Reunification+and+Renaissance+in+Chinese+Civilization,+The+Era+of+the+Tang+and+Song+Dynasties

1) APARTS Charts on document pg 261 (Ties That Bind:Paths to Power)

 * Author – Who created this? What do we know about the author? What might influence their opinions? || -The author of this letter is Wu Bao, who is a local functionary. Bao is writing this letter to a high official in order to get himself a job, because his terms in his own area has come to an end. He seeks a job of any level, no matter what the salary may be, as he hopes that by gaining a decent job he will be able to obtain enough money to reach his retired years. Wu Bao's opinion of the official being able to get him a job is because of the fact that in Chinese society, higher officials had some power in allowing other people to be accepted into office. Although during the Tang and Song eras it was not a big practice to have officials select people this way as during other eras in Chinese history, the aristocrats who controlled some power seats were able to give connections to other people. These people were usually relatives or other members of the aristocracy, however it still shows us that the officials were able to promote others at some degree. ||
 * Place

– Where and when was it created - || The letter was written during the Tang era of China. It's location of origin is unknown however, as the text doesn't specify it.. If we were to make assumptions on the location of which the letter has been written in, it would be the outskirts of the Tang Empire's control. This assumption can be made as in the letter, Wu Bao states that he is in a location passed the Chien mountains, close to the barbarians. "I languish in this out-of-the-way corner beyound the Chien [mountains], close to the haunts of the barbarians." ||
 * Prior Knowledge

What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant? || This letter was written during the Tang era of China. During the Tang era, reestablishing the bureaucracy was a major goal. During this era, the Confucian ideology was restored in an attempt to return well educated officials. Rulers of the Tang also began to use this scholar education system to limit the influence of the aristocracy over the administrative control. By having well educated people promoted to higher positions of power, the aristocracy was unable to gain these higher positions and thus gained a lesser influence on the government as they had been able to in the past. Because the aristocracy couldn't control and dominate the high political levels of administration, it allowed for the bureaucracy to develop without the fear of corruption. ||
 * Audience

Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims? || The audience of this letter is a high official of the bureaucracy. This letter may seen as a waist of time to the audience, as Wu Bao is clearly not a member of the aristocracy and he is asking for help. Normally members of the aristocracy only used their power and influence over the government to get members of their own class promoted to positions of power. Although since Wu Bao is asking for a position with even the smallest salary. perhaps the official may feel some kind of connection and help him, although how the history was it seems highly unlikely. ||
 * Reason for Creation

What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote || This letter was made in an attempt to show us how people were aware of the aristocracy's influence of some degree on politics. Because the aristocracy could help other members of their class gain some advancement in the politics of the bureaucracy, it seems that the lower classes were well aware of this fact. Wu Bao choose to write this letter to a member of aristocratic level/high power in an attempt to have them influence the government to help Bao gain a new positions in the political system.

"I have heard by devious ways of your readiness to help those in distress. If you will not overlook a man from your native place, be quick to bestow your special favor on me, so that I may render you service as a humble groom." ||
 * The Main Idea

Support with quotes || The main idea of this letter is that the aristocracy still had some capabilities in appointing members to the bureaucracy. Although during the Tang and Song eras, this power had been nearly extinguished from the aristocracy, it still existed to a small degree. Members were still able to appoint other of their class, however if they were to advance to another positions, it was not one of a high power area. ||
 * Significance

How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible || The letter can tell us the historians and even the lower class people of Tang China were aware of the small influence that the aristocrats could have on the government. Although they had a small influence it still could help others obtain some spots in the government even if they were small. This letter explains part of the political and social parts of the ESPIRIT chart. It relates to the political aspect, because it shows us how the aristocracy had some ability to influence the levels of the political system. It also shows how the aristocracy's influence was limited because of the fact that they could only help other members to obtain smaller sections of power. It relates to the social aspect of the ESPIRIT chart, as it introduces us to the idea of a structure with aristocrates having some large degree of height in social structure, because of how they could influence the government, even though this influence was limited. ||

2) Presentation: Religion and Intellectual
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3) Comparison Chart Tang and Song
Tang and Song China -Wendi won support by lowering taxes and establishing granaries -Economic strength incresed by Wendi’s son -Empress Wu used peasants and slaves to build Buddhist shrines -Emperor Wuzong revoked taxation and taxed lands again
 * Tang || Song || Shared ||
 * __ Economics __

-reopened and protected silk routes -Chang’an used for trade and markets -Emperor Xuanzong let the emire fall into economic distress

__ Social __ -Educationial reforms initiated by Yangdi in order to improve education

-High class people were given special luxuries

-People with family connections ended up with power through their connections

-Men weren’t able to neglect their wives, laws designed to protect women

-Tang law code used to enforce proper behavior to older individuals

-Footbinding began and emerged here

__ Political __ -Revived the bureacracy of China

-New scholar gentry filled the bureacracy limiting old arisocracy influence

-jinghi were granted special status in government

-Ministry of Rites createting preofessionized bureacrats

-executive department was divided nto 6 units

__ Interactions __ -Empress Qei poisened her husband in order to gain power for her sons

-Empress Wuzong opens prosectus Buddhism

-Taoist and Confucianist scholars campain against Buddhism

-Nomadic alliences

__ Technology __ -Grandcanal linked north China plain with the Yangtze River. Stretched over 1200 miles

-Status using metal working skulpting

-Compose

-odometer vehicle

-Pagoda

-Revolving book cases

-printing press

-paper making factories || __ Economics __

__ Social __ -Gentry pampered more than any other

-Rich had more reserved rights to possible classification

-Neo-Confucianism advocated for social classes as rank, gender, age

-Women took complementry husbands even if their own knew

-Society based on Confucian ideas

- footbinding was popular in the uppwer class which spread to lower class. Feet bound for 5 to 6 years

-Art and architecture show level of social structure

__ Politial __ -Only elected officials could become rulers, not allowing military leaders to gain to much power

-Civilservice exams at three levels : disrict, pronvincial, and imperial. Giving every three years and test was easy so many people passed filling bureacracy with unuseful leaders

__ Interactions __ -Liao dynasty become rivals of Song

-Neo-Confucian emphazied tradition and blocked outside influence

--Nomadic alliences with the northern dynasty

__ Technology __ -Warships

-Coal energy sources

-Explosive powders

-woodblock painting

-clock work

-wooden statues || __ Economics __ -Building of canals helped promote trade -Government officials supervised trading markets -Trading ships called junks for trade overseas -Flying money was paper money where people could use to pay at the appropriate office in the city was better used for exampanding commerce in China -Agricultural expanded and peasants grew specialiezed in crops

__ Social __ -Peasants>merchants>middle/working>lower nobility>jingshi>royal family

-More childre nincreased a families powers

-noteworthy families treated dignity

-Footbinding

__ Political __ -Exams to enter scholar gentry

__ Interact __ -Nomadic alliences with multiple people

-Intteractions with nomads

__ Technology __ - ||

4)Summary on Tang and Song:
During the Tang and Song eras of China, the Chinese people and their land began to enter a period of renaissance. During this time many of China's old principles, such as the belief in Confucianism ideas, and the revival of a scholar class began to reoccur. The once powerful bureaucracy, which had been diminished previously, was now being filtered and edited to reestablish the once great bureaucracy of old China.

During the period of the Tang, China entered its period of rebirth. The Tang people developed and revived many ideas, which were present in past dynasties, which had been eliminated in others. The Tang used strict civil service exams to help reintroduce a scholar-gentry class, which would help to govern the bureaucracy, as they would be well educated people and not promoted to the position based on connections, or family ties, as in the past. The Tang revived the old Confucian ideas, as the most important aspect of society. This revival led to the reintroduction of laws focusing on the principles of Confucianism, which demanded social respect, to those who were older for instance. Younger brothers for example couldn't neglect their older brothers, or else they would be punished, as the older brother should be well respected due to his age difference. The people of the Tang still continued to trade just as the older versions of China had. The Tang had traded along the Silk Road; with other people trading luxury goods for instance such as silk. They also continued to interact with the nomads of the region, even attempting to bring them under Chinese rule, and influence their societies. This lead to interactions with the people of the Liao, who were a fierce rival against the Chinese. New technologies of course were still being developed during this time, such as the compose to help with sea travel, and long distance trade. The Tang era was full of flourishing new ideas, as well as a treasury of old principles.

During the period of the Song, China entered a lesser state of revival that was more limited than the previous dynasty, the Tang. During the Song era, the scholar-gentry class became much easier to attain entry to, as the previous civil service exams invented by the Tang, had become easier, and people were more likely to pass. This allowed for unfit rulers to enter into the class. Unlike the age of the Tang where they focused on reviving the old Confucian ways, but also accept influence from the outside world, the Song developed a different adaption and became **neo-Confucianism**. The neo-Confucians accepted the fact of reviving old Confucian ideas; however they were strict, and didn't allow for any outside influence to enter China. This let China slide and hinder, as it sealed itself from ideas of the outside world. The strict difference between men and women also became more apparent, as women allowed for them to become changed for men. Women during this time practiced **foot-binding**, as it was something that was sought out by the men. This became a trend and something desired during the time. The Song people also limited the use of rulers in provincial states, by not allowing military leaders to rule. This was supposed to keep their rule defined without interference, but with nonnative rulers, loyalty was assured. The people of the Song still developed news technologies such as the explosive powers, and even the abacus. The Song people also continued to interact with nomads, although they tried limiting their influence on China, the nomads like the Mongols would eventually conquer China, and end Song rule.