Time period
•  The Sui and Tang dynasties began in 589 A.D.
and ended in 907 A.D.
Period of Disunion
•  This time period separated the two dynasties
from the earlier Han dynasty.
•  This period lasted over 350 years. It began in
220 A.D. and ended in 589 A.D. when the Sui
and Tang dynasties began.
•  During this period warfare and disruption
caused there to be no clear leader.
Wendi
•  Founded the Sui Dynasty in 589 A.D.
•  He reunified China and began the first Sui
Emperor.
•  He was also known as Yang Jian.
Taizong
•  He ruled from 626 - 649 A.D.
•  He was one of China’s most admired emperors.
•  He built schools to prepare citizens for the civil
service exam.
•  Wu Zhao’s husband was Taizong’s son.
Wu Zhao (625 – 705 A.D.)
•  Wife of the Emperor Kao Tsung
•  Took the title of the virtual ruler of China
because she considered her two sons to be poor
rulers.
•  She was overthrown in 705 A.D.
Xuanzong (Shoo-an-toong)
•  He ruled from 712 – 756 A.D.
•  During his time as emperor, the empire
prospered and reached it peak.
Grand Canal
•  The greatest accomplishment of the Sui dynasty
was the completion of the Grand Canal.
•  The Grand Canal was a 1,00o mile waterway.
•  Because of the Grand Canal, Northern China
could more easily access the resources of the
south, including rice (produced in the lower
Chang Jiang Valley).
(Continued)
•  The ruling philosophy of the Sui and Tang
Dynasties was fairly “relaxed”.
•  Even though the Tang Dynasty tried to create a
strong central government, this ruling
philosophy created a weak government which
was one of the downfalls of these two dynasties.
Conversion to Buddhism
•  One change in society was that many
people adopted Buddhism as their
religion.
•  This religion first came from India during
the Han Dynasty, but few converted to
Buddhism at first.
•  Many did this because they felt that
Buddhism offered an “escape” from
suffering. They also thought that this
religion could help them achieve peace.
•  This was a very important change to
society.
Chinese Poetry
•  Poetry, during these two dynasties, began to
grow. Many Chinese citizens began to write
poetry.
Sui Dynasty Map
Tang Dynasty Map
Chang’an and Luoyang
•  Chang’an was the Sui Dynasty capital.
•  Luoyang was the Tang Dynasty capital.
•  When the Tang Dynasty took control, they made
Chang’an their second capital.
Websites used:
•  http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/subarticle.jsp?
id=4277
•  http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/
chinese_dynasty_maps/Sui_Dynasty_Map.jpg
•  http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/
chinese_dynasty_maps/Tang_Dynasty_Map.jpg
•  http://www.rayfowler.org/blog/wp-content/
uploads/map_world_religions.gif
•  http://mrgranito.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/
buddhism-symbol-thumb3251959.jpg
•  http://studentweb.cortland.edu/alicia.hill/mypage/
mypage/chinamap.gif