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Tang and song dynasties technology
Tang dynasty inventions
Tang and song dynasties technology
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Throughout all dynasties technology has majorly advanced and caused hurdling development throughout the Song, Tang, and Ming dynasties. The Tang dynasty (618-906) cherished a golden Age of innovation and success in science and technology culminating into the Song dynasty (960-1279). The broad exchange of goods and information through the Tang dynasty, with a high value placed on observation and examination, defined the Song and set the footing for vigorous scientific innovation. From these strong and advanced dynasties, the Ming was propelled forward in more creation and innovation setting a successful path forward for more to come. The scientific and technological advances made throughout the Tang, Song and Ming period utilized significant …show more content…
The Tang Dynasty was a creative time period and had one of the most influential inventions in the world, gunpowder. The Chinese did not use gunpowder for guns but to invent rockets and fireworks. This was founded by an alchemist who “mixed 75 parts of saltpeter, 10 parts of sulfur, and 15 parts of charcoal.” This mixture did not contain life-threatening properties, but exploded when exposed to an open flame and went off with a flash which led to the discovery of gunpowder and the impact it would have on humankind. Furthermore, the Tang Dynasty developed an early air cooling system in 747. This began when the emperor had a cool hall constructed in the imperial palace. The device (air conditioner) that was used, is commonly known as Tang-Yulin which had “fan wheels that were powered by water and functioned like an air conditioner. The cooling system also included high rising jet-streams of clean mountain water.” This invention was for a higher class because it was more expensive, also, it allowed people to be more comfortable, and do more in such a hot area of the world. Though this was the first dynasty that started technology other ideas sparked from previous dynasties as well as new dynasties to come to take some of the inventions made by the Tang dynasty into consideration to elaborate onto …show more content…
One of the most important inventions of their time was a movable printer. A movable type enhanced a “widespread use of woodblock methods of printing thousands of documents and volumes of written literature, consumed eagerly by an increasingly literate public.” The advancement of printing had a big impact on education and the scholar-official class. Because more books could be made faster as well as more produced, printed books were cheaper compared to handwritten copies. The enrichment of widespread printing in the Song period allowed a rise in social mobility and the expansion in education which increased over time. The movable type invented by Bi Sheng was exceeded by the use of woodblock printing because of the limitations that Chinese character writing systems had. But movable type printing continued to be used and was improved in later periods. It was soon put into place that a faster typesetting process, which improved “Bi's baked-clay movable type character set” with a wooden one, and experimented with a tin metal movable type. “The wealthy printing patron Hua Sui of the Ming Dynasty established China's first metal movable type (using bronze) in 1490. In 1638, the Beijing Gazette switched their printing process from woodblock to movable type printing.” Over time, large printing businesses began to higher movable type
This invention was a change to the Chinese because paper was invented in China around 105 CE. So the Chinese have paper and now it allowed an easy way for people to communicate. It caused a change in their culture because with paper they can now pass down culture easier than before. Before its invention the writing surfaces that were used were, bones, tortoise shells, and bamboo slips. But as the Chinese civilization started to grow they proved to themselves that these writing surfaces won’t work because of the bulk and weight.
During the Tang and Song dynasty, many excellent achievements have been accomplished which are still being preserved and used widely over centuries. Their citizens were excelled in many fields with several of new and practical inventions which all directly affected the citizens’ lives.
This new technology is not without its shortcomings. First, the printing press used limited materials. Next, as Mumford notes, the advent of print led calligraphers and manuscript copyists out of work. Furthermore, as Graff finds, it created “typographical fixity”—material once printed cannot be changed. Finally, mass production was dependent and limited to large markets (Mumford, 95)....
One of the eras of a majestic ancient civilization that has left a lasting impression upon the world of today is the Chinese Song Dynasty. Established by General Zhao Kuangyin this dynasty lasted from 960–1279 AD and brought a new stability to China after many decades of civil war, and ushered in a new era of modernization. It was divided into the Bei (Northern) and the Nan (Southern) Song periods. This brilliant cultural epoch gave birth to major advances in economic reform, achievements in technology, and helped to further medical knowledge.
The Tang dynasty was founded in 618, and lasted until 907. The emperor was supreme and government officials were chosen by examination. A census was taken to simplify tax collection and to draft citizens to perform labor for the empire. This was a period of great land expansion. (Halsall, 1998) The emperor also had a great love of the arts, and the Tang became known as the golden age of literature and art. Block printing was invented and made writing more available. (Unknown, 2003) Shipbuilding and firearms development were also refined during the era. Art was heavily influenced by Buddhism, especially rock sculpture. One major problem that arose was the heavy burden of taxation. Many were unable to meet their heavy tax burden. To escape this, many placed themselves under the protection of great landlords who were exempt from taxes, or became bandits. (Halsall, 1998)
The Han Dynasty ruled for four centuries in ancient China. Ancient day China is located south of Common day Russia, and North of common day Nepal. One of the greatest achievements of the Han Dynasty was their ironmaking and the ironmaking process. This achievement is very similar to when the Mesopotamians used bronze and copper to put on the heads of their arrows. The bronze making process
In Document 1,2, 3, and 4 the Han dynasty is shown making things and inventing things for their citizens to use. During this time period the Han dynasty was described as the Golden Age in China. Confucianism gave a new way to life. The Historical context is that during this time period when the Yellow river flooded the crops and trade would be put to a stop.
Wood-type printing allowed new typefaces to be created and used for printing cheaper than ever before. Technological advances permitted machine-set typography to be printed on machine-manufactured paper with high-speed steam-powered printing presses. The use of color lithography passed the aesthetic experience of colorful images from the privileged few to the whole of society.
recover these lands so they were forced to make peace with the Khitans and the
Landes also portrays the supposed innovative manner in which Europe dealt with Chinese inventions. Despite printing having already been invented in China, the ideographic form of block printing limited distribution of publication, sugge...
The Tang dynasty was an era of major technological advancement. This can be very clearly seen in their revolutionary explosive powder or gun powder, as well as their very expensive porcelain. The gunpowder is perhaps China’s most groundbreaking invention. Although it was invented for mere fireworks purposes, the military saw great potential in a highly explosive substance. This set off a chain reaction of events that some may think as detrimental to our society. From this powder, the first set of gun powder based guns, or muskets were developed. This triggered an arms race up until the early 1900s. As with any sort of mass engineering of guns, only death was left in its wake. Although the powder was pr...
The Tang and Song Dynasties are both pertinent to China’s development. During the Tang period, which is also considered the “Golden Age”, art and literature was embraced and thrived. During the Song Dynasties, many technical inventions allowed China to grow as a nation, and emerge as one of the greatest nations in the medieval world. Both dynasties played a key role in the history of China.
The invention of the printing press was one of the most useful technologies in history because it helped spread ideas, produced books, and greatly improved the economy. Johannes Gutenberg, who was a German goldsmith, developed the printing press “in Mainz, Germany between 1446 and 1450” (Ditttmar, 1133). The printing press was made to print books, newspapers, and flyers. The machine was made from wood and was based off screw presses, that worked with inked movable type heads that allowed the paper to be quickly and efficiently pressed with letters. The type head was made by pouring lead-tin alloy into a hand mold, along a rectangular stalk.
The printing press was the invention of moveable metal type paper and was able to print books, newspapers, bibles and much more. It was the start of something new and evolving throughout the entire world. Gutenberg’s creation is known to be the most significant invention in history. It is the most prompted creation that people could ever ask for, and for many extraordinary reasons. The reason why the printing press was so useful than just any other invention is because it spread everywhere.
The Chinese Empire was large and controlled most of Asia at one point in time. One of the dynasties that ruled the empire was the Ming Family. Ruling from 1368-1644, almost three hundred years, the Ming Dynasty impacted Chinese history very much.