220 AD
581 618
907 960
Song Dynasty
960-1279
Civil War 907-960
Tang 618-907
Sui Dynasty 581 - 618
Han Dynasty
Copy down
the following
timeline.
1279
China Reunites
SECTION 12.1
Today’s Objective
 7.20 Describe the reunification of China under the
Tang Dynasty and reasons for the cultural diffusion
of Buddhism.
 You can explain how the Tang dynasty unified China
under their leadership.
Rebuilding China’s Empire
 In 220 AD, the Han Dynasty ended in China.
 For 300 years, warlords fought with each other
over territory.
 In 581 AD, China reunited when a general named
Wendi declared himself emperor. He founded a
new dynasty called the Sui.
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After Wendi died, his son Yangi took over. He tried to take the
Korean Peninsula, but lost in battle.
Rebuilding China’s Empire – Grand Canal
His greatest effort was to build the Grand Canal. It
linked the Yangtze River and Yellow River
 It became an important route for shipping products
between northern and southern China.
Rebuilding China’s Empire
 Yangdi may have rebuilt China, but he used the
Chinese people to do it.
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Farmers were forced to work building the Great Wall and
Grand Canal.
They had to pay higher taxes to pay for these projects.
The farmers revolted, the army took control and killed Yangdi,
the Sui Dynasty ended.
The Tang Dynasty (618–907)
 In 618, one of Yangdi’s generals took over China and
made himself emperor – creating the Tang. Reforms
during Tang Dynasty
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Restored civil service exam system – hired based on how
ell they did on the exam rather than on their family
connections
Increased the strength of its military and added more officials
to the government
Expanded territory under its control, took control of the Silk
Road, invaded Tibet, forced the Koreans to pay tribute to be
left alone, and invaded northern Vietnam.
Tang Dynasty
 Mid-700s, the Turks began attacking the Tang
armies, pushing them out of Central Asia and taking
control of the Silk Road away from the Tang. This
leads to the fall of the dynasty.
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
 For 50 years after the fall of the Tang Dynasty,
military rulers ruled China. Then in 960, one of the
generals declared himself emperor creating the
Song dynasty.
 A period of prosperity and cultural achievement for
China.
 Problems were there as well.
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Not a big enough army
Tibet broke away
Nomads took control of northern China
Today’s Objective
 7.25 Engage effectively in a collaborative discussion
describing the development of the imperial state and
the scholar-official class (Neo-Confucianism)
 You can explain reasons for the cultural diffusion of
Buddhism.
Buddhism Spreads to China
 Traders and missionaries brought Buddhism to China
around 150. The Han Dynasty was dying out and then
the country was in a Civil War for 300 years. People
were looking for a way to escape their suffering and
many Chinese turned to Buddhism as the answer.
 Chinese Buddhism
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Tang dynasty allowed Buddhism to be practiced. They even
supported the building of Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Buddhist temples provided services, schools, rooms and food for
travelers.
Some people feared Buddhists’ growing power. In 845, Tang
officials ordered many Buddhist temples and monasteries
destroyed.
New Confucian Ideas
 Confucianism had been a popular idea under the Han
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Dynasty, but had been lost during the years of the
warlords. It becomes popular again in a new form under
the Tang Dynasty called Neo-Confucianism.
Neo-Confucianism taught that life in this world was just
as important as the afterlife. Followers were expected to
take part and help others.
It added some Buddhist and Daoist beliefs.
People thought if you followed Confucius’ teachings, they
could find peace of mind and live in harmony with
nature.
The Song Dynasty supported it as well.
Scholar-Officials
 Civil Service Exam was used in both Tang and Song
dynasties to hire officials.
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You had to be hired for what you can do instead of your
personal contacts.
 Because the civil service exam concept came from
Confucian’s ideas, the examination tested job seekers
on their knowledge of Confucian writings. While the
tests were fair, only men could take the test and only
wealthy men could afford to pay people to help them
study for the test.
Scholar-officials
 The examination system created a new wealthy class
in China made up of scholar-officials.
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Students preparing for their exams.
They didn’t do physical work.