Tang & Song Dynasties
China Unifies & Expands
After the decline
of the Han
dynasty in the
200s CE, China
remained
divided for
almost 400
years.
Then, a young
general named
Tang Taizong took
control &
established the
Tang dynasty in
618. It would last
nearly 300 years
until 907.
The Tang
dynasty picked
up where the
Han had left off
by expanding
Chinese
territories.
Vietnam
Korea
Tibet
Neighboring countries, namely Vietnam,
Korea & Tibet, were forced by the Tang
to become tributary states.
Tributary states
were independent
yet they were
required to show
respect to China’s
power & provide
regulars payment,
or tribute.
It was also
during the
Tang dynasty
that Japan sent
emissaries to
China to
conduct trade &
learn Chinese
culture.
Japanese Missions to China
during the Tang Dynasty
Politically, Tang
rulers saw it wise to
revive the civil
service system,
which emphasized
Confucian ideals,
developed under
the Han.
The civil service
exams provided
the Tang
government with a
highly educated
ruling elite, which
served the
emperor.
The Mandate of
Heaven was
turned over to
the Song in 960
under the
leadership of
Zhao Kuangyin.
Like the Tang
before it, the Song
dynasty prospered,
but invasions from
outsiders,
predominantly the
Mongols, realized
the end of the Song
in 1279.
Socially, Tang &
Song society was
broken down into
three distinct
classes: the gentry
(nobles), peasants
& merchants.
Chinese
Social
Structure
under the
Tang &
Song
dynasties
During the Tang
dynasty land was
redistributed to the
peasants. This reform
helped the Tang by
reducing the power of
large landowners while
raising new tax
revenues from the
peasants.
The Tang & Song dynasties witnessed
an increase in foreign trade as Chinese
merchants interacted with India,
Persia & the Middle East.
In order to trade
abroad, the
Chinese
government
developed a
superior navy &
issued paper
money (1st ever)
to expedite trade.
Internally, the
Chinese improved
their infrastructure
building roads,
bridges & canals.
These improvements
in transportation
helped connect the
north to the south.
By far the most important building
project was the Grand Canal.
Most
significantly, the
Grand Canal
allowed food,
mainly rice, from
the south to
travel efficiently
to the north.
The Tang & Song
dynasties produced
wonderful works of
art. Chinese writers
composed both
short stories &
poems in beautiful
calligraphy.
Chinese architects created what is called the
pagoda, a temple with curved roof corners. A
style which was later borrowed by the Japanese.
Pagoda styles
During this period
the Chinese became
so adept at making
fine porcelain
objects that across
the world it was
called “chinaware”
or simply “china”.