Northern and Southern dynasties · 316-589 AD

China divided: Buddhism and the road to 589

After 316 China split between northern kingdoms, many founded by steppe peoples, and southern dynasties along the Yangtze. In this age of war a foreign faith, Buddhism, won millions of followers. Students explore cave temples, a pilgrim's journey and the reunion of 589.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
12–15
On the map
3 steps, AD 400 to AD 600
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

After 316 China split between northern kingdoms, many founded by steppe peoples, and southern dynasties along the Yangtze. In this age of war a foreign faith, Buddhism, won millions of followers. Students explore cave temples, a pilgrim's journey and the reunion of 589.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Describe how China was divided between north and south from 316 to 589.
  • Explain how Buddhism spread in China, using the Buddhism spread on the map.
  • Identify a cave temple and a traveler that show how Buddhism took root in China.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 400

North and south

Open the map in AD 400. Find Jin in the south and the Sixteen Kingdoms in the north. Roughly where does the line between north and south run?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 400

A faith from India

Turn on Spreads and choose Buddhism. Drag the slider from 250 BC to AD 400 and watch Luoyang and Chang'an light up. Which way did Buddhism travel to reach China?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 600

Reunited

Jump to AD 600. The Sui Empire rules all of China again. Compare it with the map in 500. Which lands were joined together in 589?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. After 316 northern China was ruled by many short-lived kingdoms, several founded by steppe peoples. How might life change for farmers there?
  2. Many northern families fled south across the Yangtze. What would you take with you, and what would you leave behind?
  3. Buddhism came from India, a faraway land. Why did so many Chinese, rich and poor, take it up in this age of war?
  4. Emperor Xiaowen ordered his own Xianbei people to speak Chinese and take Chinese names. Was this wise?
  5. The Sui reunited China in 589 after almost 300 years of division. Why does China keep coming back together after splitting?
4

Game round

10 min

Play Wu Zetian in Rule History. She ruled China about a century after the Sui reunited it, and she was a great supporter of Buddhism. After the round, discuss: how did the faith that arrived in the age of division shape the rulers who came after?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

€19 per month unlocks every worksheet, every live lesson and the class workspace. The free lesson prints without a subscription.