Sui-Tang Dynasties
(589-907)
Sui Dynasty (581-618)
Picture #1
Yang Jiang (Sui Wen Di): The First Sui
Sui Wen Di, who had been a leader of the Northern Zhou,
Emperor
Went on a mission to unite China and reigned from
581-604 AD. His capital city was Chang’an.
Major Accomplishments:
- Conquered Northern Zhou and Chen
dynasties, united China for first time
in four centuries
- Repaired Great Wall
- Canal system linking fertile central
region with northern plain
- Expeditions to check on Turks on
Central Asian steppe
- Son and successor: Yang Guang (Sui Yang
Di, Yang Kuang, Sui Yang Ti) lost the money
Yang Jiang had built up, lots of revolts,
assassinated in 618, causes collapse
Picture #2
Sui Art
Picture #3
Sui Sculpture Influenced by Buddhism
Picture # 4
Picture # 5
Picture # 6
Picture # 7
Tang Dynasty (618-906)
Picture # 8
Tang Emperors
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Li Yuan (Pictured right) reigned from 618626 when he abdicated in order to let his
ambitious son, Taizong, reign
Picture # 10
Picture # 9
Taizong (Pictured left) reigned from 627-649. His
Reign marked the blossoming of the Tang era and
he is recognized as one of the greatest leaders in
Chinese history. During his rule, Chinese
influence was extended to Afghanistan and
Turkistan as well as south to Tibet.
Taizong was succeeded by Gaozong, who reigned from 649-683.
Gaozong brought Korea and Japan into tributary relationship with
China. Empress Wu, his wife, continued this consolidation. Then Tang
Xuansong reigned from 712-756. Under Xuanzong, military commanders
Began to establish independent authority and central administration declined,
As did the empire due to border wars and rebellions.
Tang Government System
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Tang Code of Laws (Based on Confucian thought)
Strong Central Government
Hand-picked chief officials
Council of Ministers=advisors
Inspectors sent to provinces to check on activities of
local governors
Promoted trade (Jade, porcelain, rice, silks, spice,
tea, etc. along trade routes)
Welcomed new thought and new ideas and
technology and new religions such as
Zoroastrianism and Christianity
Chang’an
The Tang Dynasty’s capital city of Chang’an was one of the great cultural centers of the world.
Art, poetry, scholarly thought, merchants, and government and religious leaders flourished there.
A Tang Dynasty poem
In calligraphy
Picture # 11
Tang dynasty sculpture
Tang Earth Spirits
Picture # 12
Picture # 13
Tang Dynasty art!
Picture # 14
Picture # 15
What to Remember:
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The Sui Dynasty was short-lived but
important because it unified China and paved
the way for the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was one of the most
glorious periods in Chinese history. Culture
flourished, government was well organized,
and the country was unified.
Picture Bibliography
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Picture 1: "China Map Guide." China Highlights. 27 Sept. 2006 <http://www.chinahighlights.com>.
Picture 2: “Emperor Wen Di- Sui Dynasty. China Page. China the Beautiful. 26 Sept. 2006
<http://www.chinapage.com/emperor/sui0701.jpg>.
Picture 3: China- Sui Dynasty. Asian Spirit. Asian Spirit Gallery. 26 Sept. 2006
<asianspiritgallery.com/images/china/ch_l_sui1.jpg>.
Picture 4: Sui Dynasty China. History for Kids. 27 Sept. 2006 <www.historyforkids.org/.../china600scene.jpg>.
Picture 5: China Images. Minnesota State University. 27 Sept. 2006 <www.mnsu.edu/.../china/images/sui1.gif>.
Picture 6: Sui Dynasty Urn. China Culture. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://www.chinaculture.org/img/2003-09/24/hist31_01.jpg>.
Picture 7: Sui Dynasty China. History For Kids. 27 Sept. 2006
<http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/art/pictures/suicamel.jpg>.
Picture 8: Tang Dynasty. China Highlights. China Tours. 25 Sept. 2006 <www.chinahighlights.com>.
Picture 9: Nillson, John Erik. Antique Chinese Art. Gotheborg. 26 Sept. 2006 <www.gotheborg.com>.
Picture 10: Li Yuan. China Translation. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://www.chinatranslation.org/china/img/china-13.jpg>.
Picture 11: Tang Dynasty Poetry. Chinese Art Net Online Gallery. 26 Sept. 2006 <www.chineseartnet.com>.
Picture 12: Jade Figure. Copper Canyon Adventures. 25 Sept. 2006
<http://www.coppercanyonadventures.com/Tang%20Dynasty%20sculpture.JPG>.
Picture 13: Tang Dynasty. Asian Art. 27 Sept. 2006 <http://www.asianart.com/marcrichards/large/3529.jpg>.
Picture 14: Tang Dragon. Fantasy Art. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://www.fantasyarts.net/dragons/dragon_Tang.jpg>.
Picture 15: Tang Horse. Oriental Rugs. 26 Sept. 2006 <www.persiancarpetguide.com>.
Bibliography
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Benn, Charles. China's Golden Age: Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty. Oxford: Oxford
UP, 2002.
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Fairbank, John K., and Merle Goldman. China: a New History. Cambridge: Harvard UP,
1992.
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Skaff, Jonathan Karam. "Survival in the Frontier Zone: Comparative Perspectives on
Identity and Political Allegiance in China's Inner Asian Borderlands During the
Sui-Tang Dynastic Transition (617-630)." Journal of World History 15 (2004):
117-153. Project MUSE.
Engelhard Family Library, McLean. 27 Sept.
2006.
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“Sui Dynasty.” World Book.
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"Sui." Encyclopedia Brittanica.
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"Tang Dynasty." World Book.
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"Tang." Encyclopedia Brittanica.