Decades of strife and rebellions caused the collapse of China’s famous Han dynasty leading to periods of disintegrated kingdoms and dynasties that lasted short periods. This era from 220CE until 589CE commonly referred to as Age of Disunity showed diminished economic growth, degenerating social structures and unstable political atmosphere in China (Kim, 2015). In what is sometimes referred to as China’s Dark Age, this period made many Chinese people to desire the prosperity, peace and unity that was observed during the heights of the Han dynasty.
The successful conquest of the whole of China by Yang Jian, an army general from the northern region led to the establishment of the Sui dynasty and brought about a period of revival. Though the dynasty was short lived, it was important in reversing the decline of the Chinese society and saw many changes in the political, social and economic lifestyles of the Chinese society. Some of these changes were able to outlive the dynasty itself and to subsequent Tang and Song dynasties.
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Politically, the most important change that the Sui dynasty brought about was unity and peace in the whole of China. For centuries, the region was politically unstable and upheavals and rebellions became order of the day. Sui dynasty brought an end to the chaos by establishing order in military and administrative ranks. Sui dynasty managed to bring about this unification through a combination of pacts with aristocratic families of the north and a large-scale military campaign against the Chen of the South. The forceful migration of nobles to the capital further solidified the unity by ensuring the power of the nobles was significantly reduced. The dynasty also established a strong central government and abolished the three- tier local administrative system in favor of a two-tier system.
The spread of Buddhist religion in China was one of the major impacts of the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Wendi, the founder of Sui dynasty being himself a devout Buddhist encouraged its growth throughout China and lifted the ban that was placed on the religion by the preceding empires. Hoerneman (2018) states that Confucianism was also developed as a philosophy to be applied in governance. Yangdi, Wendi’s successor went further and set up a national examination for Confucianism which was used as a merit system in employing state officials.
Economically, the Sui dynasty saw the revival of the prosperity of earlier dynasties, fast tracked by the development of a coin standard. During this period the ‘juntian’ system was also revived which attempted to create equality in land distribution reducing the power of nobles. As a result of this land allocation policy, taxation of the people also became more organized, which made state resources bountiful. Canals were also constructed and extended aiding in transportation and agricultural production. These canals, which connected the north and south, enhanced the much-needed assimilation and integration of cultures that had highly diversified during the Age of Disunity.
Despite its accomplishments, the Sui dynasty did not last long and collapsed due to a series of rebellions. In its place, the Tang dynasty arose, which came to be a beneficiary of Sui’s many achievements. Tang dynasty lasted approximately three centuries and largely expanded on the limits of Sui dynasty in terms of political, social and economic development of China.
Politically, the Tang dynasty was known for reestablishment of state ministries which were responsible for handling affairs of the empire. There were six ministries in total, which remained a part of the Chinese administrative system for centuries. Also developed in this era, was a standardized penal code that stipulated crimes and the punishments they incur (Banwo, 2014). Both of this contributed to a strong imperial government that was resilient and have an impact that was to last for centuries in the Chinese society.
The historical famous Silk Road trading routes reached their peak during the Tang Dynasty. More trade routes were opened and networks established all over Asia. The Tang dynasty was also known for its establishment of glorified cities that were full of grandeur, particularly Xian and Luoyang. These cities were responsible in creating a vibrant urban culture with busy commercial activities. Sea trade also flourished with merchant ships going all the way to Korea and the Middle East. The Grand Canal also became an important trade channel connecting the north and south. Luoyang flourished in the trading activities along the Grand Canal that was expanded to link several cities. The merchant class became more established and powerful threatening the dominance of the aristocratic families.
Buddhism having cemented its place in the Chinese society during Sui dynasty became an even more dominant religion during Tang dynasty. Public administration was heavily influence by Buddhist principles and tenets. Confucianism had been the main philosophy used in public affairs during the Han and Sui dynasties and this was the first and only time Buddhism was the key driving force in the ethics of public administration during all the major historical dynasties in China. Great temples were built and the Buddhist canon translated from Sanskrit to Chinese. Notable works of literature and art also flourished during this time and many celebrated Chinese works were published during this era, a good example being the novel “Journey to the West”.
Despite its glory, the Tang dynasty gradually declined due political corruption and overambitious expansion campaigns. Natural calamities further that befall upon the land raised doubts whether the dynasty still had the Mandate of Heaven. After its collapse, the region descended into chaos for fifty-three years before the Song dynasty was established by general Zhao Kuangyin.
It is often argued that though the Song dynasty never matched the geographical coverage of Han and Tang dynasty, its elaborate political structure and economic strength were incomparable. The Song dynasty which was majorly centered in the south created a complex political structure that governing systems that were instrumental in defining China up to the 19 th Century.
The Song dynasty revived Confucianism as guiding principles of public administration and made civil service employment based on the knowledge of Confucian philosophy. The central political theme was protectionist in nature, unlike all other dynasties which sought external conquest. This was so much that even the army was regulated in size and resources to avert any ambitions for conquest by overzealous army generals. The policy of conquering neighboring lands and demanding tribute was even reversed such that the government paid neighbors to deter them from attacking China.
Economic vibrancy was the hallmark of the Song dynasty, the increasing wealth and influence of traders led to an economic revolution in China at the time (Cartwright, 2017). This was largely influenced by highly populated cities and a complex network of foreign and local markets. Printing press was another new and rising industry, having been invented during the Tang dynasty, it greatly advanced in the Song dynasty and quickly spread to the west. This era also marked the beginning of China-Europe trade via sea. This was developed as matter of necessity because of the increasing insecurity in the Silk Road routes, causing merchants to resort to travel by sea to the Middle East then later to Europe.
Song era was responsible for many technological inventions and discoveries that the western world borrowed. Among them include the printing press, textile mills, the compass and the clock. This era is often depicted as the Chinese golden era of technological advancement despite the irony of its small size. Neo-Confucianism became the dominant religion during Song dynasty as Buddhism and Taoism declined due to adoption of pragmatism approach to life.
The three eras of Chinese history were very impactful to the world influencing the ways of governance, methods of warfare and contributing to modern technologies. The international trade that grew during that time increased global interaction and cultural exchanges. It is without a doubt that these three dynasties have left a permanent mark in modern day civilization.
References
Banwo, A. (2014). Decline and overview of the Tang Dynasty. International Journal of Science and Research , 2319-7064. https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v3i3/MTgwMzE0MDI=.pdf
Cartwright, M. (2017, September 26). Song Dynasty . Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.ancient.eu/Song_Dynasty/
Hoerneman, C. (2018, May 22). The major dynasties of china: Part 1 . Central Rappahannock Regional Library. https://www.librarypoint.org/blogs/post/dynasties-1/
Kim, N. (2015). Many Chinas: The three kingdoms, The Wei, Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties (220-589 AD). In: The last 3000 years in China . https//doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3770.8327
