Tang to Song Transition Flashcards
prepwork 6
What was the Five Dynasties Period?
An era of fragmentation (907–960) with five regional powers dominant in China.
When was the Song Dynasty founded?
The Song Dynasty was founded in 960 when a general reunited China and established strong central rule.
What were the Civil Service Exams?
Exams that expanded the bureaucracy, allowing officials to be chosen by merit rather than birth.
What was the Emperor’s authority in the Song Dynasty?
The Emperor retained supreme power but limited military influence.
What was the Six Ministries System?
A continuation from the Tang Dynasty, consisting of Revenue, Civil Appointments, Rites, Works, Punishments, and War.
What were prefectures and circuits in the Song Dynasty?
Administrative divisions where local governance relied on magistrates and influential families.
Who were the Kitan?
A nomadic threat from Mongolia that prompted the Song to seek allies.
What happened with the Jurchen and Jin Dynasty?
Initially allied with the Song, they later betrayed and conquered Kaifeng in 1127.
What was significant about gunpowder warfare during the Song Dynasty?
It was used in sieges, with the Jurchen employing flame-throwers, bombs, and siege towers.
What marked the fall of Kaifeng?
The Jurchen captured Song emperors in 1127, ending the Northern Song.
What characterized the Southern Song?
From 1127 to 1276, the new capital was in Hangzhou, leading to a major migration southward.
What was the cultural and economic shift during the Southern Song?
The southern economy thrived, creating a distinct cultural divide between north and south.
Who was Li Qingzhao?
A famous poet (1084–1151) whose memoir documents migration and personal loss.
Who was Emperor Huizong?
An artistically gifted ruler (1101–1125) who was captured by the Jurchen and given a humiliating title.
What was the Tribute System established by the 1142 Treaty?
The Southern Song was forced to pay the Jin dynasty in silver and silk, expanding trade despite humiliation.
