China :
The Sui, Tang and Song
Dynasties
Dynastic History
• China’s history organized by its ruling Dynasties
• China already 2000+ years old when Sui Dynasty
emerged in 589 AD
• Important early ones to remember
– Qin (221- 206 BCE)Unified Chinese-speaking people
– Han (202 BCE – 220CE)Prosperous (similar to influence of
Roman Empire on modern European cultures)
Zhou Dynasty
(1027-221 BCE)
Interregnum
(220-589 CE)
Han Dynasty
(202 CE-220CE)
Tang Dynasty
(618-907 CE)
2000 CE
2000 BCE
Shang Dynasty
(1532-1027 BCE)
Yuan Dynasty
(1279-1368 CE)
0
Qin Dynasty
(221-206 BCE)
Sui Dynasty
(589-618 CE)
Song Dynasty
(960-1279 CE)
U.S.A.
(1776-2006 CE)
Chinese Dynastic Cycles
A Military Leader Forms
New Dynasty
Mandat
e of
Heaven
Dynasty
overextends itself
Pax Sinica, 500-1500 CE
• World’s largest population, and growing (approximately
50-60 million during Tang)
• Territorially the largest country in world
• Numerous inventions with world-wide impact:
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•
•
•
•
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Gunpowder
Compass
Silks
Movable type printing
Clocks
Porcelain
Paper money
• Growing trade of these goods spreads Chinese culture
and influence throughout Asia
Interregnum
(c.580 C.E.)
Sui
Dynasty,
589-618 AD
Sui Wendi, first
Emperor of Sui
Dynasty
Tang
Dynasty,
618-907 AD
Gao Zu,
1st Tang Emperor
Tang Taizong,
2nd Tang Emperor
Wu Zhao,
Tang Empress
Tang Horse Sculpture—Symbols of Imperial Power and Authority
http://www.artsmia.org/arts-ofasia/china/explore/largeimages.cfm?start=93
http://www.clevelandart.org/explore/work.asp?accNo=&
keywordid%2D3=&keywordid%2D1=&startYear=600&
title=horse&recordtype=2&department=4&endYear=90
0&advsearch=y&searchText=&x=0&y=0&recNo=0&ta
b=2&display=
Comparisons
Sui Dynasty : Qin Dynasty
Tang Dynasty : Han Dynasty
Explain . . .
Song
Dynasty,
960-1279
Southern
Song,
1127-1279
Photos from a
recreated
city of the
Song Dynasty
Printing pages from Song Dynasty, 12th Century