Karn's Asian Studies Blog: January 2008

Tang Dynasty

(618- 907)

Tang dynasty was founded by Emperor Li Yuan, who seized power after the decline and collapse of the Sui Dynasty on June 18, 618 and end in 907. The state, under the ruling of the Tang Dynasty, became the most powerful and prosperous country in the world. Particularly, in this glorious period, the economy, politics, culture and military strength reached an unparalleled advanced level.

Reason for take over

At the end of Sui Dynasty (581 - 618), the whole country fell into chaos due to the tyranny of Emperor Yang; rebellions roused by peasants were everywhere. His reputation was that of a son who lacked respect for his parents, committed assassinated his own father and took over the throne. In 618 after Emperor Yang was killed by his chancellor, Yuwen Huaji. As a result, the regime of the Sui Dynasty became rather unstable and in 618, when Emperor Yang was strangled by one of his subordinates, it completely collapsed.

Founder of An Empire

Li Yuan who was a vassal in Sui Court, raised an army in Taiyuan from May 617. By November, Li Yuan's army captured the capital city Chang'an and put a new monarch, Yang You, on the throne as Emperor Gong. Meanwhile, Li Yuan proclaimed himself Da Chengxiang (prime minister) and Tang Wang (King of Tang). Li Yuan seized the chance to proclaim himself emperor and changed the state title into Tang.

Leaders of the Civilization

1^st.) Emperor Taizong Li Shimin

From627 to 679 after the recovering from the previous weak condition, underEmperor Taizong Li Shimin’s the nation reached an unparalleled prosperity .

-economy and commerce flourished

- the social order was stable
- corruption never existed in the court
- the national boundaries were even open to foreign countries.

2^nd & 3^rd ) Wu Meiniang - Lizhi

Wu Meiniang, the wife of Li Zhi (who became an emperor) and is the ninth son of Li Shimin

Wu afterwards became the empress disregarding the objections and criticisms of all chancellors. Actually it was Wu Zetian who had the real power during Emperor Gaozong's (Li Zhi) reign since the emperor suffered from bad health. After Li Zhi died, Wu assassinate his two sons. -Li Xian and Li Dan. In 690, Shengshen and established a new dynasty, Zhou, which lasted for 15 years. During her reign, the state economy continued to develop rapidly.

4^th & 5^th ) Li Xian- Empress Wei

In 705, a rebellion broke out, Li Xian became an Emperor Zhongzong. However, Emperor Zhongzong's ruling was managed by his wife, Empress Wei.

In 710, plotting to be the second woman emperor, Empress Wei along with Princess Anle poisoned Zhongzong. At that time, Li Longji (son of Li Dan) launched a coup with the assistance of his parental aunt Princess Taiping, killing Empress Wei and Princess Anle. After that, Li Dan was crowned as Emperor Ruizong.

6^th) Emperor Xuanzong

The second glorious period was during Emperor Xuanzong's reign. In 712, Emperor Ruizong abdicated and Li Longji was enthroned as Emperor Xuanzong. Under his ruling, the national economy, politics and culture all developed rapidly and the social development entered a new heyday. In that period, Chang'an City was the largest and the most prosperous metropolis in the world.

A leader from another civilization outside of China

Songtsen Gampo (617-650) The king of Tibet in the 700s century Tibetan who prepared the way for transmission of the teachings.

Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah (Arabic: Mohammed, Muhammed, Mahomet) (c. 570 Mecca - June 8, 632 Madina), was the founder of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as the last messenger and prophet of God.

Accomplishments

Economy

The Grand Canal

In interior of China, the Grand Canal allows extended communication withing the empire built by the Sui dynasty. The nothern and the southern part become more unitfied and had establised a good relationship between distanced people.

Social Changes

As a result of the Grand Canal the Northern and the Southern people become more fimiliazed with each other. Since the transportation provided by the Grand Canal, during the time of severs eg. famine in the Nothern part, the Southern people cured this peoblem and with greater aids.

Techonology

Astronomy- People worked on calculating the paths of (sun and) moon, the ecliptic and the movement of different constellations.

Mathematicia - Wang Xitong wrote his book Qigu Suanjing where he explains the solution of third degree equations

Agriculture- New agricultural technologies like the curved shaft ploughing, cultivating by first setting fire on the land, separate cultivation of seedlings , and a sophisticated irrigation system enhanced productivity.

Medicine- They had made further improvements in the fields of dentistry and inner medicine like the discovery of the blood circuit and the digestion system.

Geogrphical reports- They did rarely contain pictures or maps, the development of bookprinting improved the quality of geographical reports and mapping, like the general geographical book.

Invention of book printing- It was first used by Buddhist monks to spread their sermons, sutras and illustrations in a cheap and easy way.

Agriculture tools- As rice became more profitable population centers shifted from places to places. Three important tools were developed to aid in rice cultuvation; the chain with paddles which allows water to be transferred among levels, the harrow, and the rice field plough.

Literature

Greatest Age for Chinese Poetry

Since poem and calligraphy become the required study who whishing to pass imperial examination, poem was heavily competitive. There are over 480, 900 poems panned by 2,200 Tang authors

Tang poems are said to be the finest of Chinese literature, turning back to a simple "regular style" with five or seven syllables per verse.

Painting of the scholar Fu Sheng, by the

Tang poet, musician, and painter Wang Wei Wang Wei (701–761)

Government (monarchy)

The central government was located in the capital of Chang'an. They had expanded many administration system which comprised with 4 main system and they are Department of state affair, an Imperial Chancellory, an Imperial Grand Secretariat, and a Council of State. They also create Chinese code which consist of It consists of a continuous scale of penalties that are applied based on both the crime and the degree of relation between the criminal and the offended person.

Imperial Examination

Imperial examination is a civil service system, which is a standardized exams for students of Confucian studies, ancient Chinese ethical or focuses on human mortality and good doing. Which candidates passed will be appointed to different levels in the government position which are designed to draw best talented into government.

Implemented programe for peasants

The Tang gave life plots to peasent families where there's an equal distribution of land. This system was created to make sure that had enought land to support their families and afford the taxes where each person was resposible for certain taxes.

Religion

Budhism
Monks from Buddhist temples pray for the people in public in return for cash. donations or gifts. Which later on the major Buddhist monasteries in Chang’an collect vast amount of silk, money and treasure and distributed to other monasteries.

Islam
Merchants brought Islam from Arabia and Persia along the Silk Road

Christianity
Zarathustrian and Manichean thought from Persia and Nestorian Christianity reached China and found followers and believers.

Philosophy

When the Tang empire was founded, there was the need for an effective state bureaucracy that could administer the vast territory of China. Confucianism again was introduced as state religion in 630, and scholars once more started to interprete and comment the Confucian classics. In the state founded academies, like the Hanlin Academy, famous literati wrote the orthodox Tang commentaries to the old books. In 837, the classical texts were engraved in stone steles in the capital.

The Army

Their armies consisted of both the aristocrats and the peasant. The aristocrate, only people who have horses, was used to fight with the nomad in the north. The horse was used only to fight the nomad.

And the plesant were used mainly in the south to occupied forts, for public work and served as the infantry.

The Silk Road

Tang tricolor

The Silk Road flourished over Indochina in the south. Tang were able to gain many new technologies, cultural practices, rare luxury, and contemporary items. From the Middle East, India, Persia, and Central Asia the Tang were able to acquire new ideals in fashion, new types of ceramics, and improved silver-smithing.

Reason of Fall

Rebellion and catastrophe

First it start off with Emperor Xuanzong was satisfied

and uncaring the state affairs. And he appointed some evil chancellors who corrupted the political order. Meanwhile, troops on the frontiers gradually gathered together and formed a powerful military force which later An Lushan and Shi Siming launched a rebellion, called the An Shi Rebellion.

An Shi Rebellion

It lasted for eight years and it had destroyed the prosperity o

f the empire. From then on, the national strength was weakened daily by separatist forces in local areas and struggles between chancellors became more and more intense. The Chinese court called help of the UYghur Turks in 756 who greatly excited at this outlook. However after Tang capital was recapture, the Uyghurs refused to leave unless the Chinese paid enormous sum of tribute in silk. And An Lushan was killed by his own sun in 757. .

The Rebellion of Huang Chao (874AD-884AD)

It’s the biggest rebellion whothe leader were Huan Chaom and Wang Xianzhi. Whole China became battlefield through the ten year war. Tang dynasty was extremely exhausted. 23 years later. Zhu Wen who had served under the rebel Huand had later surrendered to Tang forces, so he betrayed and defeated Huang’s forces. And later claimed himself, Emperor Ai, of later Liang Dynasty, which inaugrument in the period of Five Dynasties and Ten States.

Art Inventions

A Tang Dynasty earthenware vase with three-color
(sancai) glaze, with a spout in the shape of a bird's head.

A Tang period gilt-silver jar with a pattern of dancing horses, shaped in the style of northern nomad's leather bag. The horse is seen dancing with a cup of
wine in its mouth, just how the horses of Emperor Xuanzong were trained to do.