1. China during the Sui,China during the Sui,
Tang, & Song DynastiesTang, & Song Dynasties
Sui 589-618Sui 589-618
Tang 618-907Tang 618-907
Song 960 -1279Song 960 -1279

2. Background
 After the fall of the Han Empire inAfter the fall of the Han Empire in
220 c.e., northern China was220 c.e., northern China was
controlled by Central Asian & Tibetancontrolled by Central Asian & Tibetan
nomads; no group in southern Chinanomads; no group in southern China
was strong enough to control thewas strong enough to control the
entire regionentire region (30 dynasties in about(30 dynasties in about
300 years claimed the Mandate of300 years claimed the Mandate of
Heaven).Heaven).
 For 350 years, regional rule was theFor 350 years, regional rule was the
political reality.political reality.

3. Background
By 589, the firstBy 589, the first
emperor of the Suiemperor of the Sui
dynasty haddynasty had
forcefully reunitedforcefully reunited
northern andnorthern and
southern Chinasouthern China
once again.once again.
The foundations forThe foundations for
the Tang & Songthe Tang & Song
Dynasties wereDynasties were
laid.laid.

6. China during the Sui,China during the Sui,
Tang, & Song DynastiesTang, & Song Dynasties
Sui 589-618Sui 589-618
Tang 618-907Tang 618-907
Song 960 -1279Song 960 -1279

7. “A Golden Age”
China during the Tang andChina during the Tang and
Song dynasties enjoyedSong dynasties enjoyed
political stability, economicpolitical stability, economic
growth, and intellectual andgrowth, and intellectual and
artistic achievement.artistic achievement.

13. SUI, TANG, & SONGSUI, TANG, & SONG
CHINACHINA
The more things change, theThe more things change, the
more they stay the same.more they stay the same.

14.  Comparatively, Chinese culture retainedComparatively, Chinese culture retained
many of its characteristics from Ancientmany of its characteristics from Ancient
through the Tang & Song era.through the Tang & Song era.
 Confucianism remained a foundation ofConfucianism remained a foundation of
society and culturesociety and culture
 China continued to be superior in manyChina continued to be superior in many
advancements, in technology, and ideasadvancements, in technology, and ideas
 Emperor and the bureaucracyEmperor and the bureaucracy

15.  Written languageWritten language
separate fromseparate from
spoken languagesspoken languages
 The social classThe social class
structure andstructure and
gender rolesgender roles
remained relativelyremained relatively
constant.constant.

16. CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS
OF CHINAOF CHINA
DURING THE SUI, TANG, andDURING THE SUI, TANG, and
SONG DYNASTIESSONG DYNASTIES

17. Politics & Government
 The frontiers were stabilized & attemptsThe frontiers were stabilized & attempts
at expansion were partially successful.at expansion were partially successful.
 Centralized government returned alongCentralized government returned along
with a bureaucracy of trained civilwith a bureaucracy of trained civil
servants.servants.

18. Agriculture
 Agricultural production improved & cropAgricultural production improved & crop
specialization intensified with improvedspecialization intensified with improved
infrastructure and printing and ironinfrastructure and printing and iron
implementsimplements.
Champa rice –
Could be harvested
twice

19. INDUSTRY & TRADEINDUSTRY & TRADE
 China lost its monopoly on silk (but stillChina lost its monopoly on silk (but still
had a superior product)had a superior product)
 China was the sole supplier of porcelainChina was the sole supplier of porcelain
to the worldto the world
 China began cotton, tea, and sugarChina began cotton, tea, and sugar
production and export.production and export.
 Advanced metallurgy and miningAdvanced metallurgy and mining

20. TRADE
 Regional tradeRegional trade
improved withimproved with
improvedimproved
infrastructureinfrastructure
Indian Ocean tradeIndian Ocean trade
increased withincreased with
Tang control overTang control over
coastal Southerncoastal Southern
ChinaChina
 Silk Road tradeSilk Road trade
increasedincreased

23. Finance
The use of a credit system (flyingThe use of a credit system (flying
money)money)
Government issued paper money.Government issued paper money.
Some areas of the economy wereSome areas of the economy were
privatized during the Song era.privatized during the Song era.
Growth of cities led to growth ofGrowth of cities led to growth of
industry, trade, and the empires’industry, trade, and the empires’
economyeconomy

24. Some Results
Land was no longer the ONLYLand was no longer the ONLY
source of wealth.source of wealth.
Trade led to cultural andTrade led to cultural and
technological influences—strongertechnological influences—stronger
connections with Korea, Japan,connections with Korea, Japan,
Vietnam, and other parts of Asia.Vietnam, and other parts of Asia.
Chinese trade became an evenChinese trade became an even
stronger force in Eurasia.stronger force in Eurasia.

25. Social Classes
 Landowners (landed gentry) were at theLandowners (landed gentry) were at the
top of the social class system.top of the social class system.
 Scholar-gentry and military leaders wereScholar-gentry and military leaders were
another group in the upper class.another group in the upper class.
 Merchants and artisans could acquire aMerchants and artisans could acquire a
great deal of wealth from industry andgreat deal of wealth from industry and
trade (but were in the lower class).trade (but were in the lower class).
 Soldiers, peasants, and slaves were atSoldiers, peasants, and slaves were at
the bottom of the social classes.the bottom of the social classes.

26. Gender Roles
 Women’s status slowlyWomen’s status slowly
declined (despite attempts atdeclined (despite attempts at
reform by several empresses).reform by several empresses).
 The Song Period saw womenThe Song Period saw women
at a very low social status.at a very low social status.
Seclusion, lack of propertySeclusion, lack of property
rights, footbinding, and exclusionrights, footbinding, and exclusion
from education arefrom education are
all examples of their loweringall examples of their lowering
status.status.

27. From Ning Lao T'ai-t'aiFrom Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai
 ““A girl's beauty and desirability wereA girl's beauty and desirability were
counted more by the size of her feet than bycounted more by the size of her feet than by
the beauty of her face. Matchmakers werethe beauty of her face. Matchmakers were
not asked, 'Is she beautiful?' but 'How smallnot asked, 'Is she beautiful?' but 'How small
are her feet?' A plain face is given byare her feet?' A plain face is given by
heaven but poorly bound feet are a sign ofheaven but poorly bound feet are a sign of
laziness.”laziness.”

31. Technology
 First chain driven mechanism - the clockFirst chain driven mechanism - the clock
(1088)(1088)
 GunpowderGunpowder
 Paper production and block printingPaper production and block printing
techniques were invented and thentechniques were invented and then
advanced—moveable type.advanced—moveable type.
 Boat building and navigationalBoat building and navigational
technology was more advanced than thetechnology was more advanced than the
rest of the world.rest of the world.

32. Advancements included:
 Tang and Song China had the largestTang and Song China had the largest
cities in the world at that time.cities in the world at that time.
 Song Chinese were the first to useSong Chinese were the first to use
fractions in computations andfractions in computations and
equations.equations.
 Solar year was accurately measuredSolar year was accurately measured
 Doctors in Song China compiled andDoctors in Song China compiled and
printed medical textsprinted medical texts

34.  In terms of advancements, innovations,In terms of advancements, innovations,
and knowledge, China benefited fromand knowledge, China benefited from
centuries of Chinese scholarship andcenturies of Chinese scholarship and
technology.technology.
 Influences from other parts of the worldInfluences from other parts of the world
(especially during the Tang period) also(especially during the Tang period) also
had a considerable effect.had a considerable effect.