Chinsese Dynasties: Tang - 唐 (618 - 907)

The Tang Dynasty was founded by the Li (李) family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire. The dynasty was interrupted briefly by the Second Zhou Dynasty (690– 705) when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, becoming the first and only Chinese empress regnant, ruling in her own right.

With its capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), the most populous city in the world at the time with 2 m. people, Tang Dynasty is generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization. In two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries, the Tang records estimated the population by number of registered households at about 50 million people and in the 9th century, it is estimated that the population had grown by then to about 80 million people.

With its large population base, the dynasty was able to raise professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inner Asia and the lucrative trade routes along the Silk Road. Various kingdoms and states paid tribute to the Tang court, while the Tang also conquered or subdued several regions which it indirectly controlled through a protectorate system. Besides political hegemony, the Tang also exerted a powerful cultural influence over neighboring states such as those in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

The Tang Dynasty was largely a period of progress and stability, except during the An Shi Rebellion and the decline of central authority in the latter half of the dynasty. Like the previous Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty maintained a civil service system by drafting officials through standardized examinations and recommendations to office. This civil order was undermined by the rise of regional military governors known as jiedushi during the 9th century. The weakened central government largely withdrew from managing the economy, though the country's mercantile affairs stayed intact and commercial trade continued to thrive regardless.

Chinese culture flourished and further matured during the Tang era; it is considered the greatest age for Chinese poetry. Two of China's most famous poets, Li Bai and Du Fu, belonged to this age, as did many famous painters such as Han Gan, Zhang Xuan, and Zhou Fang. There was a rich variety of historical literature compiled by scholars, as well as encyclopedias and geographical works.

There were many notable innovations during the Tang, including the development of woodblock printing.

Buddhism became a major influence in Chinese culture, with native Chinese sects gaining prominence. However, Buddhism would later be persecuted by the state and decline in influence. Although the dynasty and central government were in decline by the 9th century, art and culture continued to flourish.

北有长城、南有灵渠 - In the north Great Wall and in the south Lingqu canal

秦-Qin 221 BC–207 BC

During the Qin Dynasty all non-Legalist philosophies were suppressed and early Han Dynasty emperors did the same. Legalism, the state-adopted school of thought, denounced the feudal system and encouraged severe punishments, particularly when the emperor was disobeyed; individual rights were devalued when they conflicted with the government's or the ruler's wishes, and merchants and scholars were considered unproductive, fit for elimination. The First Emperor ordered the burning of all books on non-Legalist philosophical viewpoints and intellectual subjects. This decree was passed in 213 BC, and also stipulated that all scholars who refused to submit their books to be burned would be executed by premature burial.

All aspects of life were standardized under the highly bureaucratic and hierarchical Qin government; from language, it standardized the writing system to be of uniform size and shape across the whole country up today, to measurements and to more practical details, such as the length of chariot axles. Qin Shihuang and his advisers also introduced new laws and practices that ended feudalism in China, replacing it with a centralized, bureaucratic government. Qin Shihuang also accomplised the two main achievements of Ancient Chinese ingineering; the Great Wall and the Lingqu canal, both with military purposes; the Great Wall to protect the north and the Lingqu canal to supply the army to conquest the south.