Postclassical China Dynasty Song Name a characteristic of each Chinese dynasty we’ve studied thus far Shang? Zhou? Qin? Han? Postclassical East Asia Chinese dynasties Sui Tang Song & influence on: Korea Vietnam Japan Changes & Continuities Resembled Han: Repetition of dynastic cycle Professional bureaucracy, exam system Confucianism key among elite Dominance in greater East Asia Changes: Greater support of long-distance trade & commercialization make China richest, most urban society Greater unification of N & S China New Buddhist influence Issues of Significance Buddhism & Neo-Confucianism Commercialization of Chinese economy Spread & adaptation of Chinese culture beyond borders Buddhism & Neo-Confucianism Under Han: Confucianism, Daoism, & ancestor worship popular Between dynasties: Confucianism suffers loss of credibility Foreign religions & Buddhism Sui, Tang, Song: Confucianism revived in exam system Buddhism promoted until late Tang (supplanted by Neo-Confucianism), but remained influential Buddhism Came via Silk Roads Rich in texts Preached about metaphysical Monasteries Social functions Celibacy Neo-Confucianism Reaction to Buddhist persecution Continued practical study of politics & morality Focused on social order Neo? Emphasis on tradition Greater religious emphasis Buddhism & Neo-Confucianism 1. Why did Buddhism initially become popular in China? 2. Why was there a backlash against Buddhism? 3. What does the timing of this backlash say about progress of postclassical China? 4. What was the position of Buddhism following the repression? Women in Chinese Society Grab a red “World Civilizations” document reader from the shelf. On pg.153-155, read the primary doc on women. Then answer: 1. 2. 3. • What roles for men and women are portrayed in the story? What lessons is the Chinese reader supposed to learn from the story? What does this story reveal about Chinese social structure more generally? If you finish…look at the pictures on pg. 62, 63, 65 Chinese Golden Age Project Bellringer Sui is to _____; as Tang is to _____. Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.) Governing? Analogous to Qin Sui vs. Qin What similarities do the Sui & Qin share? Give an example from the Sui dynasty to support each similarity. Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.) Governing? Analogous to Qin Short-lived Harsh rule Completed infrastructure projects Gained power through warrior nobility Began restoration of civil service exams Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? Re-united China Grand Canal: Further unites N & S China Promoted domestic trade connecting Yellow & Yangtze Rivers The Chinese Renaissance Tang-Song Era Chinese Golden Age What was it? What caused it? Question: In what ways did the Tang try to address the weakness of the Sui? What were the results of these efforts? Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Governing? Attempt to balance 2 powerful forces Military strength Civilian bureaucracy Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Governing? Military strength Military family, devoted horsemen Emphasized cavalry & horse breeding Colonies of soldier-farmers along Silk Road Large territory expanded Chinese rule conquered Korea in 668, northern Vietnam, expanded culture in Japan westward against Turkish tribes in Central Asia (influence in Afghanistan, Persia) Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Governing? Civilian bureaucracy Perfected civil service exams Created a monetary system of copper coins & silk ribbons Wrote a set of laws w/ planned revision every two decades Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? Agricultural growth & land reform Limit power of rural aristocracy Gave some peasants a chance to gain wealth Equal-field system Granted equal amounts of land to each adult male in return for taxes Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? Trade thrived Internal prosperity Cities largest & most populous in world Ch'ang-an, capital: population = 2,000,000 Brought foreign influence into China Foreign fashions, music, cuisine, art from Central Asia, India, Persia, & Byzantium Judaism, Nestorian Christianity Flying Money Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? Trade thrived, but… Either under government monopolies (e.g., tea, salt, wine) Or as "tribute" from foreign lands and reciprocal "gifts" going back out Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) Reasons for Decline? Scholar class became entrenched Weak / young emperors manipulated 2. Granted scholars estates to promote bureaucratic jobs 1. • Took land from peasants & increased tax burden Less focus on military 3. • Defeat in 751 to Arabs on Silk Road • Made Islam rather than Buddhism the dominant religion in Central Asia Question: In what ways did the Song try to address the weakness of the Tang? What were the results of these efforts? Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Governing? Weakened military influence in favor of bureaucratic gentry Civil-service exam expanded & number of bureaucrats increased Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Governing? Confucian bureaucrats in charge of the military Hostile toward the military Tended to be pacifist Downplayed status of soldiers, military skills, & athletics Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? Political unity stimulated prosperity Growth centered in maritime south Independent merchant class grew in power 2. Technological advances meant new trade 3. Trade yielded exchange & cosmopolitan society 1. Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? 1. Independent merchant class grew in power • Non-governmental commerce widespread But… • Commerce not respectable • • When someone accumulated wealth, bought land rather than invest in manufacturing Remained somewhat dependent favors of bureaucrats • Paid share of $$$ from enterprise to government operations & personal gifts Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? 2.Technological advances meant new trade Porcelain Iron production Gunpowder Printing Improved ships & navigation tools Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Impact on Daily Life? 3. Trade yielded exchange & cosmopolitan society Revenues 3x that of Tang era New rice strain (Champa) allowed Chinese farmers to double output Urbanization – Five cities of 1,000,000 – Foreign trader establish durable neighborhoods Paper money Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Reasons for Decline? 2 phrase decline: 1. First, retreat to south 2. Then, total collapse Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Reasons for Retreat to South? Weak military Little attention given to arts of warfare Met defense needs through expensive mercenary nomads Central Asian nomads harassed China’s northern borders for 200 yrs Song royal family forced south Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) Reasons for Total Collapse? Fiscal difficulties Population growth outstripped economic growth Bloated central bureaucracy: expensive Also, factions opposed reform, putting individual economic interests ahead of the common good Inflation from paper money & raised taxes Rebellion Sui Tang Tang Song Song Southern Song Tang vs. Song So… Chinese Renaissance? • • • • • • Connections to past traditions Role of & beliefs of philosophy Ideals of man & education Religious interactions Changes in class structure Technological & artistic advancement Chinese Renaissance Revival & reestablishment of Confucianism with Greco-Roman classics Confucian ideal of scholar-gentry with concept of Renaissance Man Buddhist and Neo-Confucian backlash with Roman Catholicism & Protestant reform Urbanization & increased global trade & exploration Growth of merchants class with growth of European middle class Explosion of technology and artistic creativity, including art, literature, etc. Increase in societal literacy due to moveable type printing