Tang Dynasty Research Paper

The Tang Dynasty was begun by Li Yuan. When the Yellow River changed course causing major flooding in the North China plain the Chinese people faced starvation. This created a great upheaval in the Chinese people. Li Yuan revolted against the government and emperor, he took the throne in 618.The Tang Dynasty is thought of as the peak of the Chinese imperial era. This period marked the largest growth in Chinese history. The Tang Dynasty expanded the boundaries of the Chinese state and reestablished its dominance in East and central Asia. There were advancements in technology, and agriculture. Commerce and artistry flourished with porcelain, textiles, and smelting. With the influence of India, and Arabia the Tang era was a vast multi-cultural
There were two main religions during the Tang Dynasty. One was Confucianism, and the other was Buddhism. Buddhist monasteries were very wealthy. They owned land grain and many precious metals of the time. ” Empress Wu, the only empress in all of Chinese history, also favored Buddhism. She tactfully used Buddhism to weaken her opponents. Sadly, Buddhism began to lose its influence with the decline of the Tang Dynasty.”(Tot12) Confucianism was huge during this time period, and was incorporated into the government. Much effort was made to create an empire based on Confucian belief, and teaching. The integration began with the elite. In order to enter into the ruling group you had to understand Confucian teachings. To understand these writings you also had to literate in the classic Chinese language in which it was written. “Confucianism taught the Tang rulers to be kind and honorable. Confucianism is more of a philosophy rather than a religion. It served as a guide to the rulers of the Tang dynasty and taught the way of life to the Chinese
An inventor named Yi-Xing created the Astronomical clock, which was the first clock escapement mechanism. A chemist during this period created a substance that while having no explosive properties, created a flash when exposed to flame. Today this invention is known as gunpowder. Gas cylinders made of bamboo were used to transport natural gas around the area. One of the greatest inventions which they are known for is the invention of porcelain. A chemist during this time period found a substance that had bonding and waterproofing properties. This creation was the foundation for many works of art and a basis of the Chinese culture of the period. There were medical advancements of the time period as well. “One of the authors of medicine in the Tang period identified that people who suffer from Diabetes had excessive sugar levels in the urine. Discoveries in treating goiters were made during this period. They found that thyroid glands of sheep and pigs can be successfully used to treat Goiters; the thyroid extracts were not used until 1890 in the west.”(tot12) Emperor GaoZong also commissioned for a book to be written illustrating many different medicines created from stone, plants, and many other materials. This empire firmly believed in the advancements of medicine, including the creation of colleges for doctors and books on forensics for them as