Transcript China Reunites - Walden's World History

China Reunites
Today we are learning:
*how Chinese rulers brought peace, order,
and growth to China
*how Buddhism became a major religion
* about the Chinese government’s support of
Confucian ideas
Rebuilding China’s Empire
• A.D. 200 – Han empire ends
• China has no central gov. for 300 years
• Warlords (military leaders running the
government) fought each other
• Nomads conquered parts of northern China
• Koreans gained independence from China and
built their own civilization
Sui Dynasty
• Wendi –
–
–
–
–
General
declared emperor
reunited China (A.D. 581)
founded the Sui dynasty
• Yangdi – Wendi’s son. Dreamed of expanding
China’s territory.
– Achievements
• Rebuilt the Great Wall
• Building the Grand Canal (1,000 mile waterway linked
northern, southern China)
• United China’s economy (an organized way in which people
produce, sell, and buy things)
– Hardships
• Farmers forced to work on building projects and pay high
taxes
– Farmers revolted, army took over, killed Yangdi
– End to the Sui dynasty
Tang Dynasty
• A.D. 618 – one of Yangdi’s generals
took over
• Tang Dynasty formed
– Last A.D. 618 – A.D. 907
– Capital – Changan
– Reforms
• Civil service exam restored, land given to
farmers, and order in the country side under
Taizong (most powerful emperor)
– Empress Wu – only woman to rule China
alone.
• Very forceful
– Added more gov. officials
– Strengthened military forces
Tang Dynasty
Accomplishments
Problems
• Power regained in Asia
• Expansion
• Tang Problems
– Tibet invaded
– Controlled the Silk Road
– Korean Kingdoms
• Forced to pay tribute
– Took over Vietnam
– Turks – took over Silk Road
(damaged China’s economy)
– Revolts
• Tibet
• Farmers
• Disorder brings down
dynasty (A.D. 907)
– Military leaders ruled (50 yrs.)
Song Dynasty
A.D. 960 – a general declares himself emperor
Dynasty rules from A.D. 960-1279
Accomplishments
• Chinese civilization became
the most advanced in the
world
Problems
• Not enough soldiers to
control the empire
– Enlarged government
bureaucracy, reformed civil
service examination system
– Neo-Confucianism gained
favor, emphasizing Confucian
ethics, spiritual matters
*Capital moved to Hangzhou – on the coast
near the Chang Jiang delta
– Tibet broke away
– Nomads took over N. China
Cultural achievements of the Tang and
Song dynasties
The Tang and Song dynasties were periods of great cultural achievement.
Art and literature flourished, and many inventions and advances occurred
in science and technology.
Literature and Art
• Tang period produced
some of China’s
greatest poets
• Du Fu, Li Bo, two most
famous
• Poems of Confucian
ideals, joys of life
Painting
• Reached new heights
• Wu Daozi, murals
celebrating Buddhism,
nature
Artisans
• Exquisite objects made
from clay
• Tang: pottery figurines,
often to go in tombs
• Landscapes of great
beauty
• Song: excelled at
making porcelain
• Some used only black
ink
• Admired, sought after
worldwide
Inventions and Innovations
Architecture
• Indian Buddhist temples influenced
design of Chinese pagoda
• Featured roofs at each floor curving
upwards at corners
Inventions
• During Tang, Song periods, China
became a world leader in technology,
science
• Gunpowder major invention, used in
fireworks, weapons
Magnetic Compass
Printing
• Major Tang technical advance
• Paper, ink invented earlier
• Uses Earth’s magnetic field to show
direction
• Tang period, developed woodblock
printing
• Revolutionized sea travel, contributed
to world exploration
• Text carved into wood, coated with
ink, pressed on paper
Buddhism in China
• A.D. 150 – missionaries from India brought Buddhism to China
• Time of suffering
– Han dynasty was weakening
– China envelops into a civil war
– Need for peace and comfort
• Tang rulers
– not Buddhist, but allowed it to be practiced.
– Supported building of temples
• Services
– Ran schools
– Room/food for travelers
– Monks – bankers, doctors
• Haters
– Wrong to accept $$$$
– No marriage = no respect for family
• A.D. 845 – officials feared growth of Buddhism
– monasteries & temples destroyed
– Buddhism never recovered
Buddhism Spreads East
• A.D. 300 – Buddhists bring religion to Korea
• A.D. 600 – Korea is united into one country
– Buddhism grew even stronger
• Legend of how it spread to Japan:
– Korea’s king wrote to Japan’s emperor claiming:
“This religion is the most excellent of all
teachings”
• The letter also contained Buddhist writings and a
stature of the Buddha