The+Tang+and+Song+Dynasties

Document: “Ties That Bind: Paths to Power” · Working class man trying to coax a high official into giving him a position in the imperial bureaucracy. · Wu Bao advertised to the official that he studied Confucian classics and mentioned he was from the same birthplace. || · The Tang Dynasty was founded after the collapse of the Sui in 618. · The Tang Dynasty completed repairs on the Great Wall; expanded further than any other Chinese dynasty · Buddhism was revived in Tang China by Empress Wu; Persecuted by Emperor Wuzong || “Grant me some small salary, and a share however slight in your deeds of merit.” “…my heart has always been filled with admiration and respect.” || “…be quick to bestow your special favour on me, so that I may render you service as a humble groom.” || “Grant me some small salary, and a share however slight in your deeds of merit.” || “So lacking in talent, I fear I am but poorly fitted to be selected for an official post…” “I have heard by devious ways of your readiness to help those in distress. If you will not overlook a man from your native place, be quick to bestow your special favour on me…” || Questions? Would Wu’s appeal be effective? It seems ill advised to admit you lack talent in what you’re applying for. Does this method of appeal prove effective in China today?
 * **A** || · Wriiten by Wu Bao who was IMAGINED by Nui Su.
 * **P** || * 618 CE - 907 CE. During the Tang Dynasty(?) ||
 * **P** || · Founded by Li Yuan
 * **A** || · Wu Bao is making an appeal to a high official in the imperial bureaucracy in hopes of securing a position for himself.
 * **R** || · Wu Bao wished to gain a position in the imperial bureaucracy and rise up in Tang China’s social hierarchy.
 * **T** || · To secure a position within the imperial bureaucracy
 * **S** || · Obviously ability mattered much less than birthplace and family ties.

Summary: After the political turmoil in the **Six Dynasties Era** in China, the land was reunited under the **Sui ** empire. Emperor **Wendi ** was the original ruler followed by his son, **Yangdi **. Yangdi reintroduced bureaucracy to China and the economy prospered. Yangdi attempted to expand, but his failed attempts to recapture Korea ended those dreams. His defeats led discourse and revolts leading to to the rise of the Tang dynasty. The Tang emperor, **Li Yuan ** and his son **Tang Taizong ** began the golden age of the Tang. The dynasty continued using many Sui policies. The domain of China stretched beyond the limits during the Han dynasty with the aid of the Tang armies. They spread as far as Tibet, Manchuria, and Vietnam, repaired the Great Wall, and even conquered Korea. Empowering the bureaucracy was one of the major continuities of the dynasty. The scholar-gentry bureaucrats, or **jinshi **, were highly influential and powerful government officials. They made the bureaucracy more sophisticated with divisions of power in a executive department. The executive department was divided into six executive branches; each regulating separate important functions. Examinations by the **Ministry of Rites ****determined who became a bureaucrat and who could not. ** The origin of the Tang (and Sui) bureaucracy was Confucian teachings. Despite Confucian influence in government, Mahayana Buddhism spread throughout the Eastern world during the Six Dynasties Era. **Pure land ** Buddhism was highly popular amongst the peasantry (middle – lower classes) while **Zen ** Buddhism was more popular amongst the upper-class aristocrats. The influence of Buddhism allowed several leaders, including Taizong and **Empress Wu ** to gain great power and allegiance. However, Buddhism’s success in China invoked the anger and wrath of Daoists and Confucians. **Emperor Wuzong ** openly persecuted the monastic orders to reclaim lands that are tax-free. Empress Wei's attempt to seize power led to the reign of **Xuanzong ** and **Yuan Guifei. ** Their family’s corruption led to revolts that crippled and eventually destroyed the Tang Empire. Nomadic invasions and the uncooperative regional leaders finally caused the last Tang emperor to resign; 907 CE. The Song Dynasty was founded by **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Emperor Taizu **in 960 CE. The majority of Tang territories were restored to unification though China would never control that much land again. The **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Liao dynasty ****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">was formed in northern China (c. 907 CE) from ** the nomadic **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Khitan ** people after their incursions upon the late Tang empire. The Song’s inability to conquer the Liao contributes to the conquest by the **Mongols** and subordination by **Manchurians**. The Song continued many Tang policies but imperial regulations and policies were weaker. There were a multitude of restrictions, such as only electing civil officials as governors; to limit the ability to consolidate power. **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Neo-Confucianism ** emphasized the traditional Confucian values, focusing on social ideas and family. Neo-Confucianism also had a great impact on women, creating an unfair patriarchal society in which women were subordinated to men.**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Foot-binding ** was one of those controlling, subordinating traditions. Some rights such as favorable inheritance and divorce laws did give women some justice, but they were largely exploited and belittled. Feats of engineering – like the **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Great Canal - ****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">and ** innovative, revolutionary inventions like **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">gunpowder **, **naval** **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">compasses **, and movable type were thanks to the intellectual enrichment that came with Confucian ideals. Under the //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-style: normal;">Confucian ideals, // the **jinshi** were associated with cultural enlightenment. The scholar-gentry class was expected to be “cultured” and spend their free time writing poetry, like the work of **Li** **Bo.** Both Tang and Song dynasties developed a realistic style of painting. This era is known as the **'Chinese Renaissance'** because substantial reforms had affected society. It was called a Renaissance period because it was a revival of old Chinese beliefs and forms of art and increased intellectual exploration occurred. The Tang finished the Great Canal started by the Sui and finally connected the Northern and Southern parts of the empire with an efficient internal trade route. The revival of the **Silk Road** trade route caused trade within and outside of China to flourish. **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Junks ** on the sea and the Silk Road on the mainland allowed the Chinese to export a myriad of goods while importing very little. The vast increase of commerce led to increasing sophistication. Government regulated the markets while artisan **guilds** and merchants developed systems like **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">flying money ** and **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">deposit stores **. Ultimately, the Song fell due to a similar uprising to the Tang. The nomadic **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Tangut ** kingdom of **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Xi Xia ** created great strains on the Song empire. The Song fell to the **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Jurchens ****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">(conquered the Liao as well) **, who were able to easily conquer the Northern provinces amidst the internal disarray.