Arts+and+Intellectual+Post+Classical+China

Intellectual: Brigid347-picture Maddie - text Arts and Technology: below

The technology and scientific exploration of the Song Dynasty was geared towards improving existing technology was well as inventing to advance many aspects of society. · Tang (under Empress Wu) Buddhist shrines/other religious depictions · Invention of gunpowder and other explosive weapons · Invention of the compass – improved travel, especially sea-going · Rice growing – improved the efficiency or food production – supported the increased population · New innovations included the introduction of Vietnamese strains of rice, the terracing of hilly land and the control of water flow · Scientific exploration in all fields – great thinkers/inventors such a Shen Gua · Confucian beliefs placed importance on the arts: literature, music, visual art o Art was mostly of nature, stylized and containing symbols o As most Confucianists were skilled in the literary arts, there were very few “famous” writers · New techniques in food production o Use of Vietnamese strains of rice o State regulated irrigation systems (redirecting of rivers to flood areas to create rice paddies) o Soil preparation and weeding o Invention of the wheel barrow o Terracing of hilly land for rice-growing · Scientific exploration · Invention of the compass · Contributions to all fields of knowledge (mathematics, medicine, astronomy, earth sciences, economics, statecraft, philosophy etc.) · Junks – large sea-faring ships used for transporting items for trade