Chapter 14: China
Section 1: China Reunifies
Section 2:Tang and Song Achievements
Section 3: Confucianism and Government
Section 4: The Yuan and Ming Dynasties
Page: 410-431
Section 1
China Reunifies
• Period of Disunion- time of disorder in
China after the Han collapsed (220-589).
• Culture blending took place during this
time, changing Chinese culture.
Sui Dynasty
(SWAY)
• Yang Jian (YANG jeeen) created the Sui
Dynasty and reunifies
China, ending the
Period of Disunion.
• The Sui Dynasty did
not last long (589618).
Sui Achievements
• Restored order to
China
• Began the Grand
Canal, which linked
northern and southern
China
The Tang Dynasty
China’s Golden Age
• Ruled nearly 300
Years
• China grew its
territory under the
Tang
• 3 Great Tang Rulers
– Taizong (TY-tzoong)
– Xuangzong (shoo-antzoong)
– Empress Wu
After the Tang
• China went into another brief period of
disorder.
• This time was known as the Five
Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
• Disorder lasted 53 Years (907-960)
The Song Dynasty
Great Accomplishments
• Song reunified China
again.
• Ruled for 300 Years,
like the Tang
• Buddhism grew in
China and became
very important to the
culture during the
Period of Disunion.
• The Golden Age of
Buddhism (400-825)
• Tang emperor
lunched a campaign
against Buddhism
weakening the
religion, but not
bringing it to an end.
Section 2
Tang and Song Achievements
Tang Dynasty
• Trade and Religious
Capital/Largest City=Chan’an
(chahng-AHN).
• The Grand Canal that linked
major cities, was improved
• Famous poet was Li Bo
• Magnetic Compass
• Exports
– Tea, rice, spices, jade,
porcelain, SILK
• Imports
– Different foods, plants, wool,
glass, gold, silver
Song Dynasty
• Irrigation Techniques
– Underground wells
– Dragon backbone pump
•
•
•
•
Fast Ripening Rice
Cotton
Tea
Plentiful amount of
Food=Agricultural Surplus
• China became the largest
country in the world (100
million people)
• Capital City-Kaifeng (KYfuhng)
• Li Qingzhao (chingZHOW)=China’s greatest
female poet
Read Linking to Today
Page 419
• What are some advantages of paper
money?
Section 3
Confucianism and Government
• Confucianism-dominate and official philosophy
in China
– Focus: Ethics, education and proper behavior based
on your role in society.
• Neo-Confucianism-”new” was like the old
philosophy, but also emphasized spiritual
matters.
• In the Song, a bureaucracy was formed through
passing the civil service examinations. The
people who passed these exams were known as
scholar-officials.
Section 4
The Yuan and Ming Dynasties
Yuan Dynasty
• The Mongols take over China under Temujin or Genghis Khan
(Universal Ruler)
• Genghis Khan united the Mongols and created a powerful army.
• The Mongols conquered lands all over Asia and Eastern Europe.
• Kublai Khan was 2nd ruler of the Mongols (grandson of Genghis)
started the Yuan Dynasty and declared himself Emperor of China
• The Chinese resented being ruled by foreigners whose culture was
very different from theirs.
• Kublai allowed Chinese to keep their own traditions, welcomed
foreign traders, but kept Confucian scholars from gaining too much
power in the government
• Part of what we know about the Yuan Dynasty comes from Marco
Polo’s writings
End of The Yuan
• Greedy for land, the Mongols decided to invade
Japan.
• The campaigns were disastrous. Violent storms
and fierce defenders destroyed most of the
Mongol army.
• Weakened Army, economy, and Chinese
resentment helped Zhu Yuanzhang (JOO-yooahn-JAHNG) lead a successful revolt against the
Mongols, ending the Yuan Dynasty.
Ming Dynasty
Chinese Rule
• Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor of China and this began
the Brilliant Ming Dynasty.
• This was considered the most stable and prosperous
times in Chinese History.
• Funded Great Sea Voyages
– Zheng He
• Forbidden City was build in Beijing
• Restored the Great Wall of China
• The Ming Emperors worked to rid any foreign influence in
China.
– In fact a new Ming Emperor made Zheng He return to China and
China entered a Period of Isolationism.
– China suffered due to its isolationism: lack of progress while the
Western World made leaps in technology and other areas. When
Westerns marched into Chinese affairs, China was too weak to
stop them.