china middle imperial era (sui, tang, song)

ChinaSui, Tang, Song dynasties

Special Thanks to Traci Langworthy Jamestown, NY

China: Reunification & Renaissance

Recall Political Developments:

• Sui Dynasty (589-618)

– Reunification

– Completion of Grand Canal connecting

northern & southern China

• Tang Dynasty (618-907) – expansion

China during the Tang & Song Dynasties

Song Dynasty (960-1279)

• Founded by Song Taizu

• Threat of nomads to north

Confucian Civil Service System

• Reintroduced during Sui Dynasty; expanded in Tang & Song era, especially

• Exams based on Confucian classics

• Jinshi = highest title

Neo-Confucianism

Economic Revolution

• Population doubled during Song era

• Agricultural prosperity

– New variety of rice

– New cash crops – e.g. tea, sugar

– Dikes, reservoirs, & dams

– Water pumps

Terraced rice paddies in southern China

Economic Revolution Cont.

• Commercial growth

– Internal trade, facilitated by canals & paper $

– Overseas maritime trade facilitated by magnetic compass & junks

• Growth in industry

– Esp. silk fabric, porcelain & paper

– Water powered mills & bellows

– Iron & steel

• Urbanization (growth of cities)

– E.g. Kaifeng & Hangzhou

Other Technological Achievements

• Gunpowder

• Mechanical clock

• Moveable type (printing)

“Thunderbolt ball”

Social Developments

• Growth of scholar-elite

• Declining status of women

– Increasing legal restrictions

– Demand in cities for domestic servants & concubines

– Foot binding

Ideal woman’s foot = 3” long!

Cultural Developments

• Women poets as

exception

• Landscape

painting