China and the culture of Asia

The Han Empire fell into crisis in the 3rd century and the country split into the states of Wei, Shu and Wu. After long wars the Sui dynasty reunified it by 589 (the dynasty ruled 581–618). The struggle with northern nomads, including the Turkic Khaganate, called for a strong central government. Under the Sui the Grand Canal linking the Yellow River and the Yangtze was built and a monetary reform was made. In 618 Li Yuan seized the throne and founded the Tang dynasty (618–907). Under the Tang all land was declared state property and small plots were allotted to peasants (the law of 624), who paid taxes and gave labour service; the emperor granted large estates to nobles. Cities such as the capital Chang’an, Luoyang, Yangzhou and Guangzhou became centres of crafts and trade; craftsmen organized into guilds, and a single copper coin was in use. Tang armies fought the Turkic Khaganate, Gaochang (640) and Goguryeo in northern Korea (668); China made contacts with the Arab Caliphate, Byzantium, Japan and India. Under the Song dynasty (960–1279) its international ties grew still wider.