Chinese Dynastic Timeline

[Economical] Wuzhu Coins

Nov 11, 600

-Sui ordered to standardize coins
-Wuzhu coins
-Made of Bronze and Iron Sui Dynasty

Sui Yang Di

Nov 9, 604

-Completed Grand Canal
-Ordered the building of roads on both sides of the canal
-Promoted economic and cultural exchange
-Strengthening the unification of the country Sui Yang Di

[Social] Huang-Ji Calender

Nov 11, 605

-Wrote by Astronomer Liu Zhuo
-Showed Lunisolar precession
-Almost the same as that of modern times Sui Dyansty

[Social] ZhaoZhou Bridge

Nov 11, 606

-Designed and construceted by famous artisan Li Chun
-Most ancient stone bridge in existence
-Has fame as the First bridge in the world Sui Dynasty

[Social] Quyu Tuzhi

Nov 11, 607

-Emperor Yang ordered compilation of Quyu Tuzhi
-Consisted of 1200 volumes
-Geographical book
-Played important role in developing history of geography Sui Dynasty

[Economical] Grand Canal

Nov 11, 610

-Construction of Grand Canal
-Restored Agriculture production
-Strengthened water transportation
-Artery of communications between south and north Sui Dynasty

Tang Taizong

Nov 9, 627

-Established Tang Dynasty
-Built capital at Chang`an
-Saw himself as Confucian ruler
-Low Tax
-Ended Banditry Tang Taizong

[Political] Legal System

Nov 11, 653

-Tang Dynasty had most comprehensive and detailed legal system
-Four basic forsm : Criminal law, Institutional regulations, Administrative rules, and formuals of official documents.
-Regulations fairly complete
-Legal provisions rather concise
-Peaceful social order was established Tang Dynasty

[Social] Fast-Ripening Rice

Nov 11, 700

-Increased agricultural productivity
-In Vietnam, encountered strains of fast-ripening rice that enabled cultivators to harvest two crops per year
-Expanded supply of food
-Dynasty benefited enormously from new food crops Tang Dynasty

[Political] Bureaucracy of Merit

Nov 11, 730

-Relied heavily on bureaucracy based on merit
-Rulers recruited government officials from the ranks of candidates who had progressed through the Confucian educational system and had mastered a sophisticated curriculum oncentrating on the classic works of Chinese literature
-During early Tang, most were aristocrats
-During late Tang, most were from common families.
-Survived for thirteen centuries Tang Dynasty

[Social] New Agricultural Techniques

Nov 11, 750

-Adopted improved agricultural techniques
-Made increase use of heavy iron plows
-Harnessed oxen and water buffaloes
-Extensive irrigation systems Tang Dynasty

[Economical] Pringting

Nov 11, 1045

-Movable Type Printing
-Faster and Economical method
-Useful for printing hundreds of sheets of text Song Dynasty

[Economical] Jiao Zi

Nov 11, 1050

-Earliest paper money called Jiao Zi
-Appeared in Northern Song period
-Became popular currency money of the time Song Dynasty

[Economical] Silk, Textile, Porcelain

Nov 11, 1100

-Development in the silk industry, textile industry and porcelain-making industry were outstanding
-Zhejiang, Sichuan province were two biggest silk producing areas.
-Emergence of cotton textile Song Dynasty

[Political] Metallurgy

Nov 11, 1105

-Metallurgical technologies improved
-Production of iron and steel surged
-Nomadic peoples quickly learend Chinese techniques and fashioned their own iron weapons for use in campaigns against China Song Dynasty

[Political] End of Northern Song, Beginning of Southern Song

Nov 11, 1127

-Song dynasty was historically divided into two periods: Northern, when capital was established in Dongjing, and Southern, when capital was moved to Hang Zhou
-Capital was moved due to attakcs of the Jurchens
-The Jurchens siezed Kaifeng, the capital of Song, and made it their capital, and found the Jin Empire. Song Dynasty

[Political] Neo-Confucianism

Nov 11, 1130

-Synthesis of Confucian thought and Buddhist.
-Became the imperial ideology from latter period of the Song Dynasty and on.
-Teaching emphasized submission to the emperor and one's superiors and following and maintaining the traditionally defined roles of life. Song Dynasty

[Social] Patriarchal Society

Nov 11, 1140

-Reflected concern to preserve family fortunes through enhanced family soildarity
-Veneration of family ancestors became more elaborate
-Whole extended families traveled great distances to attend annual rituals venerating their ancestors
-Strengthened the sense of family identity and cohesiveness Song Dynasty

[Social] Urbanization

Nov 11, 1150

-During the Song Dynasty, China was the most urbanized land in the world
-More than one million residents
-Restaurants, noodle shopts, taverns, teahouses, brothels, music halls, theaters, clubhouses, gardens, markets, craft shops, specialty stores. Song Dynasty

[Social] Foot Binding

Nov 11, 1165

-Popular during Song era
-Tight wrapping of young girls' feet with strips of cloth to prevent their natural grwoth of their feet
-Families bound the feet of their daughters to enhance their attractiveness and gain increased control over the girl's behavior
-Placed women under tight supervision of husbands Song Dynasty

Yang Jian (Sui Wendi)

Mar 2, 2022

-Established Sui Dynasty
-Military expeditions
-Had great demands on building a strong and centralized government Yang Jian (Sui Wen Di)

Song Taizu

Mar 2, 2022

-Established Song Dynasty
-Persuaded military generals to retire
-Regarded all state officials as servants of the imperial government
-Expanded bureaucracy based on merit
-Generous salaries Song Taizu

[Political] Three departments and Six boards

Mar 2, 2022

-Sui Wendi ablished the six officals system
-Replaced with three departments and six boards
-Three departments: 1. Chancellery of the state
2. The executive bureau
3. The legislative bureau
-Six boards: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, Works Sui Dynasty

[Political] Simplification of three-grade system

Mar 2, 2022

-Sui simplified the three-grade system into a two-grade system
-State, Prefecture, Counties --> System of States and Counties
-Redressed the overfull organization abuses
-Restrained political corruption
-Saved government expenditures Sui Dynasty

[Economical] Land distribution & Tax moderation

Mar 2, 2022

-Juntian System(Equal division of fields)
-Zutiao (Tax Moderation)
-These policies equally distributed farmland and moderated the tax rates while increasing the fiscal revenue. Sui Dynasty

[Economical] Commerce

Mar 2, 2022

-Porsperity of domestic busniess and foreign trade
-Main commodities: food, salt, tea, medicine, textiles, gold, silver
-Many commercial cities appeared
-Special markets were set up
-Opening of Silk Road Tang Dynasty

[Economical] Naval Technology

Mar 2, 2022

-During Tang dynasty, CHinese consumers developed a taste for the spices and exotic products of southeast Asian islands
-Chinese mariners increasingly visited those lands in their own ships
-Tang ships could traverse the Indian Ocean and reach the Persian Gulf Tang Dynasty

[Political] Official System

Mar 2, 2022

-Tang's official system involved the central official system and local official system
-Central official system followed Three Departments and Six Ministries system
-9 'Si' and 5 'Jian' were set up to work together with the six ministries
-Local official system was in line with the political administrative structures Tang Dynasty

[Social] Population Growth

Mar 2, 2022

-Increased agricultural production led to the rapid expansion of the Chinese population
-After fall of Han dynasty, population = 45million in 600 C.E.
-By 800 C.E. increased to 50 million
-By 1000 C.E. increased to 60 million Tang Dynasty

[Economical] Handicraft Industry

Mar 2, 2022

-Surplus labor spurred the handicraft industry
-Development of handicraft industry in Tang Dynasty surpassed that of the previous dynasties.
-Silk making technique refined and delicate
-Glazed Pottery invented
-Ceramic industry entered new phase Tang Dynasty

[Political] Imperial Examination System

Mar 2, 2022

-Every state had to select three candidates with whatever family background
-Candidates were sent to the central government every year.
-Candidates then would become officials after the government examinations Sui Dynasty

Sui Dynasty

Period: Mar 2, 2022 to Mar 2, 2022

The Sui dynasty's emperors placed enormous demands on building strong, centralized government. They built the Grand Canal,which integrated economies of Northern and Southern China. However, these projects required high tzxes, and compulosry labor labor services, which lead to revolts and the
end of the Sui dynasty
Sui Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Period: Mar 2, 2022 to Mar 2, 2022

Its government was very effective. Transportaion and communication developed greatly. Their military was very strong, and extended their authority by conquering neighboring lands. However because of careless leadership, there were series of rebellions and those led to the end of the Tang dynasty. Tang Dynasty

Song Dynsty

Period: Mar 2, 2022 to Nov 9, 1279

-It never built a very powerful state.
-Rulers mistrusted military leaders.
-Emphasis on civil administration, industry, education, art
-Two major weaknesses: Financial, Military
-Dynasty ended by mongol forces Song Dynasty