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Nov 11, 600
(Social) Astronomy-Huang-ji Calendar
Huang-ji Calendar Link
Liu Zhuo was an important astronomer who calculated the positions and paths of the five planets and the begining of each year. Using these informations he then created the Huang-ji calendar at around 600 CE. The Huang-ji calendar served as a base for Tang calendar calculations. -
Nov 11, 604
Emperor Sui Yangdi (569--618)
Emperor Sui Yangdi
Emperor Sui Yangdi(569--618),also called Yang Guang, was the second son of Emperor Sui Wendi. After the death of Wendi Sui Yangdi seized power in 604. He ordered the constrution of many large pulic constructions including the construction of the Great Canal and the reconstruction of the Great Wall. Heavy taxes and the deaths the large public constuctions brought led to the fall of the Sui dynasty -
Nov 11, 604
(Social) Geography-Quyu Tuzhi
Quyu Tuzhi Link
The Quyu Tuzhi(區宇圖志) was ordered complition by Emperor Sui Yangdi. The book contained 200 volumes and consisted of pictures and literary context. Early geographic book had no pictures allowing the Quyu Tuzhi to be revolutionary and having a huge impact on geography. -
Nov 11, 606
(Political) Imperial Examination System
Song Imperial Exam Link
During the Sui dynasty, Emperor Yangdi created the imperial examination system in 606AD, which was also known as the Keju System. The imperial service exam allowed the government to find talented individuals in all of China. Birth and class became less important compared to talent and skill. -
Nov 9, 616
(Social) Architechture-Zhaozhuo Bridge (605-616)
<a href='http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2004-06/02/content_47278.htm' >
The Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as the Anji Bridge or Dashi Bridge, is the first and largest stone-arched bridge in the world. It was built by bridge designer Li Chun at the Xiaohe River in Zhaozhou County in the Hebei province. The construction started in 616 CE and took 11 years. -
Nov 11, 626
Tang Taizong(599-649)
Tang Taizong link
Li Shimin or Tang Taizong(599-649) deposed his father Tang Gaozu and killed two of his brothers in 626 to become emperor. Tang Taizong meaning Tang Great Religion is named for Tang Taizong tolerating and assisting in the promotion of several religions. Tang Taizong was thought to be the greatest Tang emperor as he expanded Tang territory and also stabilized the government. -
Nov 11, 700
(Economic) Pocelain Sancai Tang Dynasty
Sancai Pocelain Tang Dynasty Link
The Sancai pocelain was predominant during the Tang dynasty. It originated in northern districts like Chang'an, and Loyang. Sancai, meaning three colors, comes from the green, yellow and white colours used on the pocelain. -
Nov 11, 701
Poet Li Bai (701-762)
Li Bai PoemsLi Bai Information Link
One of the most famous poets of China, Li Bai composed more than 900 poems about his own life, social reality and the spirit of the high Tang Dynasty. Li Bai is one of the greatest romantic poets and is called "poetic genius". -
Nov 11, 1000
(Economic) Gunpowder in Song Dynasty
Gunpowder in Song Dynasty Link
Though gunpowder was created in the Tang dynasty, it was only till the Song dynasty was gunpowder applicable. Gunpowder was used as weaponary but wasn't effective enough to replace crossbows. At first only catapults were available but Chen Gui in Southern Song invented the canon. -
Nov 11, 1126
Emperor Qinzong of Tang(1100-1161)
Emperor Qinzong of Tang link
Zhao Huan or Song Qinzong was a poor leader that led to kidnap of Qinzong and several government officials and the collapse of the Northern Song dynasty. -
Nov 11, 1127
(Political) Wars Song era
Wars of Song Era
The Song dynasty was at war with the Khiten Empire, the Jurchens, and the Mongols at different times. The fall of the Northern Song was due to the Jin conquest in 1127 and the fall of the Southern Song due to the Mongols in 1279. Due to scholars leading the battlefield instead of military generals, the military was greatly weakened allow foreign countries to distroy the Song dynasty. -
(Economical) Great Canal (581-618)
Grand Canal Link
The Grand Canal is around 1,764 km (about 1200 miles) long and is the longest artificial waterway in the world. It facilitated north to south trade. The construction started in 581 and was finished in 618 and around 3,000,000 peasant workers died in the process. -
Emperor Sui Wendi (541-604)
Emperor SuiWen Link
Yang Jian (541-604C.E.) came to power in 581 C.E. when the previous emperor, Jing, of Northern Zhou voluntarily gave up the throne. Yang Jian changed the dynasty's name to Great Sui and his name to Sui Wendi. He dispatched his armies in 589 CE to conquer and unify all of China. The dynasty was set up in 581 but only unified China in 589 CE. -
(Political) Three Departments & Six Ministries
Three Department and Six Ministries Link
Under the emperor, the three departments were the Secretariat (中书省), the Chancellery (门下省), and the Department of State Affairs (尚书省). The six ministries were the Ministry for Personnel (吏部), Revenue (户部), Rites (礼部), War (兵部), Justice (刑部) and Works (工部). Though it took shape after the Western Han Dynasty, it was only till the Sui Dynasty until the system was officially instituted. -
(Political) Kaihuang Code
Kaihuang Code link
In 581 CE, Emperor Wendi ordered government officials to make a new code based on previous dynasties and in 583 CE, commanded the amendment of the code and formed the Kaihuang Code. The Kaihuang Code includes 20 sections and 500 articles and was aimed at decreasing the crime rate in the Western Zhou dynasty. -
(Economic) Standardized Coins -Wuzhu coins
Standardized coin Wu zhu link
Wu zhu coins were first seen during the Han period (120 CE) but many other coins existed. Sui Wendi ordered the standardization of coins and the other types of coins slowly disappeared leaving only the Wu zhu coin. The standardization of coins led to the prosperity of the economy and facilitated trade. -
(Economical)Equal-field system
Equal-field system link
To decrease the gap between the rich and poor, Sui Wendi set up the equal-field system where the government owned all the land and divided it among the people. This led to the increase of agricultural production. -
Tang Gaozu(566-635)
Li Yuan link
Li Yuan(566-635), or Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty was the first and founding emperor of the Tang dynasty. Together with his son Li Shimin, who later became Tang Taizong, Li Yuan rebelled against Sui Yangdi, defeated Sui armies and declared himself Tang Gaozu. -
Female Emperor Wu Zhao, Wu Zetian(c.625 – 705)
Tang Empress Wu Zhetian Link
Empress Wu Zhao was the only female in Chinese history to claim the throne for herself. First a concubine of Tang Gaozu, then a nun after Tang Gaozu death, Wu Zhao became the concubine of Tang Taizong and slowly gained political power and say. In 690, Wu Zetian's youngest son stepped down from the throne and Wu Zetian replaced him as emperor of Tang. -
(Social) Rank of Women
Patriarchal Society
Unlike previous dynasties, the Tang dynasty was fairly open minded and women had the same rights as the men including the privilege of education, choice of marriage, work, owning land, conducting business and other privileges only men possessed in previous dynasties. Divorce on the foundation of mutual agreement was allowed and not punished. -
(Social)Tang Dynasty Buddhism
Tang Dynasty Buddhism link
Buddhism was at its peak during the Tang dynasty due to the popularity of Buddhism among the rulers including Tang Gaozong and Empress Wu. The popularity of Buddhism began to decrease with the fall of the Tang dynasty. -
(Social) Confucianism
Confucianism in Tang Link
Though Buddhism slowly replaced Confucianism as the most popular religion, Confucianism was the backbone of the Chinese culture and society. Confucianism became more of a philosophy than a religion and taught the Tang rulers to be kind and honorable -
(Economical)Equal-field System in Tang Dynasty(712–756)
Tang dynasty Equal-field system
During the Tang dynasty, the equal-field system was strongly enforced, but during Tang Xuanzong's reign(712–756), the system collapsed due to the increase of population and the number of permanently held lands. -
(Political) Tang Legal System
Three Departments & Six Ministries Link
'Lu' (criminal law), 'Ling' (institutional regulations), 'Ge' (administrative rules) and 'Shi' (formulas of official documents) were the four basic forms of legal law. The "Tang Lushu Yi" represented the fedual laws. -
(Political) Imperial Examination System
Imperial Examination System Link
The Imperial Examination System flourished under Tang rule. The system provided peasants a chance to rise in rank and limited aristocrats' powers.The system was based on merit rather than birth which was why it was so effecting in providing the governemnt with the talented. -
(Economic)Silk Road Tang Dynasty
Silk Raod Tang Dynasty Link
The prosperity in economy and stability in the government led to the rise of the silk road. The silk road past through the Byzantine, Persian and Arabian Empire. -
The Tang Code
The Tang Code Link
The Tanglü shuyi( 唐律疏義) is the oldest preserved complete law code in Chinese history. It is composed of 30 scrolls and served as a base law for future dynasties. -
Emperor Song Taizu (927–976)
Emperor Song Taizu Link
Zhao Kuangyin or Taizu was the founder of the Song dynasty. He was a millitary commander and he launched a military mutiny at Chenqiao in 960. He then ascended the throne, and established the Song Dynasty. After a series of wars he reunitied all of China under the Song dynasty. -
(Econmomic)Printing Song dynasty
Printing Song Dynasty Link
Bi Sheng contributed to the invention of a movable-type printing device which led to books becoming cheaper. As the costs of books went down, literature became more widespread and libaries started to emerge. -
(Economic)Navigation in the Song dynasty
Navigation and Shipbuilding
Due to the invasions from the north, maritime trade became a necessity. To trade with distant countries by sea, navigation was vital. At the end of the 11th century, Shen Kua invented the compass needle and the compass shell which, used together, was crucial in navigating through the seas. -
(Political) Bureaucracy Song Dynasty
Bureaucracy Song Dynasty
Emperor Song Taizu built an effective centralized bureaucracy based on civilian scholar-officials. Regional military governors were replaced by centrally appointed officials. This led to the government and the emperor having a greater concentration of power than in previous dynasties. -
(Social) Foot Binding Song Dynasty
Foot Binding Song Dynasty
Feet binding was at first only practiced by the wealthy but soon even peasant girls began to bind their feet. The ancient Chinese viewed small feet as beauty and rank. If a girls feet were not bound, it meant that they would be slaves and workers when they grew up. -
(Political)Imperial Examination Song
Imperial Examination Song
During the Song, the imperial examination became the primary way of obtaining a government position as practice of appointing officials who had not taken the examinations ended. The imperial examination increased the quality of the government officials and showed equality and social justice. -
(Social) Neo-Confucianism Song dynasty
Neo-Confucianism Song Dynasty Link
Neo-Confucianism was more of a philosophy than a religion. With the fall of Tang Confucianism had also fallen in popularity but it emerged again in the Song dynasty as Neo-Confucianism, a merge of Confucianism and Buddhism philosophy. -
(Social) Gender Roles Song Dynasty
Gender Roles Song Dynasty
Confucianism had its part in Song family life even though primogeniture(first born inheriting all) was illegal. Unlike women in Tang, the women of Song are seen as educated, poetric and reserved. To attract the richest son-in laws, many families bound the daughter's feet and provided huge dowries. -
Period: to
Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty Guide
The Sui dynasty was the first dynasty to reunify the dynasty after the Han dynasty. The founder was Yang Jian and the person to order the constrution of the grand canal was Sui Yangdi. -
Period: to
Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty Guide
Trade, both long, short, foreign and regional improved and greatly effected the dynasty. The Tang dynasty set up the Equal-Field System and a bureacracy of merit which gave the Tang Dynasty a time of prosperity and peace. -
Period: to Nov 9, 1279
Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty Link
The founder Song Taizu was a military leader but the Song dynasty had a weak military which alowed the Khitan to capture the Song capital which led to the split into the Northern and Southern Song. Later the Jurchen conquered the Khitan and destroyed the Song dynasty.
