Do Now
10/21
The great Chinese philosopher Confucius once said:
“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be
reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action
steps.”
Use complete sentences to explain what you believe
this quote means. Describe a time you tried to reach
a difficult goal?
Standards
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7.20-Describe the reunification of China under the
Tang Dynasty and reasons for the cultural diffusion
of Buddhism.
7.21 Analyze the role of kinship and Confucianism
in maintaining order and hierarchy.
7.25-Engage effectively in a collaborative
discussion describing the development of the
imperial state and the scholar-official class (NeoConfucianism).
Clear Targets
The students will be able to:
• Describe the reunification of China under the Tang
Dynasty.
• Explain the cultural diffusion (spread) of Buddhism.
• Analyze the role of Confucianism.
• Describe the development of the imperial state.
• Describe the development of the scholar-official or
Neo-Confucianism.
CHAPTER 8 LESSON 1
CHINA REUNITES
Mrs. Stoll
7th Grade
Social Studies
China Rebuilds Its Empire
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The Han Dynasty of China ended in A.D. 220
For the next 300 years, China had no central
government.
China collapsed into separate kingdoms and the people
suffered hardships.
Warlords-military leaders who rule local territoriesfought each other.
Groups of nomads attacked and captured parts of
Northern China.
China Rebuilds Its Empire
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China lost control of lands it had conquered.
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Such as, Korea,
located on the
Korean Peninsula
to the northeast
of China.
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People of Korea freed themselves from Chinese rule and
built their own civilization.
The Sui (SWAY)
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In A.D. 581, a Chinese general named Wendi
declared himself emperor.
He won many battles and created the Sui dynasty
and unified China under the rule of emperors again.
After Wendi’s death, his son Yangdi became
emperor.
He tried to expand China’s territory by reclaiming
the lost lands of Korea.
Yangdi’s army was badly defeated by the Koreans.
The Sui (SWAY)
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Yangdi had more
success expanding
the dynasty within
China.
He wanted to return
to the glory of the
Han dynasty by
rebuilding the Great
Wall which had
become ruins.
The Sui (SWAY)
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He also rebuilt the Han capital city of Changan
(CHANG-AHN).
He built the Grand Canal- a system of waterways
connected China’s two great rivers, the Huang He
(HWAHNG-HUH) “Yellow River” and the Chang
Jiang (CHAHNG JYAHNG) “Yangtze River”.
The rivers ran east to west, but the canal ran north
to south.
Grand
Canal
The Sui (SWAY)
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Yangdi rebuilt China with the help of Chinese
people.
Farmers were forced to work on the Great Wall
and the Grand Canal.
Chinese people had to pay higher taxes to fund
these projects and the emperor’s luxurious lifestyle.
The farmers revolted and Yangdi was killed,
marking the end of the Sui dynasty.
Tang Dynasty
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In A.D. 618, one of Yangdi’s generals took over China and
founded the Tang dynasty.
Lasted nearly 300 years A.D. 618-907
Tang rulers restored a strong central government.
Made many reforms, or changes, to improve the government.
Taizong (TY-DZUNG) most powerful Tang emperor brought back
civil service examinations.
 Government officials were selected based exam scores, not
family connections.
He also gave land to farmers and brought peace and order
to the countryside.
Tang Dynasty
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During the late
A.D. 600s,
Empress Wu
ruled China.
Only woman in
Chinese history
to rule the
country on her
own.
 Powerful leader;
strengthened
military
 Added more
officials to the
government
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Growth & Trade
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Tang rulers expanded their rule westward to Tibet, an area
north of the Himalaya.
Chinese took control of the Silk Road and northern Vietnam.
Increased trade with other parts of Asia.
Growth & Trade
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Trade increase brought wealth to Chinese cities.
Changan (CHANG-AHN), the Tang capital, grew to be
the world’s largest city.
Merchants in Changan sold goods from places as far
away as India and Southwest Asia.
By the mid-A.D. 700s Turkish nomads drove Tang
armies out of central Asia and won control of the Silk
Road.
Chinese trade and economics suffered.
Growth & Trade
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Chinese farmers revolted further weakening the Tang
dynasty.
In response Tang rulers hired Uighurs (WEE-GURZ), a
Turkish speaking people in the northwest, to fight for
them.
Continued unrest led to the fall of the Tang rule in A.D.
907
The Song (SUNG) Dynasty
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After the fall of the Tang dynasty, military leaders ruled
China.
In A.D. 960, one of the generals became emperor and
founded the Song (SUNG) dynasty.
Song dynasty governed from A.D. 960-1279
Chinese enjoyed economic prosperity and many cultural
achievements.
Song rulers moved the government to the city of
Hangzhou (HAHNG-JOH).
Buddhism in China
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Brought to China by traders and missionaries from India
during the A.D. 100s.
During this time the Han dynasty was in decline
 Civil war broke out in China
 People died from the fighting, hunger, and lack of
shelter
Buddhism taught that people could escape suffering by
following its teachings.
Many Chinese seeking peace and comfort became
Buddhists.
Tang Rulers and Buddhism
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Early Tang rulers did not practice, but were tolerant of
Buddhism.
Chinese Buddhists joined monasteries-religious
communities where they lived, worked, and worshiped.
The monks (men) and nuns (women) of the monasteries
helped local people by running schools and providing
food and shelter for travelers.
Monks were also bankers and provided medical care.
Numerous Chinese became Buddhists, but a large part of
the population opposed the religion.
Tang Rulers and Buddhism
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Those opposed believed the Buddhists’ temples and
monasteries were too wealthy from donations.
Others believed monks and nuns weakened respect for
family life because they were not allowed to marry.
Tang officials feared Buddhism’s growing influence.
Buddhism was seen as an enemy of China’s Confucian
traditions-customs related to the teachings of Confucius.
In A.D. 845, the Tang government destroyed many
Buddhists monasteries and temples.
Buddhism in Korea
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Korea broke free of Chinese rule when the Han
dynasty fell in A.D. 220.
Korea was divided into three kingdoms.
In A.D. 300s Chinese Buddhists brought the religion
to Korea.
By A.D. 660, the three Korean kingdoms united to
form one country.
The government favored Buddhism and attracted a
large number of followers throughout Korea.
Buddhism in Korea
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Buddhism later spread from Korea to the islands of
Japan.
In A.D. 552, a Korean king sent missionaries to the
emperor of Japan.
The missionaries brought Buddhist writings and a
statue of the Buddha and a letter from the Korean
king explaining how the religion is “the most excellent
of all teachings.”
Confucian Ideas
Confucius believed a good
government depended on wise
leaders.
 Civil service examinations begun by the Han rulers, were
based on Confucian principles and provided China’s
government with educated officials.
 After the fall of Han dynasty many turned to Buddhism;
the Tang and Song dynasties worked to restore
Confucianism to Chinese society.
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Neo-Confucianism
Tang and Song supported a new
understanding of Confucianism known as
Neo-Confucianism.
 Taught that people should be concerned
about this world and the afterlife.
 Followers were expected to be active in society and help
others.
 Confucian thinker, Han Yü (HAHN YOO) encouraged
Chinese to remain faithful to the Confucian teachings of
their ancestors.
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The Civil Service
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Tang and Song rulers saw neo-Confucianism and
civil service examinations as a way to strengthen the
government.
The examination tested candidates on Confucian
writings.
Only men could take the test; especially the rich
since poor families could not afford tutors.
The Civil Service
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At the age of four, boys begin learning the characters of
the Chinese language.
Later, had to memorize all of the writings of Confucius
and recite them aloud.
Only 1 in 5 boys passed the examinations.
The examination system created a new class of leaders
in China known as scholar-officials.
Strict rulers separated scholar-officials from the rest of
society; such as no physical work could be required from
a job.
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
1.
How was neo-Confucianism different from
Confucianism?
2.
What actions did the emperors of the Sui and Tang
dynasty take to unify China?
3.
How did Chinese farmers react to the changes
made during the Sui and Tang dynasties?
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
1.
How was neo-Confucianism different from
Confucianism?
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
1.
How was neo-Confucianism different from
Confucianism?
Neo-Confucianism added ideas from Buddhism and
Daoism to the ideas of Confucius. Confucianism
included only the ideas of Confucius.
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
2. What actions did the emperors of the Sui and Tang
dynasty take to unify China?
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
2. What actions did the emperors of the Su and Tang
dynasty take to unify China?
The Sui emperors rebuilt the Great Wall and had the
Grand Canal built to increase trade. The Tang
emperors restored a strong central government and
brought back civil service examinations. They also
strengthened military forces.
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
3. How did Chinese farmers react to the changes
made during the Sui and Tang dynasties?
Reflection-Review
Answer questions #1-3 on page 185
3. How did Chinese farmers react to the changes
made during the Sui and Tang dynasties?
Farmers were often angry about how they and their
land were treated. Under the Sui, farmers grew
angry about heavy taxes and having to build the
Grand Canal. Under the Tang dynasty farmers’
revolts helped to cripple the power of the Tang
dynasty.