The Tang Dynasty (618–907 C.E.) is widely considered the zenith of Chinese civilization, its prosperity, peace, stability, and international influence during certain periods unparalleled before or since. The capital city Chang’an was the largest metropolis in the world, drawing diplomats from around the globe, making China truly “The Middle Kingdom.” The achievements of the Tang Dynasty remain a model and source of inspiration for many Chinese today.
As with most Chinese dynasties, the Tang emerged from a period of chaos that ensued toward the end of the previous era, in this instance the Sui Dynasty (581–618 C.E.). In 617, Li Shimin urged his father Li Yuan, the king of Tang, to raise troops in Taiyuan. Within five years, they managed to squash all of the rebellions around the empire. Li Shimin assumed the throne in 626 and took the name Emperor Taizong of Tang.
Tang Taizong is recognized as one of the greatest emperors in Chinese history. He was a military genius capable of commanding a battlefield from thousands of miles away, as well as an excellent poet, writer, and calligraphist.
Emperor Taizong cherished his people and governed accordingly. He founded a literary academy, utilizing it to recruit talented men for his administration. He is also known for making the most of his subjects’ strengths, including being unusually tolerant and receptive to constructive criticism and advice. His approach paid off, spurring China’s most peaceful and stable period. Both nobility and common folk are said to have lived harmoniously and happily, with very low crime rates and limited official corruption. Historical records describe the period as a time when:
Merchants and traders traveled freely without fear of bandits; the jailhouses remained empty and people felt no need to lock their gates; bountiful harvests were frequent and ten liters of rice cost only three to four qian; travelers journeying from the capital to Lingbiao or from Shandong to the seaside needed not to prepare rations but could always obtain provisions en route.
Taizong extended this attitude toward people beyond China’s borders as well. Though the Tang Dynasty possessed brilliant military prowess, he chose to employ his empire’s advanced cultural and political achievements to attract and annex minority ethnic areas as far west as modern day Kazakhstan.
Indeed, the Tang Dynasty was characterized by a hospitality and openness to outsiders rare in imperial China. Nations from around the world sent diplomats and scholars to study Chinese culture, and the Tang Dynasty welcomed economic and religious exchanges. More than 400 countries sent tributes to Tang emperors and over 100,000 foreigners are estimated to have resided in the cosmopolitan capital Chang’an. The famous Tang poet Wang Wei wrote:
Heaven’s nine doors reveal the palace and its courtyards;
And the coats of many countries bow to the Pearl Crown.
The Tang Dynasty was also a very active period of development for the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. The imperial civil-service examinations were modified to focus on Confucian teachings and, in 645, monk Xuanzang returned from his pilgrimage to retrieve Buddhist scriptures from ancient India. Tang Taizong is said to have personally led the welcoming party for the monk, meeting him at Zhuque Bridge along with hundreds of civil and military officials. The Tang emperors, who were surnamed Li, also claimed Lao-Tzu (or Laozi, the founder of the Tao School) as their ancestor.
Poetry also flourished during the Tang Dynasty. The era inspired famous lyricists like Li Bai (known for finding brilliant inspiration in a wine gourd), Du Fu (also known as the poet-historian), Wang Wei (also an accomplished painter), and many, many others.
The period from the reign of Tang Taizong to the rule of his descendent Emperor Xuanzong marked 130 years of prosperity, often viewed as the pinnacle of Chinese culture. This golden age could not last forever. In 755, general An Lushan and his cohort Shi Siming launched a revolt, which brought upheaval that lasted for almost a decade and cost millions of lives. It weakened the central control of the emperors and bureaucracy, eventually resulting in the dynasty’s downfall.
FAQs
Tang dynasty art (simplified Chinese: 唐朝艺术; traditional Chinese: 唐朝藝術) refers to Chinese art created during the Tang dynasty (618–907). The period saw significant advancements in arts such as painting, sculpture, calligraphy, music, dance, and literature.
What story does Shen Yun tell? ›
Shen Yun's repertoire draws on stories from Chinese history and legends, such as the legend of Mulan, Journey to the West and Outlaws of the Marsh. It also depicts "the story of Falun Gong today".
What did people do for fun in the Tang dynasty? ›
In 2020, soccer (or football, if you prefer) is the world's most popular sport. Back in the Tang Dynasty, they enjoyed archery, hunting, polo, but most of all cuju, which was played by people of all classes.
What was the Tang dynasty known for? ›
Tang dynasty, or T'ang dynasty, (618–907) Chinese dynasty that succeeded the short-lived Sui and became a golden age for poetry, sculpture, and Buddhism. The Tang capital of Chang'an became a great international metropolis, with traders and embassies from Central Asia, Arabia, Persia, Korea, and Japan passing through.
Why did the arts flourish during the Tang Dynasty? ›
The Tang Dynasty was a time when art flourished in China. It has been argued that this was largely because of the Silk Road. The constant flow of new and foreign people bought stylistic changes to the Chinese art form. For example, consider the fancy Chinaware many couples get for their engagement or wedding.
What did ancient China do for art? ›
Ancient Chinese civilization spanning the Neolithic Period, the Shang Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty, was composed of sophisticated developments in art, specifically bronze, metallurgy, ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and stonework. Artisans also created works from porcelain, jade, and terracotta.
Why was Shen Yun banned in China? ›
It is a cult that seriously harms the society and violates human rights, and is a cancer in the body of the modern and civilized society.” The Chinese government's main issue with Shen Yun is its association with Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is a religious movement that emerged in the early 1990s.
Can kids see Shen Yun? ›
Families are a big part of our audience, and each year children enjoy the performance, with favorite pieces being the Monkey King or the mischievous little monks. But please do think of your fellow patrons; consider whether your child can sit through the entire performance without disturbing others.
What is so special about Shen Yun? ›
So if you enjoy brilliant costumes, dance, music, and inspiring legends, you'll enjoy Shen Yun—even if you're not Chinese, don't speak Chinese, and never had Chinese food. Shen Yun displays real traditional Chinese culture before the world's eyes, but ironically, the performance is banned in China itself.
What were 2 inventions during the Tang Dynasty? ›
The Tang dynasty (618–907) of ancient China witnessed many advancements in Chinese science and technology, with various developments in woodblock printing, timekeeping, mechanical engineering, medicine, and structural engineering.
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.
What are two important facts about the Tang dynasty? ›
Interesting Facts about the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Empire had the only female Empress in Chinese history, Empress Wu, who ruled from 690 to 705 (though she was heavily involved in political affairs before her rule). The Tang Empire was the most populous empire, with a population of 50 to 60 million.
Who was the first black emperor of China? ›
China's first dynasty and emperor founded by King Tang (or Ta) who was black. The earliest documented rulership of China was the Shang Dynasty (or Chang) c1500-1008 BC, which is credited with bringing together the elements of China's earliest civilization.
Who did the Tang dynasty fight? ›
The Goguryeo–Tang War occurred from 645 to 668 and was fought between Goguryeo and the Tang dynasty.
Why was the Tang Dynasty called the golden age of art? ›
Lauded as China's “golden age”, the Tang Dynasty was epitomized by its economic, social, and political stability, a flourishing artistic and literary culture, and increasing interaction with the outside world.
What were the arts in ancient China? ›
In ancient China, painting and calligraphy were the most highly appreciated arts in court circles and were produced almost exclusively by amateurs, aristocrats and scholar-officials who alone had the leisure to perfect the technique and sensibility necessary for great brushwork.
Who was an important artist in the Tang Dynasty? ›
Brothers Yan Liben (閻立本) and Yan Lide (閻立德) were among the most prolific painters of this period. Yan Liben was the personal portraitist to the Emperor Taizong, and his most notable works include the Thirteen Emperors Scroll (歷代帝王圖).
What was the Tang work of art most likely influenced by? ›
Tang work of art was most likely influenced by Islam due to the presence of Islamic artistic elements such as geometric patterns, arabesques, and calligraphy.
