Summary: An Lushan Rebellion

An Lushan rebellion: Happened during peak of Tang culture in the first half of the eighth century during Xuanzong’s rule. Recently appointed military governor of non-Chinese origin, An Lushan, earns favor of Yang Guifei; Xuanzong’s beloved wife, as a result, earns favor of Xuanzong, who grants An Lushan favors, primarily allowing him to place 160,000 troops near the North and Northeastern frontier. An Lushan launches a rebellion in 755, storms Luoyang and Chang’an. Xuanzong flees but is betrayed by his troops and is forced to have Yang Guifei strangled. Defeated, Xuanzong abdicates the throne to his son.
The An Lushan rebellion brought an end to the Tang Dynasty expansion and period of prosperity, resulting in an era of decline and
Becomes second emperor of early Tang dynasty after the fall of the Sui, made sweeping reforms throughout the bureaucracy by utilizing and expanding the Sui’s utilization of the examination system among other Sui initiatives. As a result, the bureaucracy became overtly Confucian. Even though his beginnings were quite violent and ruthless, he ends up being a wise leader who picked advisors who he could confide in The tang strengthened the empire by standardizing and codifying the institutions of political control. Building on what the Sui developed, the legal precedents the Tang perfected set a precedent for succeeding dynasties.
Zhu Xi: Confucian revivalist during the Song Dynasty; authored the book of Family rituals. Explained principles of the world and explained why there is evil in the world. It is the principle governing Qi: some people have more bad chi, or degrade the chi.
Zhu Xi deplored Karma, citing that it is an impediment to enlightenment, that when one does good for others, it is a self-serving
Made Beijing the biggest capital the world had ever seen and unified China. Developed public works and increased canal system to transport agriculture goods. Introduced paper currency. Provided welfare for the poor by relieving their tax obligations. Asked advisors for opinions. Relied on one of his wives for advice as well. Religiously tolerant. Encouraged reading of Confucian Classics. Improved merchants’ status and trade in China. Was a patron of the arts and was a civilized cultured ruler.
Ming Taizu: Founder of the Ming Dynasty, of peasant origin himself, Taizu sympathized with the peasantry of his dynasty and publicly punished court officials to set a precedent. He was the first emperor in the era to come from an impoverished background. He is a very polarizing figure in Chinese history. On one hand, he helped solve a lot of china's problems. On the other hand, people despised him because of his violent nature, and the fact that he left many headaches for his successors to deal