The period of the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907)

The period of the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907) was also known as the “Golden Age” in the history of China.

Tang emperors expanded their influence in to Central and Southeast Asia, demanding tributes from places such as Korea and Vietnam. The Tang era combined aggressive military and economic expansions with political stability and cultural achievement.

Commerce and Economic Development

Trade within the cities and other countries flourished during the Tang Dynasty. The merchants flocked to the large walled cities - such as Chang-an – which became the center of trade. The Silk Road was at its peak providing economic benefits between the East and the West.

Thousands of foreign merchants lived in Chang-an and other large cities of the empire. The profitable relationship between the foreign traders and Chinese traders improved the economy of the empire during Tang Dynasty.

rtistic and Cultural Achievements

The Tang era is notable for its great material prosperity and its high artistic and cultural achievements. The poets and the painters of this Chinese empire produced beautiful and lasting works. The most remarkable literary development was seen in poetry. Several famous poets from the Tang Dynasty created masterpieces that were representative of Chinese literature.

Other Major Achievements

The Tang Dynasty also contributed to the development of medicine, astronomy, and printing techniques. It also marked the development of new technologies and techniques that led to the increase in agricultural production.

During this era, three major tools were either invented or improved upon to help in rice cultivation - the harrow, the chain with paddles (which allows water to be transferred), and the rice field plough. Techniques such as planting out seedlings rapidly increased yield as well.

Tang Dynasty physicians also developed a smallpox vaccine in the 10th century. Tang scientists invented gun powder and mechanical clocks. They also started using block printing during the 8th century.

Although she entered Emperor Gaozong's court as the lowly consort Wu Zhao, Wu Zetian rose to the highest seat of power in 690, establishing the short-lived Wu Zhou. Empress Wu's rise to power was achieved through cruel and calculating tactics: a popular conspiracy theory stated that she killed her own baby girl and blamed it on Gaozong's empress so that the empress would be demoted.^[27] Emperor Gaozong suffered a stroke in 655, and Wu began to make many of his court decisions for him, discussing affairs of state with his councilors, who took orders from her while she sat behind a screen.^[28] When Empress Wu's eldest son, the crown prince, began to assert his authority and advocate policies opposed by Empress Wu, he suddenly died in 675. Many suspected he was poisoned by Empress Wu. Although the next heir apparent kept a lower profile, in 680 he was accused by Wu of plotting a rebellion and was banished. (He was later obliged to commit suicide.)^[29]

In 683, Emperor Gaozong died. He was succeeded by Emperor Zhongzong, his eldest surviving son by Wu. Zhongzong tried to appoint his wife's father as chancellor: after only six weeks on the throne, he was deposed by Empress Wu in favor of his younger brother, 12-year-old Emperor Ruizong.^[29] This provoked a group of Tang princes to rebel in 684; Wu's armies suppressed them within two months.^[29] She proclaimed the Tianshou era of Wu Zhou on October 16, 690,^[30] and three days later demoted Emperor Ruizong to crown prince.^[31] He was also forced to give up his father's surname Li in favor of the empress's Wu.^[31] She then ruled as China's only empress. A palace coup on February 20, 705, forced her to yield her position on February 22. The next day, her son Zhongzong was restored to power; the Tang was formally restored on March 3. She died soon after.^[32] To legitimize her rule, she circulated a document known as the Great Cloud Sutra, which predicted that a reincarnation of the Maitreya Buddha would be a female monarch who would dispel illness, worry, and disaster from the world.^[33][34] She even introduced numerous revised written characters to the written language, which reverted to the originals after her death.^[35] Arguably the most important part of her legacy was diminishing the power of the northwest aristocracy, allowing people from other clans and regions of China to become more represented in Chinese politics and government.^[36][37]