Tang+and+Song+Dynasties

__Document: **Ties that Bind: Path to Power**__ What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant? || This was created during the Tang dynasty in a bureaucratic China. During this era, Confucianism was again being revived, and the scholar-gentry class was largely expanding group at the time. The Chinese bureaucracy was a very mobile one to a certain degree. Only knowledge and Confucianism were required to ascend the imperial ladder. || Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims? || This letter was written to a Chinese bureaucrat of high position. The letter greatly praises the recipient and all of his previous accomplishments. It provides a tone of “admiration and respect.” By praising the bureaucrat’s “talent and ability,” Wu Bao is able to increase his chances of advancing in the bureaucracy. || What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote || This letter was written by Wu Bao with the intent that it will help him advance his position in the Chinese bureaucracy. The author connects with the recipient in the first line(“we share a native place”), and the letter is written in a manner that makes it seem as if Bao was begging for his livelihood. “Grant me some small salary,” says Bao, in an attempt to plead for a raise in position. || Support with quotes || * I am a big favor of your works and accomplishments How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible || Firstly, this document shows us the extreme power of the Chinese bureaucracy and the importance of writing within the system. Bao is sending a letter from 1000s of miles away (shows extent of Chinese empire) to an official that was originally from his town. This displays the importance of connections and relations within the bureaucracy in order to advance in position. This implies an unfairness in the Chinese government that did reflect required civil service exams. ||
 * __Primary Source Analysis__**
 * Author – Who created this? What do we know about the author? What might influence their opinions? || A local functionary named Wu Bao sent this letter to high official in the Chinese bureaucracy. He wishes to advance his position in that bureaucracy by attaching himself to this official. This was included in a short story by Nui Su. ||
 * **Place** – Where and when was it created - || In China during the Tang dynasty. ||
 * **Prior Knowledge**
 * **Audience**
 * **Reason for Creation**
 * **The Main Idea**
 * “”admiration and respect”
 * I am a man and I am qualified for the job
 * “I paid close attention to Confucian classics”
 * I beg to you to advance my position some that I may make money
 * “grant me…some salary” ||
 * **Significance**

Class ESPIRIT collaboration: [|Economic] [|Society]

ESPIRIT on Tang and Song so far:

Tang dynasty revived the Confucian bureacracy By establishing the ministry of rite · Song Dynasty – only elected officials allowed to be governors · Prevented military leaders from gaining power · Weakened the Song Dynasty and effected regional loyalties to foreign officials · Civil service exams had a routine · Three levels o District o Provincial o Imperial

Religion and Intellect Tang timber unified art and structrual formation Li Bo was of the most reknown poets of the Song Tang focused of reviving Confucian ideas that governed their intelletual lives New academies devoted to study of classical documents Shared: Revival of civil service examinations Canals aid the spread of news and ideas to many different parts of China New form of neo-Confucianism revived ancient confucian teachings Empress Wu a strong advocate of Buddhism

Technology and Interactions Wendi brought in marriage alliances of his daughter to Zhou empire Formed nomadic miltary alliances Empress Wei poisoned her husband to gain power Neo-Concucianism brings this revival of previous values and limits foreign interactions in order to remain a pure culture This limits Chinese interaction with other cultures and gives china a cultural dominance in Asia Empress Wu: Statues of Buddha carved from stone or cast in Bronze; showed Chinese skill in metalworking Canal building – expand chinese trade and ideas

 Tang and Song Summary:

The **Tang** Dynasty was established in 626 after the political demise of the **Sui** dynasty. **Li Yuan**, the Duke of Tang, lead a rebellion against **Yangdi** is order to save Chinese civilization, and under his rule China went through major territorial expansion. At this time, the bureaucracy was being revived. The **scholar-gentry** class was greatly expanded (also to offset aristocratic power) as the bureaucracy was divided into many levels and the capital was moved to **Changan**. Buddhist dominance in China is apparent through two types of Buddhism: **Pure Land** (the masses) and **Zen** (upper class). **Empress Wu** was keen to further establishing Buddhism in Tang China. The Confucian back-lash against Buddhist China was not pretty. Rising Confucian dominance sought to put an end to this, esp. during **Emporer Wuzon**g's regime in which the persecution of Buddhist monks and believes was widespread and violent. Thus, Buddhism never gained a strong foothold in China ever again. During the regime of **Xuanzong** (713-753), the peak of the Tang Dynasty was reached, and the imminent fall would be harder. Xuanzong's weakness for a royal concubine, mixed with increasing economic woes and a weak strings emperors lead to Tang decline and peasant revolt.
 * Emperor Taizu** lead the early Song Dynasty, and preventing the mistakes of the Tang was a mentality that greatly weakened the Song. Also, the inability to deal effectively with growing outside influences (to the North: Liao (later **Jurchens**); to the South: **Xi Xia**) lead to heavy economic tolls on the Song plus an eventual invasion of Chinese territory. The military was subordinated with the scholar-gentry class, and Confucian values and ideals were further pushed in society. **Zhu Xi**, a prominent philosopher, was a major figure in the **Neo-Confucian** movement aimed at reviving ancient Confucian teachings. Jurchens soon established **Jin** empire and successfully invaded Song territory, causing them to flee southward. The **Southern Song Dynast**y developed, and its short life was a highlight in the Golden Age of China. The **Grand Canal** connect mountainous regions of China for efficient commerce and spread of ideas, while maintaining the bureaucracy in good shape and contact. **Flying money**, or monetary checks, were at one point used to make travel safer and more convenient. Role of women sharply declines through Song dynasty, as the Neo-Confucian assertion of male dominance is established.

Both Korea and Vietnam were heavily influenced by Chinese culture, politics, philosophy and art. Although both regions were in heavy contact with China, the degree to which they were “sinified” was very different. In Korea, the tribute system heavily influenced Korean society and life. Chinese infrastructure was seen in major Korean cities. Buddhism became a dominant force in Korean life, as monks held a high status in politics. The Chinese bureaucracy failed for a certain time due to the heavily influence of aristocrats in government, In Vietnam, signification occurred to a much lesser degree. Bureaucratic values were imitated and Buddhism was adapted, but Vietnamese language remained unique. Women held a different status in society, one that was much more revered than their Chinese counterparts. The Vietnamese emphasized the nuclear family instead of the extended family, and day to ay attire was also very unique than that of the Chinese.

· Women loose power and influence · Syncretism of Buddhist deities and Japanese kamis · Confucian ideas and bureaucratic government introduced · Taika Reforms – revamped the Chinese imperial system along Chinese lines || · Women expected to be as cultured as men · Limited social mobility · Heian era- strict code of conduct · Warrior class developed under nobles (who were steadily gaining power) · Feudalism develops from shrink imperial rule and rise of noble lords || · Paid tribute to Chinese – brought access to Chinese learning and products · Infrastructure was very similar · Improved Chinese ceramic works - pottery · Unique way of dress, cuisine, and class system · Improve the Chinese printing · Own racial distinctiveness <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Their social class was composed of aristocrats and the rest of the people <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Buddhism dominated; Buddhist monks rule with aristocrats || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Bureaucratic values (civil service exams and a mini-bureacracy) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Under Chinese command Vietnamese had to go to Chinese style schools <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Chinese cropping techniques and irrigation techniques || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Spoke language not related to Chinese (due to interaction with southeast nations) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Women were granted more freedom in family and society – seen as a source of resistance <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· They dressed differently, skirts rather than pants. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Art, literature, and poetry <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Favored nuclear family over extended family <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Buddhist monks have greater power of scholar-gentry ||
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Borrowed from China || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Unique ||
 * Japan || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Syncretism of Buddhist deities and Japanese ancient Kamis
 * Korea || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Chosen was the oldest Korean kingdom that was conquered by the Han emperor Wudi.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Confucian studies in Chinese schools\
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Cities were grid-like
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Tribute system allows influences to travel to all parts of Korea || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Descended from the hunting and herding peoples of eastern Siberia, and Manchuria<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> rather than Mongolian and Turkic speaking tribes to the west.
 * Vietnam || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">· Buddhism