Inner and East Asia:Sui, Tang, and Song Empires :Inner and East Asia:Sui, Tang, and Song Empires 600 AD-1200 AD


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Sui Empire Sui empire rose in 581 AD and ended in 618 AD. It was established by Yang Jian who emphasized centralized imperial rule, which would set the standard for the next two dynasties. It reunited China after centuries of small principalities, with a government based on Confucianist principles and Buddhism. Confucianism brings order through hierarchy; Buddhism as a religion would unify China as well.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia The Sui wanted to expand agricultural and manufacturing output while using armed forces to secure borders and relations with other regions. Compulsory labor and high taxes would be employed.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Further unification was achieved by the building of the Grand Canal system, the longest man-made waterway system in the world. It connected the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers and integrated the economies of both north and south. It extended 1200 miles with roads parallel on either side. Transport of food and finished products across China for 1000 years. Built with conscripted labor. Canals unify the economic infrastructure of a nation. Sui influences will affect the Tang dynasty.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia The Tang Empire 618 to 970 AD: Time of territorial expansion. Lasted nearly 300 years by: Maintaining the transportation and communication systems; Distributing land according to an “equal-field principle;” Equal-field Principle (500s to 800s AD): all land was public property with no private ownership.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Land given to the peasants from which they would be productive, be taxed, and give service obligations. Land could not be bequeathed or inherited and was returned to the state (except for house and yard) when the farmer reached a certain age. Ultimately, it collapsed as families became attached to their own land and methods of production. Continued relying upon bureaucracy of merit, like the Han. Civil service through screening of ability. Bureaucracy of merit created tremendous stability and increased peasant livelihood throughout China.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Trade and interaction brought prosperity and an explosion of cultural creativity to Tang China: Age of literary excellence: Tang poems; the Chinese novel that reflected social reality. Capital of Chang’on became educational center for foreign students from Korea and Japan.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Persia Chang’an was the capital with most residents living outside city walls. Embarked upon an imperial (empire) policy by expanding into Manchuria and central Asia with influence extended to Korea and Japan. Southern China was now thoroughly controlled and a tributary system was set up where other countries acknowledged Chinese supremacy and paid tribute while being involved in a trade and cultural system. Foreign diplomats would have to “kowtow,” or prostrate themselves before the emperor with gifts.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Trade was also being conducted with the Middle East by way of the Indian Ocean using Islamic and Jewish merchants. Islam made inroads into China. Trade was a priority: built better roads, canals and river transport. Created large commercial ships to trade with SE Asia and improved compass design. Ships were twice as large as Mediterranean ships. The Chinese developed the magnetic compass which was used by seafarers throughout the Indian Ocean.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Bubonic plague brought to China through the shipping and followed the trade routes to Korea, Japan and Tibet. China grew wealthy under the Tang because they understood the primary economic principle of exporting more than importing. This created, what is called today, “a favorable balance of trade.”


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia The economy grew so rapidly there was a shortage of copper currency. The Chinese developed “flying cash,” or letters of credit, between cooperating merchants which eventually led the Chinese to use promissory notes, checks, and eventually paper money.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tang China was the primary source of superior silks, and the sole supplier of porcelain. Travel along the Silk Road and Indian Ocean increased, distant economies became increasingly commercialized. Tang China’s excellent transportation systems allowed for these exports. Important


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tang expansion into Vietnam brought in new food sources such as champa rice, a fast-growing rice. It doubled rice output thus increasing population. 1200: China’s population reached 115 million. The Tang emphasized urban growth (Rome, Greece, Persia) with Chang’an reaching 2 million! Important


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Commercial agriculture developed with families buying rice and producing market items for sale. Increased food also allowed the Tang Chinese to focus on technology for other interests: porcelain; metallurgy; gunpowder; and printing. Printing became widespread during the Tang first with block printing and then of moveable type.


Slide 18:Uighurs


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tang experienced rivalry from inner Asia ( the western section) 600-907 AD. Also the northern part of modern Mongolia. This is also the original home of the Turkic peoples. Internal rebellion forced the Tang to invite foreign fighters (Rome and the barbarians) to help put down the rebellion. Uighurs: Turkic group of central Asia. Were merchants with ties to Islam and Chinese culture. They built caravan cities to enhance their wealth. Called in to help put down rebellion.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Buddhism originally arrived in Han China from India, first from merchants and then from monks, but it was not until the Tang and Song dynasties that Buddhism took hold. Chinese liked Buddhism’s high moral standards (Christianity), but Confucians emphasized family and filial piety and not celibacy and monasticism. Daoists did not like the asceticism and religious texts. Buddhism made concessions to Chinese culture making a syncretic faith.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia The Tang reasserted Confucianism with a strict hierarchy for both men and women. Confucianism created the standard for the Chinese aristocrats in behavior and education. 768-824 AD: But, Confucianism and Buddhism were in conflict in China.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia But, from 690-705 AD, a Tang monarch, Empress Wu, ruled as emperor and founded her own dynasty and was known for her ruthlessness and practice of nepotism. She was a Buddhist who opposed Confucianism due to its hierarchy. Was overthrown. Chinese nobles and gentry demanded a weakening of Buddhist influence. Nepotism: putting relatives in key places of power.


Slide 23:Empress Wu


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tang Decline: Used decentralization idea with provinces. Each province had its own governor who decided to build his own kingdom and weakened the central government. This also affected trade and communication.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tang Dynasty eventually opposed Buddhism due to the power of Buddhist monasteries and Buddhism itself. Tang emperors were influenced by Daoists and Confucianists that Buddhism was wasteful. But this worked against religious unity. Felt that Buddhism brought social ills : 1) undermined the family structure (and thus Confucianism) because so many people became monks and nuns, and 2) eroded the tax base due to tax-free land. The Confucian model was seen has bringing structure and harmony to society.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Eventually, the foreign fighters sacked the Chinese cities of Chang’an and Louyang. This forced Chinese generals and peasants to lose faith in the government and revolt against the dynasty and withdraw the Mandate of Heaven.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tibet: open to a variety of cultures including Greek, Chinese and Islamic. The Tibetans were rivals of the Chinese in military and religious affairs. Buddhism came to Tibet from China and then combines with Tibetan culture to become distinctively Tibetan. Tibetans tried to stamp it out, but failed, because Buddhism mixed with the culture. Monasticism developed in Tibet and took over the culture. Monasticism: religious asceticism.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Tibet excelled at military activities, and Tibetan fighters were of excellent military skills. Eventually, control of the Tibetan royal family became the historic and religious right of Tibetan monks. This led to a meshing of the Buddhist religion and the state in Tibetan politics.


Slide 29:Lhasa becomes the main city of Tibet; home of the royal family; and religious capital.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Song Dynasty: Known for scientific innovations: Chain-driven mechanical clock. Magnetic Seafaring compass. Gunpowder for weaponry: rockets. Moveable type for mass-producing texts to spread knowledge about agriculture. Government-issued paper money. Chinese opera.


Slide 31:Su Song’s Astronomical Clock with chain drive mechanism. 1088-1092


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Used the “junk”, China’s main ocean ship and influenced Persian vessels. Used movable type instead of wood block printing. The Song came close to creating an industrial revolution in China, but lacked a “capitalist” vision for motivation. Many of these innovations drew from knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and calendar making that came from contact with the Arabs of the Middle East. They were the first dynasty to use fractions in China.


Slide 33:Movable Type Chinese Junk


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Song relied heavily on the civil service system, but using the exam idea. Wanted a Confucian- educated government. Passing the exam brought high status. This allowed for a merit system to develop in government. It broke the influence of the aristocracy.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Song Political Aspects: ruled from 960 1279 AD. The Song were not as militaristic as the Tang and not expansionist. Network with tributary regions not as strong as the Tang. Demanded an educated military. The civilian outranked the military man in status though.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Social aspects: Promoted Neo-Confucianism, which combined Confucianism with Daoism and Buddhism. This gave Confucianism a more spiritual character. It rejected reincarnation though. Neo-Confucianism upheld the idea of conformity and hierarchy. It also said that no ideas were truly new; they already existed and simply had to be “discovered.” They are all part of the “Supreme Ultimate” or Tai Chi.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Neo-Confucianism (under philosopher Zhu Xi, 1130-1200) would produce a stronger hierarchical society tied to religion, and the idea that human nature is moral, rational , and good (something that Confucius never said). Introduced the idea that Man had individual moral and social responsibility. Foot binding introduced for upper class women only. Eventually, spread to lower classes as a matter of style. (Beware of feminist POV here).


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Economic aspects: Like the Tang, sought the enlargement of cities. Promoted credit systems or “flying money.” Emphasized paper money, but faced problems with inflation.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Eventually, the northern part fell to northern invaders and the Southern Song dynasty was formed.


Slide 41:Northern Song 1111 CE Southern Song 1142 CE


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia New Kingdoms of East Asia: Korea; Japan and Vietnam: all absorbed aspects of Chinese culture but their political systems were different. Different cultural systems require different political systems. All were rice-cultivating economies that fit well with Confucian ideas of hierarchy, obedience, and discipline.


Slide 43:All three valued literacy None used the civil service system of the Chinese. All valued the Confucian hierarchy system, as it gave power to the elite aristocrats of society. Korea passed Buddhism and Confucianism to Japan. Had a unifying effect on the clan society of Japan. The diversity of clans created rivalry that kept Japan divided politically. Inner and East Asia


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Heian Period (794-1185 AD) of Japan. Heian is the ancient name for Kyoto. Saw political and cultural advances: Politically, Japan, develops a feudal system that would help centralized power in Japan ( unlike Europe). Japan was influenced by Chinese ideas: building styles; legal codes; Buddhist studies (Zen). It is the period in Japanese history when Confucianism and other Chinese influences were at their height.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Men of Confucian learning were admired over warriors. Eventually, leadership was placed in the hands of an emperor ,and the noble warrior class became influential at court. The Fujiwara family of nobles and priests, protected the emperor and advocated Confucianism. They controlled the governance of the country. Fujiwara noble


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia The Japanese did not copy the Chinese concept of Mandate of Heaven, since their dynasties were more stable and lasted longer. Warriors were called samurai. But, by the 13th and 14th centuries political power was held by daimyos who were warlords and created a warrior culture.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Social aspects of the Fujiwara period: A code of conduct and honor called Bushido develops for both Samurai men and their women. Cultural advances especially in literature: Lady Shikibu writes The Tale of Genji. Japanese culture refines itself: civil officials, who were wealthy scholars, now higher in status than samurai warriors.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Japan also put Buddhism alongside Shinto in its importance. Shinto: Japanese religion of spirit and ancestor worship. Buddhism had tremendous influence in all the countries surrounding China, more so than it did in China. The competing philosophies of Daoism and Confucianism also competed with Buddhism.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Vietnam arises in geographical proximity to China. Northern Vietnam known as Annam modeled its culture after China’s taking on Confucian system and values. Southern Vietnam was known as Champa and was influenced by Malay and India. It was a tremendous rice-growing region.


Inner and East Asia :Inner and East Asia Korea adopted both Confucianism and Buddhism. Also the Confucian civil service exam idea. Created a bridge of common interest between the two peoples. As in China and Vietnam, Confucianism appealed to the elite class. Close contact between Korea and China saw a crossing of cultural influences: pottery technology. Both had to deal with northern nomadic invaders.


Slide 51:End