By Alex Francoletti
The Sui Dynasty
Timeline of the Sui
589-618 AD
Major Achievements and Importances
Before 589 AD, the era of division existed in China. There were 3 primarily dominant forces during the Era of Division. Wendi, a ruler of one of the 3 areas, married his daughter to a noble of one of the other areas. He then proceeded to invade the third with the help of the second area. China becomes united again under the rule of Wendi, and the Sui dynasty begins.
- The Grand Canal was built during the reign of Wendi's son.
- The return of the examination system.
- Begins progress toward Chinese urbanization.
Differences and Similarities Between the Sui and the Tang Dynasties
Differences and Similarities Between the Sui and the Song Dynasties
- The Sui were short lived, while the Tang lasted almost 10 times longer than the Sui.
- The Sui were much less militaristic than the Tang Dynasty.
- The Sui controlled much less area than was during the Tang Dynasty.
- The Sui lasted more than 10 times shorter than the Song Dynasty.
- The Sui and Song Dynasty both had improvements to the shcolar gentry class.
- The Song Dynasty and Sui Dynasty had very small borders relative to other time periods in China, at least temporarily.
Comparison of the Sui, Tang and Song
The Tang Dynasty
Timeline of the Tang
618-907 AD
Major Achievements and Importance
Before the Tang Dynasty was in place, the Sui ruler Yangdi was rebelled at by Li Yuan, who is the Duke of Tang. In 623, Li Yuan wins the rebellion and the Sui dynasty falls and the Tang Dynasty takes over. Confucianism regains some popularity with the reformation of Chinese government and co-exists with Bhuddism until 690 when Empress Wu is in power. Empress Wu attempts to enforce Bhuddism as the national religion. This causes the Neo-Confucianist movement in China. Bhuddist persecution occurs mainly in the end of Tang rule about 840-900. The Tang fall in 907,
- Reemergence of the Scholar Gentry class
- Return of the Bureaucracy
- Militaristic- Captured and expanded west to modern day Afghanistan. Similar borders to what we have today in China.
- Buddhism and reemergence of Confucianism.
Differences and Similarities Between the Tang and Sui Dynasties
- The Tang and Sui had brought back Chinese values such as Confucianism.
- The Tang brought back the examination system, while the Sui did not have many cultural achievements.
Differences and Similarities Between the Tang and Song Dynasties
- The Tang Dynasty was militaristic while the Song Dynasty was very pacifistic and cultural.
- The Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty both had Neo-Confucian movements.
- The Tang Dynasty was the peak of Buddhism while the Song Dynasty persecuted Buddhism for all of the Dynasty.
960-1279 AD
Following the fall of the Tang Dynasty, we have 50 years of civil war and decentralization, until 960 when the Song Dynasty comes into power. The Song Dynasty tries to eliminate potential threats from the North peacefully by sending them tributes every so often. In 1115, the Jurchen kingdom took over the North. When the Song sent them tributes, they didn't accept them, but rather they decided to invade the Song instead. From this point on we refer to them as the Southern Song Dynasty. Then in the early 13th century, the Mongols take over the Jurchens and continue on to China. It takes about 50 years for the Mongols to take over the Song Dynasty, and in 1279 the Song fall to the Mongols.
Major Achievements and Importance
- The Song invented the movable type.
- The Song also invented gunpowder, but not for gun or cannon use.
- The Song use the compass for sea navigation.
- The Song also stressed the importance of the Scholar Gentry class and prestiged Government jobs.
Differences and Similarities Between the Song and Sui Dynasties
- The Song Dynasty was invaded, while the Sui Dynasty was rebelled at.
- The Song and Sui Dynasties were both cultural improvements and had high impact on the Government compared to the Tang Dynasty.
- The Sui were primarily Buddhist while the Song were primarily Confucian.
Differences and Similarities Between the Song and Tang Dynasties
- The Song Dynasty had a large reliance on the scholar gentry class, while the Tang had very little reliance on it.
- The Song Dynasty didn't expand much while the Tang expanded to practically modern borders.
- The Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty both lasted about 300 years.