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| Chinese
History |
Imperial
China - Song Era
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Post-Tang
The Tang dynasty is overthrown and followed by another
unruly period. Pertinent factors for foreigners to China:
The Dali Empire based from Yunnan province comes and
goes, but brings conflict and understandings between
nomadic Tibetan's and lowland Chinese. You may want
to trace your modern thinking about Tibet back to this
era
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms (907–960)
Liao Dynasty 907–1125
Song Dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song (960 - 1127)
Southern Song (1127–1279)
Western. Xia (1032 - 1227)
Jin (1115 - 1234)
5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907–960
During this brief era, China was in all respects a multi-state
system. Five dynasties succeeded one another rapidly
in control of the old Imperial heartland of northern
China. During this same time, 10 more stable regimes
occupied sections of southern and western China
Courtesy of Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Dynasties_and_Ten_Kingdoms_Period
The 5 Dynasties period centres on the North of China,
ends when the Song take power and unify most of what
was previously the Tang Empire. The 5 Dynasties are:
Later Tang (Grew out of the Later Liang), Later Jin
(Not Jurchen), Later Han, Later Zhao, and Northern Han
+ The Liao Dynasty independently
The 10 Kingdoms are represented in the map above (I
only count nine - so remove the Liao; and then add the
Qi and Chang = 10), and echo many of the usual suspects
rising to power again - although sometimes in different
geographical location.
The 10 Kingdoms are: Wu, Wuyue, Min, Southern Han, Chu,
Jingnan (Nanping), Former Shu, Later Shu, and the Southern
Tang
During the mid 900's, Tang proved to be the most powerful.
They defeated both Wu, Min, and Chu. However, it was
forced to give up land north of the Yangtze to the Zhou,
and later became part of the Northern Song Empire
Also pay attention to the: Yan, Uyghurs, and Jin (Jurchen)
- as these Kingdoms, which are currently outside of
Chinese control, have been in this mix for centuries
Note:
The Jin listed here are The Jurchen (eventual Qing Empire),
and not related to The Jin Dynasty we met previously
in post-Han China
Liao Dynasty 907–1125
The contemporary Liao Dynasty should be regarded as
a separate entity during both the above period, and
the subsequent early Song Dynasty
Map courtesy of GNU free licence
The Liao Dynasty, also known as the Khitan Empire, was
an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of
Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper.
It was founded by the Yelü clan of the Khitan people
in the same year as Tang Dynasty collapsed (907)
Although it was originally known as the Empire of
the Khitan, the Emperor Yelü Ruan officially
adopted the name "Liao" in 947 (938?). The
name "Liao" was dropped in 983, but readopted
in 1066
The Liao Empire was destroyed by the Jurchen of the
Jin Dynasty in 1125. However, remnants of its people
led by Yelü Dashi established Xi (Western) Liao
Dynasty 1125-1220, also known as Kara-Khitan Khanate,
which survived until the arrival of Genghis Khan's
unified Mongolian army.
Song Dynasty 960–1279
The Song Dynasty is considered by many to be classical
China's high point in science and technology, with
innovative scholar-officials also active in advanced
arts. There was court intrigue with the political
rivals of the Reformers and Conservatives. It was
the first government in world history to issue banknotes
or paper money, and the first Chinese government to
establish a permanent standing navy
Northern Song (960–1127)
Map courtesy of Yu Ninjie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Dynasty
The early years are known as the Northern Song, when
they gained power over most of China and established
their Capital in Kaifeng near The Yellow River. Initially
a time of great prosperity and artistic excellence,
war was never far away
Southern Song (1127–1279)
The Northern Song lost control of Northern China to
The Jin (Jurchen), and established a new capital at
Hangzhou
Map courtesy of Yu Ninjie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Song#Southern_Song
Although much weakened and pushed south, the Southern
Song found new ways to bolster its strong economy
and defend its own state against the Jin Dynasty.
They had able military and the government sponsored
massive shipbuilding and harbour improvement projects,
and the construction of beacons and port warehouses
in order to support maritime trade abroad. The major
international seaports, such as Quanzhou, Guangzhou,
and Xiamen, were essentially sustaining Song commerce.
Constant warring marks the Empires borders, and this
pushes military science forwards at a great rate.
Gunpowder is used in warfare for the first time by
the Jin, meaning: Guns, cannons, and mortars are invented;
and used! The Song adapt and produce their own versions,
which if memory serves me correctly, includes the
first exploding cannonballs - some 5 centuries before
Europe
Synopsis:
The Song and Jin battle around the Yangtze River,
and there developes a quasi status quo over time.
Meanwhile...
Western Xia (1032 - 1227)
I in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces
of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Ningxia, there emerged a Western
Xia Dynasty from 1032 up to 1227, established by Tangut
tribes. There reign like so many others of the time,
ended with the Mongol invasion
Jin Dynasty (Jurchen) 1115 - 1234
In 1115 the Jurchen Jin Dynasty emerged to prominence
in the far North, annihilating the Liao Dynasty in
10 years. Given enough time, they indubitably had
the wherewithall to conquer China to the extent of
the Tang. However, their quest for ultimate control
was necessarily put on hold for centuries due in particular
to a certain Mongol called Genghis Khan, and later
the Ming Empire
Dali Empire
Remote from the Song and Jin thingamajig, there emerges
a powerful Empire in Yunnan Province. The Dali Empire
is explained elsewhere, as it is not pertinent to
the current shenanigans. I just want you to have a
feel for what was happening concurrently in other
parts of what is now China
Map courtesy of Talessman
http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/images/East-Hem_1200ad.jpg
Summary
Yet another period of general turmoil and warring,
which begins much as before - with Warlords and powerful
families. However, new clans, tribes, and Dynasties
emerge in other parts, heralding in a new era of alliances
and subterfuge. Towards the end of this period, the
main protagonists for the next millennia are emerging.
This small area is then unified by someone with far
grander ambitions - Genghis Khan and the Mongols,
which are known as the Yuan
Empire of China
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This
information is as supplied by Wikipedia, as dated March
2009 or later, and/or other reliable sources.
Maps (Unless stated otherwise)
are provided in association with Thomas Lessman
Web: www.worldhistorymaps.info
Disclaimer:
Please check this information yourself as it may alter
without notice, and whilst we try our best to ensure
it is correct, please do not hold us responsible for
any errors - this is intended as a simple guide only |
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