Chinese Civilization: Tang and Song Dynasties

Buddhism became a dominant force in China during the Tang period because of support from both the elite and the lower class. Emperors like Taizong supported it by building monasteries, sending emissaries to India, and commissioning Buddhist paintings and statues. Empress Wu, however, was more supportive of Buddhism than any other Tang dynasty ruler, even trying to make it the state religion. She also commissioned paintings and sculptures of the Buddha. Emperor Wuzong took a more active role in limiting the influence of Buddhism, and under his rule, many monasteries were destroyed, monks and nuns were forced to return to civilian life, and slavery and labor were abolished.

The Tang-Song era saw a widespread shift in the population balance of the empire. This created a need for a new transportation system to connect the north and south. Yangdi's Grand Canal was built to connect the north China plain with the Yangtze River basin more than 500 miles to the south, facilitating trade and helping to ensure the delivery of grain to the capital. This movement of people from the north to the south strengthened economic growth across the empire. This era also saw a growth in the role of commerce and the money economy in China, leading to a more sophisticated commercial organization, and a focus on credit and paper money. Commerce also spurred urban growth in China, and the Tang capital of Chang'an was the largest city in the world at the time. Also, the development of agrarian production was promoted during this era, and the rulers of both the Sui and Tang dynasties adopted policies that redistributed land equitably among peasant households. The innovations in the Song era, including the invention of new seeds, fertilization methods, and new farming techniques, contributed to the widespread prosperity that China experienced during the Tang-Song era.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Tang emperors completed the repairs begun by the Sui and earlier dynasties on the northern walls, in part, to create a system of frontier armies against invading nomadic groups. To ensure the loyalty of these frontier forces, these armies were partly recruited from Turkic nomadic peoples. The sons of Turkic tribal leaders were sent to the capital as hostages and educated in Chinese ways. The goal was to encourage the eventual assimilation of Turkic peoples into Chinese culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Tang dynasty's bureaucracy was crucial to the restoration of Chinese unity. The scholars who served in the bureaucracy helped to restore Confucian ideology to its place of prominence. This contributed to the stability and prosperity of the empire. The scholars in the bureaucracy played a critical role in curbing the power of the aristocracy, who formerly held a great deal of influence in court life. As a result, the scholar-gentry class became more prominent and influential, and the aristocracy's political power declined.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The early Tang monarchs took steps to rebuild and expand the imperial bureaucracy by reviving the scholar-gentry class, who were essential to governing a vast and complex empire. The scholar-gentry had their fortunes revived under Sui Emperor Yangdi and continued to prosper under the Tang emperors. They were also brought into a position of more prominence in order to counter the power of the aristocracy, whose influence had begun to decline. From that point onward, scholar-gentry bureaucrats played a key role in the centralized administration of the empire.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To counter the growing influence of Buddhism in China</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Neo-Confucian scholars placed a strong emphasis on women's role as homemakers and mothers, stressing the importance of virginity for brides, fidelity for wives, and chastity for widows. They also discouraged widows from remarrying. In contrast, the Buddhists offered women alternative paths to fulfillment through education and monastic life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Tang dynasty declined due to internal strife and external pressures. The empire's resources were weakened by internal rebellions, nomadic incursions, and the growth of power among regional lords. The emperor's extravagant spending and a growing reliance on nomadic allies also contributed to the dynasty's downfall.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wang Anshi, a celebrated Confucian scholar and chief minister of the Song Shenzong Emperor, sought to address the empire's weak economic and military condition through sweeping reforms. His goals were to encourage agricultural expansion, improve government financial resources, reform the army, and restore the dynasty's power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty placed a strong emphasis on Confucianism, a system of government where scholars were responsible for military and political administration. The Song dynasty's reliance on scholar-gentry officials and its focus on a civil service system weakened the military, leading to a more centralized government. The scholar-gentry favored peace, and their influence contributed to a more peaceful society at the expense of a capable military.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Southern Song dynasty faced various challenges. One of its biggest challenges was its inability to overcome the northern Liao dynasty and later the Jin dynasty. The Song faced pressure from nomadic groups to the north, and was forced to pay tributes to ensure a measure of peace. This reliance on the scholar-gentry class for governing also led to a weakened military, making it less effective in protecting the empire from invaders. From the Song dynasty onwards, China was no longer able to reunite and control the entire north China Plain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The expansion of trade and commerce, accompanied by significant innovations in technology and the economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The widespread prosperity of Chinese civilization during the Tang-Song era led to several social changes. There was an increase in the population of urban centers and a growth in the population of the scholar-gentry class. The empire also saw the introduction of new agricultural techniques and a period of relative peace and stability, which led to a rise in standards of living for many Chinese people. However, this period also witnessed increased social stratification as the scholar-gentry class gained more power and influence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some of the primary innovations and socioeconomic developments that contributed to the widespread prosperity of Chinese civilization during the Tang-Song era were the expansion of trade and commerce, a surge in urban growth, improved agricultural techniques and productivity, and the introduction of paper money and credit instruments. This period also saw the construction of large infrastructure projects, such as the Grand Canal, which facilitated the movement of goods and people and helped to integrate the north and south regions of the empire.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The fall of the Tang dynasty left China in chaos and a state of fragmentation. But Zhao Kuangyin emerged from this period of turmoil and became a powerful and respected military leader. He unified the empire by defeating his rivals, and after taking the throne, he ruled the newly established Song dynasty for a few years, earning the title Emperor Taizu.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty was unable to overcome the Liao dynasty, which was ruled by the nomadic Khitan peoples. The Khitans were a militarily powerful people who had a long history of military success and were well-versed in northern warfare. The Song dynasty, however, was more focused on a Confucian system of administration and therefore had a weaker military. The Song's lack of military strength led to a series of humiliating treaties with the Liao dynasty, which required the Song to pay a heavy tribute. This demonstrates their inability to effectively deal with powerful nomadic groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty faced several significant challenges during its reign. One of its most significant challenges was its inability to overcome the northern Liao dynasty and later the Jin dynasty, which was ruled by nomadic groups to the north. The Song also faced pressure from internal rebellions and the growth of power among regional lords. The Song was also hindered by its focus on Confucianism and a less militaristic approach to governance, which made it less effective in dealing with nomadic incursions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty's administrative reforms sought to strengthen the imperial government and reduce the power of the aristocracy. These reforms led to a more centralized form of government, where scholars were entrusted with key administrative roles. The scholar-gentry class was also promoted, and their influence increased. The Song dynasty's strong emphasis on Confucianism and its promotion of the scholar-gentry class were key aspects of its administrative reforms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty, under the leadership of Zhao Kuangyin, chose to promote a Confucian system of administration because they had learned the lessons of the Tang dynasty's decline. The Tang had largely relied on a powerful military, but it ultimately led to the instability of the empire. The Song dynasty's leaders realized that a strong focus on Confucianism and a meritocratic bureaucracy would help to bring about a more peaceful and stable society. They also hoped to minimize the threat of regional powerful lords who could seize power through military means.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty's reliance on a more bureaucratic and scholarly approach to governance actually weakened its military capabilities. The scholar-gentry classes, in general, were not as skilled in military matters and placed a larger emphasis on peaceful means of administration. This made them less effective in dealing with threats posed by nomadic groups and other powerful military forces. As a result, the Song dynasty was forced to rely on a large standing army, which was expensive to maintain and did not always prove to be effective in keeping the empire safe from threats.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wang Anshi's reforms were based on Legalist principles, which advocated for a strong and interventionist role for the state. He introduced significant reforms, including cheap loans for peasants, government-assisted irrigation projects, and taxation of the landlord class. He also attempted to reorganize the military and promote a more analytical approach to education. His efforts were a direct response to the economic and military weaknesses of the Song dynasty.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Song dynasty's reliance on scholar-gentry officials and its weak military meant it could not effectively deal with the growing threats from nomadic groups and the Jin kingdom. Continued internal revolts, poor economic conditions, and the reluctance of the scholar-gentry class to support military action led to a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Jurchens, who conquered much of north China. This led to the Southern Song Dynasty with Hangzhou as its capital and the beginning of a new phase in Chinese history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Tang-Song era saw the expansion of trade and commerce due to several key factors, including increased prosperity, improved infrastructure, and the adoption of paper money and new credit instruments. This led to a surge in urban growth, as more people moved to cities to seek opportunities in commerce and trade. The construction of the Grand Canal also facilitated the movement of goods and people, contributing to the empire's economic prosperity and urbanization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The expansion of trade and commerce during the Tang-Song eras had several social effects. The increased prosperity and economic growth of the era spurred a surge in urban growth, as more people moved to cities to seek opportunities in commerce and trade. The growing sophistication of commercial organization and the introduction of new technologies and credit instruments (like paper money) further stimulated the economy and led to the emergence of a new class of merchant elites.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Flying money was essentially a form of early credit voucher. It was introduced to facilitate trade and commerce during the Tang dynasty and helped to reduce the risk of robbery on merchants traveling by land. The invention of flying money greatly facilitated the expansion of commerce and helped to create a more sophisticated commercial culture in China.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The preference of elite men for women with small feet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Footbinding was a practice designed to mutilate women's feet and make them smaller, resulting in severe pain and significantly restricting their mobility. As a result, women were confined to the home and were unable to participate in many aspects of public life. This restriction reinforced the patriarchal nature of Chinese society and contributed to the oppression of women during the Tang-Song eras.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Tang-Song eras witnessed a wave of technological advancements in China. The main areas of advancement included innovations in agriculture, such as the invention of new seeds, improved irrigation techniques, and the development of new tools for farming. There were also major breakthroughs in the areas of printing, navigation, and gunpowder production. The Chinese also made significant strides in the arts, literature, and architecture. This was a period of dynamic growth and innovation in China, reflecting the ingenuity and creativity of the people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tang and Song era advancements made a significant global impact. The invention of printing spread throughout the world, and the Chinese silk routes, trade, and maritime activities led to a greater exchange of knowledge and goods between China and other parts of the world. The invention of gunpowder and the development of new tools and weapons also had a far-reaching impact on global history. The spread of Chinese culture, art, and literature in the Tang-Song eras also contributed to the global understanding of Chinese civilization.</p> Signup and view all the answers