems, bridges Explosive powder for fireworks then military use Naphtha flame-throwers, poisonous gases, rocket launchers Chairs, tea drinking, coal for fuel, kites, compasses and the abacus Moveable type to go along with the Han invention of paper = most literate society in the world at that time.