How Did China Change Under The Sui Dynasty

During the Song dynasty, they only focused on the economic system instead of the military and the economic system. Even though this caused the economic system to advance the dynasty soon fell. Considering that they didn't have a strong military the Song dynasties rule was really successful. At the same time, the song had their differences from the Han. One was that they used the civil service system.

Ancient China had a government ruled by dynasties, sometimes united under one dynasty but often competing dynasties in controlling different regions. The government these dynasties created tended to be very autocratic and even despotic, ruthlessly enforcing their rule and conscripting massive armies and labor forces. Perhaps this was a necessary evil considering the threat of barbarian invasion, potential internal rivals and massive rebellions. Emperors and officials were to be virtues and effective, models for their subjects, even when practicing an enlightened confusion form of government, a virtues example for the people, the ancient Chinese dynasties tended to be bureaucratic and very strict. Warlord king ruled different states in the beginning,

The Grand Canal helped to amalgamate both northern and southern China both economically culturally, as well as strengthening the unification of the empire. Sui Yangdi also finished the construction of the Great Wall, which is one of the largest building projects ever undertaken. During his reign, Sui Yangdi also embarked on many military conquests in order to extend his empire. He was able to expand his empire north into Inner Asia and south to present-day Vietnam. His conquests against Japan, though, ended disastrously with the Chinese people rebelling against him , and eventually he was assassinated in 618 C.E. which brought the empire to an end. The fall of the once powerful Sui dynasty after Sui Yangdi’s death further proves how strong, authoritative individuals are pivotal for the perpetuating success and survival of an empire and its peoples.

The Song Dynasty had a centralized government, giving more power

In the Dynastic Cycle the Tang and Song Dynasties were very different although they had very close founding dates, one after the other, their period of decline/warfare were very different. First, the Tang dynasty was founded in the year 618 CE and ended in the year 907 CE. The Song was founded in about 960 CE right after the Tang ended. The Song Dynasty ended in 1279. Next, the Song and Tang Dynasties ended in very different ways. First, the way that the Song Dynasty ended was that they were attacked by the Khitans in the Northern part of the empire. They were very easy to attack because they believed in an educated person over a strong military. Then the rest of the Song dynasty was destroyed because of more attacks from invaders.

China was divided for almost four centuries. It became unified in 581 with the founding of the new dynasties, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties. During the time of these dynasties, many changes took place. There were changes in the political, social, and economic structures. The first changes took place during the Sui dynasty in 581. Additional changes took place during the Tang dynasty in 618, and the Song dynasty in 960.

Empires learn from their histories. Or at least they should. This was definitely the case in China after the Period of Disunion, which lasted for almost 400 years from 220 CE to 589 CE. During this time there was almost constant warfare and instability, especially because nomadic pastoralists from Central Asia had invaded the country. During the Period of Disunion, the nomads brought Buddhism, a religion founded in the 6th century BCE in India by the Buddha and based on the goal of achieving nirvana, or blissful nothingness. Before the Period of Disunion came the Han Dynasty, which lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. Finally in 589 CE the Sui Dynasty reunified China, and they reigned from 589 CE with the end of the Period of Disunion, to 618 CE, when the Tang Dynasty took over. The Tang reigned until 907 CE. China under the Sui and Tang Dynasties reflected the legacy of the Period of Disunion in foreign policy, women, infrastructure, religion and art.

Following the collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220, China declined into an elongated term of division. China was divided and in a time of war, with a lack of leadership. It was only in the Sui Dynasty (589-618) reunited North and South China as one. The Tang (618-906) and Song (960 - 1279) Dynasties that followed created the “Golden Ages of China”. Although the Tang and Song Dynasties existed in a similar time and had a similar economy, there are also many differences between the influential dynasties such as certain aspects of their society and politics.

The Song dynasty, also called the Sung dynasty, was the Chinese reign during the late 10th-13th centuries that, like the Tang, had a far-reaching impact economically, culturally, and socially. The period is divided into two parts: the Northern Song and the Southern Song. Economically, commerce, trade, and manufacturing grew exponentially. Culturally, Confucianism witnessed new life as it undergirded the growth of the Chinese middle class, and socially, a revision of the Chinese civil service examination widened government representation. The Song dynasty could easily be argued as the renaissance of China.

During the Song Dynasty (960-1279) which lead China, their rulers were more concerned with unifying and improving their civilization. Under the leadership of the Emperor, North

With the Sui through Yuan dynasties came a highly civilized and advanced China. During these dynasties, from about 589 to 1368, Chinese society grew refined and prosperous in many areas, including government, trade, technology, and the arts. More systems of travel developed during this dynasty as well. A society will fall to pieces without a capable government.

Advancements in China during the Song Dynasty caused this time period to flourish with peace, prosperity, and happiness. The Song dynasty was ruled by Zhao Kuangyin who was a chief-general in the dynasty before the Song, Hou Zhuo. Zhao Kuangyin unified china into a strong central government. He designed a strategy to conquer various kingdoms one by one, staring in the south, which was very rich in their production of items but weak in forces and protection. Zhao the ruler of the Song dynasty which lasted over 300 years believed in following short military dynasties.

Before 221 BC, China was separated into different states, and there was great conflict between them. This was the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC) Qin Shi Huangdi, then known as Ying Zheng, was made ruler of the Qin district, and made many great changes to society. He created a fair military system, built one of the worlds most iconic national structures, and unified the warring states that would come to be known as China. Qin was a highly regarded leader, and changed China for the better.

Starting in 468 BCE during the Zhou dynasty, the Grand Canal took about 6 million peasants about a millennium to build. The construction of this canal finally finished in 610 CE under Emperor Yangdi of the Sui dynasty. Changing China’s staple from millet and wheat to rice was the main reason of the building of the canal, but it also helped Chinese economy by connecting the more productive southern China to the capitals in northern china. It increased interdependence between the north and the south. One section of the Grand Canal was also intended to supply Chinese armies which led to better defense and administration in China. Also, in building the canal, officials were required to work together, so the Grand Canal brought better authority and unity to political officials. The downside of this canal, though, was the number of peasants killed in constructing it. Over half of the 6 million peasants employed to build the canal died in building it, which was a reason the Sui dynasty fell. The great Grand Canal set the foundation for the great Tang dynasty.

Song Dynasty: during the Song Dynasty, there were several reformations and the Keju System became more and more mature and consummate. It had reached its summit. The government expanded admission quota and established Provincial Examination, Metropolitan Examination, and Final Imperial Examination. Those exams would be hold triennially. Song Dynasty changed the situation that merchant were discriminated in Sui and Tang Dynasties. Thanks to this policy, many people who were born miserably could have a fair access to higher level of bureaucracy.