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FIVE DYNASTIES
The time from 907-960 A.D. is called The Five Dynasties (and Ten
Kingdoms). However, numerous small kingdoms also existed. The Five
Dynasties are the officially recognized dynasties of the north, while
the south had ten kingdoms. The north was continually ravaged by warfare
during this time as they were attacked time and again by the Khitans and
the Turks. Conversely, the south enjoyed a time of peace, economic
prosperity, and cultural growth. The leaders of the southern kingdoms
were often the military governors of the T'ang dynasty.
The Five Dynasties were as follows: Liang (Posterior) 907-923, T'ang
(Posterior) 923-936, Jin (Posterior) 936-947, Han (Posterior) 947-951,
and Zhou (Posterior) 951-960.
During this short-lived era of dynasties. numerous advances are worth
noting. First, the expansion of the tea and salt trade through
monopolies became a necessity, especially in the south. The second
development was translucent porcelain and the production of ceramics,
both of which were used within China and as an export item. The third
major development was with Blockprinting, its methods greatly enhanced
since the 7th Century, but especially during the Five Dynasties period,
in effect had matured. Between 932 and 953, the first complete printing
of the Confucian classics was made in 130 volumes and two supplementary
editions. Additionally, a larger range of literary works was produced,
providing for a wide distribution throughout China and beyond. Finally,
in northern China, paper money was introduced, to supplement coinage.
Hence the creation of a formalized banking system.
The practice of binding women's feet also began during this time. The
first evidence of this practice shows up in about 950 A.D. Scholars are
not sure why this practice began, however, it was widely practiced among
both the rich and poor of China. Only a few groups did not participate
in this custom. They were the boat women of Kuang-tung and the
aboriginal people of the southwest. None of the non-Chinese groups
surrounding China participated in this custom.
Buddhism experienced a sharp decline during this period. In northern
China, Buddhism was heavily persecuted beginning in 955 A.D. This
persecution seemed to be aimed at stopping men from becoming monks to
avoid joining the armies.
In 960, Zhoa Kuang-yin, the respected military figure of a large
military command for the past 5 dynasties, was given support by his
soldiers in a bloodless coup that ended the Zhou (posterior) Dynasty,
was named T'ai Tsu, and established the Song Dynasty.
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