Sui,+Tang+&+Song+China+-++Legacy+of+the+Han


 * __ Primary Source Analysis __**

__ Document: Ties that Bind:Paths to Power __

What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant? || After the fall of Han China, there was a period of great chaos and China was once more divided into regional kingdoms vying for power. THis period of chaos lasted roughly 400 years, and the first to emerge afterwards were the Sui dynasty, though they were very short-lived. || Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims? || A powerful government official/general(The prime Minister's Nephew).Being that this document frequently praises the official, talking about his military campaigns, his talents, and his good nature, he would most likely recieve this as someone kissing up to him. || What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote || To make a good impression on a higher official. Essentially, it boils down to begging for a job. "My term of office is completed... I have heard of your ready ways to help those in need." It is also possibl the Su wishes to gain more fame by having his work reviewed by someone so revered. || Support with quotes || Help me get a better job. I am in need of one. You are so much better than me. How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible || Shows that in the Tang Bureacratic society, recommendations played an important role, hence the political system was not necessarily based on individual achievements, but connections and social status. ||
 * Author – Who created this? What do we know about the author? What might influence their opinions? || The Tang author Niu Su?Wu Bao. It was sent to a high government official whom Wu Bao ( a local government official) hoped to impress and win favor with.The fact that the final recipient of this would be a high government official would most likely influence Niu Su to avoid mentioning the government's shortcomings, or asserting the power of other empires. ||
 * **Place** – Where and when was it created - || China, during the Tang Dynasty, near the Chien mountains ||
 * ** Prior Knowledge **
 * ** Audience **
 * ** Reason for Creation **
 * ** The Main Idea **
 * "My term of office is completed... I have heard of your ready ways to help those in need."
 * "Please bestow your favour upon me so that I may render to you my services." ||
 * ** Significance **

Joint Espirit Chart- Classwork:

Tang and Song China Notes

Social- Rise of the scholar-gentry. Before, there had been no major confucianist activity. Education reforms were initiated by Yangdi.The tang focused on breaking down the rebellious aristocratic class, and more money was given to the peasants.The Tang law code offered severe punishments for disobeying elders or siblings. Politics- Revived the chinese Bureaucracy and established the ministry of rights, who trained professional bureaucrats. Weakened the power of the aristocracy by improving the power of the scholar gentry class.Social status and family ties were much more important than in the previous bureacracy, which was based on skills and personal accomplishments. Intellectual-Tang dynasty biult many new architectural structures(Dugong style). A focus on science and literature occured during the Tang dynasty. The Diamond Sutra was te first book ever printed with the printing press. Tang poetry was also well known, centering around emperors and historians. Religion-Buddhism was attacked by Confucian and Taoist rivals. Taoist monks tried to counter buddhism's appeals to the people by stating their own predictive and magical powers. Confucian scholars wanted to show the emperor that Buddhism was a threat to the imperial order. Buddhism was greatly weakened and never had as great of a political influence in the Tang dynasty again. || Economics-Bureaucracy flourished, and many officials did no work. Scholar-gentry class was very economically secure. Urbanization occurred as peasants moved to the south. Peasants specialized in “cash crops” like Tea which strengthened the market. Social- Confucianism has been further strengthened, and the shcolar gentry has advanced greatly, gradually becoming more important than the aristocrats.Reforms by wang Anshi lead to scholar gentry becoming more analytical.Elites would be expected to paint, write, or be creative during their free time. Politics- Elected officials were only allowed to be governors. This prevented military leaders from gaining too much power.Civil service exams were not difficult to pass, so many peoiple in the government were well paid, but there was not much to do. Thus, the prestige of being a bureaucratic official was weakened. Intellectual-The song focused on reviving Confucian ideals and principles. The scholars tried to recover ancient texts and deciphered them. New academics were founded, and libraries were used to store books. Philosophy was heavily taught during this period, but it tried to assert the importance of Taoism and Confucianism over Buddhism. Religion- Neo confucianism revived ancient teachings. They believed cultivating personal morality was the highest goal for a human. Buddhism was the major religion during the Tang dynasty, and was originally introduced to China from India and was viewed as foreign. || Economics-The building of many canals allowed for commercial trade to flourish. The chinese would trade overseas in large ships called Junks. They also began using flying money, which were essentially credit vouchers. Social-Both the Tang and Song favored the scholar gentry(the educated were given a higher class).They both used family ties to gain power. The shared the same social hierarchy. Peasant<Merchants<Middle working Class<Lower Nobles<Jushi<Royal family. Politics- The Song dynasty attempted to analyze the weaknesses of the Tang dynasty and avoid that, which lead to their loss of power and defeat by the Lao and Jin emperor. Intellectual-Both had advanced civil service examinations and favored the Jinshi class. Both societies also used the same method of poetry, built many public works such as canals. ||
 * Tang || Song || Shared ||
 * Economics-Wendi won support by lowering taxes. Both rich and poor were taxede evenly. But monastic lands and temples were not taxed.However, due to neo-confucian influences, emperor Wuzong revoked this ability, and many slaves, priests, and nuns were forced to labor.

Summary of the Tang and Song( identify major changes and continuities). HW12/6/2010.
 * Both the Tang and the Song built many public works projects and canals which allowed for trade to flourish. Overseas trade was conducted with large trading ships called Junks.The use of paper money and credit vouchers called Flying money was also prevalent in improving the economy. (Continuity)
 * Change- Due to easy exams, the Song had a large class of well paid Scholars with very little work to do . But continuities can be drawn between both dynasties' restoration of a centralized bureaucracy and influence of social status over individual skills, ex- the Ministry of Rites.
 * During both the Tang and Song Eras of China, Buddhists suffered great prosecution as a result of the power of Neo-Confucian thinking. Buddhism was viewed as foreign (originated in India) which conflicted with the Neo-confucian ideals of returning to tradition (continuity)
 * Change- The song Dynasty tried to analyze the weaknesses of the Tang dynasty so as to avoid downfall, but in doing so, left themselves politically and militarily weak, and were eventually conquered by the combined forces of Kublai Khan and the Mongols and the Jurchens Jin/Liao kingdom.
 * In a quest to sustain peace, the Song paid numerous damaging tributes to the Xie Xia and Lao kingdoms to the North, rather than expanding, as the Tang did.(Change)This gradually weakened their economic strength and military power.
 * Both had advanced civil service examinations and favored the Jinshi class. Both societies also used the same method of poetry and other forms of self expression.
 * Continuity- Political Turmoil- The Tang emperor Xuanxong fell in love with the concubine Yang Guifei, who then used that opportunity to take over the courts, leading to great political turmoil.The Song also were guilty of great political weakness, as stated above.
 * Under both the Tang and Song dynasties, the power of Women deteriorated, though there were exceptions such as Empress Wei.