The Qin Dynasty (221–206 B.C.E.) conquered the “warring states” of China and created what Qin Shihuangdi (259–210 B.C.E.) hoped would be an empire that would last for ten thousand years. However, the brutal strategies of control espoused by Legalism, a philosophy that called for strict adherence to laws and a ruler with absolute power, ended the dynasty in just fourteen years. When the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.) took control of China, they maintained a traditional focus on Confucianism and rejected the Qin’s harsh punishments. Following the Han’s collapse, nomadic groups from Central Asia took power in northern China, while southern China was ruled by a succession of unsuccessful dynasties. Buddhism became increasingly influential in this Age of Division (220–589 C.E.); Islam and Christianity also appeared in China but were less popular. When the Sui (581–618 C.E.) and Tang (618–907 C.E.) Dynasties reestablished formal control over all of China, neighboring societies in Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, and Japan began to imitate Chinese rule and culture.