T’ang Dynasty
SLMS/10
Rise of the T’ang
T’ang Culture
•Li Yuan was the head of a powerful military family in northwest China. He was also
the first cousin of Yang Di, Emperor of the
Sui Dynasty.
•There were rebellions throughout
China near the end of Sui rule,
and Li Yuan led a rebellion that
captured the capital city of
Chang’an in 618. Li Yuan forced
Yang Di to “retire” as Emperor,
and proclaimed himself the Emperor Gaozu
of the new T’ang Dynasty.
•The militaristic T’ang took control of China,
and conquered territory not ruled over since
the Han Dynasty. T’ang China extended far
to the northwest, controlling an extensive
portion of the eastern silk roads.
•Taoism and Buddhism flourished in the
T’ang era, in part because Li Yuan, founder
of the Dynasty claimed to be a descendent
of Lao Tzu (founder of Taoism).
•Buddhism was patronized by
T’ang Emperors, and numerous
temples and monasteries were
built during this time. Buddhist priests also
gained significant political power because
of their close association with Emperors.
Confucian scholars became angry at being
displaced.
•Toward the end of the T’ang Dynasty,
things shifted away from Buddhism back
toward Confucianism once again.
•The T’ang era was a golden age of literature
and art. Thousands of poems were written
along with large encyclopedias, and state
histories. Architecture had significant Buddhist influence, while painting was heavily
influenced by Taoism.
Economy
•Many surrounding states
feared the power of the T’ang.
Diplomats were sent to the
capital at Chang’an to pay
tribute to China, and incredible wealth flowed into the capital.
•Production of rice became far more lucrative during the T’ang period, as new techniques were employed, and population
growth necessitated increased production.
•Tea, salt and alcohol were monopolies of
the state. By far the most lucrative monopoly was that of salt.
•During the T’ang, trade flourished along the
silk roads, bringing Islam as well as significant Middle Eastern influence to China.
•There was also significant maritime trade
in the Indian Ocean with places as far away
as Egypt and the Axum Empire.
Cultural Diffusion
•The city of Chang’an was incredibly cosmopolitan, and with a population of nearly two
million people, it was the largest city in the
world at the time.
•Foreign diplomats from around the world
(Persia, India, Vietnam, Korea,
Tibet and more) made their
way to Chang’an to establish
relationships with China.
•Not only did China have new
cultural influences, but they sent Chinese
culture across the world -- especially to Korea and Japan. The Japanese were interested in all things Chinese, and their adoption of Buddhism dates to this period.
Global History
T’ang Dynasty
1. Who led a rebellion against the Sui? How
did he gain power?
Name _____________________________________
7. Why did wealth flow into Chang’an?
8. Why did rice production increase?
2. What was the extent of the T’ang Dynasty?
3. Why did Taoism flourish in the T’ang era? 9. Where did the T’ang trade?
4. How did Buddhism thrive during the
T’ang?
10. How populous was Chang’an?
11. What countries sent diplomats to
5. Why did Confucian scholars become angry Chang’an?
during the early T’ang era?
6. What were other cultural contributions
during the T’ang era?
12. How did T’ang China influence others?
Global History
T’ang Dynasty Key
1. Who led a rebellion against the Sui? How
did he gain power?
Li Yuan (cousin of Yang Di) led a rebellion
that captured the capital city of Chang’an in
618. Li Yuan forced Yang Di to “retire” as
Emperor, and proclaimed himself the Emperor Gaozu of the new T’ang Dynasty.
2. What was the extent of the T’ang Dynasty?
The militaristic T’ang took control of China,
and conquered territory not ruled over since
the Han Dynasty. T’ang China extended far
to the northwest, controlling an extensive
portion of the eastern silk roads.
Name _____________________________________
while painting was heavily influenced by
Taoism.
7. Why did wealth flow into Chang’an?
Because surrounding states feared the power
of the T’ang. Diplomats were sent to the
capital at Chang’an to pay tribute to China,
and incredible wealth flowed into the capital.
8. Why did rice production increase?
Because the population had increased, and
new techniques were introduced. Plus, rice
cultivation had become more lucrative.
9. Where did the T’ang trade?
The T’ang utilized the silk roads to trade with
3. Why did Taoism flourish in the T’ang era? the Middle East. Additionally, Indian Ocean
Taoism and Buddhism flourished in the T’ang trade extended to Egypt and the Axum Empire.
era, in part because Li Yuan, founder of the
Dynasty claimed to be a descendent of Lao
10. How populous was Chang’an?
Tzu (founder of Taoism).
Nearly two million people! It was the largest
4. How did Buddhism thrive during the
city in the world at the time.
T’ang?
Buddhism was patronized by T’ang Emper- 11. What countries sent diplomats to
ors, and numerous temples and monasteries Chang’an?
were built during this time.
Foreign diplomats from around the world
(Persia, India, Vietnam, Korea, Tibet and
5. Why did Confucian scholars become angry more) made their way to Chang’an to estabduring the early T’ang era?
lish relationships with China.
Buddhist priests also gained significant political power because of their close associa- 12. How did T’ang China influence others?
tion with Emperors. Confucian scholars be- They sent Chinese culture across the world -came angry at being displaced.
especially to Korea and Japan. The Japanese
were interested in all things Chinese, and
6. What were other cultural contributions
their adoption of Buddhism dates to this period.
during the T’ang era?
This was a golden age of literature and art.
Thousands of poems were written along with
large encyclopedias, and state histories. Architecture had significant Buddhist influence,
Legal Disclaimers
Thank you for your purchase. If you found this work useful, please consider rating this
work and purchasing other readings by the same author. Also, please consider recommending this author’s work to your colleagues.
©2010 Lauri Secker: The Lady Lion. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this work in another form, in part or in whole, is prohibited. Purchase of this unit entitles the purchaser
the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for classroom use only. Duplication
for an entire school, an entire school system or commercial purposes is strictly forbidden
without written permission from the publisher. Electronic distribution limited to classroom use only.
All images are property of Jupiterimages and are licensed for use in this work only. Any
other use of these images without proper license is unauthorized and prohibited. For licensing information, see www.clipart.com