Both the Tang and Song dynasties had a centralized government bureaucracy that was responsible for administering the empire. However, the Tang dynasty had a more merit-based system where officials were selected based on their qualifications and abilities, while the Song dynasty implemented a civil service examination system that tested candidates on their knowledge of Confucian classics. Additionally, the Tang dynasty had a more hierarchical structure with greater emphasis on military officials, while the Song dynasty placed more importance on civilian officials and scholars.
