Buddhism Expansion: The Sui dynasty played a significant role in the expansion of Buddhism within China.
Construction of Grand Canal: The Grand Canal was built, facilitating trade and cultural exchange.
Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Rebuilding Bureaucracy: After the fall of the Han dynasty, Tang monarchs took significant efforts to rebuild and expand the imperial bureaucracy.
Song Dynasty (960-1279)
Founding: The Song Dynasty was founded in 960 by Emperor Taizu.
Rivalry with Liao Dynasty: The Song dynasty faced challenges from the nomadic Liao dynasty located in Manchuria. Despite efforts, the Song were unable to defeat the Liao and resorted to paying tribute to avoid conflicts.
Government Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy Features:
Hierarchy: Clear chain of command with power flowing from top to bottom.
Rules and Regulations: Standardized procedures for task performance.
Specialization: Individuals are trained for specific roles based on expertise.
Merit-Based Hiring: Appointments are based on skills rather than favoritism.
Goals of Song Government/Bureaucracy:
Revive the scholar-gentry class.
Create a large bureaucracy of loyal, well-educated officials to govern the vast empire.
Scholar-gentry were aimed at offsetting the power of the declining aristocracy.
Educate bureaucrats in Confucian classics, emphasizing the importance of Confucian philosophy in governance.
The Growing Importance of the Examination System
Expansion of Examination System: The examination system was greatly expanded under the Song Dynasty.
Jinshi Degree: Those who successfully passed the difficult examinations in philosophy, legal texts, and Chinese literature received the prestigious Jinshi degree.
Path to Bureaucracy: To become a bureaucrat and take the exam, one must be recommended by a scholar or attend a government school.
Social Privileges: Special social privileges emerged for the scholar-gentry, enhancing their status and providing a foundation for centralized imperial rule.
Expanding Agrarian Production
Stimulating Economy: Advances in farming, specifically new varieties of rice, significantly stimulated the economy.
Government Initiatives: Tang and Song rulers promoted agricultural production and supported peasants.
Territorial Expansion: New agricultural areas were cultivated as the Chinese population expanded.
Transportation Improvements: Canals were developed to enhance the transport of produce efficiently.
Agricultural Developments: Includes the introduction of new seeds, improved water control systems, and the use of the wheelbarrow.
Population Growth
Effect of Agriculture: Increased agricultural production directly contributed to population growth.
Food Distribution: An effective food distribution system was established, supported by enhanced transportation networks developed during the Tang and Song dynasties.
State and Religion
Government Support for Confucianism: Despite the state’s affinity for Confucianism, Buddhism gained wide acceptance among the populace.
Popularity of Mahayana Buddhism: Mahayana Buddhism was particularly favored by commoners during turbulent times.
Chan (Zen) Buddhism: This offshoot of Mahayana Buddhism became popular among the elite, emphasizing meditation and personal experience.
Changing Buddhism
Mahayana Philosophy: Mahayana Buddhism teaches that the Buddha assists followers in attaining illumination, positioning Buddha as the highest being.
Assimilation into Local Beliefs: Mahayana Buddhism often blended with local practices and beliefs.
Chan (Zen) Adaptations:
Dharma as Dao
Nirvana as Wuwei
Family Integration: Chan practitioners often accommodated family life, exemplified by the philosophy that having one son in a monastery can ensure salvation for ten generations.
Shift from Textual Study to Meditation: There was a decreased focus on textual study, with more emphasis on meditation practices instead.
The Anti-Buddhist Backlash
Criticism from Confucians: The rise of Buddhism led to criticism from Confucians, who advocated for taxing Buddhist monasteries and questioned the economic impact of large properties held by these institutions.
Support for Native Confucianism: Confucians aimed to convince rulers that Buddhism was detrimental to the economy and cultural integrity.
Critique of Buddhism
Confucian Sentiment: Critics argued, "Buddha was a man of the barbarians who did not speak the language of China…his sayings did not concern the ways of our ancient kings…" illustrating the disdain for foreign religious influences.
Neo-Confucians
Revival of Confucian Teachings: Scholars known as Neo-Confucians sought to revive pure Confucian thought and teachings.
Establishment of Libraries: Libraries were set up for the recovery of old texts, emphasizing the need for personal morality.
Hostility to Foreign Ideas: Neo-Confucians viewed Buddhism and Daoism as superstitious and harmful to the integrity of Confucianism, reinforcing traditional social hierarchies based on gender, class, and age.
Systems of Government Development
Imperial Governance Evolution: The systems of government in China saw various developments reflecting the changing sociopolitical landscape of the time.
A New Phase of Commercial Expansion
Canal Systems and Silk Roads: The intersection of canal systems and the Silk Roads resulted in significant commercial growth.
Urban Growth: Commerce flourished in cities and trading towns alongside urban development and sophistication.
Developments in Finance: Introduction of credit systems, including deposit shops (banks) and flying money (credit vouchers).
Population of Changan: Changan, the capital of the Tang dynasty, grew to be the largest city in the world at 2 million inhabitants, with Hangzhou serving as the capital of the Southern Song.
Emergence of a Market Economy
Letters of Credit: To address a shortage of copper coins, letters of credit were developed, including promissory notes and checks.
Paper Money Production: Independently produced paper money became common but was less stable—leading to unrest when not honored.
Government Monopoly on Money: By the 11th century, the government established a monopoly on money production.
Trade Routes Overview
Map of Silk Roads: The Silk Roads connected various regions including places in China, Persia, Arabia, and India.
Chinese Junks: By the late Tang and Song periods, Chinese Junks were considered the best ships available, contributing significantly to trade along the Indian Ocean and challenging Arab dominance.
Navigation Advances: The use of compasses improved navigation accuracy.
Comparison of Vessels: A typical Chinese junk's dimensions and construction were superior compared to Columbus's Santa Maria, exemplifying innovation in maritime technology.
Effects of Innovation on the Chinese Economy
Economic Development: Innovations in technology and trade practices had profound effects on the economic landscape of China over time.
Family in the Tang-Song Era
Male Dominance: The family structure was male-dominated, with respect for elders emphasized, supported by Neo-Confucian teachings.
Opportunities for Elite Women: Some elite women experienced broader opportunities, illustrated by figures such as Empress Wu and Yang Guifei.
Divorce Practices: Divorce became widely available if both parties consented.
Neo-Confucian Support of Male Dominance
Reduction of Women's Roles: In the late Song period, Neo-Confucianism led to a more restrictive role for women, emphasizing their domestic duties as homemakers and mothers.
Men's Privileges: Men enjoyed significant freedoms, particularly in matters of inheritance and divorce, and education was primarily available to boys, with girls receiving no formal education.
Foot-binding
Cultural Significance: Foot-binding became a practice that illustrated women's subjugation and confinement.
Procedure and Aesthetics: Girls aged 2-5 underwent the painful process of binding to achieve an ideal foot length of 3 inches, resulting in serious physical deformities and limited mobility; however, it was considered highly attractive and erotic by men.
Historical Origins: The practice reportedly originated during the Five Kingdoms period among court dancers but became widespread during the Song dynasty.
Decline of Practice: The practice largely died out in the early 20th century due to changing social norms.
Cultural Achievements
Technological Refinements: Innovations in techniques for producing paper, gunpowder, and fireworks were notable during this era (9th century).
Mathematical Developments: The abacus was developed for counting. In 1041, Bi Sheng invented printing with movable type.
Artistic Themes: Nature was a common theme portrayed in poetry and art during this period.