Mongols Take China

When the Sung dynasty ended in 1279 ad, the Mongols took over. Gangkas Khan, the first ruler, was born around 1167 ad. His first European target was Russia. I bet he is going to be the only one with a successful invasion of Russia in the winter ever. He succeeded in gaining land. Marco Polo even wrote that he was the most powerful man since Adam. Gangkas ruled northern China. Then, his son, Kublai Khan, was born. Kublai ruled southern china. When Gangkas died, Kublai ruled all of Chinas land. He decided that only Mongols should get the high government jobs and only mongols could serve in the military. When Marco Polo came back and stayed with Kublai for 17 years, he wrote a book about it. It tells of his experiences and things that no one else really knows about the Khan. But eventually, the Mongols fell and in 1368, the Ming took over.

Zheng He

Zheng He is a widely famous explorer for us Chinese. He began exploring in 1405, and he had 62 hugeeeee ships and 200 smaller ones. Some of the bigger ones were almost 400 feet long. When he died last year in 1435, the Ming Emperor destroyed everything about him. Im not sure why, but he did. All of the books about it and the records, all gone. He even had his ships BURNED. He wanted to make sure that his voyages were finished for good. Instead, they wanted to focus all of their attention on working on our society at hand. I wish they didnt end the voyages, i would have loved to have been able to be part of one. To explore all of the seas, what an amazing experience.

Sung Dynasty

Here we are, the ending of the Sung Dynasty. I never thought this day would come. Oh, hi there. Im Dii. Wanna hear about the Sung Dynasty? Okay, well Im gonna tell you anyways. It started in 960 ad, when the Tang Dynasty fell. We could grow rice super quickly. We had two crops per year, so we had a surplus. It became a major cash crop for us. The surplus led to a lot more trade which somehow brought the arts back. They created the Grand Canal which helped get people across the whole country quicker and easier. When the trade got big, the invention of paper money came about. It got really big really fast. They had a very ordered society, and the gentry got the best jobs and places in the military. We had a very rich society in general but they gentries had the best of everything. Then the mongols came and they ended our dynasty around 1279 ad.

Tang Dynasty

The Tang dynasty just ended. Oh, by the way, Im Kilai. When the Han dynasty collapsed in 200 ad, the Tang dynasty took over in 618 ad. China was just about to loose it but the Tang saved it.  Its a big time for spreading Buddhism and farming. Not to mention the art, its everywhere! Out first Tang Emperor was Li Yuan. The government and economy have rebuilt themselves a bit. The Han uniform system of government is back along with reforming the land. We started to decline when we lost our land to the Arabs. They reinforced the high taxes again which caused riots. There was a drought which led to famine and more rebellion. Then just recently, 907 ad, the Tang Dynasty ended. It was astonishing but it was really happening. I dont know wether to be happy, sad, worried or scared yet. But Ill let you know.

Han Dynasty

My name is LiLi. I would like to tell you about the Han dynasty. My grandmother has told me all that I know. She lived then, I did not. The Han dynasty was from 206 bc to 220 ad. There were two parts, the Former Han and the Later Han. In the Former Han, Liu Pang created the dynasty. He called himself Han Kao Tsu. He made his capital Chang'an, I think thats what she said. Their state philosophy was Confucianism. He tried to make the central government strong and humane at the same time. But he got out of hand with his taxes. Even though during the Former Han they invented paper, porcaline, wheelbarrow, compass, and the seismograph, the people still couldnt stand the outrageous taxes. They revolted and in 23 ad, Emperor Wang Mang was executed by a peasant. Then the Later Han started. They were big on military expansion. In 50 ad, they attacked Husing Nu and went all the way to Europe, expanding their land. But, their downfall was caused by taxation as well. A Taoist Secret Society called the Yellow Turbans attacked and the Han dynasty ended completely.

Buddhism In China

Niiiii Haaaooooo. My name Kai. The year- 210 ad. I buddhist. Buddha a great man. He make Buddhism big around 206 ad. I a Mahayana buddhist. It most popular chain of buddhism in china. We compassionate and liberal at same time. China use a lotta money to make pretty things for Buddha. They beautiful. We have temples with stone Buddha. Buddhist things are nirvana and meditation. We try achieve nirvana by meditate. We like draw lotus and the swastika. They  peace and awakening. They everywhere, all great. Buddha ideas from india. Got to china from trade at Silk Road. Buddha from India. I no met Buddha. I too young. I not worthy of Buddha presence. I worship he ideas. We try and be awakened, but no one can be like Buddha. He so open-minded. We all focused on things. I go, rice time. I try write again. Bye.

The Great Wall

HI THERE! Hahah, my name is Qi Po Qin. I wanna tell you a story about the great wall. Way back, before I was born, around 200 bc, Si Huangdi started building the great wall. He connected already existing walls into one giant one. He was awful to the people that worked on it. Did I mention its hand made? Oh, well, it is. Mainly the boys and men were sent to work on it. The ones that got sick usually died. Since there was no place to burry them, they were usually buried in the wall. There were tons of people that died in the making of that wall. It was built over all different landscapes. Some were dry and desert like while others flourish in greens. Parts of it are built upon the flat land while some parts are all over the sides and tops of mountains. Due to the immense heat and extreme cold, it was mainly built in the spring and fall. The Ming dynasty was the high point of building time. Each dynasty continued to build it, but in the middle of the chin dynasty, the work stopped. Its being renovated today and its 4500 miles long with 24 towers in it. You can see it from outerspace now and its part of the 7 wonders of the world. It was built not only to keep us safe, but to make sure that we knew our boundaries and didnt leave.

Lao Zi and Taoism

Ni Hao! My name is Wei-Jin. Im here to tell you about Lao Zi and Taoism. Lao Zi was born in the spring-autumn period. He was supposedly an adult from birth. Hence his name, Lao Zi. It means Old Boy, so he was very mature at a young age. He was not the founder of Taoism, Zhang Daoling was in the 2nd century bc. Lao Zi is just a strong believer and basically the Zhang Daoling of that century. Tao means the way of the universe. He believed this was the best way for people to live. He also believed that people should be friends with nature rather than dominate it like we do. He doesnt like competition or ambition, he thinks its too disruptive. Taoism is full of never ending cycles. It was huge in the Han dynasty. By the 14th century, there were two main sects. The first- Self cultivation and immortality. The second- Charms and spells. It declined to be little followed by from 1368-1644 ad.

Confucius

Why hello there. My name Po. I a Confucianist..ist..er. I tell you story of the big boy, Kung Fu-Tzu. He born in 551 bc, in Lu provence. He born into the K'ung family, a middle class family. He name Ch'iu. He personal goal to teach people to be good. He try government. They no like him. Then he got kicked out. He became wandering teacher and came up to me today. He kept trying to have me understand the way of life from his eyes. But he no religious guy, he no have special title. So I start listen. He tell me how he want restore peace in province. He like music and dance. Kung Fu-Tzu keep saying "if we are to achieve a state of orderliness and peace, we need to return to tradition value. I think he want us to forget about stuff. No buy stuff kinda. He keep saying something about "living by jen". I no know who jen is, but she sound nice. A lot of friend like him too. They Confucianist..ist..ers like me. My friend Ming go another country. He say they know Kung Fu-Tzu too. Some call him "Master Kung" or K'ung Fu-Tzu. I no know why, but there a guy on Silk Road, he call him Confucius. Maybe that what he think he name is. I no know. I write later. Zai jian.

Unification of China

I dont know where i am now, or what this magic letter- maker is, but im from 221 bc. My name is Kuan Lin. This year, China has been reunified! In the past years, the military tried to force us all together. They were violent and crude to us all. Then King Zheng, our emperor and proclaimed first emperor, brought us together in one big gesture. He was nine when he took the throne, but he is a great emperor. Lu Buwei and Li Si are his helpers. He is currently conquering more surrounding states and making us one big country! Unfortunately, he is a legalist. I dont like that but hes helping the country so I cant say much. He is also starting this GIANT wall that will keep out invaders and keep us in. The smallest crime now has a big punishment though... He took away our weapons, but there arent that many more fights anymore. Thats all for today i guess, ill be back soon on this magic letter maker. bye!