Monday, December 3

Tang Dynasty (618 AD-907 AD)

Accomplishments
- China achieved the peak of civilizations and became the center of trade
- The study of medicine-conducted a study on diabetes and discovered the source
- The study of complex chemicals-created gunpowder and air conditioning
- The study of law and math- achievement in the field of education. It marked a huge contribution for economic growth and stability of building a strong foundation for China
- Key Players
  - Li Yuan-known as Taiyuan Gong
    - A chancellor of the Sui Dynasty who rose in rebellion
Li Shimin
- Powerful ruler good at both military strategy and Chinese calligraphy
Li Zhi
- Considered a weak ruler because he was assisted by Empress Wu Zetian for most of his reign
- Before Tang
  - Sui Dynasty ruled from the years 581-618
  - Went into chaos due to tyranny of Emperor Yang
  - The Fall of the Tang Dynasty
    - Difficult for people to make a living
    - People began to rebel
    - Huang Chao’s led and army of 100,000 soldiers
    - Huang Chao’s declared himself emperor
    - Rebellion lasted for a decade (875 AD-884 AD)
    - Rebellion was defeated the Tang
      - Never really recovered
Huang surrendered to Tang forces
- Cause a rapid military promotion
After about 300 years in power, the dynasty ended
Zhu Wen took the throne for himself and renamed the Tang Dynasty to the Liang Dynasty
Location
- Imperial Dynasty of China
- Capital is at Chang’an China

Science, Poetry, Technology, and Arts

Monk Yixing, was the first to successfully measure the length of the meridian line
Sun Simiao, the medicine king, wrote a medical book Qianjin Fang (Thousand Golden Prescriptions)
Yi Xing led a national project to observe, identify, and locate stars
Science Song
- Acupuncture- a system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin or tissues with needles, used to lessen pain
- Astronomer Yan Zhongfu made The System of Astronomical Calendar, and took 365.2425 days as one year
- Poetry-Tang
  - Around 50,000 poems
  - Very important
  - Professional and social life of the literate class
  - Still very influential
  - Poetry-Song
    - New form of poem called the ci lyric
      - New lyric written to the rhythm of a pre-existing song
Titled as “To the tune of…”
Usually expressed feelings of desire
Technology-Song
- Movable type printing helped the spread of woodblock printing to teach Confucian students
- During the 13^th century the windmill started to be used throughout China
- Paper-printed money was another advancement of currency
- Advancements in agriculture like new developments of rice cultivation
- Iron production increased almost sixfold from 800 CE to 1078 CE
- Technology-Tang
  - First clock escapement mechanism. Called the astronomical clock Yi-Xing
  - Gunpowder: had no life threatening properties but exploded when exposed to fire
  - Air conditioning a cool hall was built in the palace. A device called a Tang-Yulin functioned as an air conditioner
    - It had water powered fan wheels that moved the cool air about the hall
    - Art-Tang
      - Considered the golden age of literature and art
      - The most common painting was the landscape
      - Painting and calligraphy were viewed as some of the most noble arts
      - Most of these paintings were put onto scrolls so they could be hung on walls
      - Shansui-painting of the landscapes

Weapons, Army and Strategy

Soldiers were drafted from the families of landowners, peasants and court officials
People had to provide their own clothing, weapons, and food
Began at 21 staying in the military until age 60
Usually soldiers didn’t leave their land
In 749, the fu military system was replaced by the mercenary system, which weakened the Tang military
Strategy (Tang)
- The tang used a Fu system of military which was very effective
- 3 categories with a certain number of men in each one
  - Upper Fu commaned 1200 men
  - Middle fu-1000 men
  - Lower Fu- 800 men
Fu system was abandoned because it was preventing agriculture
Strategy (Song)
- Like US
- Used flanks
- Soldiers were rated on athletic ability and divided into companies, platoons, and a group of men called the cross bowers
- Army (Tang)
  - Each fu had
    - Regiments
    - Companies
    - Huos
      - Each huo contained 10 soldiers
      - Army (Song)
        A lot of generals did something and are now considered a god or legendary leader for their contributions
        If a man had a successful career in the military he had a sure path to success in politics
        The Du was basic combat unit in the army, smallest permanent unit (100 men)
        Ranked by physical strength and courage
        Split into 2, Xiang Bing the local provincial forces, and the Jin Bing, which formed the Imperial army.

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Monday, December 3

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