Sui/Tang/Song

By Joshua Scott and Joseph Gladney

History of the Sui Dynasty

The Sui Dynasty lasted in China from 581-617 A.D. The Sui Dynasty’s reign on China ended because of the government’s selfish demands on the people. Their resources were overstrained and weakened by costly military campaigns. The Sui Dynasty reunified China after four centuries of separation. The Sui Dynasty also started an artistic and cultural time period that reached its peak in the succeeding Tang Dynasty. At the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386 – 589 A.D), the whole nation had endured a long period of separation. People who had endured sufferings of war were longing for a union but neither the Northern Dynasties nor Southern Dynasties realized this goal.

History of the Sui Dynasty (continued)

• At the beginning, the agricultural land increased greatly which promoted the crop yield. The skills industry made some new advances with the shipbuilding technology reaching a new high level. Meanwhile, the commerce in Luoyang was prosperous and in order to develop the national economy, a series of policies, such as a system of equally divided fields called the Juntian System and a system of tax moderation called the Zutiao System, were carried out. This equally distributed the farmland and moderated the tax rates while increasing the financial revenue.

Sui Dynasty Accomplishments

• The Sui Dynasty started an artistic and cultural renaissance that reached its peak in the succeeding Tang Dynasty.  

• Through forced labor of both men and women, the Grand Canal was extended north from Hangzhou across the Yangzi to Yangzhou and then northwest to the region of Louyang.

• The building of warehouses around the capitals, the defenses of the Great Wall along the northern borders, the reconstruction of the two capitals near the Yellow River, and building of another capital in Yangchow. Confucianism also began to regain popularity, as the nobles gained importance.

Images of the Sui Dynasty

History of the Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty is the dynasty that took over after the fall of the Sui Dynasty from 618-907 A.D. The Tang dynasty was a dynasty that was known for its strength and brilliance that it is unmatched by any other. The Tang's strength came from a system of equal land portions to the male population. A tax on the rations was the Tang's greatest source of income. In addition to that, periodic military service from all males was the source of the Tang's military. For this reason the Tang Dynasty was the most powerful dynasty out of the three dynasties.

History of the Tang Dynasty (continued)

During the Tang dynasty, Buddhism declined, and Confucianism became more popular. Even though Buddhism was at its peak during the early Tang dynasty, many of the Tang officials were of the Confucian discipline and regarded Buddhism as a disruptive force in China. So, in 845, the Tang emperor started a full-scale persecution of Buddhists. More than 4600 monasteries and 40,000 temples and shrines were destroyed. Other religious groups were also brought under government control.

Tang Dynasty accomplishments

• The Tang Dynasty built the Silk Road• The Tang Dynasty contributed a lot to the

development of astronomy, medicine and printing technique.

• During the Tang Dynasty, China achieved the peak of its civilization and became the center of trade in the east.

• The Tang Dynasty achievements have contributed a dynamic impact in our world today. The emperors of Tang have imposed a strong foundation on their government as the leaders were according to education and qualities.

Images of the Tang Dynasty

History of the Sung DynastyThe Sung Dynasty lasted in China from 960-1129 A.D. To avoid the problems the Tang government faced, the Northern Sung made the military inferior to the civil government. Every aspect of government and society was dominated by the civil government. The civil service test was extended so that the government would have a continuous flow of youth talent. The Sung reorganized the colonial government, unifying the control of the dynasty at the capital. The local government stayed the same. Education flourished and the economy also continued to expand. The literature that was being created in the late Tang dynasty continued to flourish as well.

History of the Sung Dynasty (continued)

There was one major flaw in the Sung Dynasty, a weak military. The Sung's military was not very powerful, and they frequently signed treaties to end fighting. Usually included in the treaties were terms requiring the Sung to pay tributes to the enemies they were fighting. With the population growth came greater economic growth. The military was a large portion of the yearly income due to border defenses. The Northern Sung fell apart due to differences in opinions by the civil officials. Due to their weakness, the Sung made an alliance with a Chin dynasty (1122-1234) of northern Manchuria. After all their shared enemies were defeated, the Chin turned on the Sung. This forced them to retreat and form a new capital in the South in 1135. This new Sung dynasty far exceeded that of the old one. The economic and intellectual achievements increased while the former Sung dynasty to the north slowly faded. The Sung Dynasty’s downfall was due to many years of bitter fighting against a superior force.

Sung Dynasty accomplishments• In agriculture, the productive technology was

improved which promoted the output of food. • In crafting industry, the division of labor became

more detailed which made the crafting technology reach an advanced level; additionally, the development of the production economy exceeded the previous level.

• The development of science and culture, tremendous achievements were made during this period.

• Two of China's four great inventions - typography and compass were both invented and the application of gunpowder also developed rapidly.

Images of the Sung Dynasty

Neo-Confucianism Buddhism reached a creative and successful peak during the

Tang dynasty, but the Sung dynasty had a response to the "foreign" religion and a creative renewal of the past Confucian tradition. In the political world this took the form of a transformation movement which attempted to address the urgent economic problems of the day by a creative reinterpretation of ancient ideal Confucian institutions. The new or "neo" Confucian vision equals basis of Buddhism. It was effected, however, not by borrowing, but by a creative reinterpretation of the traditional Confucian basis to meet new intellectual and spiritual expectations. It answers the Buddhist understanding of the ordinary : human personal relationships and concern for society and government are completely united with a strict practice as the path to ultimate personal enlightenment. There are Neo-Confucian retreats, but no Neo-Confucian monasteries.