HIST 254 : TANG DYNASTY.docx

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: History
• Course: HIST 254
• Professor: Jeremy Brown

Document Summary

First half is remembered as a golden age: prosperous, open to trade and foreign influence, large territory extending into central asia, efficient government. Says a great sage will destroy his family in order to save the kingdom. this shows how important the legal system is (even one in hell) Legalist: very specific punishments administered from a written book of laws. Confucian: severity of punishments based on your social status, and sex. Fathers could beat sons and wives, but sons and wives could not harm their husbands or fathers. Legally recognized social class as privileged, commoner, or inferior. Emperor gaozong (649-683: taizong chooses a son to succeed him but the prince refuses to speak chinese or dress in. Chinese fashion and plots to kill one of his brothers so he is killed: gaozong is the next heir but very weak and overshadowed by his wife.