| National Factbook |
| Flag: |
 |
| Nation Name: |
The Tang Dynasty |
| Leader Name: |
Song Yet-Kai |
| Currency: |
Yuan |
| National Animal: |
Tiger |
| History: |
The Tang dynasty (/tɑːŋ/,[6] [tʰǎŋ]; Chinese: 唐朝[a]), or the Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilization, and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture.[8] Tang territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, rivaled that of the Han dynasty.
The Li family founded the dynasty after taking advantage of a period of Sui decline and precipitating their final collapse, in turn inaugurating a period of progress and stability in the first half of the dynasty's rule. The dynasty was formally interrupted during 690–705 when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, proclaiming the Wu Zhou dynasty and becoming the only legitimate Chinese empress regnant. The devastating An Lushan Rebellion (755–763) led to the decline of central authority in the dynasty's latter half. Like the previous Sui dynasty, the Tang maintained a civil-service system by recruiting scholar-officials through standardized examinations and recommendations to office. The rise of regional military governors known as jiedushi during the 9th century undermined this civil order. The dynasty and central government went into decline by the latter half of the 9th century; agrarian rebellions resulted in mass population loss and displacement, widespread poverty, and further government dysfunction that ultimately ended the dynasty in 907.
The Tang capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) was the world's most populous city for much of the dynasty's existence. Two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries estimated the empire's population at about 50 million people,[9][10] which grew to an estimated 80 million by the dynasty's end.[11][12][b] From its numerous subjects, the dynasty raised professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers for control of Inner Asia and the lucrative trade-routes along the Silk Road. Far-flung kingdoms and states paid tribute to the Tang court, while the Tang also indirectly controlled several regions through a protectorate system. In addition to its political hegemony, the Tang exerted a powerful cultural influence over neighboring East Asian nations such as Japan and Korea. |
| Geography |
| Continent: |
Asia |
| Land Area: |
3,621.02 sq. km |
| Terrain: |
China has great physical diversity. The eastern plains and southern coasts of the country consist of fertile lowlands and foothills. They are the location of most of China's agricultural output and human population. The southern areas of the country (south of the Yangtze River) consist of hilly and mountainous terrain. The west and north of the country are dominated by sunken basins (such as the Gobi and the Taklamakan), rolling plateaus, and towering massifs. It contains part of the highest tableland on earth, the Tibetan Plateau, and has much lower agricultural potential and population.
Traditionally, the Chinese population centred on the Chinese central plain, developing as a country whose center lay in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River on the northern plains.[4] More recently, the 18,000 km (11,000 mi) coastline has been used extensively for export-oriented trade, causing the coastal provinces to become the leading economic center.
The topography of China has been divided by the Chinese government into five homogeneous physical macro-regions, namely Eastern China (subdivided into the northeast plain, north plain, and southern hills), Xinjiang-Mongolia, and the Tibetan highlands.[5] It is diverse with snow-capped mountains, deep river valleys, broad basins, high plateaus, rolling plains, terraced hills, sandy dunes with many other geographic features and other landforms present in myriad variations. In general, the land is high in the west and descends to the east coast. Mountains (33 percent), plateaus (26 percent) and hills (10 percent) account for nearly 70 percent of the country's land surface. Most of the country's arable land and population are based in lowland plains (12 percent) and basins (19 percent), though some of the greatest basins are filled with deserts. The country's rugged terrain presents problems for the construction of overland transportation infrastructure and requires extensive terracing to sustain agriculture, but is conducive to the development of forestry, mineral and hydropower resources, as well as tourism in the country. |
| Highest Peak: |
Mt. Gongga, 7,556 meters |
| Lowest Valley: |
Jiuzhaigou, -864 meters |
| Climate: |
Owing to tremendous differences in latitude, longitude, and altitude, the climate of China is extremely diverse. It ranges from tropical in the far south to subarctic in the far north, and alpine in the higher elevations of the Tibetan Plateau. Monsoon winds, caused by differences in the heat-absorbing capacity of the continent and the ocean, dominate the climate. During the summer, the East Asian Monsoon carries warm and moist air from the south and delivers the vast majority of the annual precipitation in much of the country. Conversely, the Siberian anticyclone dominates during winter, bringing cold and comparatively dry conditions. The advance and retreat of the monsoons account, in large degree, for the timing of the rainy season throughout the country. Although most of the country lies in the temperate belt, its climatic patterns are complex.
Sanbao Township in Xinjiang currently holds the highest recorded temperature in China, at 52.2 °C (126.0 °F) on 16 July 2023.[1][2] Mohe City, Heilongjiang, holds the record for the lowest temperature in China, at −53.0 °C (−63.4 °F) on 22 January 2023.[3][4]
Overview
Temperature
Hardiness zones in China
The northern extremities of both Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia have a subarctic climate[5] with long, severe winters, and short, warm summers.[6] In contrast, most of Hainan Island and parts of the extreme southern fringes of Yunnan have a tropical climate.[5] Temperature differences in winter are considerable, but in summer, the variance is considerably less. For example, Mohe County, Heilongjiang, has a 24-hour average temperature in January approaching −30 °C (−22 °F), while the corresponding figure in July exceeds 18 °C (64 °F).[7] By contrast, most of Hainan, including the city of Haikou, has a January mean over 18 °C (64 °F), while the July mean there is generally around 29 °C (84 °F).[8]
In summer, temperatures can be very hot and humid, and the cities of Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanjing are sometimes referred to as the Three Furnaces (simplified Chinese: 三大火炉; traditional Chinese: 三大火爐; pinyin: sān dà huǒlú).[9] Other cities are also known by this name.[10] Even so, the hottest temperatures nationwide are recorded in the Turpan Depression, where the climate is much drier and temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 °F).[11][12]
Permafrost can be found at high elevations in the Tibetan Plateau and the Tian Shan mountains,[13][14] as well as other mountainous areas in Northern China.[14]
Precipitation
The average annual precipitation in Mainland China
In the winter, northern winds coming from high-latitude areas are cold and dry, while in summer, southern winds from coastal areas at lower latitudes are warm and moist.[15] Precipitation is almost always concentrated in the warmer months, though annual totals range from less than 20 millimetres (0.8 in) in northwestern Qinghai and the Turpan Depression of Xinjiang, to over 2,000 millimetres (79 in) in areas of southeast China, such as Hong Kong and Guangdong. Toksun County, located in the Turpan Depression, has an average rainfall of just 3.9 mm (0.15 in) annually, the lowest precipitation in any area in China.[16] High pressure cells create cold, dry conditions in the Gobi Desert in winter.[17] Only in some pockets of the Dzungaria region of Xinjiang is the conspicuous seasonal variation in precipitation that defines Chinese (and, to a large extent, East Asian) climate absent. The East Asian Monsoon, which controls the seasonal precipitation, varies from year to year.[18] It has historically been known as the plum rain.[19][20] Scientists have used pollen and dust to track its movements.[21][22] |
| People & Society |
| Population: |
129,862 people |
| Demonym: |
Chinese |
| Demonym Plural: |
Chinese |
| Ethnic Groups: |
Han Chinese - 78.9%
Manchu - 12.1%
Uygher - 10.0% |
| Languages: |
Mandarin Chinese - 66.0%
Cantonese - 24.0%
Korean - 20.0% |
| Religions: |
Taoism - 55.0%
Confusionism - 35.0%
Bhuddism - 10.0% |
| Health |
| Life Expectancy: |
95 years |
| Obesity: |
7.8% |
| Alcohol Users: |
14.1% |
| Tobacco Users: |
11.1% |
| Cannabis Users: |
0.1% |
| Hard Drug Users: |
0% |
| Economy |
| Description: |
The Tang Dynasty has an economy based primarily around agriculture, mining, and trading, with a combination of government enterprise and private corporations owning large farms and mines, selling the raw goods abroad for profit. The Silk Road also enhances trade, silk being another major product. Despite using opioids being illegal in the nation, the government does cultivate and sell opium abroad. |
| Average Yearly Income: |
$70.95 |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP): |
$230,272,965.00 |
| GDP per Capita: |
$1,773.20 |
| Gross National Income (GNI): |
$177,102,745.00 |
| Industries: |
Major industries include agriculture, (cultivation of food, cash crops and other things) mining, commerce, construction and livestock. |
| Military |
| History: |
The Imperial Army is vastly invested in by the government to thwart any outside threats, the royal family being particularly concerned about invading forces. |
| Soldiers: |
2,992 |
| Tanks: |
150 |
| Aircraft: |
6 |
| Ships: |
2 |
| Missiles: |
0 |
| Nuclear Weapons: |
0 |
| Last Updated: 09/28/2024 09:08 pm |
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