As the Sui peters out, Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, seizes power and establishes the Tang Dynasty in 618.  Along with the Song, the Tang Dynasty is considered the pinnacle of China’s long history.  In culture, art, poetry, painting, ceramics, science, navigation, diplomacy this was a golden age.  Buddhism made even greater inroads into continue reading >>

The demise of the Southern & Northern Dynasties brought us a China unified under the Sui emperors Wen and Yang.  This ephemeral dynasty laid the groundwork for the splendor of the Tang dynasty.  Lasting only 37 years, the Sui Dynasty doesn’t get the limelight enjoyed by the great dynasties of Han, Tang, Song, Ming and continue reading >>