East Asia

Sui Dynasty (China)

589

(589-618)
During the Sui Dynasty, Sui Yangdi ordered the construction of the Grand Canal. The Grand canal was very important since it connected the the economies of north and south. The Grand Canal enabled the north to trade with the south, mainly for the abundant supplies of rice and food crops from the Yangzi river valley available for the people in the north. The Sui emperors built a strong, centralized government.

Life of Xuanzang

602

(602-664)
A young Buddhist monk who slipped out of China to go to India to study Buddhism. He came back to China with a huge collection of books, relics, and images to better understand Buddhism. He received a hero's welcome even though he violated the law. His efforts helped popularize Buddhism in China

Reign of Sui Yangdi

604

(604-618)
Sui Yangdi was the second emperor during the Sui dynasty. His investment on the construction of the Grand Canal paid dividends for more than a thousand years. the dependence of the high taxes and labor to build the Grand Canal prompted subjects to revolt against Sui rule.

Tang Dynasty (China)

618

(618-907)
The Tang dynasty maintained a well articulated transportation and communication network, the equal field system, and bureaucracy based on merit. Tang emperors provided inns, postal stations, and stables for travelers along the road. The equal field system ensured equal distribution of land and avoided the concentration of landed property that had caused problems in the Han dynasty. The bureaucracy based on merit strengthened Tang government.

Reign of Tang Taizong

627

(627-649)
Much of the Tang's success was due to the energy, ability, and policies of the dynasty's second emperor, Tang Taizong. China enjoyed an era of unusual stability and prosperity during his rule. Tang Taizong saw himself as a Confucian ruler who payed attention to his subjects' needs.

Silla Dynasty (Korea)

669

(669-935)
The Tang and Silla authorities wanted to avoid a long and costly conflict so they agreed to a compromise: Chinese forces would withdraw from Korea, if the Silla kings recognized the Tang emperor as his overlord. The tributary relationship between China and Korea brought Chinese influences on the Korean state.

Nara Period (Japan)

710

(710-794)
A clan insisted on its precedence over the others and introduced a series of reforms that centralized Japanese politics. The imperial house implemented a Chinese-style bureaucracy, the equal field system, and supported Confucianism and Buddhism. They also moved their capital to Nara that was a replica of the Tang capital at Chang'an.

An Lushan's Rebellion

755

(755-757)
In 755, a tang emperor neglected public affairs in favor of music and his favorite concubine, so one of the military commanders An Lushan started a rebellion that captured the capital at Chang'an and another at Luoyang. The rebellion left the dynasty in a weakened state.

Heian Period (Japan)

794

(794-1185)
During the Heian period, local rulers on the island of Honshu recognized the emperor as the supreme political authority. Japanese emperors mostly served as symbols of authority, but rarely ruled. Effective power laid in the Fujiwara clan. This helps account for the longevity of the Japanese imperial house. During this time period, Japan adopted Chinese style of writing and language.

Huang Chao's Rebellion

875

(875-884)
Military commander Huang Chao's rebellion embroiled much of eastern China for almost a decade. His revolt reflected and fueled popular discontent. Huang Chao would rob the wealthy and give it to the poor.

Song Dynasty (China)

960

(960-1279)
During the Song dynasty, Song rulers rewarded loyal state officials with large amounts of wealth, and maintained a very strong centralized government that caused their downfall. The financial problem was that the enormous Song bureaucracy devoured China's surplus production. The scholar bureaucrats had little military skill and talent which caused military problems for them. These problems weakened the Song empire.

Reign of Song Taizu

960

(960-976)
Song Taizu inaugurated the policy where they placed more emphasis on civil administration, industry, education, and the arts than on military. Song Taizu rewarded the loyal officials handsomely. This brought the downfall of the Song dynasty.

First issuance of government sponsored paper money

1024

The money was completes with serial numbers and warnings against printing counterfeit notes. Paper money was very useful in a society short of cash.

Life of Zhu Xi

1130

(1130-1200)
Zhu Xi was the most important representative of neo-Confucianism. Zhu Xi maintained a deep commitment to Confucian values emphasizing personal behavior and social harmony.

Kamakura Period (Japan)

1185

(1185-1333)
Japan developed a decentralized political order in which provincial lords wield effective authority in local regions where they controlled land and economic affairs.They valued military talent over etiquette and courtesy. The samurai played the most distinctive role in Japanese political and military affairs.

Muromachi Period (Japan)

1336

(1336-1573)
Like the Kamakura period, the Muromachi period also developed a decentralized political order in which provincial lords wield effective authority in local regions where they controlled land and economic affairs. They had no need for the Chinese style bureaucracy that Nara and Heian rule had instituted on Japan. They valued military talent over etiquette and courtesy. The samurai played the most distinctive role in Japanese political and military affairs.