12: Reunification and Renaissance in Chinese Civilization: The Era of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Question 1

Yangdi

Answer 1

• Second member of Sui dynasty; murdered his father to gain throne; restored Confucian examination system; responsible for construction of Chinese canal system; assassinated in 618.
• Restored Confucian examination system; responsible for construction of Chinese canal system.
• Strengthed foundations for political unification and posperity in Sui economic prosperity at first but then brought it’s downfall.

Question 2

Li Yuan

Answer 2

• AKA Duke of Tang; minister for Yangdi; took over empire following assisnation of Yangdi; first emperor of Tang dynasty; took imperial title of Gaozu.
• Took over empire following assisnation of Yangdi.
• First emperor of Tang dynasty.

Question 3

Chang’an

Answer 3

• Capital of Tang dyanasty; population of 2 million, larger than any other city in the world at that time.
• Capital of Tang dyanasty.

Question 4

Ministry of Rites

Answer 4

• Administered examinations to students from Chinese government schools or those recommended by distinguished scholars.
• Helped those of lower classes get into higher ranking positions without connections.

Question 5

jinhsi

Answer 5

-Title granted to students who passed the most difficult Chinese examination on all of Chinese literature; became immediate dignitaries and eligible for high office.

Question 6

pure land Buddhism

Answer 6

• Emphasized salvationist aspects of Chinese Buddhism; popular among masses of Chinese society.
• Popular among masses of Chinese society.

Question 7

Chan Buddhism (China)/ Zen Buddhism (Japan)

Answer 7

• Stressed meditiation and appreciation of natural and artistic beauty; Chan popular with elite members of Chinese society.
• Main religion of upper classes of Chinese society,.

Question 8

Empress Wu

Answer 8

• Tang ruler 690-705 C.E. in China; supported Buddhist establishment; tried to elevate Buddhism to state religion; had multistory statues of Buddha created.
• Supported Buddhist establishment.
• Tried to elevate Buddhism to state religion; had multistory statues of Buddha created.

Question 9

Wuzong

Answer 9

• Chinese emperor of Tang dynasty who openly persecuted Buddhism by destroying monastaries in 840s; reduced influence of Chinese Buddhism in favor of Confucian ideology.
• Openly persecuted Buddhism by destroying monastaries in 840s.
• Reduced influence of Chinese Buddhism in favor of Confucian ideology.

Question 10

Xuanzong

Answer 10

• Leading Chinese emperor of the Tang dynasty who reigned from 713 to 755 though he encouraged overexpansion.
• Encouraged overexpansion.
• Weaked dynasty.

Question 11

Yang Guifei

Answer 11

• Royal concubine during reign of Xuanzong; introduction of relatives into royal administration led to revolt.
• Packed upper levels of government with her greedy relatives.
• Led to revolt.

Question 12

Zhao Kuangyin

Answer 12

• Founder of Song dynasty; originally a general following the fall of Tang; took title of Taizu; failed to overcome northern Liao dtnasty that remained independent.
• Founder of Song dynasty.
• Failed to overcome northern Liao dtnasty that remained independent.

Question 13

Liao Dynasty

Answer 13

• Founded in 907 by nomadic Khitan people from Manchuria; maintained independence from Song dynasty in China.
• Nomads independant of Song.
• Weakened Song through attacks.

Question 14

Khitans

Answer 14

• Nomadic peoples of Manchuria; militarily superior to Song dynasty China but influenced by Chinese culture; forced humiliating treaties on Song China in 11th century.
• Militarily superior to Song dynasty.
• Forced humiliating treaties on Song China in 11th century.

Question 15

Zhu Xi

Answer 15

• Most prominent of neo-Confucian scholars during the Song dynasty in China; stressed importance of applying philisophical principles to everyday life and action.
• Influenced culture, beliefs, and women’s rights in Song Era.

Question 16

neo- Confucians

Answer 16

• Revived ancient Confucian teachings in Song era China; great impact on the dynasties that followed their emphasis on tradition and hostility to foreign systems made Chinese rulers and bureaucrats less receptive to outside ideas and influences.
• Emphasis on tradition and hostility to foreign systems made Chinese rulers and bureaucrats less receptive to outside ideas and influences.
• Changed culture such as lessened women’s rights.

Question 17

Tangut

Answer 17

• Rulers of Xi Xia kingdom of northwest China; one of regional kingdoms during period of southern Songl conquered by Mongols in 1226.
• Rulers of Xi Xia kingdom of northwest China.

Question 18

Xi Xia

Answer 18

• Kingdom of Tangut people north of Song kingdom, in mid-11th century; collected tribute that drained Song resources and burdened Chinese peasantry.
• Collected tribute that drained Song resources and burdened Chinese peasantry.

Question 19

Wang Anshi

Answer 19

• Confucian scholar and chief minister of a Song emperor in 1070s; introduced sweeping reforms based on Legalists; advocated greater state intervention in society.
• Introduced sweeping reforms based on Legalists.
• Advocated greater state intervention in society.

Question 20

Jurchens

Answer 20

• Founders of the Qin kingdom that succeedd the Liao in northern China; annexed most of the Yellow River basin and forced Song to flee to south.
• Founders of the Qin kingdom that succeedd the Liao in northern China.
• Forced Song to flee to south.

Question 21

Jin

Answer 21

• Kingdom north of the Song Empire; established by Jurchens in1115 after overthrowing Liao dynasty; ended in 1234.
• Overthrew Liao dynasty.
• Forced Song to flee south.

Question 22

Southern Song

Answer 22

• Rump state of Song dynasty from 1127 to 1279; carved out of much larger domains ruled by the Tang and northern Song; culturally one of the most glorious reigns in Chinese history.
• One of most glorious reigns in Chinese history culturally.

Question 23

Grand Canal

Answer 23

• Built in 7th century during reign of Yandi during Sui dynasty; designed to link the original centers of Chinese civilization on the the north China plainwith the Yandtze river basin to the south; nearly 1200 miles long.
• Linked the original centers of Chinese civilization on the the north China plainwith the Yandtze river basin to the south.
• Helped trade and economy.

Question 24

junks

Answer 24

• Chinese ships equipped with watertight bulkheads, sternpost rudders, compasses, and bamboo fanders; dominant force in Asian seas east of the Malayan peninsula.
• Dominant force in Asian seas east of the Malayan peninsula.
• Improved economic activity.

Question 25

flying money

Answer 25

• Chinese credit intrument that provided credit vouchers to merchants to be redeemed at the end of the voyage; reduced danger of robbery; early form of currency.
• Reduced danger of robbery so economy better.
• Early form of currency.

Question 26

footbinding

Answer 26

• Practice in Chinese society to mutilate women’s feet in order to make them smaller; produced pain and restricted women’s movement; made it easier to confine women in the household.
• Made it easier to confine women in the household.
• Decreased women’s rights.

Question 27

Li Bo

Answer 27

• Most famous poet of the Tang era; blended images of the mundane world with philisophical musings.
• Most famous poet of Tang era.
• Influenced Tang thinking.