Chapter 8- Imperial China (589-1368):
(1). Discuss Chinese re-unification
commencing with the Sui Dynasty,
and describe Sui Wen-ti’s role.
(2). Outline the rise of the T’ang Dynasty, and describe it
government structure.
(3). Compare and contrast rule of Emperor Hsan-Tsung with that of
the Empress Wu.
(4). Explain the initial expansion and
subsequent contraction and decline of the T’ang Empire.
(5). Describe T’ang culture and
the influence of cosmopolitan, medieval Buddhist and secular spheres.
(6). Summarize the beliefs of the various
Buddhist sects taught during
the T’ang Empire .
(7). Discuss the revival of secular
scholarship and the poetry of Li Po and Tu Fu.
(8). Examine the Sung dynasty and
explain why the dynastic cycle can only describe this dynasty.
(9). Describe the agricultural and
commercial revolutions of the Sung.
(10). Summarize the major changes in the
government’s control and process made during the Sung.
(11).
Explain why China considers the Sung
culture the height of its traditional culture.
(12). Examine the work of the Sung
Philosopher Chu Hsi, and explain its significance.
(13). Examine Sung Poetry and the
work of Su Tung-P’o in
contrast with poetry of the T’ang
dynasty.
(14). Outline the rise of the Mongol Empire and describe the
extent and structure of its rule.
(15). Describe the decline of the Yuan dynasty, and explain why
the dynasty’s period was so short.
(16). Explain why China was able to
recreate its empire 400 years after the Han’s fall, but Rome
couldn’t.
v
Part III Overview:
Ø
Consolidation
& Interaction of World Civilizations
§
Between 500-1500 AD=> major civilizations took
shape
·
Politically &
culturally
§
China: attained full Empire status
·
Based on universal
philosophy – Confucianism
·
Government moved toward political absolutism
·
Main dynasties of period?
§
Japan: political consolidation begins this period
·
Adopts whose model of centralized government?
¨
Also adopts & adapts
its culture
·
Buddhism reshaped all areas of Japan’s court life
·
Retains Japan’s separate identification
¨
Language, Shintoism,
& warrior-Samurai traditions
§
Africa: rise of
regional empires during period
·
Gradual penetration of Islam (major influence)
§
Iran: Sassanid Kings strengthen rule (international
trade)
·
Power declines as Nobles
become more independent
·
Eventually falls prey to what major religious power?
·
Persian
language & culture (art/lit) still influences
§
India: Huns end
great classical era of Gupta (6th
century)
·
Caste system solidified=>
classical Hinduism set
·
By 1500 Islam becomes major influence (esp. in West)
§
Islam: By 7th
century faith predominates Arabia
·
Spreads from Iran to
Spain during next 2 centuries
·
Major unifying
force=> religious way of life worldwide
§
Europe: (Early to
High Middle Ages)=>
·
Survived Barbarian & Muslim invasions of 9-10th
cent.
·
Creates Christian Empire
under Franks (led by who?)
·
Later becomes aggressors themselves
=> crusades
·
Church and State compete for power
v
Imperial China - reestablishment of China’s Empire
Ø
Chapter 8 focuses on China’s Imperial age
§
Emphasis on its culture & philosophy
§
Reunification
of China=> centralized bureaucratic empire
§
Modeled on earlier Han dynasty
§
Significant
accomplishment: develop unified state
·
During political
fragmentation & independent states
¨
Similar to conditions of
Europe at the time
Ø
Sui Dynasty
(589-618)
§
Evolved out of Chinese- Turkish origins
§
Role of Sui-Wen-ti
(talented army general)
·
Unified North &
restored tax base
·
Reestablished centralized bureaucracy
·
Rebuilt Great Wall & sponsors other public
works
§
Sui dynasty
routinely compared to Ch’in – why?
·
Unified China after
centuries of disunity
·
Laid foundations for
successor dynasties
Ø
T’ang Dynasty
(618-907)
§
First T’ang emperor took over Sui capital
·
Renamed it Ch’ang-an & extends authority
§
Frugal government lives
on established tax base
§
Chinese armies extend
borders to far limit yet (Map)
§
T’ang government: Sui officials appointed to office
·
Government structure: (see box 228)
§
Emperor forced to balance two conflicting interests
·
desire for centralized bureaucratic
administration vs.
·
necessary concessions
made to aristocratic elite
¨
aristocrats favored=>
staff government positions
·
Key concessions made: property taxes
¨
All lands declared
emperor’s property
¨
Redistributed back to cultivators
(tax on labor/grain)
¨
Aristocrats give tax
exemptions
§
Empress Wu=> regent
to full rule
·
Ardent Buddhist
·
Administration infamous
for its intrigues
·
Relied on officials
graduated from exam system
¨
Scholars of
the North Gate
¨
Established broad base
for policy making
¨
Strengthened central
government control
§
Hsuan-tsung=> reign
considered culturally brilliant
·
appointed aristocrats to head government commissions
¨
Objective: reform
government finances
·
Exam graduates lost
influence to aristocrats (reaction)
·
Accomplishments: canal, tax roles, $$$, culture (Li Po)
Ø
T’ang Empire (rise &
fall)
§
Expansion & contraction (Accordion Analogy)
·
Expansion to
frontiers=> then contraction to core
·
Principle threats?
·
Four tier defense strategy?
§
Decline & Fall (mid 8th century)
·
External threats of Manchuria & Tibet=>
¨
Heighten internal unrest
=> undermine dynasty
·
By 907=> dynasty
evolves into independent kingdoms
¨
In contrast to Han=>
fall did not lead to full division
Ø
T’ang Culture
§
Very cosmopolitan with broad & varied cultural
contact
·
Openness to
new ideas & cultures
·
Commercial contacts were
widespread=> many cultures
¨
Arab, Iranian, Asian with different beliefs & ideas
§
T’ang considered
the golden age of Buddhism
·
Patronized by emperors
& aristocrats=> temples
·
Buddhist bring
Indian ideas & culture/art=>influence
¨
Bodhisattva (p. 232) T’ang
ideal of beauty
§
Principal Buddhist sect of T’ang dynasty:
·
T’ien-t’ai – others followed 9th century repression
·
Maitreya (Mi
Lo & Miroku)=> future
cosmic messiah
¨
Fulfill promise of
paradise on earth
·
A Mi T’o=> Lord of
western paradise (Pure land sect)
¨
Enlightenment thru own
efforts of believers (early)
¨
Now requires aid of Amitabha
Ø
(along with a pure heart & perfect
faith)
·
Ch’an=> most influential among Chinese elites
¨
Zen (in Japan)=> Buddha considered only a man
Ø
Therefore enlightenment
attainable by everyone
Ø
Requires regimen of
physical labor & meditation
§
T’ang secular scholarship, letters, & poetry
·
Historians revive
earlier practice of Han re. history (?)
¨
A result of
reestablished centralized bureaucracy
Ø
Comprised of learned scholar-officials
Ø
Wrote complete histories
& compiled dictionaries
Ø
Commentaries on
Confucian classics
·
Most famous poets of T’ang: Li Po & Tu Fu
¨
Both secular but wrote
in different literary styles
¨
Li Po: on Cost of War
(p.228) & many others p233
¨
Tu Fu: compassion for human suffering (stoic) p.234
v
Transition to Late Imperial China
Ø
The Sung
Dynasty (960-1279)
§
There’s more to Chinese history than just Dynastic cycle
§
Also longer term changes=> Cut across dynastic
lines
·
Major changes include:
¨
Weakened
aristocracy (beginning of late T’ang)
¨
Aristocrats
move to city (less landed)
¨
Farmers now
buy/sell land=> more $$$ &
freedom
¨
Tax changes (from land tax to $$$ production tax)
Ø
(early ripening rice=> 2 harvests)
¨
Conscription (army & labor) fades=> pro Army
¨
Local
magistrates’ power increases
¨
Rise of
Scholar-gentry class
Ø
Share many interests of
local magistrates
Ø
Agricultural
Revolution of the Sung
§
Emergence of Yangtze
river basin (late 9th
century)
·
Major demographic shifts (population
& production up)
·
Culture focus shifts to
this region
·
Yangtze basin population increases three fold (rice)
¨
More $$$=> schools
& education up=> more culture
·
Farmers break
free from serfdom
Ø
Commercial
Revolution of the Sung
§
Technology
advances:
·
coal/iron smelting
furnaces, printing, gunpowder, +
¨
textiles & porcelain
techniques improve
§
Money economy
emerges (Silk of T’ang>copper/silver $)
·
Letters of credit for merchants=> major financial
step
§
Trade: cities
become trading hubs (shop line avenues)
·
Foreign trade rises
¨
Silk & tea=> from
port trade to sea trade
¨
Raw material imported=> export finished products
Ø
Government:
§
Aristocratic
Bureaucracy to autocratic Absolutism
§
Major shift in admin. style emerges=> 3 key
changes:
·
Sung emperors exercise
direct personal control
·
Central
government better funded
·
Aristocracy
declines (exam system rises)=> triangle
Ø
Sung Culture
– peak of traditional Chinese culture
§
Less aristocratic &less cosmopolitan
·
More associated
w/Scholar-gentry officials
·
Both practiced and patronized
Sung culture
§
China’s great age of pot/porcelain (celadon glaze) pix 239
·
Unmatched art form
§
Ssu-ma:
noted historian of great incite
·
Wrote: Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government
¨
Most sophisticated
analysis of the time –
¨
Used in depth sources
with explanation of choices
§
Philosophy: (considered second only to Chou)
·
Chu Hsi: neo-Confucianism
¨
Set new synthesis &
standard for Confucianism
¨
Combined Confucian philosophy with=>
Ø
Elements of metaphysics
& Zen Buddhism
Ø
Made social &
political ethics more systematic
¨
Established new standard
for Civil Service Exam
¨
Comparable western
philosopher: Thomas Aquinas>
Ø
Synthesis of Christian faith & Aristotelian reason
§
Poetry & Painting: T’ang wine versus Sung tea
·
Most famous Sung poet: Su Tung-P’o=> (pp 240-41)
·
Art – “Broken ink” Landscape (more is
less) p. 243
v
China in the Mongol World Empire
Ø
The Yuan
Dynasty (1279-1368)
§
Mongols were more
occupiers than successors
§
With time, Chinese
influence=>changed name
·
Yuan Dynasty’s
name reflects that influence
Ø
Rise of Mongol
Empire (extensive- Map)
§
Competing explanations
of Chinese history
·
Dynastic cycle vs. nomadic-settled Chinese interaction
·
Accordion
expansion & contraction analogy
¨
(see historical review –
pp. 242-244)
§
Mongols=> Nomadic tribes of North
·
raised horses (expert
horseman) & herded sheep
·
live in felt tents &
believed in Nature gods
¨
sky god (sky blue
considered sacred color)
§
Temujin (Genghis
Khan) => great chief
·
Founded Mongol Empire
(later divide among sons)
·
Charismatic leader &
great warrior commander
·
Created effective mobile
Army (cavalry)
¨
Able to overwhelm larger
forces w/mobile tactics
¨
Opened ranks to all
qualified recruits
¨
Army of superior
horsemen w/composite bows
·
Terrorized opponents
into submission
Ø
Mongol Rule
in China
§
IAW 2nd theory of Chinese history=> (pp 242-44)
·
Accordion interaction betwn China & nomadic Steppe
§
Kublai Khan=> takes over as Great Khan in 1271
§
Early rule of China
primarily exploitation
·
Later convinced by
Chinese advisors to taxation
¨
Shift toward Chinese
central government system
·
Mongol rule took form of
military occupation
¨
Highly centralized &
absolute=> under Emperor:
Ø
Central Secretariat over 10 “Moving Secretaries”
¨
400K Mongols occupied
China during Yuan period
·
Mongols
concentrate rule in Peking =>
¨
Administrate rule
through Chinese officials
Ø
Foreign
Contacts and Chinese Culture (Sung)
§
Extensive diplomatic
& trade contacts ensued
·
Persian & Arabian
merchants
§
Knowledge of printing,
gunpowder, & medicine spread=>
·
Western Asia (Iran &
Arabia)
·
Chinese ceramics &
painting influenced Persians
§
Marco Polo served Kublai (1275-1292) (tolerant)
·
Described his
observations in book (excerpt p.246)
·
Stimulated European
interest in geography & East
Ø
Last Years of
the Yuan=> decline
§
Why Yuan rule so short?
§
Yuan Dynasty =>
decline followed Kublai & successors
·
Khanates separated by different religions & culture
¨
Also great distances
(Map)
·
Numerous rebellions
unfolded
· At Bottom