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”.