Introduction

Map of Tang Empire

The Tang Dynasty was considered to be the greatest golden age for Chinese art and literature, and a period of progress and stability. This dynasty was in power from 618 – 907 AD. (289 years). The dynasty in power before the Tang was the Sui Dynasty. After the Tang Dynasty ended, it was followed by the ‘Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom’ period. The capital of the Tang dynasty is the Chang ‘an (present day Xi-an) which is the most famous city in China in that time. The size of the population at that time can be estimated to about 80 million people. It was a time when art, culture, and trade continued to flourish and expand.

Reason for Take-over

Li Yuan, the founder of Tang Dynasty

Before the Tang dynasty came to power there was the Sui Dynasty in charge, which came to a collapse from rebellions caused from ‘bandit leaders’ of the Sui Dynasty. The Yang Emperor of the Sui Dynasty was also acting too much like a tyrant, eventually sending his country to chaos. Peasants rebelling can be seen almost everywhere. Li Yuan, the governor of Taiyuan (a city in China), was a rebellious person. He was a person of military experience, who raised an army in Taiyuan on the month of May, 617 AD. Several months later in November, Li Yuan brought his army to capture the capital city of Chang’ an. He proclaimed himself as the king of Tang. In 618 AD. Emperor Yang was killed by his chancellor and Li Yuan found it was a great chance and grabbed to chance of becoming a new emperor of China. He made Sui Dynasty history and changed China into a Tang Dynasty with Chang’ an still the capital of the country.

Leaders of the Civilization

Wu Zetian, Empress of Tang.

There are 24 emperors during the Tang Dynasty. Here are some of the most famous and remembered emperors of all time.

-Li Shimin: One of the greatest emperors of all time whose era was called the “flourishing age”
- Wu Zetian: The only female empress in the whole Chinese history. She changed the Tang dynasty to Zhou; but was changed back to Tang when the following emperor named Zhong Zong ruled.
-Li Longji: An emperor in another ‘flourishing age.’ He was the emperor who experienced the An Shi rebellion which lasted for seven years and two months.
-Li Chan: One of the 3 most famous Chinese emperors who forbids Buddhism.

Other Leader of the Same Time

Emperor Montoku of Japan

Another leader at the same time in Japan would be emperor Montoku (827-858AD). He was the 55th emperor of Japan and ruled from 850 through 858. He was the eldest son of the Emperor Ninmyo and he had 29 imperial sons. The years of Montoku’s reign can be divided into 4 eras (Kasho, Ninju, Saiko, Tenan).During his reign he also had to cope with a rebellion from the Emishi (north eastern) people. Emperor Montoku lived for only 32 years but was a very important emperor who clearly passed down the blood of the family to the next generation as we can see from his 29 sons and daughters.

Accomplishments

Li Bai, a famous poet

The Tang Dynasty was the Golden Age of art, music and literature. Literature, especially poetry, was at its peak. Many famous poets came from this period like Li Bai.

The Tang Dynasty contributed a lot to the development of astronomy, medicine and printing technique. Three important tools were developed to help in rice cultivation: the chain with paddles which allows water to be transferred, the harrow, and the rice field plough. These important techniques and technologies were produced during the Tang dynasty.

In politics, Tang government was based on Confucianism that was used to select the best people from civil to government.

The land distribution of the Tang Empire has much to do with economic growth. The Tang emperors made a program to give equal distribution of land to each peasant families. The Tang wanted to make sure that the families have enough land to support themselves and to pay taxes. The Tang dynasty also introduced a new tax system. Taxes were based on the number of people in the family. The rapid production of rice increased during this period. As rice growing became more profitable, people begin to migrate to the Yangtze basin. Techniques such as planting out seedlings rapidly increased yield as well. The Silk Road, which was at its peak, gave merchants benefit from the trade between the east and the west. Therefore economy was getting better while the capital of Chang’ an was the center of trades in the world.

. The Silk Road Map

The Tang Dynasty’s religions include Taoism and Buddhism. Buddhism was also arrived in the Tang period. Buddhism played a major role in Chinese culture and was dominant at the time, although some emperors do decline Buddhism to be practiced. Many Buddhist temple structures were built during the Tang Dynasty.

. Leshan the Giant Buddha

Reason for Fall

The Map of 'Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period'

The main reason for the fall the Tang Dynasty was the Huang Chao rebellion, with Huang Chao and Wang Xianzhi as leaders. It was the biggest rebellion ever in the Tang. The whole of China became a battlefield and rebels increased to a number of six hundred thousand. It was a ten year war and the Tang dynasty was extremely exhausted by it. In 907 AD. the General (military governor) of Tang named Zhu Wen took control of the last emperor of Tang Dynasty, Ai Zong, but later surrendered to the rebels of Huang Chao. After the fall of the Tang dynasty, China was followed by a period called the ‘Five dynasties and ten kingdoms period’ and later on became the Song Dynasty…

Bibliography

"Tang Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynasty.

"Wu Zetian." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zetian.

"Montoku." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montoku.

"Huang Chao." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Chao.

"Buddhism in China." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_China.