Era Information 

Time: 581 -907

Location of Capital: Chang an, in Today's Xi'an City, Shanxi Province 

Emperors: Liyuan, Li Shimin, Lizhi

Replaced by: Song Dynasty

Introduction

By the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), China had witnessed disunity and chaos for about 270 years.

In 577, the Northern Zhou conquered the Northern Qi and reunified the North China. The Northern Zhou, known as the reign of Yuwen family of the Xianbei ethnic group, continued for 24 years with five emperors over three generations.

 In 581, Yangjian, a relative of the royal family, usurped the throne and renamed the empire the Sui Dynasty with Chang'an (present Xian City in Shaanxi Province) as his capital city. Yangjian was historically called Emperor Wen.

After the founding of the empire, Emperor Wen quickly carried out a series of military plans to unify the country. Finally in 589, Emperor Wen wiped out the Chen Dynasty and reunified the south and the north.

Sui Dynasty lasted for only 38 years with two generations. History shows it was one of the short-lived Chinese dynasties. The Sui Dynasty's early demise was attributed to the government's tyranny and ceaseless wars.

Emperor Wen died unexpectedly in 604 and his second son Yangguang, historically known as Emperor Yang, succeeded to the throne.

In the early part of his reign Emperor Yang benefited from the reforms introduced by his father and the Sui Dynasty achieved full economic prosperity.

However, lulled by his easy success, Emperor Yang soon began to abuse his power. On the one hand, he continued to carry out lavish construction projects, such as the Great Wall, the Great Canal and the relocation of his capital in Luoyang.

On the other, he repeatedly went on pleasure trips and all too frequently launched wars on his neighbors. Some of Emperor Yang's policy did contributed a lot to the social development and the stability of the country, however, they made the ordinary people 'all out at the elbows'.

Emperor Yang's extravagance and putridness finally led to the exhaustion of the country's resources. Beginning in 613, rebellions broke out one by one. In 616, forced by the chaotic situation, Emperor Yang, retreated to Jiangdu (present Yangzhou City in Jiangsu Province).

With the emperor absent, Liyuan, a general stationed in Taiyuan, conquered Chang'an and put a new emperor on the throne.

In 618, Emperor Yang was murdered in Jiangdu by one of his aides. Quickly, Liyuan deposed the new emperor and established his own dynasty in Chang'an - the Tang Dynasty, declaring himself Emperor.

Tang Dynasty

The Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), with its capital at Chang'an , is regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization--equal, or even superior, to the Han period.

Its territory, acquired through the military exploits of its early rulers, was greater than that of the Han. Stimulated by contact with India and the Middle East, the empire saw a flowering of creativity in many fields.

Buddhism, originating in India around the time of Confucius, flourished during the Tang period, becoming thoroughly sanitized and a permanent part of Chinese traditional culture.

Block printing was invented, making the written word available to vastly greater audiences. The Tang period was the golden age of literature and art.

A government system supported by a large class of Confucian literati selected through civil service examinations was perfected under Tang rule. This competitive procedure was designed to draw the best talents into government.

 But perhaps an even greater consideration for the Tang rulers, aware that imperial dependence on powerful aristocratic families and warlords would have destabilizing consequences, was to create a body of career officials having no autonomous territorial or functional power base.

As it turned out, these scholar-officials acquired status in their local communities, family ties, and shared values that connected them to the imperial court. From Tang times until the closing days of the Qing empire in 1911, scholar-officials functioned often as intermediaries between the grass-roots level and the government.

By the middle of the eighth century A.D., Tang power had ebbed. Domestic economic instability and military defeat in 751 by Arabs at Talas, in Central Asia, marked the beginning of five centuries of steady military decline for the Chinese empire.

Misrule, court intrigues, economic exploitation, and popular rebellions weakened the empire, making it possible for northern invaders to terminate the dynasty in 907. The next half-century saw the fragmentation of China into five northern dynasties and ten southern kingdoms.

Diplomatic Relationship of Tang 

The Tang Dynasty also marked a golden age of relations with foreign powers. The excellence of its advanced civilization rendered the Chinese Empire the envy of countries throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Each in their turn sent envoys and merchants to trade with the Tang, whose empire was to become a world center for trade and cultural exchange.

The Tang was trading with more than seventy countries. To foster this trade, the government allowed tax concessions to foreigners, who were permitted to settle in China and to marry Chinese citizens. Some even went on to secure positions within the government. Many foreign countries began to call the Chinese 'Tang people', an appellation that survives in some countries to this day.

Relationship between Tang and Japan

Contact between China and Japan had been established in the early part of the Han Dynasty. This was enhanced by both the Sui and the Tang. During the Tang Dynasty Japan sent envoys to China on nineteen separate occasions. Students and monks swarmed into the empire to study.

There were two people in particular worthy of mention here. They were Apeizhongmalu and a monk named Konghai. Apeizhongmalu was the most famous of the Japanese students who came to China. Emperor Taizong gave him the Chinese name Chaoheng.

Not only did he become an official in the central government through the examination system but he also became a close friend of famous poets such as Libai and Wangwei. Of the monks who came to China, Konghai was the most outstanding. They arrived in 804 and studied Buddhism at the Qinlong Temple. On his return to Japan, he took with him over one hundred and eighty Buddhist scriptures and established the Tantra sect of Buddhism there.

Students and monks were sent also to Japan from China. Jianzhen is considered to be the most influential of the monks. He successfully traveled to Japan in 754 after five attempts to visit. It was he who introduced Lu Buddhism to the Japanese and he taught sculpture, architecture and painting.

It was thanks to these cultural exchanges that benefits were derived by both nations. Chinese culture and technology spread to Japan. The Japanese political system, legislation, economic policy, life style and culture were all deeply influenced by that of the Tang. In return, Japanese culture was introduced into China, in particular this was true of music and dance, which became very popular.

Relationship between Tang and Xinluo

In the early years of the Tang, the Korean Peninsula was divided into three separate kingdoms. These were Gaoli, Baiji and Xinluo. All three had contact with China but in 660 China conquered Baiji and in 668 did likewise with Gaoli. Xinluo resisted the might of the empire and the Tang retreated from the Korean Peninsula. In 675, Xinluo united the peninsula.

Xinluo maintained its relations with China and its students formed the greatest number studying in China. Meanwhile, on the basis of the volume of imports from the empire, Xinluo became China's greatest trading partner.

The Tang culture began to have an enormous influence on the Xinluo. In 675 they adopted the tang calendar. In mid eighth century, they reformed their administration on the lines of that of the Tang and then in 788 adopted the civil service examination system for the appointment of officials. Tea cultivation, engraving and printing skills were also introduced from China. In return, Gaoli music was introduced to China and imported goods from Xinluo further enriched the lifestyle of the people of the Tang Empire.

Friendship with Persia and Dashi

Friendly relations were established and maintained with both Persia (today's Iran) and Dashi (Arab nations).Two Persian princes settled in Chang'an and Persian merchants established themselves all over the empire.

In Chang'an, Luoyang, Yangzhou and Guangzhou, shops owned by Persian merchants were noted for the gems, coral, carnelian, spices and medicines that they offered for sale. Persian dates and spinach were introduced into China. Chinese merchandise such as silk, porcelain and paper was brought by the Persians and traded in the West via the Silk Road.

Arabians were known to the Tang as Dashi. In 651, the Dashi sent envoys to Chang'an to establish trade on over forty occasions and their merchants set up businesses in Guangzhou, Yangzhou, Chang'an, Luoyang, Quanzhou and other cities. They settled down and learned Chinese culture, while some were appointed to government posts. They built their mosques and their religion was given due respect by the Tang.

Poets of Tang 

The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese poetry. In the number of poems and variety of poetic forms, the beauty of imagery and broadness of themes, Tang poetry surpassed all that had preceded it. The Complete Anthology of Tang Poetry, edited during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), contains over 50,000 poems written by some two thousand poets. The collection provides a magnificent insight into all aspects of the social life of the period.

Tang poets are held in high regard and among the most notable are Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi.

Li Bai(712-770)

the Immortal Poet, living during the peak of the Tang period, wrote as many as nine hundred poems. He was probably the greatest of the ancient Chinese poets. It is generally agreed that between them, Li Bai and Du Fu elevated the poetic form to a level of power and expression that remains unsurpassed by poets of subsequent generations.

His work is characterized by its imaginative and unrestrained expression of feeling. Rated as a romantic poet, his writings are endowed with a deep appreciation of people and their lives. The magnificent scenery he saw and enjoyed as well as the profound expression of his own desires and sorrows are subjects of his work.

Du Fu(712-770)

The Sage of Poets, lived in a period of change when the prosperity of the Tang began to decline. Having suffered obstacles in his official career, he began to travel around the country and to write poetry.

Living as a refugee during the Rebellion of An and Shi gave him a personal empathy with the sufferings of the poor. His work shows a great depth of feeling for the plight of the common people. In 759, Du Fu went to live in Chengdu and it is here that his former residence the Thatched Cottage is open for viewing by visitors.

Recording as they do both the military and political situations pertaining at this time, Du Fu's poems are referred to as "the mirror of his time". He is regarded as providing a typical representation of realism in poetry. The most popular of his poems are the Three Officials and Three Leaves.

Wang Wei(772-846)

A government system supported by a large class of Confucian literati selected through civil service examinations was perfected under Tang rule. This competitive procedure was designed to draw the best talents into government.

 But perhaps an even greater consideration for the Tang rulers, aware that imperial dependence on powerful aristocratic families and warlords would have destabilizing consequences, was to create a body of career officials having no autonomous territorial or functional power base.

As it turned out, these scholar-officials acquired status in their local communities, family ties, and shared values that connected them to the imperial court. From Tang times until the closing days of the Qing empire in 1911, scholar-officials functioned often as intermediaries between the grass-roots level and the government.

Bai Juyi(772-846)

Bai Juyi was the son of an official. As a young man, he wandered about to escape from the wars and hence suffered from poverty and hunger. Later, after having succeeded in the civil service examinations, he served for fifteen years as an official.

He was disliked and ostracized by his noble colleagues and was sent away from the capital to work in remote cities.Bai Juyi wrote almost three thousand poems, his output exceeding that of the other Tang poets.

With their themes centring on the important social and political problems, Bai Juyi used plain and simple language that proved enlightening even for those who had not received even the poorest education. He also wrote many lyrics expressing his personal feelings.

His long narrative poem The Song of the Pipa Player is among the best known. (A pipa is a musical instrument).

Li Shimin 

Li Shimin--Taizong was the second emperor of Tang Dynasty. He was the second son of the emperor Gouzu. His was called Li Shimin. His YuanHao was Taizong means "Supreme Ancestor". He ran the empire for twenty-three years (626-649) and he is considered to be one of the greatest of the Chinese emperors in Chinese history. Under his ruled, his Prosperity of Zhenguan, was a peace and prosperity, one of the most flourishing era during the Tang period.

Sui Dynasty (581-618) was ended under an civil unrest. At the time, Li Yuan became Emperor Gauzu of Tang Dynasty, the administrator in Taiyuan. His ambitious son, Li ShiMin advised the duke to stage a military coup against the Sui in 617. During that year, the army captured the capital city, Chang'an. The duke placed the Emperor Yangs's son, Emperor Gong, on the throne. But the power was controled by himself. When the Emperor Yang was killed in 618 by an aide. Li Yuan declared himself as an emperor, thus the new Tang Dynasty was established. Li Shimin continued to lead the army in order to secure the whole empire for his father. All the rebels had overcame by him and his army, building a united China in 628.

The Palace Coup of Xuanwumen The Emperor of Gauzou, Li Yuan had twenty-two sons. in law, his eldest son, Li Jiancheng should be the Crown Prince. Li Shimin, the socond son was called the title Prince of Qin. The third son died long ago, therefore the fourth son, Li Yuanji was being the Prinece of Qi. Among all the sons of Li Yuan, Li Shimin was the most ambitious and intelligent. He had made the greatest contribution to secure the empire for his father. This fact made the Crown Prince was afraid Li Shimin as a threat to his current position. He tried to get rid of Li Shimin with his younger brother, Li Yuanji. Upset with his father's manner to him and tired of his brothers' threats against him. Li Shimin made a palace coup at the Xuanwumen Gate in 626. Crown Prince and Prince Qi were both killed and the emperor, Li Yuan had to give up the force to the empire. There were no more contenders for the throne. Li Shimin became the Emperor Taizong. His reign as known as the Zhenguan.

Zhenguan Prosperity

Under his twenty-three years rule, he did the great job more than any emperor before him. Taizong reformed agriculture, manufacturing and commerce. As the improvements achieved in both agricultural and manufacturing production were surpluses that was available for foreign trade. This made the country first strong economy and the commercial enterprise throughtout the world.

Among the manufacturing industries that became highly developed were porcelain production, bronze and iron smelting and casting, shipbuilding, and textiles with new techniques for weaving and dyeing.

Political progress was achieved by the overhaul of the examination system first introduced by the Sui for the appointment of officials. This system ensured that administrators were selected on merit rather than nepotism or bribery. In this way only the best men were appointed to vital posts within the government of the country. Political corruption was virtually unknown as a result of these sound administrative structures. The transport system was improved. The improvement of roads and waterway connections between important cities. This also strengthened border protection.

The strong economical and commercial were traded with Japan, Persia, Arabia, India and Korea. This factors let the period with TaiZong's reign was refered to as "The Prosperity of Zhenguan". Taizong would remind himself of this frequently by quoting a maxim of the great philosopher, Zhuangzi, 'the waters can both float and capsize a vessel.' The emperor clearly understood how these words were a metaphor for his relationship with the empire that the peasant classes were proved to be a very dangerous against government. With the people satisfied and enjoyed the standard of living that could lead to a long empire. There were two factors that ensured the political stability he sought to achieve. 1. to pick the right person for the work. 2. to seek the opinions of others before making a decision. Taizong's only accepted a man's ability regardless of his background. There were many important official came from lower class. Yuchi Jingde was a former blacksmith which became one of his ministers. Qinqiong, a minor official was appointed as a minister. Emperor Taizong's willingness to listen to the opinions of others and his ability to both seek and act upon good advice was a major factor of his successful reign. 

Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian was born in 624 and died in 705 in her 81 years old. She was empress of Li Zhi (Tang Gaozong, one of Tang’s emperors). She changed the country name to Zhou and made Luo Yang as the capital. She was in her position from 690 to 705.

Wu Zetian was the a consultant of Li Shimin and the wife of Lizhi. Li Shimin was Li zhi’s father. After 30 years of assistance of Li Zhi to administrate the country, she enthroned to be the emperor and Chang the country’s name to Zhou. She was the only woman emperor in China’s history. From the days he attend the administration to retire for sickness, she spend more than half a century.

During this period, Tang saw a table development in economic and social and culture development. Her contribution to Tang dynasty was remembered by a lot of Chinese. Song Qingling, a famous figure in China said Wu Zetian was a excellent politician in the feudal society.