Art:
- The Tang Dynasty was known for their art.
- They were the most proficient in paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and calligraphy.
PAINTINGS:
SCULPTURES:
CERAMICS:
CALLIGRAPHY:
- The only paintings that remain to this day are the ones found in tombs of high-ranked people.
- Usually, they depict court life, gaming scenes, banquet scenes, imperial processions, or nature.
- A "Tang style" was prevalent in most paintings.
- The "Tang style" included: large scale figures, linear portrayal of robes, and particular shading on the facial features.
SCULPTURES:
- Sculptures have been found in burial sites, religious temples, and caves.
- Many sculptures were created for use of Buddhist practices.
CERAMICS:
- Funerary ceramics usually included figures of horses, camels, tomb guards, court women, etc.
- "Three-colors" glaze was a technique the Chinese used during the Tang Dynasty.
- The "three-colors" glaze combines three lead based glazes; usually green, amber, and cream.
CALLIGRAPHY:
- During the Tang Dynasty, major stylistic changes were made in calligraphy.
- Court calligraphers developed a new type of calligraphy which combined the Southern technique of free flowing. calligraphy with the Northern version, a more angular and block-like style.
- This new standard-script was called kaishu.
Literature:
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Religion and philosophies:
- In the first half of the dynasty, all religions were tolerated, although Buddhism and Daoism were the most prominent.
- A Buddhist Monk (Xuan Zang) went to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India. On his journey he collects 657 sutras. While the monks were translating all the sutras, new sects of Buddhism were formed.
- Foreign religions began to spread to China such as Islam and Christianity.
- Under the reign of Emperor Wuzong, people were forced to stop practicing Buddhism.
Chang'an:
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Julia Riska
Tang Dynasty Essay
The Tang Dynasty (618-907) is known as “the Golden Age of China” because it was a great time to live in China. The culture was lively and desirable: jobs were plentiful, the government was stable, and technologies advanced greatly. Under the Tang leadership, many achievements were made. The achievements made in the Tang Dynasty in the areas of art and literature, political and social rights, and religion allowed for a better way of life for the people of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Tang, a main cultural focus was incorporating art and literature into the peoples’ daily lives. Block printing was invented during the Tang Dynasty and the oldest book, a buddhist sutra, can be dated back to this period. Block printing stimulated intellectual life because of the vast variety of texts being produced. The Chinese were proficient in painting, calligraphy, sculpture, and ceramics. A lot of sculptures included horses, as horses were a symbol of expansion. Also, many sculptures illustrate women on horses, playing polo, as a vast majority of women in this time were accomplished riders. Very few paintings remain today, but of the ones that do, the impressive paintings depict images of court life, imperial processions, or gaming and banquet scenes. The Tang artists developed their own techniques for brush sizes which improved the painting style. This “Tang style” was also prominent in many paintings, which includes the linear portrayal of robes and shading of the facial features. Art and literature provided an important aspect of culture for the Tang Chinese because all members of societies could admire, relate to, and respect art.
The Tang Dynasty was considered a “Golden Age” because people were granted certain freedoms by the government which allowed them to pursue varying activities. It was no longer necessary to be a noble person in order to obtain a job. In fact, the only requirement was passing an exam. This system provided many jobs for ordinary people, and allowed those lower in class to achieve power in society based on merit. Also, education was free for boys at local schools and girls were educated in their homes, which made a more intelligent society as a whole. When girls married, they left their home to live with their husband’s family. Many people were farmers and lived in the suburbs of the capital, Chang'an. Chang’an was a cosmopolitan city, much like New York City. It was divided into 110 blocks which housed homes, shops, temples, and restaurants. People liked to play sports, such as fishing, hunting, and polo. Women were considered lucky during the Tang Dynasty because of the ample privileges and freedom they had compared to other dynasties. They were permitted to study politics, economics, history, military skills, and engage in battle. Two complementing sculptures show women playing polo. The women are perched upon galloping horses. They are wearing intricate robes and have fairly blank expressions on their faces. These sculptures illustrate the freedom of women and show they received training in order to ride horses and play sports. The Tang Dynasty promoted cosmopolitan activities for all types of people, which made society more modern and accepting.
The Tang Dynasty was tolerant of many religions and philosophies, such as Buddhism, which was conducive of a positive lifestyle. During Emperor Taizong’s rule, a Buddhist Monk, Xuan Zang, went on a journey to find the Buddhist sutra in India. On this journey, he gathered 657 Buddhist sutras. While the Buddhist monks were translating the sutras, many new sects of Buddhism were formed. Along with these sects, a few foreign religions spread to China from surrounding countries. However, during a later period, many sects disappeared due to oppression by Emperor Wuzong. The following quote from Emperor Wuzong’s “Edict on the Suppression of Buddhism” lists a few steps the emperor took in order to eliminate Buddhism. “Monks and nuns have been placed under the jurisdiction of the Director of Aliens to make it perfectly clear that this is a foreign religion. Finally, we have ordered more than 2,000 men of the Nestorian and Mazdean religions to return to lay life and to cease polluting the customs of China.” However, although Emperor Wuzong ended up oppressing foreign religions, the main ideas during the Tang Dynasty promoted acceptance, development, and expansion of new and foreign religions, which overall bettered the lives of the Chinese people.
The Tang Dynasty is best known as the "Golden Age of China," because of impressive cultural and economical achievements that bettered the lives of the Chinese people. The art and literature of the dynasty was impeccable, and remains very distinct to this time period. In addition to the arts, the quality of life exceeded prior periods because of the privileges and freedoms that the people enjoyed. Many religions were accepted and embraced, with an emphasis on Buddhism and Buddhist expansion. The accomplishments of the Tang Dynasty accented being accepting and giving better lives to people of all gender, religion, and status, which allowed for modernity and growth within this time period.
Tang Dynasty Essay
The Tang Dynasty (618-907) is known as “the Golden Age of China” because it was a great time to live in China. The culture was lively and desirable: jobs were plentiful, the government was stable, and technologies advanced greatly. Under the Tang leadership, many achievements were made. The achievements made in the Tang Dynasty in the areas of art and literature, political and social rights, and religion allowed for a better way of life for the people of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Tang, a main cultural focus was incorporating art and literature into the peoples’ daily lives. Block printing was invented during the Tang Dynasty and the oldest book, a buddhist sutra, can be dated back to this period. Block printing stimulated intellectual life because of the vast variety of texts being produced. The Chinese were proficient in painting, calligraphy, sculpture, and ceramics. A lot of sculptures included horses, as horses were a symbol of expansion. Also, many sculptures illustrate women on horses, playing polo, as a vast majority of women in this time were accomplished riders. Very few paintings remain today, but of the ones that do, the impressive paintings depict images of court life, imperial processions, or gaming and banquet scenes. The Tang artists developed their own techniques for brush sizes which improved the painting style. This “Tang style” was also prominent in many paintings, which includes the linear portrayal of robes and shading of the facial features. Art and literature provided an important aspect of culture for the Tang Chinese because all members of societies could admire, relate to, and respect art.
The Tang Dynasty was considered a “Golden Age” because people were granted certain freedoms by the government which allowed them to pursue varying activities. It was no longer necessary to be a noble person in order to obtain a job. In fact, the only requirement was passing an exam. This system provided many jobs for ordinary people, and allowed those lower in class to achieve power in society based on merit. Also, education was free for boys at local schools and girls were educated in their homes, which made a more intelligent society as a whole. When girls married, they left their home to live with their husband’s family. Many people were farmers and lived in the suburbs of the capital, Chang'an. Chang’an was a cosmopolitan city, much like New York City. It was divided into 110 blocks which housed homes, shops, temples, and restaurants. People liked to play sports, such as fishing, hunting, and polo. Women were considered lucky during the Tang Dynasty because of the ample privileges and freedom they had compared to other dynasties. They were permitted to study politics, economics, history, military skills, and engage in battle. Two complementing sculptures show women playing polo. The women are perched upon galloping horses. They are wearing intricate robes and have fairly blank expressions on their faces. These sculptures illustrate the freedom of women and show they received training in order to ride horses and play sports. The Tang Dynasty promoted cosmopolitan activities for all types of people, which made society more modern and accepting.
The Tang Dynasty was tolerant of many religions and philosophies, such as Buddhism, which was conducive of a positive lifestyle. During Emperor Taizong’s rule, a Buddhist Monk, Xuan Zang, went on a journey to find the Buddhist sutra in India. On this journey, he gathered 657 Buddhist sutras. While the Buddhist monks were translating the sutras, many new sects of Buddhism were formed. Along with these sects, a few foreign religions spread to China from surrounding countries. However, during a later period, many sects disappeared due to oppression by Emperor Wuzong. The following quote from Emperor Wuzong’s “Edict on the Suppression of Buddhism” lists a few steps the emperor took in order to eliminate Buddhism. “Monks and nuns have been placed under the jurisdiction of the Director of Aliens to make it perfectly clear that this is a foreign religion. Finally, we have ordered more than 2,000 men of the Nestorian and Mazdean religions to return to lay life and to cease polluting the customs of China.” However, although Emperor Wuzong ended up oppressing foreign religions, the main ideas during the Tang Dynasty promoted acceptance, development, and expansion of new and foreign religions, which overall bettered the lives of the Chinese people.
The Tang Dynasty is best known as the "Golden Age of China," because of impressive cultural and economical achievements that bettered the lives of the Chinese people. The art and literature of the dynasty was impeccable, and remains very distinct to this time period. In addition to the arts, the quality of life exceeded prior periods because of the privileges and freedoms that the people enjoyed. Many religions were accepted and embraced, with an emphasis on Buddhism and Buddhist expansion. The accomplishments of the Tang Dynasty accented being accepting and giving better lives to people of all gender, religion, and status, which allowed for modernity and growth within this time period.
BIBLIOGraphy
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Theobald, Ulrich. "Chinese History - Tang Dynasty 唐 (618-907) Literature, Thought and Philosophy." CHINAKNOWLEDGE - a Universal Guide for China Studies. January 1, 2000. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Tang/tang-literature.html.
"Xi'an Weather." Photograph. China Tour Guide, http://www.chinatourguide.com/xian/xian_weather.html. (Accessed November 20, 2014).