T’ang DynastyT’ang Dynasty

618-907 CE618-907 CE

The second of the four greatest dynasties, the T'ang combined aggressive military and

economic expansion with political stability and creative achievement. Traffic along the

Silk Road was brisk with both import and export trade. Among its notable artistic contributions were sophisticated figure

painting, tricolored ceramic tomb figurines, and exquisite porcelain. A significant

development of this period is the use of rare, cobalt blue glazes. The T'ang revered both horses and camels, figures of which were

placed in the burials of the royalty and aristocracy, along with gold and silver

ornaments.

Basic Theme: RecoveryBasic Theme: Recovery After the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the Period of After the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the Period of

Six Dynasties arises (220-589 CE)Six Dynasties arises (220-589 CE) Scholar-Gentry declines…rise of landed nobility; Scholar-Gentry declines…rise of landed nobility;

hence, less emphasis on learning and merit positions; hence, less emphasis on learning and merit positions; more focus on older traditionsmore focus on older traditions

Non-Chinese nomads control much of China: divisionNon-Chinese nomads control much of China: division Buddhism introduced to China…replaces Confucianism Buddhism introduced to China…replaces Confucianism

with focus on spiritual life and self-renewalwith focus on spiritual life and self-renewal

SUI DYNASTY (589-618 CE)SUI DYNASTY (589-618 CE) Emperor Wendi: Lowers tax burden, ensures stable Emperor Wendi: Lowers tax burden, ensures stable

food supplies through establishment of granaries food supplies through establishment of granaries (storage) (storage)

Emperor Yangdi: Legal code reformed; scholar-gentry Emperor Yangdi: Legal code reformed; scholar-gentry restored to authority; yet…public works projects restored to authority; yet…public works projects (Grand Canal) and military campaigns (Korea) deplete (Grand Canal) and military campaigns (Korea) deplete treasury; forced (conscription) labor incites peasantrytreasury; forced (conscription) labor incites peasantry

T’ang Dynasty Emerges: T’ang Dynasty Emerges: GovernmentGovernment

Chang’an: The Imperial City Chang’an: The Imperial City 1 million people, including 1 million people, including

foreigners who were traders and foreigners who were traders and merchants…cosmopolitan in merchants…cosmopolitan in naturenature

30 square miles 30 square miles

Restoration of Confucian Ideals: Restoration of Confucian Ideals: Civil Service ExamsCivil Service Exams Supported by government Supported by government

schoolsschools Limited to terms of 3 yearsLimited to terms of 3 years Moved to different districtsMoved to different districts Reduced power of great familiesReduced power of great families

Government: AdministrationGovernment: Administration Military based on local militia loyal to Emperor; not Military based on local militia loyal to Emperor; not

mercenariesmercenaries Revenue system – based on land taxRevenue system – based on land tax Government monopoly on salt, tea, and liquorGovernment monopoly on salt, tea, and liquor Rebuilt road and canal network with post stationsRebuilt road and canal network with post stations

Theme: Consolidation Under T’angTheme: Consolidation Under T’ang Empire expands into Southeast Asia, Tibet, KoreaEmpire expands into Southeast Asia, Tibet, Korea Continued restoration of scholar-gentry as basis for Continued restoration of scholar-gentry as basis for

proper, stable governance through Confucian ideals: proper, stable governance through Confucian ideals: continued restoration-improvement of civil service continued restoration-improvement of civil service exams…adds second level of examination for lower-exams…adds second level of examination for lower-level government positions.level government positions.

While technically based on merit, government While technically based on merit, government positions through civil service still favor the wealthypositions through civil service still favor the wealthy

CultureCultureGolden Age of Art and Golden Age of Art and LiteratureLiterature

http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/dynasty-tang.cfmhttp://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/dynasty-tang.cfm

ArtArtGlazes on PotteryGlazes on PotteryFocused on Human FigureFocused on Human FigureMonochromatic: Use of one Monochromatic: Use of one color with varied shadingcolor with varied shading

Dish in the Shape of a Leaf

Night Shining White

PorcelainPorcelain was first made in China in the 6th and 7th centuries CE

from porcelain clay (known as kaolin, after the Gaoling Mountains of southeastern China). Chinese potters mixed the kaolin clay with

a powder ground from a stone called baidunzi, a rock that contains feldspar, a glassy mineral. It is fired at very high

temperatures above 2372°F (1300°C), which causes the surface of the clay to

melt and become smooth as glass. Early porcelains were undecorated and were used by the Imperial

court and exported as far as the Middle East. Blue and white porcelain is painted with blue paint made from cobalt and then

covered with a clear glaze, which can withstand the high temperatures of the kiln. Other kinds of porcelain are painted

after the object has been fired in the kiln. The word "porcelain" comes from an Italian word porcellana or

"little female pig," the Italian name for small white cowrie shells. The first

Italian travelers to China saw beautiful Chinese porcelains and thought that these ceramics were made from ground-up sea

shells. The name has remained, however, even though they are not made from shells.

Stoneware Vase:

Cobalt blue glaze

Earthenware with

polychrome glaze

Stoneware with green glaze

Stoneware with abstract floral motif

Glazed Porcelain

The range of subjects of T’ang poetry is diverse. Some reflect the social situations and conflicts at that time,

revealing the darkness of feudal society; some sing the praises of just wars and express patriotic thought;

some depict the beauty of the homeland; in addition, some describe personal aspirations and encounters,

affection, friendship as well as joys and sorrows of life. In a word, neither the natural phenomena, nor the political movement, working life, social customs or

personal feelings could skip the eyesight of the insightful poets, which became their themes for writing

Poetry flourished as a Poetry flourished as a reflection of society reflection of society and culture: a sign of and culture: a sign of the political stability of the political stability of the erathe era

Poetry often reflected Poetry often reflected the human the human relationship to naturerelationship to nature

To Friend Tan-Chiu

My friend is lodging high in the Eastern Range,Dearly loving the beauty of valleys and hills.At green Spring he lies in the empty woods,And is still asleep when the sun shines on high.A pine-tree wind dusts his sleeves and coat;A pebbly stream cleans his heart and ears.I envy you, who far from strife and talkAre high-propped on a pillow of blue cloud.

LI BAI (701-762 CE)

TechnologyTechnologyCast ironCast ironCrossbowCrossbowGunpowderGunpowderCompass Compass PorcelainPorcelain

Coal as fuelCoal as fuelWaterwheelsWaterwheelsPaper Paper CurrencyCurrency

WheelbarrowWheelbarrowWallpaperWallpaper

Religion: Religion: Introduction - Rejection of Buddhism…Introduction - Rejection of Buddhism…

Restoration of ConfucianismRestoration of Confucianism Less focus on material, physical things….more on Less focus on material, physical things….more on

spiritualityspirituality Zen Buddhism…focus on meditationZen Buddhism…focus on meditationBuddhism temporarily become state religion…but…Buddhism temporarily become state religion…but…

discontent begins to take shape as Buddhism…discontent begins to take shape as Buddhism… Has foreign originsHas foreign origins Suggests removal from society while Confucianism Suggests removal from society while Confucianism

encourages engagementencourages engagement Tax exempt status of Buddhist monasteriesTax exempt status of Buddhist monasteries 845 CE: Emperor Wuzong orders destruction of Buddhist 845 CE: Emperor Wuzong orders destruction of Buddhist

temples and monasteries; monks and nuns must temples and monasteries; monks and nuns must abandon completive Buddhist lives; Buddhism never abandon completive Buddhist lives; Buddhism never fully recovers its status in Chinese societyfully recovers its status in Chinese society

CollapseCollapse Revenue base began to erodeRevenue base began to erode Imperial land grants to notables who avoided Imperial land grants to notables who avoided

taxestaxes Upper levels of government begin to be filled Upper levels of government begin to be filled

with imperial relations without civil servicewith imperial relations without civil service Population grew more quickly than land and Population grew more quickly than land and

money could supportmoney could support Began outlawing contact with other Began outlawing contact with other

ethnicitiesethnicities Regional governors use disorder to seize Regional governors use disorder to seize

greater authority; nomadic non-Chinese greater authority; nomadic non-Chinese destabilize regional and central governments; destabilize regional and central governments; empire increasingly dividedempire increasingly divided

Military increasingly staffed with mercenariesMilitary increasingly staffed with mercenaries

Song Song DynastyDynasty

966-1279966-1279

BeginningsBeginningsFollows Five Follows Five

Dynasty Period and Dynasty Period and later Zhou Periodlater Zhou Period

General Guo Wei General Guo Wei rival of Later Zhou rival of Later Zhou conquered middle conquered middle Yangzi region of ChuYangzi region of Chu

Kingdom of Shu of Kingdom of Shu of Sichuan Sichuan

GovernmentGovernment Issued paper currency credited Issued paper currency credited

growth of commercegrowth of commerceCivil Service recruited for higher posts Civil Service recruited for higher posts

from educated who passed three from educated who passed three levels of imperial examinationslevels of imperial examinations

Personal Property assessed for Personal Property assessed for TaxationTaxation

Trained Militia and supplied with ArmsTrained Militia and supplied with ArmsStrengthen Loyalty and Quality of Strengthen Loyalty and Quality of

ArmyArmy

GovernmentGovernmentGovernment SchoolsGovernment SchoolsOpen to anyone of Open to anyone of abilityabilityAllowed others a chance at office Allowed others a chance at office

holdingholdingPaid Mongols and others in silk Paid Mongols and others in silk

and other goods as a way to and other goods as a way to pacify would be attackerspacify would be attackers

CultureCultureSong PoetrySong Poetry

Wáng ĀnshíWáng ĀnshíZeng Gong Zeng Gong

Paintings focusing on LandscapesPaintings focusing on LandscapesHarmony between humans and Harmony between humans and

naturenaturePatronized by Rich Urban MerchantsPatronized by Rich Urban MerchantsPopularization of Vernacular Popularization of Vernacular

LanguageLanguage

Summer Mountains

Scholar on Horseback with Traveling HatScholar on Horseback with Traveling Hat

Chinese Song dynasty Henan jarChinese Song dynasty Henan jar

Glazed Clay JarGlazed Clay Jar

TechnologyTechnologyImproved Improved

Farming Farming Techniques – Techniques – Irrigation, Irrigation, fertilization, fertilization, metal tools and metal tools and proto-proto-machinesmachines

Ships with Ships with water-tight water-tight compartmentscompartments

WaterwheelsWaterwheelsIncline PlanesIncline PlanesCanal LocksCanal LocksGunpowderGunpowderMortarsMortars

Depletion of EmpireDepletion of EmpireShrank in size, Shrank in size,

gave up land gave up land including Taipei, including Taipei,

Abandoned TibetAbandoned TibetManchuria in Khitan Manchuria in Khitan

controlcontrolVietnam and Korea Vietnam and Korea

more independentmore independent

Collapse of Northern SongCollapse of Northern SongAlliance with Jurchen against Alliance with Jurchen against

KhitanKhitanUnimpressed with Song’s Unimpressed with Song’s

military abilitiesmilitary abilitiesCaptured capital of Kaifeng 1126Captured capital of Kaifeng 1126Treaty with Jurchen fixed border Treaty with Jurchen fixed border

at Huai Riverat Huai RiverPay annual tributePay annual tribute

Collapse of Southern SongCollapse of Southern SongAttacks by Jurchen and MongolsAttacks by Jurchen and Mongols

Attacks by Jurchen take over Attacks by Jurchen take over Northern ChinaNorthern China

Song establish Southern Song Song establish Southern Song DynastyDynasty

Including Chinghis and Kubilai Including Chinghis and Kubilai KhanKhan

Mongols eventually take over Song Mongols eventually take over Song China and establish Yuan DyanstyChina and establish Yuan Dyansty