2013 Chinese Dynasties
Pronunciations
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Huang He
Shang
Zhou
Loess
Henan
Wei
Qin
hwahng he
shong
Joe
less
hey – nahn
way
chin
Key Terms….
A Dynasty is a line of
rulers that come from
the same family
An aristocrat is a noble,
or upper class person,
whose wealth comes
from their land
China’s history is usually
divided into time periods based on
the rule of different dynasties.
A ‘dynasty’ is a ruling family that
passes the power to rule down
through the generations. These
rulers were thought to be ‘divine’,
or actual gods, and thus were
obeyed without question.
Three Kingdoms
220 A.D.- 265 A.D.
After the collapse of the Later Han Dynasty in 220, without a strong
central government, warlords begin to rise and fight each other for
land, plunging China into a state of anarchy, establishing their
boundaries from their conquered lands. China split into three
kingdoms- Wei, Shu, and Wu.
It was militarily unstable configuration and Inner China was reunited
in AD 265 by the Western Jin Dynasty, the successors of the Wei.
Warlord Sun Jian found the Imperial Seal and
kept it secretly for himself, further weakening royal
authority. Warlord Cao Cao and Liu Bei were also
starting to build up power. Liu Bei, along with his
sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, pledge
to do their best for the country. Liu Bei later
recruits the genius strategist Zhu Ge Liang and
builds up his forces against Cao Cao.
“The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Thus it
has ever been.”
~ 羅貫中 Luo, Guanzhong
Jin Dynasty
265 A.D.– 420 A.D.
The Jìn Dynasty, was founded by the Wanyan (完顏
Wányán) clan of the Jurchens, the ancestors of the
Manchus who established the Qing Dynasty some 500
years later.
Sixteen Kingdoms (Wu Hu Period)
304 A.D.- 443 A.D.
This was one of the most devastating periods in Chinese history. Following a
long period of Chinese dominance since the Qin Dynasty. five northern tribes
(Wu Hu) had been established in North China (匈奴 Xiongnu/Hun, 鲜卑
Xianbe, 羯 Jie, 羌 Qiang, 氐 Di). The Wu Hu uprising took over much of the
Chinese heartland. It did not end until Jin reclaimed much of central China
while Northern Wei took over the areas north of the Yellow River.
Southern and Northern Dynasties
420 A.D. – 589 A.D.
The Southern and Northern Dynasties was an age of civil war
and political disunity. However it was also a time of flourishing in
the arts and culture, advancement in technology, and the spread
of Buddhism and native Daoism.
Sui Dynasty
Sui and Tang Dynasties
The Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220—more than 400 years.
After the dynasty collapsed, military leaders split China into rival kingdoms.
These events began a period of disorder and warfare that historians call the
Period of Disunion.
The Period of Disunion
Civilization Thrived
• Nomads invaded northern China,
formed own kingdoms
• Despite these events, Chinese
civilization thrived, developed
• Many northern Chinese fled south
to region of Yangzi River
• Nomadic invaders in north adopted
aspects of Chinese civilization
• A number of southern dynasties
rose, fell
• Northern Chinese immigrants’
culture blended with local cultures
in south; arts, philosophy flowered
The Period of Disunion lasted more than 350 years, ending when a northern
ruler named Wendi reunified China, founding the Sui dynasty.
Sui Dynasty
581 A.D. – 618 A.D.
The Sui Dynasty held its capital
at Luoyang. It was marked by
the reunification of Southern and
Northern China. The EqualField system was initiated to
reduce the rich-poor social gap.
The system worked on the basis
that all land was owned by the
government, which would then
assign it to individual families.
The Sui Dynasty
Centralized Government
• Wendi worked to build
centralized government
Grand Canal
• Greatest accomplishment of Sui
dynasty, completed during reign
of Yangdi, Wendi’s son
• Restored order, created new
legal code, reformed
bureaucracy
• 1,000 mile waterway linked
northern, southern China
• Created policies to provide
adult males with land, ensure
availability of grain
• Yangdi forced millions of
peasants to work on canal; led
to discontent, rebellion
• 618, Yangdi assassinated, Sui
dynasty ended
Sui Dynasty, 581-618 C.E.
 “Land Equalization” System  land
redistribution.
 Unified coinage.
 Grand Canal constructed.
 Established an army of professional
soldiers.

People were overworked and
overtaxed!
The Grand Canal
Canals
• The world’s first transport
contour canal was constructed in
China in the 3rd century BCE on
the orders of Shi Huangdi.
• “The Magic Canal” (Lingqu)
• Linked the Xiang and Li Rivers.
• The “Grand Canal,” begun in 330
BCE, was completed during the
Yuan dynasty (1293).
• Both canals are still in use in
China.
The Grand Canal Today
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty
Period of Brilliance
• Tang dynasty ruled 618 to 907; Chinese influence spread
• China experienced period of brilliance, prosperity, cultural achievement
• Government, other institutions served as models across East Asia
Built on Sui Foundations
• Established capital at Chang’an, Sui capital
• Second capital located at Luoyang
• Government control remained centralized, based on bureaucracy of officials
Civil Service
• To obtain talented officials, Tang expanded civil service examination system
• People had to pass written exams to work for government
• Created flexible law code; model for law codes in Korea, Japan
Foreign Affairs
• Tang expanded China, Chinese influence
• Regained western lands in Central Asia, gained influence over Korea
• Contact with Japan increased; Japanese scholars came to China to study
• Expansion, increased contact with others grew foreign trade
Expansion
• Much of expansion occurred during reign of Taizong, 626 to 649
• Taizong relied on talented ministers to help govern
• In addition to military conquests, Taizong had schools built to prepare students for
civil service exams
• After his death, one of his sons became emperor
Wu Zhao
New emperor was weak, sickly
• Emperor’s wife, Wu Zhao gained power
• Following death of husband
– Wu Zhao ruled through her sons
– Eventually became emperor herself—the only woman to do so in
Chinese history
• Wu Zhao overthrown, 705
– Dynasty reached height under Xuanzong
– During reign, 712 to 756, empire prospered
Tang Dynasty
618 A.D.- 907 A.D.
At the end of Sui Dynasty, the whole
country fell into chaos due to the tyranny
of Emperor. Rebellions roused by
peasants were everywhere. One of the
generals, Li Shih-min, took over ruling the
empire, and established Tang Dynasty.
Historians regard the Tang Dynasty as a
high point in Chinese civilization. The
Tang period was the golden age of
literature and art. Tang rule perfected a
government system supported by a large
class of Confucian literati selected
through civil service examinations.
• The Tang dynasty was established by one of Yangdi’s
generals.
• The Tang dynasty ruled for about 300 years, from A.D. 618
to A.D. 907.
• The Tang dynasty brought about many reforms to improve
government.
Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.
 Imperial examination system perfected.
 Liberal attitude towards all religions.

Spread of Buddhism in China
 Golden Age of foreign relations with
other countries. 

Japan, Korea, Persia
Tang Government Organization
The Tang Dynasty (618-907) is the second great dynasty (of Chinese history
that was able to unify a vast territory, to spread its culture and to absorb the
cultures of surrounding states and peoples. Tang set it’s capital in Chang'an
長安 (modern Xian 西安). Trade stretched to the South East Asian
archipelago, and the religion of Buddhism spread to Korea and Japan.
• Reforms are changes that bring
improvements.
• One of the most powerful Tang
emperors was Taizong.
• He reinstated the civil service
examination.
• Empress Wu was a ruler in the
Tang dynasty who strengthened
China’s military.
• The Tang dynasty expanded
China’s empire and regained much
of its power in Asia.
• By the mid-A.D. 700s, the Turks
began to threaten the Tang
dynasty’s hold in Asia.
Empress Wu Zetian, 624-705
 The only female Empress in China’s
history who ruled alone. 
 Searched for outstanding individuals
to attract to her court.
 Construction of new irrigation
systems.
 Buddhism was the favored state
religion.
 Financed the building of many
Buddhist temples.
 BUT… She appointed cruel and sadistic
ministers to seek out her enemies.
• They took control of central Asia and the Silk
Road, damaging China’s economy.
• The Tang dynasty weakened and fell.
• A Chinese general established the Song dynasty,
which ruled for about 300 years, from A.D. 960
to A.D. 1279.
• The Tang dynasty strengthened China’s
economy by supporting farming and trade.
• The Chinese developed new technologies,
such as steelmaking and printing.
• During the Tang and the Song dynasties, China
enjoyed a golden age of art and literature.
A Growing Economy
• The political stability under the
Tang dynasty helped the economy
regain strength.
• As peace was
restored, farmers
were able to make
advances and be
more productive.
• They improved irrigation,
introduced new ways of growing
crops, and developed new kinds of
rice.
• Farmers began growing tea, which
became a popular drink.
• New roads and waterways helped
increase trade with other parts of
Asia.
• The Silk Road became a
busy trade route again.
• Silk fabric was one item
traded by the Chinese, as
well as tea, steel, paper,
and porcelain, which is fine clay
baked at high temperatures.
Changes in Agriculture
Fast growing
drought
resistant rice
grown
Rice
was
transpla
nted to
paddies
Rice growing
took lots of work
done by many
people
Crops were
grown on
terraced
hillsides
Chain pumps
were used for
irrigation
Water
buffaloes
pulled
improved
plows
Agriculture
Rice plants
grown in
seedbeds
Why agriculture changed in China…
1. Farmers moved to the south, a good region
for growing rice
2. New type of rice was introduced
3. An improved plow and harrow were
developed
4. Farmers fertilized their crops
Growth of Trade & Commerce
People used
paper money &
traded in copper
coins at deposit
shops
Indigo,
spices, silver,
ivory, &
coral were
imported
Small shops
lined streets &
bridges
Goods were moved
along canals on
barges
Junks were
used for trade
with foreign
countries
Commerce
Oxcarts & pack
animals moved
products along
roads
Peasants
sold surplus
crops,
animals, &
goods made
at their
homes
Why commerce developed in China…
1. There was a vast system of rivers & canals
2. Improvements in navigation made long sea
voyages easier
3. Wealthy landowners demanded more goods
4. Paper currency helped trade
Urbanization
Chinese cities
were the largest in
the world & Cities
were crowded &
exciting
Restaurants
& teahouses
provided
food & drink
Urban women
had less status
than rural
women
Vendors sold food
from trays on their
heads. Silk, silver,
fans, & other items
were for sale
Many types of
people lived
in the cities
Urbanization
Signs
identified
the many
goods
being sold
There were
theaters &
outdoor
entertainers
Reasons for urbanization in China…
1. People came to the city to trade as
commerce increased
2. Large landowners moved to cities because
they preferred the shops & social life there
Put in the correct order…
1. A new type of rice allows farmers to plant at
least two crops of rice per year.
2. Rice production increases.
3. Landowners become wealthier
4. Landowners have money for luxury items.
5. Small traders bring more luxury items to local
markets.
6. Large cities develop.
Tang Dynasty, 618-907 C.E.
 New technologies:
– Printing  moveable print 
– Porcelain
– Gunpowder
– Mechanical clocks
 More cosmopolitan culture.
 Reestablished the safety of the
Silk Road.
 Tea comes into China from Southeast Asia. 
Foot-Binding in Tang China
• Broken toes by 3 years of age.
 Size 5 ½ shoe
on the right
Foot-Binding in Tang China
Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.
Foot-Binding in Tang China
• For upper-class girls, it
became a new custom.
The Results of Foot-Binding
Tang Dynasty
618-907
• Created programs to help the poor
• Created gunpowder- Fireworks!
• Brought back the Civil service exam
–Open to all men, but only the rich
could afford the education
–Must be knowledgeable in
Confucianism
– Only 1 in 5 passed
Aristocracy: The Tang Dynasty
• Who were scholar-officials?
– Scholars that got
government jobs through
examinations
• What was the examination for
scholar-officials primarily
based on?
– Based on the teachings of
Confucius
• Why did aristocrats continue
to hold most offices?
– Only wealthy could afford
tutors, books, & time to
study needed to prepare for
the exams
Mertiocracy: The Song Dynasty
• According to emperors &
scholars, knowledge of
Confucius would produce
what type of government
official?
– People who had studied
Confucius would be rational,
moral, & able to maintain order
• What new group of people
were allowed to become
government officials during
the Song Period?
– Lower classes
• Why did people want
government jobs?
– More respect & were excused
from taxes & military service
The Age of Buddhism
From India
• Buddhism first came to China from India during Han times
• During Period of Disunion many Chinese turned to Buddhism
• Taught people could escape suffering, appealed to people in turmoil
State Religion
• Under Tang rule, Buddhism became state religion
• Buddhist temples appeared across land, missionaries spread Buddhism
• 400 to 845 in China, Age of Buddhism; ended when lost official favor
Tang Decline
• 750s, decline began, government weak, nomadic invasions, rebellions
• Military defeats lost Tang lands in Central Asia and the north
• 907, emperor killed, Tang dynasty ended
Five Dynasties
Ten Kingdoms
907 A.D. – 960 A.D.
920 A.D. - 979 A.D.
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was an era of political upheaval in
China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song
Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another
in the north, and more than 10 independent states were established,
mainly in the south.
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty
After Tang Dynasty
• China split apart after Tang
dynasty
• Did not reunify until 960 with
Song dynasty
• Song ruled for about 300 years,
created achievement, prosperity
• Under Song, Chinese
civilization became most
advanced in world
Government and Civil Service
• Song established capital at
Kaifeng, restored centralized
government control
• Enlarged government
bureaucracy, reformed civil
service examination system
• Neo-Confucianism gained
favor, emphasizing Confucian
ethics, spiritual matters
Civil Service Exams
• Extremely difficult to pass; those who did became scholar-officials
• Scholar-officials received good salary, were respected
• Civil service exams became more open to ordinary people
• Exams became pathway to gaining wealth, status
Southern Song
• Song rulers never regained northern, western lands lost by Tang
• Tried to buy peace with threatening nomads by sending lavish gifts
• 1120s, nomadic people, Jurchen, conquered northern China, founded Jin empire
• Song continued in south as Southern Song dynasty 150 more years
Song Dynasty
960 to 1,279 A.D.
In 960 A.D., the Song Dynasty came to power. This was the first government in
world history to issue paper money. This dynasty also saw the first known use
of gunpowder, as well as first discernment of true north using a compass.
•
The
Civil
Service
Exam
Under the Sung Dynasty, the
examination system attained the
form it was to retain to the end of
the dynastic system:
- 3 levels of exams for different
government
positions
- Students complained the exams
were too difficult or that it was all
memorization and irrelevant.
- Many brought cheat sheets
with them
Song [Sung] Dynasty, 960-1279
C.E.
 Creation of an urban, merchant, middle class.
 Increased emphasis on education & cheaper
availability of printed books.
 Magnetic compass
makes China a great
sea power! 
As a means to make
multiple impressions,
woodblock printing has a
long history in China and
was already well
developed in the Tang
Dynasty. By the time of
the Song Dynasty,
woodblock art was
thriving.
Song Peasant Family
Rice Cultivation Began Under
the Song
Song Rice Cultivation
Song Dynasty
960-1279
Prosperous and innovative
Trade and Foreign Contact
 Great naval force
Advanced farming techniques- Rice!
Creation of block printing
Use of algebra
 Abacus
 Use paper money
 Banking
Role of Women of the Song
Practiced foot binding- meant
to reflect wealth and prestige,
crippled for life
Servants to men
Cultural Achievements
The Tang and Song dynasties were periods of great cultural
achievement. Art and literature flourished, and many inventions and
advances occurred in science and technology.
Literature and Art
Painting
• Tang period
produced some of
China’s greatest
poets
• Reached new
heights
• Exquisite objects
made from clay
• Wu Daozi, murals
celebrating
Buddhism, nature
• Tang: pottery
figurines, often to
go in tombs
• Landscapes of
great beauty
• Song: excelled at
making porcelain
• Some used only
black ink
• Admired, sought
after worldwide
• Du Fu, Li Bo, two
most famous
• Poems of
Confucian ideals,
joys of life
Artisans
Inventions and Innovations
Architecture
Inventions
• Indian Buddhist temples
influenced design of Chinese
pagoda
• During Tang, Song periods,
China became a world leader in
technology, science
• Featured roofs at each floor
curving upwards at corners
• Gunpowder major invention,
used in fireworks, weapons
Magnetic Compass
Printing
• Major Tang technical advance
• Paper, ink invented earlier
• Uses Earth’s magnetic field to
show direction
• Tang period, developed
woodblock printing
• Revolutionized sea travel,
contributed to world exploration
• Text carved into wood, coated
with ink, pressed on paper
Moveable Type
• Song dynasty invented another type of printing, moveable type
• Uses blocks on which letters, characters carved
• Blocks rearranged, reused to print many things
• Faster than woodblock, spread to Europe, revolutionized printing
Paper Money
• Another Song invention
• Had used bulky metal disks placed on strings
• As economy grew, lighter, more useful form of currency developed
• Paper money light, easy to use, quickly spread in use in China
Prosperity and Society
In addition to cultural achievements, the Tang and Song periods were a time of
growth and prosperity.
Agriculture
Trade
• Chinese agriculture became
more productive
– New irrigation techniques
– New variety of rice
– Production of cotton, tea
increased
• Increased food production
contributed to population growth
• Tang population 60 million, Song
population 100 million
• Improvements in roads, canals
increased trade within China
• Foreign trade expanded, mostly
over land routes like Silk Roads
• Late Tang: advances in sailing,
shipbuilding helped sea trade
• Song: merchants became
important in society; money,
banking began to develop
City Life
•
•
•
•
As farming, trade grew so did China’s cities
China had largest cities in world at the time
Tang capital, Chang’an, population more than 1 million, many cultures
Song dynasty, several cities had million or more; sea trade caused port cities
to boom
• Despite urban growth, most Chinese still lived, farmed in countryside
Society
• Power of aristocratic families
declined during period
• New class developed, gentry
• Included scholar-officials, leading
landowners
• Most still peasants, farmers
• Paid most of taxes, little schooling
Women
• Status of women declined, most
visibly in upper classes
• Desire for small, dainty feet led to
custom of footbinding
• Painful process to keep feet from
growing, deformed feet over time
• Symbol of husband’s authority