chinese renaissance: sui to song dynasties

Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E.Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E.

“Land Equalization” System –> land redistribution

Unified coinage

Established army of professional soldiers

People were overworked and overtaxed!

Financial StressFinancial Stress

War for Korea further strains finances

Grand Canal constructed Strained

financial resources

The Grand CanalThe Grand Canal

Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

High point of Chinese historyImperial examination system

perfectedLiberal attitude towards all

religions Spread of Buddhism in China

Golden Age of foreign relations with other countries

Japan, Korea, Persia

Tang Gov’t. OrganizationTang Gov’t.

Organization

Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.

New technologies:Printing --> moveable print PorcelainGunpowderMechanical clocks

More cosmopolitan cultureReestablished safety of Silk RoadTea came into China from

Southeast Asia

Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705

Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705

Only Chinese Empress to rule aloneSearched for outstanding individuals

to attract to her courtConstructed new irrigation systemsBuddhism was favored state

religion Financed building of many Buddhist temples

BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic ministers to seek out her enemies

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Broken toes by 3 years of age.

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Foot-Binding in Tang China

For upper-class girls, it became new custom

Results of Foot-BindingResults of Foot-Binding

End of Tang DynastyEnd of Tang Dynasty

Causes of declineMisruleCourt intriguesEconomic exploitationRebellions

Made it possible for northern invaders to defeat them

Next 50 years saw fragmentation of ChinaFive northern dynastiesTen southern kingdoms

Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E.

Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E.

Creation of urban, merchant middle class

Neo-Confucianists wanted to purify Confucianism

Increased emphasis on education & cheaper availability of printed books

Magnetic compass made China great sea power!

Confucian Inspired Sayings

Confucian Inspired Sayings

"Women are to be led and to follow others.“

"A woman ruler is like a hen crowing.“

"Woman's greatest duty is to produce a son."

Confucian Inspired Sayings

Confucian Inspired Sayings

"We should not be too familiar with the lower orders or with women."

"The woman with no talent is the one who has merit.“

"Those who cannot be taught, cannot be instructed. These are women and eunuchs."

Confucian Inspired Sayings

Confucian Inspired Sayings

"A husband can marry twice, but his wife must never remarry.“

"Man is honored for strength; a woman is beautiful on account of her gentleness."

"Disorder is not sent down by Heaven, it is produced by women."

Song Peasant FamilySong Peasant Family

Song Began Rice Cultivation

Song Began Rice Cultivation

Song Rice CultivationSong Rice Cultivation