Sunday, December 19, 2010

My Essay.!

             Way back in Ancient China there was the Tang Dynasty. It was considered by many the golden age of Chinese civilization. It was founded by Li Yuan, and ran from 618-907 C.E. The Tang Dynasty was known for its art, literature, and trade.

            There are numerous styles, or scripts in which Chinese characters can be written. The first evidence of the Chinese scripts was found on tortoise shells, and animal bones. In the Tang Dynasty there was alot of poetry. No other period in history had enjoyed such a great number of poets. It contains nearly 50,000 poems by 2,200 different poets. These poems had such quality. This poetry, and writing was very much enjoyed by others.

           The government in the Tang Dynasty encouraged religion supporting Daoist/Taoist Buddhist institutor's. Tang emperors set up a strong centralized system of government. Social, and economic growth kept the Tang Dynasty together during many years of disunion. It also adapted a uniform legal system. They often updated this system. The tang code had more than five hundred articles that identified crimes, and their punishments. Such detailed laws were applied to everyone, and allowed the government to manage such a large population.

           There was a stable food supply in the Tang Dynasty. With this food supply they ate mostly boiled rice, or grain. The grain was made into porridge. But what they ate depended on where they lived. Most were able to grow their own food. The increased food supply encouraged the growth of cities.

           Ideas, and art flowed into China on the silk road, along with commercial goods during the Tang period. Tang sculptures combined the sensuality of Indian, Persian, and the strength of the Tang empire itself. There are some works of art that have Hellenistic influences. They came via Bactria in Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Some Buddhas of immense size were produced.

          There are many religions in the Tang Dynasty. They are Christianity, Muslim, Manichaeism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The dominant religion that operated among the people of the Tang Dynasty was Buddhism. It was introduced to China from Indus, because of the trade. The influence of Buddhism can be seen in a variety of aspects of social life. You see Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty with heroic sculptures of Buddhas. The painters further their religion in their paintings.

          Technology in the Tang period was built upon the precedents of the past. The mechanical gear systems of Zhang Heng, and Mas Jun helped a Tang engineer, astronomer, and mink named Yi Xing. This gave him inspiration when he invented the worlds first clockwork escapement mechanism. There were many inventions during the Tang era. These inventions consisted of the mechanical wine server, the mechanical clock, and the roofs drainage system. These inventions were very helpful in the Tang Dynasty.

         The Social Structure in the Tang Dynasty had five different types of people. All of these people had different jobs. First on the social pyramid was the emperor, second was the aristocracy, third were the workers, then peasants, and lastly the slaves. These people have their own responsibilities. These five social classes were useful in the Tang Dynasty, because everybody had an important role.

         The Tang Dynasty was considered one of the golden ages thanks to seven characteristics. Writing, Government, Stable Food Supply, Arts, Religion, Technology, and a Social Structure. All of these characteristics had something to do with the Tang Dynasty becoming a successful civilization.