Chinese Dynastic Timeline - Samantha Li

Buddhism (Social)

Nov 11, 601

http://totallyhistory.com/sui-dynasty-581-618/Relics of the Buddha were installed into various temples thorughout China under Emperor Wen's orders. This religion flourished and served to unify China culturally.

Sui Yangdi

Nov 9, 604

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/sui/He was the second son of Sui Wendi. He was invested in many construction projects, notably the completion of Grand Canal and reconstruction of the Great Wall, which were beneficial to the country in the long run, but caused great internal unrest. Many know him as "the tyrant who led Sui to deline".

The Imperial Examination System (Political)

Nov 11, 605

http://history.cultural-china.com/en/168History9790.htmlA system of examinations one could take to attain a position in administering the state's bureaucracy. Replaced the traditional Hierarchal System, and encourged only the best to be selected based on merit.

Discontent Civilians (Social)

Nov 11, 610

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goguryeo-Sui_WarsThe major downfall of the Sui Dynasty can be directed to the Goguryeo-Sui wars. The Korean campaign ended in failure, and the Sui Ynagdi's high demand for resources caused revolt to strike in northern China.

Tang Code (Political)

Nov 11, 653

http://www.chinatraveldiscovery.com/china-history/tang-dynasty/index.htmThe Tang Code fused Confucian and Legalism interpretations of government. It would serve as a model to future dynastic eras amd influence neighboring polities in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. It specified different crimes to various penalities, ranging from whippings to execution.

Women in Society (Social)

Nov 11, 700

http://totallyhistory.com/tang-dynasty-social-structure/Women were regarded with more respect and able to hold more power. Infact, positions of authority - such as being a priestess - laid an opportunity to the female population. However, higher social standings only applied to those residing in large cities in most situations.

Emperor Xuanzong

Sep 8, 712

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang/Under his rule, the Tang reached its peak of prosperity. National economy, politics, and culture quickly progressed. Social developement entered a new heyday. However, he was blamed for blindly trusting his court officials during later reign, which resulted in the Anshi Rebellion.

An-Shi Rebellion (Social)

Nov 11, 755

http://history.cultural-china.com/en/34History2311.htmlAn Lushan, one of Tang's foremost military commander, organized a rebellion to seize power. He crowned himself the Emperor of Dayan, his regime being "Yan". Although the revolt was short-lived, it did severely weaken bureaucracy and damage economy.

Foot Binding (Social)

Nov 11, 1000

http://shoes.about.com/od/footwear/qt/foot_binding.htmOriginated with uppoerclass court dancers and eventually spread amongst peasant famliles. The process involved wrapping a young girl's feet in cloth to hinder further growth. Bones were essentially bent for size to be reduced.
Because women with bound feet had trouble walking and were more dependent, patriarchal authority was stregthened.

Paper Money (Economy)

Nov 11, 1024

http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_madeinchina/2005-06/28/content_70185.htm-First paper money was printed under government support in Sichuan province.
-Caused serious problems : use of counterfeit notes & governement authorities printing higher values on currency than its worth
-But, lighterweight, convenient, and printing technology allowed for mass duplication

Printing (Economy)

Nov 11, 1045

http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/the-song-dynasty.htmPrinting allowed an abaundance of texts to be made quickly and cheaply. These works may vary from Confucian works, calendars, agricultural treaties, or Buddhist texts.
Movable Type printing was developed. However, since the Chinese language uses thousands of characters, process was inconvenient and unwieldy. People often went back to using wooden blocks.

Zhao Gao

Nov 11, 1127

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/song/He was the tenth emperor of the Song Dynasty.When Northern Song was under attack by the Jin, he managed to flee to a safer place to avoid capture. It was there he established Southern Song at Nanjing Yingtianfu (later moved to Lin'an).

Jurchen Invasion (Political)

Nov 11, 1127

http://www.culture-4-travel.com/song-dynasty.htmlThe Jurchens captured Song Dynasty's Northern capital at Kaifeng. As a result, Northern Song ended and Southern Song marked it beginnings at Hangzhou, their new capital.

Navy (Political)

Nov 11, 1132

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_DynastyChina's first permanent navy was established, headquarters being at Dinghai. With this establishment, the country was ready and able to face the Jin forces during the Battle of Tangdao and Battle of Caishi.

Fall of Song (Political)

Nov 11, 1279

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t3w10sungdynasty.htmMilitary commander Kublai Khan led his Mongolian troops to overthrow the Song Dynasty. With its weak army, the Sung collapsed. The Yuan dynasty was established.

Sui Wendi

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/sui/After the death of the last emperor of Northern Zhou, he claimed the Mnadate of Heaven amd throne for himself. With the success of his military expeditions, he had all of China under his rule by 589. He imposed strict political discipline over his state,

Completion of the Grand Canal (Economy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.absolutechinatours.com/Hangzhou-attractions/Grand-Canal.htmlThe Grand Canal is a series of manmade waterways that stretches from Beijing to Hangzhou, extending more than 1700 meters. It was orignally intended to facilitate grain from various regions to China's political center, But, it also served in aiding communitcation between northern and southern China, bringing cultural unity.

Juntian System (Economy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Tang/sui-econ.htmlAn economic system installed during the Sui Dynasty to ensure every family held property. This prevented artistocratic households from accumulating large, untaxable, fields.

Standardized measurements (Ecnomy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.helium.com/items/2241194-the-sui-dynasty-an-overviewStandardized coins, iron rulers and bronmze measurements helped to unify the community and encourage prosperity with trade.

Three Departments and Six Ministries (Political)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/sui/A new political system that replaced the "Three Lords and Nine Ministers". The division of work in court was more specified. This new form of organizaation enhanced the royalty's power.

Kaihuang Codex (Political)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.chinatraveldepot.com/C159-Sui-DynastyA book of state codes and punishments developed by Sui Wendi. Disciplined civilians and provided groundwork for other dynasties to come.

Foreign Relations (Social)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.warriortours.com/intro/history/sui/http://www.warriortours.com/intro/history/sui/
The Tuguhun were a group of people who often invdaed the Sui Dynasty. So in order to improve relations, Emperor Wendi arranged a marriage between the representatives of the two regions - Princess Guanghua and Tuguhun Khan.

Tang Taizong

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang/emperor_taizong.htmHe got his spot on the throne through acts of murdering his brothers and pushing aside his father. Tang Taizong was rruthless and ambitious, an attitude that led toward's his dynasty's success. Under his reign, government was stable, taxes were low, and rice was affordable.

Handicraft Industry (Economy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang/economy.htmDue to the great progress in agriculture, remaining workers could work on other projects. The process of silk making was further refined, new types porcelain were developed, and other areas in the manufacturing industry thrived - such as papermaking and tea-leaf processing .

Commerce (Economy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang/economy.htmThe development of both agriculture and the handicraft industry fuled foreign trade and domestic buisiness. Items frequently being exchanged were tea, medicine, textiles, salt, spirits, gold and silver. The Silk Road served as the main means for transportation and communication.

Administration System (Political)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang.htmArea the Tang Dynasty reigned was split into ten (which rose to fifthteen during later years) political districts called "Dao". WIthin those sections of land, regions were divded into sections called "Zhou" or "Fu".

Imperial Examination System (Poitical)

Mar 2, 2022

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang.htmFollowing the Sui Dynasty, governement officials were recruited by a system of examinations. This allowed individuals from common ranks to obtain positions in court. Candidates were tested on their knowledge of Confucianism, poetry, caligraphy, politics, and wiritng skills.

Song Taizu

Mar 2, 2022

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Taizu_of_Song-Founder of the Song Dynasty
-Career began as a junior military officer
-Reputation for honesty and effectiveness
-Inspired movements of art, literature, science and economic reform through his creation of academies

New Agricultural Techniques (Economy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_Song_DynastyProductivity increased with the use of heavy iron plows, harnessed oxen (north) and water buffaloes (south), and fertilizer. Extensive irrigation systems allowed cultivation to happen in the most difficult terrain. This did not only include dams, canals, reservoirs, and dikes, but pumps and waterwheels.

Social Class (Social)

Mar 2, 2022

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_the_Song_DynastyThe most influential factor that contributed to one's social standing was their scholarly degree (thanks to the endorsement of the civil service examinations). Song scholar officals viewed themselves with prestige. They took their responsibility as to "keep greedy merchants and power-hungry military men in their place".

Familial Costums (Social)

Mar 2, 2022

http://mt.china-papers.com/2/?p=202791The Song Dynasty emphasized male dominance, which may have stemmed from the concern of sustaining family wealth through enhanced solidarity. The process of family worship grew in sophistication. It was in the descendents' hands to trace their earliest forefather and perform an elaborate graveside ritual (whereas ancestors where only invoked in households prior times).

Double-Tax System (Economy)

Mar 2, 2022

http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=z-fAxn_9f8wC&pg=PA72&lpg=PA72&dq=double-tax+system+tang&source=bl&ots=XikZXly9by&sig=M_HxGaOthkrHSPkj64mQvM_ts8Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NA-hUOqICo6aiQf-4oDIDw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=double-tax system tang&f=falseThe economy of the Tang went horribly downhill after the Anshi Rebellion crisis. In attempt to restore it, Prime Minister Yang Yan installed the "Double-Tax System", where taxes were collected twice a year - Fall and Summer - based on amount of property owned.

Leisure (Social

Mar 2, 2022

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynastyThe Tang Dynasty was renowned for its leisure activity enjoyed by the elite. Some outdoor activities include cockfighting, tug of war, horse polo, hunting, archery, and cuju football.
In the capital city of Chang'an, hight-spirited festivities would take place for traditional chinese holidays, espicially the Lantern Festival.

Sui Dynasty

Period: Mar 2, 2022 to Mar 2, 2022

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sui_Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was rather short, but significant as it unified China's southern and northern division. The country was yet again restored under an centralized imperial rule. However, it eventually fell apart with revolt, assaination and disloyalty.

Song Dynasty

Period: Mar 2, 2022 to Nov 11, 1279

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_DynastyThe Song Dynasty introduced the useage of banknotes, and was the first of chinese governments to institute a navy. Military weaponry enhanced, largely due to the concept of gunpowder. Pre-modern technology fluorished as further knowledge on engineering, science, and mathematics expanded.

Tang Dynasty

Period: Mar 2, 2022 to Mar 2, 2022

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynastyFollowing the Sui, the Tang Dynasty was was considered a golden age for cosmopolitan culture. This era marked a time of progress and peace (with the expection of the An Lushan Rebellion and later decline). Poetry prospered under the influence of Li Bai and Du Fu, two of the greatest poets in Chinese history. The compiled historical literature during this age was particularly rich in variety due to innovations such as woodblock pritning.