fall of the Han dynasty in 220

fall of the Han dynasty in 220

Ancient China, commonly referred to as East Asian societies went through many dynasties and changes from 220 to 1240 C.E. Also, during this period the communities expanded, occupying and colonizing other areas like Vietnam and Korea. The era between 220 and 1240 C.E was marked by the fall of the Han dynasty in 220, which was an influential dynasty before this period. Also, this marked a period of disunity between 220 and 589. During this period, three kingdoms rose, but they almost had equal power, and thus no kingdom was able to throw the others out and unify the societies. The kingdoms were Wei (220-265), Shu Han (220-265) and Wu (222 – 280). The kingdoms continuously engaged in wars and fights while trying to unify the societies; however, nobody was able to reunite. In 265, Sima Yan of the Wu kingdom took control and established the Jin Dynasty. In 280, he was able to unite China; however, the unity did not take long, as the Nothern China rebelled dividing into smaller states led by warlords. During Jin dynasty, Landscape painting and poetry became the most popular form of Chinese art. The period of disunity ended in 589 when the Sui Dynasty United, the Nothern and Southern China.

In 581, Yang Jian took control of the Northern Dynasty, and he was named as Emperor Wen. After ruling eight years in the North, Wen conquered the South Dynasty and reunited China under the rule of the Sui Dynasty. Being the overall leader, Wen made a lot of changes in Ancient China in political, social and economy sectors. During the Sui Dynasty, the Chinese government was well organized with Three Departments and Six Ministries. The Departments included Chancellery, State Affairs and the Secretariat while the ministries included Personnel, Rites, Finance, Justice, Civil Works and War. All the ministries reported to the Department of State Affairs. This organization significantly boosted unity in China. Emperor Wen was a good leader, and he established as he established fair taxes and also gave land to the poor. He also built grain stores which would ensure that the people had enough food, even during a drought.

Culturally, Emperor Wen was a firm believer of Buddhism religion. The Sui Dynasty introduced exams and tests to determine the best candidates who fitted for government positions. He established Buddhism in all parts of China, and it became a unifying factor. Painting and Poetry also played an essential role during the Sui Dynasty. The son of Wen, Emperor Yang inherited the Dynasty from his father. However, Yang was not like his father but used a tyranny form of government. He forced peasants to work on Grand Canal and Reconstruction of the Great Wall. The Sui also built the Zhaoxhou Bridge in Jiao River. Emperor Yang attempted to capture Korea using over 1 million soldiers, but he lost. This attempt contributed a lot to the fall of the Dynasty. During Yang’s era, many peasants died, and in 618, people organized massive rebellion and overthrew the Sui Dynasty.

After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty regime started in United China. Many historians claim the Tang Dynasty to be the greatest of all dynasties in ancient China. The dynasty regime was from 618 to 907 C.E, making it one of the longest dynasties. Li Yuan, a cousin to the first Sui emperor became the first emperor under the Tang Dynasty. Li Yuan ruled as Emperor Gaozu till 626 C.E. He was majorly remembered for establishing the Tang Legal Code I 624 CE which became useful to the point that other societies like Japan, Vietnam and Korea copied. His son Li-Shimin killed his brothers and nephews and forced his father to denounce his throne to him. Li-Shimim became emperor Taizong and murdered his opponents, including his father. Taizong was self-centred, and thus he declared the ancestors were his advisors. Emperor Taizong introduced new policies in Chinese culture. He added the system of diverse religions. This encouraged religions like Christianity, Buddhism and other native religions of Confucianism and Taoism to gain popularity in China. Taizong also invaded the Turks and seized a small portion of Mongolia, expanding the Chinese empire. Taizong was a fair ruler, and this makes historians refer to him as the founder of Tang kingdom.

Taizong had a concubine one of his concubines named Wu Zhao. Wu attracted Taizong’s son Li Zhi, and they started having affairs. After his Taizong dead in 649 CE, Li Zhi took over the leadership, and he was called Emperor Gaozong, and Wu became one of his concubines. Wu is accused of framing Lady Wang, the wife of Gaozong, of becoming his wife. In 683, Gaozong died, and Wu declared herself as the new Empress Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian became a great leader as she improved education, agriculture and taxation as well as reforming the government by reducing the excesses of the aristocracy. Though a praised empress, Wu became a tyranny towards the end of his reign and in 704 CE, she was forced out, and his son Zhongzong took over.

Zhongzong did not reign much as he was poisoned by his wife for his son to take over. Several assassinations happened, and China found itself under the ruling of Emperor Xuanzong. Xuanzong was a great leader, and be remembered for his cultural achievements during his rule from 712 to 756 CE. He advocated for Taoist religion because he believed its teachings promoted peace in the society. Emperor Xuanzong’s reign failed because she fell too much in love with Yang Guifei and started ignoring his duties. TheTang Dynasty is remembered for its improvement in most fields ranging from agriculture and government reforms. The Dynasty is also remembered for Poetry, multi religions and Tang Dynasty printing. After 820 CE, the Tang Empire was full of Assassinations and killings of Emperors, government officials, religious leaders and ordinary citizens which led to its downfall.

Zhou of northern China initiated the Song Dynasty in 960 C.E. China was not stable in the period between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and established of Song dynasty. Zhou named himself Emperor Taizu and unified China again. To ensure that he would not be overthrown easily, Taizu introduced a rotation system of the army leaders as a strategy. He also ensured that civil service was superior to the army, and thus it would be hard for the military to abdicate him. Taizo was succeeded by his young brother Taizong, and he reigned between 976 to 997 C.E. These two emperors were significantly linked with stability and thus forming a proper formation for the other emperors who would lead under Song dynasty. The Song emperors were unable to conquer the Khitan dynasty in the north which controlled the Great Wall of China. The Song dynasty was even forced to pay annual tributes in the form of silk and silver and also recognizing Khitan ruler as an emperor. The successors of Taizu were faced with challenges in stabilizing the empire, and as a result, some Chinese areas, especially in the north, were by invaded outside kingdoms. The Jin kingdom of the Jurchen Empire posed a continuous threat to the Song empire. In 1125 C.E, Jin conquered some parts of northern China and also captured emperor Huizong and many other people. To avoid further life losses, Jin forced the Song dynasty to pay a ransom cater for the same. Despite capturing of the northern region, the Southern Song dynasty had economy was moving well due to the availability of fertile soil, favourable climate and thriving trade.

Despite the challenging weak governments and continuous attacks, the Song dynasty was able to make some significant progressions. It was during this era when the economy of the Chinese boomed due to the advancement in farming and trade. The Song dynasty witnessed a growth of towns, with some cities having more than a million residents. Gunpowder was a key invention during this period. The Son emperors most emphasized on Taoism, disregarding Buddhism as a foreign religion. Like other previous dynasties, art, painting and poetry formed the basis of Song’s culture. The Song dynasty ended after they were overpowered by Mongols later in 1170s C.E and it China became part of Yuan dynasty, established by Mongols.

Different dynasties united China through the use of varying government, cultural and social changes. China occupied big land and uniting it required effective strategies. From 220 to 1240 C.E, China went through three significant dynasties named the Sui, Tang and lastly Song. Throughout the regimes religion, especially Buddhism and Taoism, were used as a unifying factor. Art and poetry were also used to unite China during the three dynasties.