Tang dynasty

Tang dynasty
Conventional long name	Tang
Year start	618
Year end	907
Capital	Chang'an (618–684, 705–904), Luoyang (684–705, 904–907)
Common languages	Middle Chinese
Government type	Monarchy
Title leader	Emperor
Leader1	Gaozu
Year leader1	618–626
Leader2	Taizong
Year leader2	626–649
Leader3	Xuanzong
Year leader3	712–756
Leader4	Ai
Year leader4	904–907
Stat year1	c. 715
Stat area1	5400000
Stat year2	c. 866
Stat area2	3700000

Tang dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705 when the Wu Zhou interrupted its rule. Founded by Li Yuan, it is generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization, a golden age of cosmopolitan culture, and a period of unprecedented military and diplomatic influence across East Asia, Central Asia, and the Silk Road. Its capital, the magnificent Chang'an, was one of the largest and most populous cities in the world, serving as a terminus for international trade and a hub for cultural exchange.

History

The dynasty was established by Li Yuan following the collapse of the Sui dynasty, with pivotal military support from his son, the future Emperor Taizong of Tang. The early period, particularly under Emperor Taizong of Tang and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, is considered the zenith, marked by the prosperous Zhenguan era and the Kaiyuan era. This golden age was shattered by the catastrophic An Lushan Rebellion, a devastating civil war led by general An Lushan which severely weakened central authority and initiated a long decline. The latter half of the dynasty saw increasing power of regional jiedushi military governors, eunuch interference in the imperial court, and violent factional strife like the Sweet Dew incident. Major rebellions, including those led by Huang Chao and Wang Xianzhi, further crippled the state, leading to its eventual overthrow by the rebel leader Zhu Wen, who founded the Later Liang dynasty and inaugurated the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Government and politics

The Tang state refined the Three Departments and Six Ministries system of administration, with key institutions like the Department of State Affairs and the Censorate. Recruitment was revolutionized by the expansion of the imperial examination system, which drew talent from a broader social base into the bureaucracy, though aristocratic families from the Shandong clans remained influential. The law code, the Tang Code, served as a model for East Asian legal systems. The court was often a center of intense political intrigue, with powerful figures like Empress Wei and the Chancellors of the Tang dynasty vying for control, while later periods were dominated by conflicts between the Niu-Li factional strife and powerful eunuchs like Tian Lingzi.

Economy

The economy was robust and commercialized, supported by a unified coinage system based on the Kaiyuan Tongbao coins and the use of flying money, an early form of credit. The state maintained the Equal-field system to regulate land distribution and taxation, and granaries like the Luokou Granary stabilized food supply. International trade flourished along the Silk Road, connecting Chang'an to markets in Samarkand, Baghdad, and beyond, while maritime trade expanded through major ports like Guangzhou and Yangzhou. The production of luxury goods, especially sancai pottery and silk, was a major industry, with official workshops in cities like Dingzhou.

Culture and society

Tang culture was exceptionally cosmopolitan, absorbing influences from across Asia through contacts with Sogdia, the Tibetan Empire, and the Umayyad Caliphate. This was the golden age of Chinese poetry, with immortal figures like Li Bai, Du Fu, and Wang Wei. The Mid-Autumn Festival and Lantern Festival were celebrated with great pomp in Chang'an. Buddhism, patronized by emperors and exemplified by the travels of monk Xuanzang to India, reached its peak, though it later faced persecution during the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution. Other faiths, including Nestorian Christianity and Zoroastrianism, also established presence. Social life for the elite was depicted in artworks like the court paintings of Zhang Xuan and the pottery figurines found in tombs.

Science and technology

Significant advancements were made in numerous fields. The woodblock printing of the Diamond Sutra represented a breakthrough in publishing. In astronomy, officials like Yi Xing created sophisticated armillary spheres and celestial maps. Medical knowledge was compiled in texts like the Xinxiu Bencao. Engineering feats included major public works like the Grand Canal and sophisticated clockworks designed by Liang Lingzan. Technical innovations in metallurgy improved the production of tools and weapons, while developments in gunpowder formulation, initially for fireworks, were recorded by alchemists.

Military

The early Tang military was a formidable force, organized under the Fubing system and achieving decisive victories that expanded the empire's frontiers. Key conflicts included the campaigns against the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and the Göktürks, the conquest of the Western Regions, and wars with the Tibetan Empire and the Korean kingdom of Silla over Goguryeo. The professional Army of Shence was a critical imperial guard. However, the rise of autonomous jiedushi governors after the An Lushan Rebellion, such as those in Hebei, fundamentally shifted power from the central government to the provinces, leading to warlordism and the eventual fragmentation of the state.

Category:Tang dynasty Category:Former empires in Asia Category:Historical Chinese states