Information:
Time: 1271-1368
Location of Capital: Kai Feng in
today's Henan Province:
Replaced by: Ming Dynasty
Introduction:
Song dynasty's map, map of Song dynastyIn political terms, the fall of
the Tang Dynasty (681-907) and the resultant disintegration of the
empire did not mean a sharp break with the past.
The Five Dynasties all aspired to the reunification of China and by 959
the Later Zhou had brought much of the country back under a single
ruler. The changes of dynasty were due to the change of ruling family.
The ruling elite remained unaltered and the civil service continued the
routine tasks of government with no serious disruption
The Politics of Yuan Dynasty:
Yuan dynasty's map, map of Yuan dynastyDuring the 13th Century a great
leader, Temujin, was to emerge from among the nomadic tribes of the
Mongolian steppes. These tribesmen occupied the area between the
northern Daxing'an Mountains and the eastern bank of the Argun River.
As skilled horsemen, they were to become a formidable fighting force
once the tribes had united under Temujin's leadership. In 1206 Temujin
was formally elected as ruler over Greater Mongolia, encompassing the
Mongolian Plateau and the Gobi Desert, and he adopted the name and title
of Genghis Khan.
The four class system:
The territory of the Yuan Dynasty was divided into the Central Region
and places under control of various Xing Zhongshusheng or the Xuanzheng
Institute. The Central Region, consisting of present-day Hebei,
Shandong, Shanxi, the south-eastern part of present-day Inner Mongolia
and the Henan areas to the north of the Yellow River, was considered the
most important region of the dynasty and directly governed by
Zhongshusheng at Dadu; similarly, another top-level administrative
department called the Xuanzheng Institute governed the whole of
modern-day Tibet and a south-east part of Turkestan. Xing Zhongshusheng
"Branch Secretariat" or "en-route Secretariat"), or simply Xingsheng,
were provincial-level administrative organizations or institutions,
sometimes roughly translated as "Province", though they were not exactly
provinces in modern sense. There were 11 Xing Zhongshusheng or
Xingsheng in Yuan Dynasty.[22] 1. Gansu Xingsheng with Zhangye District
as its seat of government. Under this came most of present-day Ningxia
Hui Autonomous Region (originally the Tangut territory), south-eastern
Gansu Province, and part of north-eastern Amdo. 2. Henan Jiangbei
Xingsheng with Kaifeng District as its seat of government. Under this
came the Henan areas to the south of the Yellow River, north-east Hubei,
Jiangsu, the north-eastern part of Jiangxi Province.
Diplomatic Relationship:
The last years of the Yuan Dynasty were marked by struggle, famine, and
bitterness among the populace. The dynasty was, significantly, one of
the shortest-lived dynasties in the history of China, covering just a
century, 1271 to 1368. In time, Kublai Khan's successors lost all
influence on other Mongol lands across Asia, while the Mongols beyond
the Middle Kingdom saw them as too Chinese. Gradually, they lost
influence in China as well. The reigns of the later Yuan emperors were
short and were marked by intrigues and rivalries. Uninterested in
administration, they were separated from both the army and the populace.
China was torn by dissension and unrest; outlaws ravaged the country
without interference from the weakening Yuan armies. Regardless of the
merits of his reign, Shidebala (Emperor Yingzong) ruled for only two
years (1321 to 1323); his rule ended in a coup at the hands of five
princes. They placed Yesün Temür (or Taidingdi) on the throne, and,
after an unsuccessful attempt to calm the princes, he also succumbed to
regicide. When Yesün Temür died in Shangdu in 1328, Tugh Temür was
recalled to Dadu by the Qipchaq commander El Temür.
Importance of Yuan Dynasty:
Succession was a problem for the Yuan Dynasty, later causing much strife
and internal struggle. This emerged as early as the end of Kublai's
reign. Kublai originally named his eldest son, Zhenjin as the Crown
Prince — but he died before Kublai in 1285. Thus, Zhenjin's son ruled as
Temür Khan for approximately 10 years following Kublai's death (between
1294 and 1307).
Temür Khan decided to maintain and continue much of the work begun by
his grandfather. He also made peace with the western Mongol khanates as
well as the neighboring countries such as Vietnam, which recognized his
nominal suzerainty and paid tributes for a few decades. However, the
corruption in the Yuan Dynasty began during the reign of Temür Khan.
Külüg Khan became Khagan of the Yuan after the death of Temür Khan.
Unlike his predecessor, he did not continue Kublai's work, but largely
rejected it. During his short reign (1307 to 1311), Yuan fell into
financial difficulties, partly due to bad decisions made by Külüg. By
the time he died, China was in severe debt and the Yuan Dynasty faced
popular discontent.
The Invention of printing, compass and
explosive powder:
Printing come into use in Sui dynasty and was developed and improved by
Bisheng of Song Dynasty. Bisheng used the character mode to print a
Chinese Character, which is called "live character printing". One
Character has a model and the mode can be used for many times until its
broken. This method saved a lot of time and energy in carving the words
on the wood for every character mode can be reused.
Song dynasty's compass in history of chinaIn the south in several of the
Ten States the same continuity was evident and the examination system
continued. When Zhao Kuangyin seized power by a coup in Chenqiaoyi in
960 he was able to consolidate and extend his control in a restrained
and methodical manner.
The Song Dynasty ranks alongside the Tang and also the Han (206 BC - 220
AD) in importance. For a little under three and a quarter centuries
under its rule, China enjoyed a period of economic growth coupled with
great artistic and intellectual achievement.
The economic of Yuan Dynasty:
Money of Yuan dynasty in history of ChinaFollowing their invasion, the
Mongols confiscated a vast amount of arable land and turned it over to
pasture. State owned land was often granted to Mongol aristocrats and to
Buddhist monasteries. These actions coupled with harsh taxes
impoverished the peasant farmers, many of whom migrated to the South.
Due to their ignorance of the need to control flooding, the Mongols
neglected river defences and the Yellow River shifted its course with a
resultant large loss of life.
The incorporation of China into the Mongol empire did little to help
their economy as so much trade was under foreign control. As trading
profits were taken out of China, the metal currency was depleted and
this led to the use of paper money and inflation.
Religion and Culture:
Typical china in Yuan dynastyA rich cultural diversity developed during
the Yuan Dynasty. The major cultural achievements were the development
of drama and the novel and the increased use of the written vernacular.
The political unity of China and much of central Asia promoted trade
between East and West. The Mongols' extensive West Asian and European
contacts produced a fair amount of cultural exchange. The other cultures
and peoples in the Mongol World Empire permanently influenced China.
Decline and Fall:
Song dynasty's map, map of Song dynastyThe Yuan remnants retreated to
Mongolia after the fall of Yingchang to the Ming in 1370, where the Yuan
Dynasty was formally carried on. Under the name Northern Yuan the
Mongols resisted the Ming. According to Chinese political orthodoxy,
there could be only one legitimate dynasty whose rulers were blessed by
Heaven to rule as Emperor of China (see Mandate of Heaven), and so the
Ming and the Northern Yuan denied each other's legitimacy as emperors of
China, although the Ming did consider the previous Yuan which it had
succeeded a legitimate dynasty. Historians generally regard Míng Dynasty
rulers as the legitimate emperors of China after the Yuan Dynasty,
though Northern Yuan rulers also claimed this title.
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