❖ CHINA ➢ Sui-Tang Era ▪ Sui Dynasty • Wendi □ lowers taxes ➢ won widespread support □ establishes granaries for stable food supply ➢ Large landowners and peasants alike were taxed a certain portion of their crops to keep in granaries. ➢ During times of flood or drought, there would still be ample food to prevent famine and to hold down the price of food in the markets • Wendi’s son – Yangdi □ reform legal code ➢ milder □ examination system for entry into bureaucracy ➢ broader policy to promote scholar-gentry in administration ➢ bring scholars back to government □ unsuccessful wars against the Koreans ➢ public revolts following military losses ▪ Tang Dynasty • Following Yangdi’s death, Li Yuan (the Duke of Tang) seized power, expanded China’s boundaries dramatically, and founded the Tang dynasty. □ New capital = Changan • Bureau of Censors □ Closely monitored all officials and reported their mishaps and failings • The Tang used the scholar-gentry to create an effective bureaucracy and check the nobility’s power. □ To offset the power of the aristocracy ➢ Aristocratic families’ control over court and administration declined • Civil Examinations □ Much higher proportion of Tang bureaucrats won their positions through success in civil service examinations. □ But family connections also helped secure positions • Buddhism enjoyed a resurgence. □ Among the masses, the salvationist, pure-landstrain of Mahayana Buddhism won widespread conversions because it seemed to provide a refuge from an age of war and turmoil. □ Members of the elite classes, on the other hand, were more attracted to the Chan variant of Buddhism, or Zen as it is known in Japan and the West. □ Empress Wu was particularly supportive of Buddhism (almost made state religion). □ Buddhist successes aroused the envy of Confucian and Daoist rivals, and by the reign of Emperor Wuzong in the mid-9th century, the religion was openly persecuted. (too little revenue because monastic lands not taxed) (fear of power and wealth) ➢ Buddhism survived, but in a weakened condition. • Confucianism became central theology ➢ Tang Decline and the Rise of the Song ▪ Fall of the Tang • Deadly family infighting led to the long reign of Emperor Xuanzong, whose reign marks a high point in Tang civilization.As his interest in governing waned, his affection for the arts increased. In 755, the first of several revolts signaled growing discontent with Xuanzong, and soon nomadic tribesmen—former allies—were impinging on Tang territory with impunity. ▪ The Start of the Song Dynasty • In 960, the scholarly general Zhao Kuangyin defeated most of the rivals scrounging for power after Xuanzong’s death. (REUNITED CHINA) □ Founded the Song dynasty. □ However, he could not defeat the Manchurian Liao dynasty (founded by Khitan peoples) in the north, a fact that would prove fatal in time. • The Song favored the scholar-gentry at the expense of the military, which meant that the empire was never as formidable as the Tang. □ never match Tang in military strength • Confucian scholars-gentry promoted • Neo-Confucian: □ cultivation of personal morality ➢ produce superior men to govern & teach ➢ reinforces class & gender distinctions ▪ Decline of the Song Dynasty • Weak against northern tribes □ Pay tribute • emphasis on scholars leads to military decline ▪ Achievements • centralized administration • China expands • south integrated into north • economy a world leader in overseas trade

➢ CHANGE OVER TIME PRACTICE ▪ Changed • The examination system for entry to bureaucracy □ Yangdi ➢ broader policy to promote scholar-gentry in administration ➢ bring scholars back to government □ Li Yuan ➢ Bureau of Censors ➢ family connections also helped secure positions □ Song ➢ The Song favored the scholar-gentry at the expense of the military, which meant that the empire was never as formidable as the Tang. • How religions affected the Dynasties □ Buddhism – Tang dynasty ➢ Resurgence ➢ 840’s ▪ Persecution because of Daoist and Confucian rivals □ Confucianism ➢ became central theology ▪ The same • Central government

❖ JAPAN ➢ In 646 the Japanese emperor introduced administrative reforms, the Taika reforms, intended to realign the Japanese government along Chinese models. ▪ The attempted wholesale introduction of Chinese culture into Japan met with resistance from the aristocracy ▪ Failure • implied the weakening of the imperial government and the passage of power to the aristocracy • Power passed from the imperial court to regional lords, who insisted on a return to Japanese ways. ➢ To counterbalance the growing influence of the Buddhists, emperors restored the powers of the aristocratic families, reinforced their traditional control of the imperial government, and permitted them to build up their control of rural estates ➢ Although attempts to expand imperial centralization were abandoned at Heian, the imperial court produced a refined culture that set standards for aristocratic life. ▪ The court established strict rules of social conduct and a hierarchy of status that defined social relationships ➢ Aristocratic families competed with Buddhist monasteries for control of land around the capital ▪ Both groups sought to frustrate imperial reforms and limit the power of the emperors ▪ the emergence of a Japanese scholar-gentry was opposed by the attempts of the aristocracy to cling to power.

❖ Change Over Time ➢ Power of central government (