Sui, Tang, and Song Flashcards
Champa Rice
Is a fast ripening rice that can produce two harvests found in vietnam
Helped to feed the growing population of the Song dynasty.
Song Dynasty
960-1279
Emperors:
Song Taizu
Invented porcelain, movable type and the 1st set of paper money
The military was not emphasized, instead was Education and Administration
Reimposed centralized imperial rule.
Sui Dynasty
Sui(589 - 618)
Yang Jian (Sui Wendi) (1st) & Sui Yangdi (2nd)
Reunified China after the 300 years of turmoil
Built Grand Canal Dynasty
Tang Taizong
(627- 649)
2nd Emperor of Tang
Murdered 2 brothers and thrust father aside for throne
Built Capital at Chang’an
Prices and Taxes remained low
Had an equal-field system.
He re-conquered the northern and western land that
China had since the decline of the Han Dynasty.
He started the achievements of the Tang Dynasty.
Wu Zetian
(626-706)
Only empress in Chinese history (Tang)
Patronized Buddhism
Tang Dynasty
(618-907 CE)
Considered to be the “Golden Age” of China
Had equal-field system
Bureaucracy based on merit
Confucian Education System
Biggest city in Ancient China at capital: Chang’an
Had control of the Silk Road
Grand Canal
The 1,100-mile (1,700-kilometer) waterway linking the Yellow and the Yangzi Rivers but going North to South instead of West to east like most chinese rivers at the time.
Made trade between the Chinese easier and quicker during the Sui Dynasty
Song Industrial Revolution
During Song times, heavy industry — especially the iron industry — grew astoundingly.
Iron production reached around 125,000 tons per year in 1078 CE, a sixfold increase over the output in 800 CE.
Iron and steel were put to many uses, ranging from nails and tools to the chains for suspension bridges and Buddhist statues.
The army was a large consumer: steel tips increased the effectiveness of Song arrows; mass-production methods were used to make iron armor in small, medium, and large sizes; high-quality steel for swords was made through high-temperature metallurgy.
Huge bellows, often driven by waterwheels, were used to superheat the molten ore.
Confucianism
A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.
which focuses on the importance of personal ethics and morality
Buddhism
A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha.
Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but that if one achieves a state of enlightenment (nirvana), it is possible to escape this cycle forever
Sui Yangdi
604-618 CE
Second emperor of the Sui Dynasty
Completed work on the Grand Canal
During his rule, his projects demanded high taxes and force labor, which caused hostility toward his rule Rebellions broke out; assassinated in 618
Song Taizu
(960-976)
First Song dynasty emperor
He focused his rule on civil administration, industry, education, and the arts rather than on military affairs. Inaugurated bureaucracy of merit.
“Flying Cash” or “Flying Money”
Type of paper negotiable instrument used during China’s Tang dynasty invented by merchants but adopted by the state.
Could transfer cash across vast distances without physically transporting it.
Started during Song
Neo Confucianism
Philosophy that attempted to merge certain basic elements of Confucian and Buddhist thought
Equal Field System
Agricultural reform favoring the peasants under the Tang dynasty in China, inheritance system where 1/5 of the land when to the peasant’s descendants and the rest went to the government.
Know all parts of the Confucian social order
Father - Son
Older Brother - Younger Brother
Ruler - Subject
Older Friend - Younger Friend
Husband - Wife
or simpler: Ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, elderly to younger, and friend to friend
What made possible the Chinese cultivation of the staple crops
Champa rice being brought over from Vietnam
In the period 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E., states in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam had what in common
They were all culturally influenced by China
What developments in Song dynasty China were important factors in the accumulation of wealth
Improvements in farm tools. Had champa rice, had good trade. Woodblock printing, and paper money.
Why was the Tang Dynasty considered a “Golden Age” of China
Because they had control of the Silk Road, which served as a major trade route, trading not only goods but as well as cultures. (between China, the Middle East, Rome, and India.) Along with that it was a time of harmony, stability, and achievement.
How was Chinese culture transferred to Japan, Vietnam, and Korea.
Specific outcomes of transfers for each region need to be known.
All - China brought in culture, religion, and government/administration.
Japan - merchants established commercial trade. Not invaded
Outcomes for Japan - Political and cultural, claimed imperial authority and reforms based on tang, chinese style bureaucracy, equal field system, used both confucian and buddhism, some learned chinese in school, and some government and court documents were in chinese.
Vietnam - Chinese army invaded, merchants established commercial trade.
Outcomes for Vietnam - established administrative system and bureaucracy based on china, prepared careers using confucian education. Political and cultural
Korea - Chinese army invaded, merchants established commercial trade. (Tributary relationship)
Outcomes for Korea - organized court based off of china’s, based their capital on Chang’an. Religion, political and cultural
Woodblock Printing
Process of carving symbols into a block of wood to make printing faster
Gunpowder
was first used to make fumigators to keep away insect pests and evil spirits. In later centuries it was used to make explosives and grenades and to propel cannonballs, shot, and bullets.
or
Invented at first for use with fireworks but later uses included bombs and weapons for war
Compass
Used during the Silk Road Trade and helped with navigating the land/ sea routes of China
Founder of the Tang Dynasty
Li Yuan
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
foot binding
an extremely painful process, that compressed girls feet to half their natural size.
to combat unfairness and government corruption in government, the _____________ was restored
Civil Service exams
Sui Wendi
He was a powerful general that unified in 581 CE. He had successful maneuvers like fixing the Great Wall of china, building large palaces, canal from the yellow River to the Yangtze River, and peace with the northern tribes. His empire did not last because stage five broke out. War between the aristocrats and the army.
Tang Gaozu
Tang Taizong’s father. Strong Chinese military leader that is credited with founding the Tang dynasty
Meritocracy
a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement
Bureaucracy
a formal organization with a hierarchy of authority and a clear division of labor
Branches of Buddhism
Theravada - the oldest of the two major branches of Buddhism. Practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia, its beliefs are relatively conservative, holding close to the original teachings of the Buddha
Mahayana - “Great Vehicle” branch of Buddhism followed in China, Japan, and Central Asia. The focus is on reverence for Buddha and for bodhisattvas, enlightened persons who have postponed nirvana to help others attain enlightenment.
Vajrayana - Literally “Diamond Vehicle,” it is the prominent branch of Buddhism in Tibet.
Darma
doing one’s moral duty in this life so that the soul can advance in the next life
Nirvana (Buddhism)
Name given to reaching the state of perfect peace in Buddhism.
Chinese farming improvements
began under the Tang; improved irrigation, new ways of growing crops, new crops: tea and rice; led to increased population and rise of new cities
Tibetan Buddhism
a Buddhist doctrine that includes elements from India that are not Buddhist and elements of preexisting shamanism, a tradition of Buddhism that teaches that people can use special techniques to harness spiritual energy and can achieve nirvana in a single lifetime
Scholarly Gentry
civil servants appointed by the emperor of China to perform day-to-day governance from the Han dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912, China’s last imperial dynasty.
Taika Reforms
Attempt to remake Japanese monarch into an absolute Chinese-style emperor; included attempts to create professional bureaucracy and peasant conscript army.
Hindu Caste System
system put into place by the Aryan invaders of India to suppress the native people; strict social hierarchy with priest and warriors at the top and untouchables on bottom
Dynastic cycle, aka the mandate of heaven
Old dynasty (fall), old dynasty loses mandate, problems, new dynasty claims mandate, new dynasty (rise), old dynasty (fall), etc.
