Quick Guide For Tang Dynasty

Introduction...This meant that international trade flourished, and the
The Tang Dynasty began in 618CE and ended inChinese economy became strong.
907CE. It was a period of political stability andThe period between 710 and 755CE was the most
economic strength, which in turn led to importantbrilliant period of the Tang Dynasty. The imperial
cultural and artistic developments. The Tang Dynastyexaminations -- which aimed to allow only the most
is often considered to be the high-point of Chinesetalented people into the Chinese government -
civilization. However, the Tang court lost much of itsbecame more effective during Tang China; Chinese
power during the 9th century, and finally collapsed inadministration reached its maturity; land distribution
907CE. This was followed by several decades of(which taxes were collected properly) become highly
political unrest called the "Five Dynasties and Tenefficient; and the army was strong and
Kingdoms Period".well-organized.
OverviewThe Tang Dynasty was also the only time a woman
A large part of the reason why the Tang Dynastyemperor officially ruled China; Empress Wu Zetian
was so stable and strong was because of theinterrupted the Tang Dynasty to form her own
dynasty that ruled before it: The Sui Dynasty.short-lived Zhou Dynasty in 690CE. Wu Zetian's
Although the Sui Dynasty lasted less than 4 decadesbecoming emperor of China would not have been
(581-618CE), it unified a country that had been tornpossible if it had not been for the power and
apart by approximately 400 years of warfare andinfluence of the Buddhist Church during the Tang
political disunity. The Sui Dynasty re-unified China,Dynasty. This shows us how important the Buddhist
centralized government, standardized coinage,religion was during this period, as it was able to
expanded the Great Wall of China, and extended theinfluence the court in such a serious way.
Great Canal - all of which strengthened the economicThe decline of Tang
and political situation in China.For all its power and might, the Tang dynasty began
Although the Sui Dynasty did not last long, the Tangto decline in the second half of its rule. The land
Dynasty continued much of Sui's efforts and createddistribution and taxation system weakened, and the
a highly organized government the likes of which thepower of army leaders grew out of control. While
world had never seen. During the early Tang dynasty,large armies were created to protect Tang China and
China's territory expanded because of militaryhelp spread its influence to other nations, it eventually
campaigns, and communication and trade advancedposed a threat to the central government. This led to
thanks in part to the Grand Canal.the very deadly An Shi Rebellion of 755-763CE. The
The capital during the Tang Dynasty was the city ofrebellion affected the Tang government so much
Chang'an (today called Xi'an). Chang'an was athat it was never able to fully recover its power. This
cosmopolitan city with influences and residents frommarked a turning point in China's history, influencing
central Asia, India, Iran, and beyond. TheChina's external relations, polices, and economic
cosmopolitan flavor of China's capital city reflects thesituation. Namely, it led to a decline in central
fact that the Tang Dynasty had expanded China'sauthority, a decline in trade, and to more military
influence to far away places. Distant nations such asrebellions.
Kashmir and Japan came under the political andThe inevitable collapse of the Tang Dynasty in 907CE
cultural influence of Tang China, and the famousled to a period of political unrest called the "Five
trading route -- The Silk Road -- reached its zenith.Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period" of 907-960CE.