Tang Dynasty History
– Tang dynasty ruled from 618 to 907
– Preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
– Considered a high point in Chinese civilization and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture
– Tang territory rivaled that of the Han dynasty
– Dynasty interrupted during 690-705 when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne
Tang Dynasty Establishment and Decline
– Li family founded the dynasty after taking advantage of Sui decline
– Dynasty inaugurated a period of progress and stability
– Dynasty interrupted during 690-705 when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne
– An Lushan Rebellion (755-763) led to decline of central authority
– Tang maintained a civil-service system and recruited scholar-officials
– Rise of regional military governors undermined civil order
– Dynasty and central government declined in the latter half of the 9th century
– Agrarian rebellions resulted in mass population loss and widespread poverty
– Government dysfunction ultimately ended the dynasty in 907
– Tang capital at Changan was the world’s most populous city
Tang Dynasty Influence and Achievements
– Raised professional and conscripted armies to contend with nomadic powers
– Tang court controlled several regions through a protectorate system
– Exerted powerful cultural influence over neighboring East Asian nations
– Chinese culture flourished and matured during the Tang era
– Notable innovations included woodblock printing and development of Buddhism
Tang Dynasty Arts and Culture
– Considered the greatest age for Chinese poetry
– Famous poets such as Li Bai and Du Fu belonged to this age
– Famous painters such as Han Gan and Zhang Xuan were active
– Tang scholars compiled a rich variety of historical literature
– Buddhism became a major influence in Chinese culture
Wu Zetian’s usurpation and Emperor Xuanzong’s reign
– Wu Zetian rose to power in 690 and established the Wu Zhou
– Emperor Xuanzong’s reign was the height of the Tang dynasty
– An Lushan Rebellion and other challenges weakened central authority
– Prominent women at court during and after Wu Zetian’s reign
– Legacy of Wu Zetian and Tang dynasty
– Challenges to Central Authority
– Decline in Agricultural Management
– Challenges to Mandate of Heaven
– Rebuilding and Recovery
– End of the Dynasty
– Rebellion and Fall of the Tang Dynasty
– Rise of Li Keyong and Zhu Wen
– Later Liang Dynasty and the Restoration of Tang
– Administration and Politics
– Imperial Examinations Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_dynasty
