Editor: Xiao Xiao
introduction
The Sui and Tang dynasties were an important period in Chinese history, and the establishment and development of its political system had a profound impact on Chinese history.
Argument: The political system of the Sui and Tang dynasties and its impact on Chinese history
The political system of the Sui and Tang dynasties reflected the development of centralized imperial power, bureaucracy, and imperial examination systems, which continued throughout Chinese history until the abolition of the Qing Dynasty.
1. Introduce the background and characteristics of the Sui and Tang dynasties
1. Historical background of the Sui and Tang dynasties
The Sui and Tang dynasties refer to the historical period of the two dynasties in Chinese history, the Sui Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty, which roughly span from 581 to 907 AD.
The historical background of this period mainly refers to the division of the north and south during the Northern Dynasty period, and the Sui Dynasty achieved the unification of the north and south through vigorous unification, and created the foundation of the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty;
The Tang Dynasty, on the other hand, established a strong centralized system after several upheavals, which promoted China's economic and cultural prosperity.
The unification of the Sui Dynasty played a very important role in the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, and the Sui and Tang dynasties not only brought far-reaching influence on the political, economic, cultural and social development of Chinese history.
It has also had a huge impact on the course of China's history.
The Sui and Tang dynasties were an important period in Chinese history, laying a solid foundation for China's prosperity and development.
2. The characteristics of political, economic, cultural and other aspects of development in the Sui and Tang dynasties
On the political front, the Sui and Tang dynasties practiced a centralized system. The Sui Dynasty strengthened the centralization of power by implementing reforms such as the Juntian system and the prefectural military system;
On this basis, the Tang Dynasty further improved and developed the political system, such as the implementation of the imperial examination system and the establishment of the system of three provinces and six ministries, so that the centralization of power reached an unprecedented height.
In terms of economy, the Sui and Tang dynasties practiced a national economy based on agriculture.
During this period, agricultural production has made significant progress, such as irrigation engineering, rain and dew water conservancy and other technologies, which has greatly improved the level of agricultural production.
Urbanization has also accelerated, and commerce and handicrafts have developed rapidly.
In terms of culture, the Sui and Tang dynasties were the golden age of Chinese civilization.
During this period, many cultural celebrities and great cultural achievements appeared, such as poetry, painting, sculpture, music, etc. of the Tang Dynasty, which are unique cultural treasures in the world.
The political, economic, cultural and other developments of the Sui and Tang dynasties had a profound impact on Chinese history and were a glorious period in the history of Chinese civilization.
Second, the political system changes in the Sui and Tang dynasties
1. Political system reform of the Sui Dynasty
The reform of the political system of the Sui Dynasty was mainly carried out in terms of political system, administrative structure and military system.
After the Sui Dynasty was established, the Sui Emperor Yang Jian abolished the fifth-class barony system and the feudal system of Northern Zhou and implemented the nine-rank official system, thus breaking the division of local princes during the period of division between the north and the south of the Northern Dynasty and strengthening the centralization of power.
In terms of administrative institutions, Emperor Wen of Sui established a system of three provinces and six ministries, namely Zhongshu Province, Menxia Province, Shangshu Province, Officials, Household Department, Rite Department, Military Department, Criminal Department and Ministry of Engineering, forming a centralized administrative management system.
During the Sui Dynasty, he continued to strengthen the centralization of power, strengthened the control of the feudal aristocracy, and implemented land system reforms such as "apportionment of money into acres" and "equalization of land system", which improved the central government's control over land.
It has also strengthened the institutional building of the armed forces, established the system of forbidden troops and box troops, and ensured the security and stability of the government.
The reform of the political system of the Sui Dynasty made important achievements in consolidating centralized power, strengthening administrative management and building military forces, and laid the foundation for the establishment and development of the political system of the Tang Dynasty.
2. Reform of the political system of the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty ushered in a new era of centralization, abolishing the power to appoint and remove local officials, appointing officials by the imperial court, and strengthening centralization.
Emperor Taizong of Tang implemented the system of three provinces and six ministries, dividing government agencies into three provinces and six ministries, forming a centralized bureaucratic system.
The Tang Dynasty implemented the imperial examination system, which gradually separated the upper strata of society from the secular class and entered the career path, thereby strengthening the centralization of power and enhancing political stability.
The Tang Dynasty set up administrative organs at the provincial, prefecture and county levels to strengthen local administration and gradually bring local power closer to the central government.
The political system reform of the Tang Dynasty, while strengthening the centralization of power, also laid the foundation for the implementation of the imperial examination system, the strengthening of local administration, and the establishment of the state bureaucracy, which had a profound impact on Chinese history.
3. Economic development during the Sui and Tang dynasties
1. The development of agriculture during the Sui and Tang dynasties
During the Sui Dynasty, vigorously built canals and developed water conservancy irrigation, and at the same time adopted incentive policies for wasteland reclamation.
During the Tang Dynasty, cultivated land in mountains and grasslands was developed, water conservancy in the south was strengthened, and water conservancy irrigation was further promoted.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, some new agricultural tools appeared, such as plows, cattle, agricultural tools, etc., and the use of these new tools improved the production efficiency of farmers.
During the Tang Dynasty, official farms and agricultural schools were opened, an agricultural system and an agricultural examination system were established, and special agricultural products such as silk, tea, cotton, and sericulture were vigorously developed, and the management and regulation of agriculture was strengthened.
The agricultural development of the Sui and Tang dynasties laid the foundation for the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture, and also provided a solid material foundation for the economic prosperity of the Sui and Tang dynasties.
2. The development of handicrafts and commerce during the Sui and Tang dynasties
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, handicrafts and commerce developed rapidly, becoming one of the pillars of the national economy, greatly promoting social and economic development.
In terms of handicrafts, the technical level was relatively backward during the Sui Dynasty, but during the Tang Dynasty, the government vigorously promoted technology, widely recruited craftsmen, and actively organized manufacturing, so that the handicraft industry has developed rapidly.
The manufacturing techniques of porcelain, silk, paper and other manufacturing techniques of the Tang Dynasty enjoyed a great reputation in the world. The ceramic industry became one of the most important industries in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and the famous Tang Sancai pottery enjoyed a high reputation around the world.
The Sui and Tang dynasties also developed shipbuilding, textiles and other industries, making the development level of handicrafts reach a new peak.
In terms of commerce, the Sui and Tang dynasties were the golden period of China's commercial development, and commerce was more developed during the Tang Dynasty.
In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, due to the development of the domestic economy, the development of transportation, the prosperity of commerce, the rise of rural handicrafts, and the acceleration of urbanization, all of which provided favorable conditions for the development of commerce.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, frequent Sino-foreign exchanges brought many business opportunities, expanded domestic and foreign markets, and exchanged a large number of goods, which led to greater development of commerce.
Currency exchange in commerce has also been more widely used, promoting the circulation of goods and the development of market economy.
Handicrafts and commerce in the Sui and Tang dynasties developed rapidly, resulting in vigorous social and economic development, which had a profound impact on the economic and cultural development of Chinese history.
3. International trade during the Sui and Tang dynasties
The Sui and Tang dynasties were an important period in China's ancient economic history and an important stage in China's exchanges with the outside world.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, China's handicraft industry and commerce developed considerably, and China became an important player in international trade.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, handicraft industries developed rapidly, especially the textile industry and ceramics, and their production technology and quality were at the world's advanced level.
The most famous of these are the Sancai ceramics and silks of the Tang Dynasty.
There are also paper industry, lacquerware industry, metal industry and so on. With the development of handicrafts, commerce gradually flourished.
During the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an became one of the largest commercial centers in Asia, attracting an influx of merchants and goods. This also laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Sui and Tang dynasties.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, international trade also developed tremendously, with frequent economic exchanges with Central Asia, India, Persia and other countries, and the Han and Tang Silk Road was also revitalized.
Through the Maritime Silk Road, China has also conducted extensive trade with Southeast Asia, South Asia, Arabia and East Africa.
In particular, the Tang Dynasty, known as the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era", reached a new height in its international trade.
The Tang Dynasty government's management of foreign trade was also more standardized, and official trade agencies were established, such as the city envoy, the western city, and the eastern city, which provided a guarantee for international trade.
International trade during the Sui and Tang dynasties not only led to rapid development of China's economy, but also opened the door for exchanges between China and other countries in the world.
China's products and culture also spread to all corners with trade activities.
Foreign cultures and technologies have also been introduced to China, promoting the exchange and integration of Chinese and foreign cultures.
The development of handicrafts and commerce and the prosperity of international trade during the Sui and Tang dynasties led to the rapid development of China's economy and culture, and at the same time promoted the exchange and integration of Chinese and foreign cultures, laying an important foundation for the long-term development of Chinese history.
The author's opinion
The Sui and Tang dynasties were an important political, economic and cultural period in Chinese history, and one of the peaks of China's feudal society.
In terms of political system, both the Sui Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty carried out many reforms, which promoted the development and improvement of the political system and had a profound impact on Chinese history.
The Sui Dynasty implemented a series of major reforms in the political system, such as abolishing the privileges of the Sui Emperor, establishing a bureaucratic system, establishing the nine-product zhongzheng system, establishing the imperial examination system, implementing the average field system, and rectifying the iron bone ploughing system.
These reforms also had a profound impact on the political system of the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty further improved the system of the Sui Dynasty in terms of political system, such as implementing the Tang Wude system, reforming the average field system, and implementing the rent and quack adjustment system.
The Tang Dynasty also further developed and perfected the imperial examination system and adopted a stricter examination system, which promoted the political stability and economic prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
bibliography
1. Correct understanding of "diversity and integration" is the key to cultivating the sense of community of the Chinese nation——Based on Fei Xiaotong's "Pattern of Diversity and Integration of the Chinese Nation" [J] . LIU Yu . The New West: Late Theory . 2018, Issue 007
2. Correct understanding of "diversity and integration" is the key to cultivating the sense of community of the Chinese nationr——Based on Fei Xiaotong's "Pattern of Diversity and Integration of the Chinese Nation" [J] . LIU Yu . New West (Late Edition) . 2018, Issue 007
3. Research on the Ideology of National Community and the Consciousness of the Chinese National Community in the Sui and Tang Dynasties[J] . WANG Wenguang,HU Ming. Ideological Front . 2022, Issue 3
4. From Pluralism to Unity and Coherence of Pluralism: Theories and Strategies for the Construction of the Chinese National Community [J] . XU Jiesun,YANG Jun. Ideological Front . 2017, Issue 2
5. Deeply understand the pattern of pluralism and integration of the Chinese nation and forge the consciousness of the Chinese national community [J] . TIAN Zonghui,BAO Yongqing. Journal of Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities (Social Science Edition) . 2021, Issue 004
6. Research on the inheritance and development of the "integrated and pluralistic" culture of the Chinese nation in Xinjiang universities [C] . LI Guo . 2014 Cross-Strait Symposium on Teaching Culture and Teacher Development in Universities . 2014
7. Research on the process of pluralism and integration of the Chinese nation in the Song and Yuan Dynasties [A] . Palace power . 2008