Tang & Song Dynasties

China Unifies & Expands

After the decline of the Han

dynasty in the 200s CE,

China remained divided for almost 400

years.

Then, a young general named Tang Taizong

took control & established the Tang dynasty in

618. It would last nearly 300 years until 907.

The Tang dynasty

picked up where the

Han had left off by

expanding Chinese

territories.

Neighboring countries, namely Vietnam, Korea & Tibet, were forced by the Tang to become

tributary states.

TibetVietnam Korea

Tributary states were independent yet they were

required to show respect

to China’s power & provide regulars

payment, or tribute.

It was also during the

Tang dynasty that Japan

sent emissaries to

China to conduct

trade & learn Chinese culture.

Japanese Missions to China during the Tang Dynasty

Politically, Tang rulers saw it

wise to revive the civil service system, which emphasized Confucian

ideals, developed

under the Han.

The civil service exams provided the

Tang government with a highly

educated ruling elite,

which served the emperor.

The Mandate of Heaven was turned over to the Song in 960 under the

leadership of Zhao

Kuangyin.

Like the Tang before it, the Song dynasty prospered, but invasions from

outsiders, predominantly the Mongols, realized the

end of the Song in 1279.

Socially, Tang & Song

society was broken down

into three distinct

classes: the gentry

(nobles), peasants & merchants.

Chinese Social

Structure under the

Tang & Song

dynasties

During the Tang dynasty land was redistributed to the peasants. This reform

helped the Tang by reducing the power of large

landowners while raising new tax revenues from the peasants.

The Tang & Song dynasties witnessed an increase in foreign trade as Chinese

merchants interacted with India, Persia & the Middle

East.

In order to trade abroad, the Chinese government developed a

superior navy & issued paper

money (1st ever) to

expedite trade.

Internally, the Chinese

improved their infrastructure building roads,

bridges & canals. These

improvements in transportation helped connect the north to the

south.

By far the most important building project was the Grand

Canal.

Most significantly,

the Grand Canal

allowed food, mainly rice,

from the south to travel

efficiently to the north.

The Tang & Song dynasties

produced wonderful

works of art. Chinese writers composed both short stories &

poems in beautiful

calligraphy.

Chinese architects created what is called the pagoda, a temple with

curved roof corners. A style which was later borrowed by the Japanese.

Pagoda styles

During this period the Chinese

became so adept at

making fine porcelain

objects that across the

world it was called

“chinaware” or simply “china”.