China is the world’s most continuous major civilization and had gone through many changes in their early years. The Sui, Tang and Song dynasties played a major role in transforming the political, economic and social structure of the country. Each dynasty incorporated policies that changed the landscape and affected the people of China.

The Sui Dynasty had two distinct periods of rule and each had a lasting and profound effect on his people. Wen Ti was the first to rule and saw him enact a new set of strategies that would benefit the Chinese people in all facets of their lives. Ti introduced a tax reduction, a land allocation system and a census to address equitable and fair tax collection. These components working in concert with each other allowed for citizens to become more involved in commerce and ultimately drove the growth of the Chinese economy. Wen Ti’s son Yang was next to rule and similar to his father added to the country’s growth through innovative projects. His largest contribution was the construction of the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal opened the entire country form North to South, this passage way served as a key source in the movement of crops and goods throughout the country. For most of its history, China had a very sparse population in the South and The Grand Canal allowed for the movement of people throughout the entire country, this was key to the growth of the economy, growing the tax base and making rule easier in the entire country.

The Tang Dynasty was the most glistening historical period in Chinese history. During this glorious period, the economy, politics and culture reached an unparalleled advanced level, as described by Jennifer Green in China. Liu Yuan was the first ruler and quickly established a tiered governmental system know as the Three Departments, this allowed for a more efficient rule over local governments and the people. The equal-field system established during the Sui Dynasty was introduced to the entire country which stabilized and then grew the country’s tax base. The social structure of the country also experienced a renaissance as foreign influences were introduced through dance, art and music. The Grand Canal continued to play a key role in the country as the population in the South grew and new crops such as; tea, sugar and grains led to an explosion in agriculture. The Chinese culture and country saw extreme growth during the Tang Dynasty and with this many inventions were introduced, and the most important may have been hard currency. In his reference book, Han Yu and the Tang Search for Unity, Charles Hartman explains how the currency in China changed during this period; the increase in trade brought an increase in the use of money and saw the invention of money drafts.

The Song Dynasty has a legacy of being the “Golden Age” of Chinese history. Throughout this period; there were many political, social and economic changes as well as some key inventions that shaped the country. The political structure was changed to a more centralized government with independent departments that were under the direct supervision of the Emperor, this structure allowed for a more streamlined form of rule that gave more autonomy to the lower district governments. The era of The Song Dynasty saw key inventions that would drive the economy as well as delivering products that would be used for centuries to come throughout the entire world. In agriculture, there were many technological advances that led to an improved output of food and due to an increased focus on the trades; the invention of typography and the compass came about in this period. The changing social structure was driven by an increase in artists, poets and scholars. The Song Dynasty has left a lasting mark on China as well as the entire world and marked the beginning of “modern” China, Robin R. Wang, Images in Chinese Thought and Culture.

These three dynasties left an indelible mark on China as well as the entire world. There advancement and foresight on politics and government paved the way for all forms of government with an understanding that the people of a country are its best asset. The introduction of educational relevance, advancement of arts and music and focus on invention of products and services drove the social growth of the era. Each of these dynasties understood the importance of money and each drove their economies through advancement in agriculture and foreign trade. In today’s world, you can see aspects in everyday life that were brought about by the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties.

References

Hartman, Charles. Han Yu and the Tang Search for Unity. Princeton: NJ. Princeton University Press, 1986

Green, Jennifer . China. New York: NY. National Geographic Society, 2009

Wang, Robin R. Images of Women in Chinese Thought and Culture. Indianapolis: IN. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 2003