September 2008
Billie Silvey
| Five Chinese Dynasties |
Ch'in Dynasty
| Much of China was unified in 221 B. C. under the ruthless Shi Huangdi, the First Emperor. During the Ch'in dynasty, a number of public works were undertaken, including the beginning of construction of the Great Wall. |
| The Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- A. D. 220) modified some of the harshness of Ch'in rule. Confucianism became the ideal of government, and intellectual, literary and artistic achievements flourished. Trade grew, and silk was exported as far as Rome. |
| After a period of disunity the short-lived Sui dynasty was followed by the Tang dynasty (618-907 A. D.), the high point of Chinese civilization. Trade was extended to India, and Buddhism flourished. Block printing was invented, bringing the written word to an increasingly large audience. Thus the Tang period was the golden age of literature and art. |
| The Song Dynasty (960-1279) reunified most of China Proper. It is noted for the development of cities for commerce as well as administration. The Song ideal, the universal man, combined scholarship, poetry, painting and statesmanship. |
Han Dynasty
| Song Dynasty |
Tang Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
| The Ming dynasty (1368-1644), founded by a Han Chinese peasant and Buddhist monk, had its Northern capital at Beijing. Ming China was a maritime power, while its Grand Canal stimulated domestic trade. Eventually, its very stability convinced China they had the best civilization on earth and had no need for anything foreign. |