Transcript Tang and Song Dynastiesx

Bell Ringer
 Traditional Chinese Dancing
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJcNbkA1jvc
 Notice the different costumes Chinese dancers use vs.
those of other cultures. What do you think about
these costumes?
 Each dance tells a story. What is your interpretation
of the dances?
Tang and Song Dynasties
Setting the Stage
 After the fall of the Han in 202 AD, China went through 350
years and 30 local dynasties that were unable to recreate a
strong central government.
 Eventually by 589, China was once again unified under
emperor Wendi who began the Sui Dynasty.
 The Sui Dynasty created the Grand Canal which connected
the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.
 Endless labor on state projects as well as taxation let to a
peasant revolt which ended the assassination of the
second sui emperor.
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty Expands China
 The Tang Dynasty would rule from 618-907.
 Begun by Tang Taizong who reigned from 626-649.
 Took power by killing his brothers and forcing his father
to step aside.
 Taizong means “Great Ancestor”.
 Married Wu Zhao who virtually ruled China when her
husband was sick.
Tang Taizong
Wu Zhao
 Married Tang at the age of 13.
 Became the favored wife and
her son would be the
successor.
 Ruled China for years on behalf
of Tang
 Ruled independently at 65-80
years old.
Tang Dynasty
 Tang armies re-conquered northern and western lands lost
since decline of the Han.
 Tang rulers strengthened the central government of china
and expanded roads.
 Revived civil service examinations (only wealthy could
afford necessary education).
 Innovated porcelain, the mechanical clock, explosive
powder, and block printing.
The Tang Lose Power
 To meet the rising costs of government, Tang rulers
imposed crushing taxes in mid 700’s.
 Muslim armies defeated the Chinese at the battle of Talas.
 Internal rebellions chipped away at imperial government.
 Chinese rebels sacked and burned Tang capital in 907.
 Murdered the last tang emperor who was only a child.
Northern Song Dynasty
Southern Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty Restores China
 After fall of Tang, China was divided by warlords into
separate kingdoms.
 In 960, a general named Taizu reunited China and declared
himself first emperor of Song Dynasty.
 Song dynasty would last from 960-1279.
 Smaller empire than Han or Tang but still prosperous.
Golden Age of Poetry and Art
 The prosperity of the Tang and Song dynasties nourished an age of artistic
brilliance.
 The Tang period Chinese painting reached new heights of beauty during
the Song Dynasty.
 Painting of this era shows Daoist influence.
 Artists emphasized the beauty of natural landscapes and objects such as a
single branch or flower.
 The artists did not use bright colors. Black ink was their favorite paint.
 Also produced great poetry.
Extra Information: Paintings
 Birds and
flowers
were
favorite
subjects
for Song
painters.
Song Dynasty
 Despite military troubles in the north, the
Southern Song saw rapid economic growth.
 Movable type: Movable blocks with characters
used for printing.
 Created paper money and the magnetic compass.
Song Dynasty
 Status of women declined during the Tang and Song
Dynasties.
 Footbinding: Practice of binding feet to conform to
small lotus or lily foot.
 Seen as sensual.
 Crippled for life.
Footbinding
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P56LAPlFfgk
Fall of the Song
 Group of Asian nomads known as the
Mongols would gain power.
 Genghis Khan would attempt to invade China
but would die before he succeeded.
 Grandson Kublai Khan would overwhelm the
Chinese in 1279 and begin the Yuan Dynasty.
Result
 The Tang and Song dynasties each ruled for about
300 years and helped innovate china as its population
continues to swell.
 China would see its first major outside threat
eventually take over when Kublai Khan would
successfully invade and take over China in 1279 A.D.