Tang and Song Dynasties

Tang: 608-907 CE

Song: 960-1279 CE

Rise of the Tang

China divided for 400 years post-Han Another warring states period

Tang Taizong – brilliant general, gov’t reformer, historian Expanded borders Vietnam, Tibet,

Korea Tributary states

Changan

Capital city Center of learning

Chinese gov’t Law Arts

How is the city organized?

What can you infer about the gov’t from the city planning?

Government and Economy

Government Civil service system Confucian trained

bureaucracy Public works

Grand Canal – Help with…?

Economy Land reform

Peasants More $$$ - Why?

DECLINE

The Song

319 years, amazing! Smaller than the Tang Increased economy

Improved irrigation and new strains of rice two rice crops a year!!!! Impact?

Surplus = Freedom

Trade Merchants via land and sea

Porcelain and Silk Paper money! Yah!

What kind of an impact would more food and money

have on a society?

Why so low?

Status of Women Decline during the Song

period Ran the house/family

affairs Finances Discipline Servants

Boys more valued – why? Footbinding – ouch!

Reinforces lower status Reinforces Confucian values

“Inside” people

The Arts… Over 600 poets Porcelain – Shiny, hard

pottery Major export

Landscape paintings Emphasized Daoist

principles

Decline

TANGRISE

CHANGAN

GOVT/ECONOMY

SONGECONOMY AND TRADE

SOCIAL CLASSES

WOMEN

THE ARTS

Name: Mr. Massie

SONG DECLINE:

TANG DECLINE: