China Reunites

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China Reunites

• Daily Lesson and Discussion Notes 4-1

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Objectives

• Explain how the Sui and Tang dynasties rebuilt
  Chinas empire
• Discuss why Buddhism became popular and spread
• Describe the ideas of Confucius and the new class
  of scholar-officials

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Objective 1

• Explain how the Sui and Tang dynasties rebuilt
  Chinas empire

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I. Rebuilding Chinas Empire (pages 253-256)
A. After the Han empire ended in AD 220, China
broke into 17 kingdoms and became very chaotic.
Warlords, military people who run a government,
fought each other for control.
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B. China lost control of some of its conquered
people, such as the people of Korea.
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C. China was reunited in AD 581 by a general
named Wendi who declared himself emperor. He
founded the Sui dynasty.
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D. Wendis son Yangdi took the throne after his
fathers death. Yangdi made important
improvements to China. His greatest achievement
was the Grand Canal, which links the Chang Jiang
(Yangtze River) and Huang He (Yellow River).
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E. Shipping products on the Grand Canal helped
unite Chinas economy. An economy is an
organized way in which people produce, sell, and
buy things.
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F. Yangdis improvements placed hardships on the
Chinese people. They rebelled and killed Yangdi.
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Objective 1 explain how the Sui and Tang
dynasties rebuilt Chinas empire

• The Sui dynasty helped to rebuild China by
  forcing the Chinese people to work on extensive
  public works projects like the Grand Canal
  (promoted domestic trade) and the rebuilding of
  the Great Wall (provided security from northern
  raiders) and to serve in the army

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G. The Tang dynasty was established by one of
Yangdis generals. The Tang dynasty ruled for
about 300 years, from AD 618 to AD 907. The Tang
dynasty brought about many reforms to improve
government. Reforms are changes that bring
improvements.
The Tang capital city of Changan may have had a
population of one million people at its peak.
The city had large blocks that included houses,
businesses, and temples set along straight
street. Its layout inspired the design of many
later cities. The area containing the royal
palace, shown below, was bordered by parklands.
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H. One of the most powerful Tang emperors was
Taizong. He reinstated the civil service
examination. Empress Wu added more officials to
the government and strengthened Chinas military.
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I. The Tang dynasty expanded Chinas empire and
regained much of its power in Asia.
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(No Transcript)
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J. By the mid-AD 700s, the Turks began to
threaten the Tang dynastys hold in Asia. They
took control of central Asia and the Silk Road,
damaging Chinas economy. The Tang dynasty
weakened and fell.
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K. A Chinese general established the Song
dynasty, which ruled for about 300 years, from AD
960 to AD 1279.
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Objective 1 Explain how the Sui and Tang
dynasties rebuilt Chinas empire

• The Tang dynasty helped rebuild China by carrying
  out a number of reforms. The civil service exam
  was reinstated land was given to the farmers
  and peace was brought to the countryside.
  Chinas military forces were also strengthen.

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Objective 2

• Discuss why Buddhism became popular and spread

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II. Buddhism Spreads to China (pages 256-257)
A. Buddhism was brought to China during the Han
dynasty about AD 150.
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B. The Tang dynasty allowed people to practice
Buddhism and supported the building of Buddhist
temples.
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C. Monasteries are places where monks and nuns
meditate and worship. In China, monasteries
provided services for people.
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D. As Buddhism became more popular, the Tang
dynasty began to feel threatened. The rulers
ordered many Buddhist monasteries and temples
destroyed in AD 845.
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E. Buddhism spread from China to Korea, and the
Korean government supported the religion.
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F. Buddhism spread to the nearby islands of Japan
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Objective 2 Discuss why Buddhism became popular
and spread

• After the Han dynasty, China was torn by civil
  war. War, disease, and starvation was killing
  millions of Chinese. People were suffering.
  Buddhism taught that if people followed its
  principles, they could escape their suffering and
  find comfort and peace.

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Objective 3

• Describe the ideas of Confucius and the new class
  of scholar-officials

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III. New Confucian Ideas (pages 258-259)
A. Confucius and his followers believed
government officials should be wise.
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B. Tang and Song rulers reinstated civil service
examinations. These challenging examinations
were supposed to recruit good government
officials.
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C. The Tang dynasty supported neo-Confucianism to
reduce Buddhisms popularity. Neo-Confucianism
taught that people should take part in life and
help each other.
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D. The Song dynasty adopted neo-Confucianism as
their official philosophy, or belief system.
E. The examination system created a wealthy class
of scholar-officials.
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Objective 3 Describe the ideas of Confucius and
the new class of scholar-officials

• Created to reduce the popularity of Buddhism,
  neo-Confucianism taught that life in this world
  was just as important as the afterlife.
  Followers were expected to take part in life and
  help others.
• A new wealthy class in China, the
  scholar-officials developed as a result of the
  civil service examinations. Soon, this new class
  began to influence Chinese thought and
  government.