Established in 618, Tang ruled East Asia for about 300 years as a cosmopolitan empire.
Tang Government Institutions
- Legal and administrative system: Systematic rule based on criminal laws and administrative laws → adopted by Japan・Korea・and Vietnam
- Three Departments and Six Ministries: The Secretariat・Chancellery・and Department of State Affairs assisted the emperor
- Development of the civil service examinations: The Sui system was developed and became the main method of selecting officials
- Equal-field system・tax and labor system: Land was given to farmers, and taxes and labor service were collected
Tang’s International Character and Culture
The capital, Chang’an, was an international city with a population of 1 million. Various religions coexisted, including Zoroastrianism・Jingjiao (Nestorian Christianity)・and Islam.
・Xuanzang: Traveled to India and brought back Buddhist scriptures (the model for “Journey to the West”)
・Tang sancai: Colored pottery, an international trade product
・Golden age of poetry: Li Bai・Du Fu
・Japanese missions to Tang imported institutions and culture
The capital, Chang’an, was an international city with a population of 1 million. Various religions coexisted, including Zoroastrianism・Jingjiao (Nestorian Christianity)・and Islam.
・Xuanzang: Traveled to India and brought back Buddhist scriptures (the model for “Journey to the West”)
・Tang sancai: Colored pottery, an international trade product
・Golden age of poetry: Li Bai・Du Fu
・Japanese missions to Tang imported institutions and culture
Key Points
- Legal and administrative system → common governing system in East Asia (also adopted by Japan)
- Chang’an = international city・multicultural coexistence
- Xuanzang’s journey to India → prototype of “Journey to the West”
Practice Questions
- What was the name of Tang’s system of systematic rule based on criminal laws and administrative laws?
- Give the name of the Tang monk who traveled to India and brought back Buddhist scriptures.
- What was the name of the mission sent by Japan to study Tang culture and institutions?
Answers
- Legal and administrative system
- Xuanzang (Tripitaka Master)
- Japanese missions to Tang