Another project of the Hinghwa Heritage Centre
Source: Hui Min
Arrangements by Author
The solid foundation laid by Lao Zi and Confucius paved the way for China’s three golden ages. The Hinghua people played a significant role in two of these golden ages, specifically, the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty.
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Han Dynasty Lady Dressings.
Source: Author
The Han Dynasty (c. 206 BC - 220 AD).
This marked the beginning of China's first golden age. A key development during this period was the revival of education under the 4th emperor, Emperor Wen (文帝), who instructed his scholars to recover the writings of Confucius that had been destroyed during the Qin era.
Unfortunately, not all of the scrolls were recovered. Another significant achievement was the opening of the Western Corridor (Hexi Corridor), which linked China to the countries of the West. A German scholar, Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen, wrote about this in his book The Hexi Corridor, the Silk Road. This corridor would later serve as the precursor to China’s modern Belt and Road Initiative. The era was divided into two periods: the Western Han (西汉) and the Eastern Han (东汉). Together, they ruled China for nearly 400 years.
It was during this time that the Han people began to push southward toward Putian (Zhou, 2008a, p. 31), an area casually known as Pukou (浦口) (Zhou, 2008b). (See Ancient Putian). Unfortunately, chaos erupted during the reign of Emperor Ling (灵帝). Confucius’ prophecy haunted him throughout his reign, as he was granted the mandate to rule by the heavens. It was said that if he failed to govern the people well, disasters would follow, and he would lose the mandate. His failure to look after the welfare of his people eventually led to rebellion.
This rebellion came to be known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion (黄巾起义), named for the yellow cloth worn by the rebels. Led by Zhang Jiao (张角) and rooted in Taoist beliefs, the rebellion was ultimately suppressed. However, the damage was done, and the Han dynasty disintegrated, leading to the period of the Six Dynasties (220–589 CE), marked by disunity and chaos for nearly 370 years. During this time, the legendary Romance of the Three Kingdoms emerged.
While the "romance" may refer to some alliances, it was characterized by constant squabbles over territory and supremacy. This chaotic period ended with the rise of the Sui dynasty (581–618 CE). The Sui dynasty is credited with the construction of the Grand Canal, which connected the North and South of China. However, the extensive military campaigns, the extension of the Great Wall, and the ambitious building projects, including the Grand Canal, drained the country’s resources.
The resulting discontent among the masses led to a rebellion, marking the end of a great dynasty.
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Scroll with 李红
Source: Author
Scroll in a Beijing Tea House
Source: Author & 李红
The Great Wall
Mutianyu Greatwall, China
Source: Jason Ong
Mutianyu Greatwall, China
Source: Author
The massive Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, located on the outskirts of Beijing, China, is just one part of a vast series of walls constructed by various dynasties throughout Chinese history. Despite being nearly 2,000 years old, this section remains remarkably well-preserved. To this day, the Great Wall stands as a powerful symbol of national pride, resilience, and enduring strength for the Chinese people.
The Tang Dynasty (c. 618AD – 907AD)
Tang dynasty Performers at Mutianyu
Source: Author
The legacy of the Tang dynasty lives on to this day. It was a golden era of cultural flourishing, where peace and prosperity were celebrated through vibrant music and dance.
For the common people, it was a time of happiness, discipline, and progress. The meritocratic system in place allowed individuals from all walks of life to rise based on talent and effort, inspiring a sense of purpose and possibility.
This spirit of inclusion and ambition propelled the dynasty to even greater heights.
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The Tang dynasty (c. 618AD – 907AD)
The Tang dynasty emerged as the second golden age of China, marking the beginning of the heyday of the Hinghua people. Many prominent Hinghua individuals in China and the surrounding region trace their ancestry to the founding emperor. The dynasty's emphasis on education, arts and culture, inclusive policies, and trade expansion allowed it to continue the progress and prosperity established by the previous dynasty.
During this period, Buddhism became firmly entrenched in China.
Archaeologists have discovered an extensive number of Buddhist scriptures, artifacts, and grottoes filled with Buddhist images in regions around the Tang dynasty capital. Notably, tens of thousands of Buddhist statues and inscriptions were uncovered in Henan, famously known as the Longmen Grottoes, which are now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [Please view the third-party video with discretion].
The focus on education enabled the dynasty to flourish with talent. Continuing the policies of meritocracy in civil service, the Tang dynasty allowed common people to join the ranks of the elites based on their intellectual abilities. This was a pivotal moment for the Hinghua people, who, until then, had mostly been farmers or fishermen. They began to demonstrate their skills and abilities in governance, literature, and the arts.
In foreign relations, the Tang dynasty was notably inclusive. Many foreigners, such as the Japanese, Koreans, and individuals from Central Asian countries, held positions in the central government, including military positions. This demonstrated the dynasty's confidence and openness to diverse influences (Zhang, 2011a). The population of Chang'an, the capital, reached about a million, with around 10% of the population being foreigners, including Japanese and Koreans who sent emissaries to learn from Chinese culture.
This period of cultural exchange is evident in the traditions and cultural practices of both Korea and Japan (An, 2011). Strong diplomatic relations were also formed with these two nations (Meng, 2011a). The Tang dynasty's policy of ethnic integration led to a population boom, growing to around 70 million, or about 13 million families, much larger than most other countries, which did not see populations reach the tens of millions until the 16th century (Zhang, 2011e).
Professor Zhang Guo Gan states, "The Tang dynasty was a great ancient dynasty that enjoyed social harmony. This partly explains the emergence of such great poets as Li Bai and Du Fu." However, despite the dynasty's accomplishments, it eventually fell into decline, and China entered a period of instability known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907–960 CE).
During this chaotic time, many people were driven southward, including many Hinghua, towards the region of Putian (Zhou, 2008c, p. 28). This migration laid the groundwork for the rise of the next great dynasty: the Song dynasty.
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The Song dynasty (c. 960-1279 AD)
The Song dynasty was the third Golden Age of China. This was another golden era for the Hinghua people because many excelled in the imperial examination. Many became imperial scholars (进士; Jinshi) and went on to become prefecture governors and high-ranking officials, and amongst them were the eighteen premiers (Zaifu; 宰辅). They’ve proven to be very loyal, honest, and capable with very high moral standards in carrying out their task without fear (Zhou, 2008d, p. 10).
Amongst the many discoveries during the Song dynasty, the most significant were: 1) Fire medicine (火药; gunpowder); 2) Compass; 3) Paper; and 4) Printing (Wang, Z. Y. 2011a). In addition to these, I've added four more in paper currency, astronomy, calendar, and planetary clock. The reason is that the additions have also played a very significant part in revolutionizing the world. All these inventions and many more were recorded by an ancient Chinese scientist, Chen Kuo (沈括).
He was a renowned writer and inventor who recorded ancient Chinese science and technology in his book called The Dream Pool Essays (夢溪筆談/梦溪笔谈). Joseph Needham, a British Sinologist, said that the Dream Pool Essays were an important landmark with excellence in the history of Chinese Science and Technology (Shanghai Daily, 2011). This book was to become the Chinese Encyclopaedia for Science & Technology.
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Prof. Xin DeYong of Peking University highlights a crucial development in Chinese history:
"The most important record of Chen Kuo was the invention of movable type printing by Bi Sheng, where the entire process of the technique used in movable type printing was described in detail" (Xin, 2011).
This invention revolutionized the way the Chinese could record and publish information, ensuring the accurate documentation of history. The innovation of movable type printing, combined with the already advanced paper-making technology, also laid the foundation for the printing of paper currency in China for the first time.
Another remarkable technological advancement during this period was the discovery of gunpowder. Initially discovered during the Jin dynasty by a Taoist alchemist searching for a cure for skin diseases, it was later harnessed as an explosive weapon during the Song dynasty to repel the Mongol invasions. This shift in its use demonstrated the adaptability and ingenuity of the Chinese people in response to the changing needs of warfare.
The Song dynasty also saw significant advancements in astronomy. In 1072, Chen Guo developed the Ecliptic Armillary Sphere, a groundbreaking instrument that allowed for the accurate observation of celestial movements. His thoughts on astronomy and the influence of his innovations continue to be reflected in astronomical instruments today (Yi, 2011).
Perhaps one of the most extraordinary achievements of this period was the creation of the water-driven planetary clock tower in 1092 by Su Song (苏颂). The clock tower was a complex and innovative device, with multiple levels: the upper portion contained an armillary sphere, the middle housed a celestial globe, and the lower section featured a Calculagraph. Together, these components provided a precise and accurate measurement of time (Sun, 2011a).
Su Song, in collaboration with the mathematician Zu Chongzhi (祖沖之), also made groundbreaking contributions to mathematics. Together, they calculated the value of pi (π) to an impressive precision of 3.1415926, a result that demonstrated China's dominance in the field of astronomy and mathematics for the next millennium.
These scientific and technological innovations during the Song dynasty not only shaped Chinese civilization but also had lasting impacts on global advancements in various fields, cementing China's role as a leader in scientific progress for centuries to come.
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In astronomy, Chinese astronomers made significant advancements that echoed the achievements of their ancestors, particularly during the Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty’s oracle bone inscriptions provide evidence that they observed celestial events, including solar eclipses. One particularly remarkable event occurred in July 1054, when an unknown phenomenon—now known as a Nova or "guest star" (客星)—appeared in the morning sky. This phenomenon, recorded meticulously by Song dynasty astronomers, was valuable for future generations and remains an important astronomical event in Chinese history (Sun, X. C., 2011b).
Today, a star chart carved on steel in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, serves as a testament to the accuracy of these early records. Modern astronomers have found the chart to contain precise information about over a thousand stars, demonstrating the impressive observational skills of Chinese astronomers during the Song dynasty.
From these astronomical studies, the Song dynasty was able to produce an accurate calendar. Chen Kuo’s improvements to the calendar helped to develop a solar terms calendar that closely resembled the modern Gregorian calendar, which is still in use today (Sun, X. C., 2011c). The astronomical clock and the calendar provided immense practical value to society, particularly for the agricultural sector. Farmers now had a reliable tool for tracking harvests and the tides of the Grand Canal. This increased efficiency in agriculture and laid the foundation for the civilization’s growth. As a result, agricultural production soared, up to 10 to 20 times more than that of Europe at the time (Zeng, 2011).
The success of the Song dynasty was also significantly driven by its focus on education. The dynasty invested heavily in developing education, resulting in the emergence of many talented scholars who advanced fields such as astronomy, medicine, military strategy, arts, and water conservancy. Many of these scholars went on to serve in the imperial administration. The merit-based system of examinations, which placed great emphasis on intellectual ability rather than social class, was instrumental in cultivating this talent pool. This meritocracy allowed the common people to rise based on their skills and knowledge, contributing significantly to the Song dynasty’s achievements in science and technology (Sun, 2011d).
At its peak, the capital of the Song dynasty was the world’s most prosperous commercial city, a global center for culture and science. However, the Song dynasty’s glorious era was tragically disrupted in 1127, when war broke out.
By 1276, the Mongols, under Kublai Khan, had overrun the Southern Song dynasty, marking the beginning of the Yuan dynasty.
This shift ushered in a long winter for the Hinghua people, as they faced new challenges and a changing world order.
In the next section, we will take a step back to explore the homeland of the Hinghua people, Putian. Meanwhile, watch a recap on the History of China.
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