What Are Some of the Differences Between the Tang and Song Dynasties?
The main differences between the Chinese dynasties Tang and Song are related to the territory they ruled, their political regimes and religious tolerance. The Tang dynasty ruled China between 618 and 907, whereas the Song dynasty ruled from 960 to 1279.
While the Tang and Song dynasties shared much in common, there were a couple of major differences in the way they ruled over the populous territory of China. During both periods China experiences political, cultural and social blossoming. Some common traits include the development of trade, the flourishing of painting and poetry and the improvement of bureaucracy. Even though both Tang and Song were Chinese dynasties, they did not rule over the same territory. The Song power was centered on the southeastern part of the country, whereas the Tang power extended over much of modern China, as well as Manchuria, Tibet and Mongolia.
During the rule of the Tang dynasty, most religions were welcomed in the empire, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. The Song dynasty made the Confucian scholars dominant in the empire. In poetry and other forms of artistic expression, the Tang emphasized both military and civil aspects, whereas the Song clearly favored the civil aspects.
