SPICE chart

Ch 14 East Asia
Sui, Tang, Song Dynasties
 Social
Patriarchal- evident in women having less
rights in marriage, cultural traditions like
foot binding
*Women played bigger roles in Vietnam
than China
Forced labor- called compulsory or
conscripted labor
Tang- starts civil service exams- positions
based on merit
 Political
Post-Classical Empires of China: Sui 589-618 CE
Tang 618-907 CE
Song 960-1279 CE
Sui Dynasty
Reunites China after fall of Han and 350 years
turmoil
Military expeditions to Korea
 Political
Tang Dynasty
Last Sui emperor assassinated, rebel leader starts new dynasty
Middle Kingdom Theory- China center of civilization and surrounding
regions must give tribute/gifts (tributary system) In reality, China had
little influence but helped trade, culture and diplomatic relations
Kow-Tow
Extensive testing for higher positions- civil service exam
Peasant rebellions, losing control of regional military units lead to
decline
A nomad group also came in to help push down rebellions but Tang
control was never regained
 Political
Song Dynasty
Warlords ruled until Song dynasty brought back imperial
rule
More emphasis on civil admin, education, art than military
Civil workers rewarded greatly, more opportunities for
people to take civil service exams, even in charge of
military forces
Lots of bureaucracies use lots of money- causes financial
strain
Scholar-bureaucrats had little military knowledge,
nomadic groups (Jurchen) challenged authority and
pushed the Song dynasty to South China
Interaction Humans/Environment
Grand Canal
New crops
Gaining new resources from Korea,
Vietnam, Japan
The Sui and Tang dynasties, 589-907 CE The Song Dynasty, 960-1279 C.E.
.
 Culture
• Buddhism spreads from Silk Roads among foreign religions
(Nestorian Christians, Manicheans, Muslims Arab/Persian
merchants
• Appeal- high standards of morality, intellectual sophistication,
promise of salvation
• Buddhist monasteries acquired large land, wealthy converts donate
• Fun facts: Chairs introduced to China, sugar refined by Buddhists
• Tailored Buddhism to Chinese culture by mixing ir with Daoism
(dharma=dao “the way”, nirvana=wuwei)
• Chan Buddhism (Chinese characteristics) like Zen
• Persecution: from Daoists/Confucianists bc land holdings,
monasteries waste of resources
Culture
• Persecution: from Daoists/Confucianists bc land
holdings, monasteries waste of resources
• Neo-Confucianism during Song Dynasty inspired by
Buddhism in logic and metaphysics (early Confucians
focus on morality and politics)
• Zhu Xi most prominent neo-Confucian scholar
Culture
• Sui- Palaces, Great wall added to
• Foot-binding
• Paper, printing with reusable moveable type (spread
religious ideas)
• Porcelain
• Iron production increase (coke replaces coal)
• Gunpowder
• Naval tech- better sails, rudders, use of magnetic compass
• Finance- shortage of copper coins-> “flying cash” letters of
credit, paper money (some problems at times when not
honored)
 Economics
Sui- High taxes, lots of money spent on extensive
trade/transportation networks- Grand Canal connect north and
south China
Tang- Equal Field system (to avoid social drama from Han
dynasty, where only nobles held land) Distributes land to
individuals and families according to their needs (lasted for 100
years but people cheated and population grew too quickly)
Agricultural production and technology increases- fast-ripening
rice from Vietnam (similar to Dar-al-Islam benefitting from new
crops), better irrigation, used manure
1024 Song- 1st time government sponsors paper money
Money problems, high salaries
New Financial techniques “flying cash” paper money
Beyond China

• Silla Dynasty of Korea- Tang try to overthrow but

kept Korea as part of tributary
• Many things modeled after China, elite use Neo-
Confucianism, peasants Chan Buddhism
• In Vietnam- adopt farming, school and ideas from
China, but kept religious traditions although had
bureaucracies and Buddhism
Japan
• Nara dynasty (710-794)
• Clan claimed imperial authority
• Built new capital at Nara modeled after Chang’an, adopted
Confucianism, Buddhism but maintained Shinto rites
• Heian Dynasty (794-1185) moved capital to Kyoto
• Emperors more like puppets/figureheads, Fujiwara family
(aristocratic clan) held most power
• Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki- about the court and
socialites
Medieval Japan
Clans fought for power
Kamakura (1185-1333) and Muromachi (1336-1573) periods
Decentralized power, provincial lords held authority
Replaced etiquette and courtesy with military talent and
discipline
Shoguns (military governor) replaced emperor
Used samurais to enforce authority in return they got land
and living expenses