A Recollection of the Splendar of the Tang Dynasty
THE Tang Dynasty (618-907), covering
a period of 289 years, was not long in relation to China's 5,000-year
civilization. It is nonetheless considered to be the greatest dynasty
of ancient China. During its zenith of 140 years (618-765), the
Tang Dynasty not only ushered into China a period of unprecedented
development and prosperity, but also contributed to the development
and progress of humankind as a whole.
The Chinese people are particularly proud of their two most resplendent
dynastic periods -- the Han and the Tang -- considering them to
be symbolic of China and the Chinese nation. Countless Chinese people,
whether living in China or overseas, still refer to themselves as
"Hanren" (Han person/people) or "Tangren" (Tang
person/people). In European and American countries, the numerous
Chinese communities, or "China Towns" are known as "Tangren
Jie," meaning the neighborhood, or street, inhabited by the
Tang people.
Li Shimin: A Peerless Emperor
For
the thousands of years prior to the downfall of the last emperor
of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, the rulers of slave and feudal societies
in China had exercised absolute autocracy, wherein a single person
had supreme power over the law and the nation. This supreme figure
was thus arbiter of the course of the historic development, and
therefore the fate of the country, as well as the wellbeing of its
population. For thousands of years, ruthless and tyrannical rulers
inflicted misery and disaster upon the Chinese nation, and one who
was competent and humane was both longed for and cherished by the
ordinary people as an embodiment of their hope for the future.
Li Shimin, a preeminent emperor in Chinese history, was born in
598. His father and grandfather had both been high-ranking officials
during the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Li's childhood was during a period
of turmoil. In 605, when Li was 7, Yang Guang, the second emperor
of the Sui Dynasty, ascended the throne. This emperor soon became
notorious for his debauched lifestyle and cruelty. He squandered
the state treasury on lavish imperial buildings, and forced countless
people into corvee labor, all of which eventually led to a peasant
uprising in 611.
This uprising signaled rebellion and mutiny throughout China. Li
Shimin consequently grew up amidst political turbulence and clique
intrigue. In 615, at the age of 17, he urged his father, Li Yuan,
then a military commander stationed in Taiyuan, to go with the flow
of this historic climax and rise against the Sui emperor. Three
years later, Li Yuan became the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
Stability and solidarity were the top priorities of this new dynasty,
and Li Shimin was obviously endowed with both military and political
ingenuity. In the course of helping his father stabilize the nation
Li Shimin established a strong military force, as well as a large
think-tank of expertise in different fields. In 626, at the age
of 28, he succeeded his father as emperor.
Li changed the title of his reign to Zhenguan and retained the throne
for 23 years. He brought about a new era that laid foundations for
the great prosperity, development and progress with which the Tang
Dynasty became associated in later years. The period of his rule,
known as the "Zhenguan Governance," is acknowledged as
a milestone in Chinese history. This reign has rich connotations,
being regarded by historians and politicians alike as the model
for successful government, while to ordinary people it is synonymous
with a happy life.
An Unsinkable "Boat"
China had been a feudal society for more than 1,000 years prior
to Li Shimin's ascent to the throne. There was, therefore, a sizable
accumulation of experience in state administration that had been
valued by monarchs of the dynasties preceding the Tang. Li Shimin
was also highly appreciative of this wisdom gained from past experience,
but the "Zhenguan Governance" of his creation was imbued
with an excellence that set it apart from previous governments.
The most important difference in Li Shimin's approach was that he
did not regard the emperor as the "son of God," believing
that the stability of an imperial rule was dependant upon the support
of the masses. He said, "The monarch is a boat and his subjects
are the water. Water carries the boat, but can also capsize it."
He held that the monarch's representation of, and care for the interests
of, the masses was the essence of governance. His theories were
reflected in the daily administration of his reign.
After ascending the throne, and remembering well the mistakes that
had led to the downfall of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin implemented
a series of policies that were in the interests of the masses. These
included a ban on extravagance, encouragement of frugality, reduction
of taxes and corvee labor, construction of water conservancy projects,
support of agriculture, and encouragement of a population increase.
The emperor did not, however, have heaven's blessing. During the
second year of Zhenguan, China suffered a severe drought, followed
by plagues of locusts and subsequent famine. Countless people had
no choice but to leave their homes and sell their children. Li Shimin
thereupon promulgated a decree whereby children sold could be redeemed
by gold and silk issued by the imperial government, and returned
to their parents. On one occasion, when visiting an area particularly
seriously hit by locusts, he picked up a locust and, before eating
it, said, "I'd rather it ate my innards." In the ninth
month of that year, he set an example of frugality by dismissing
3,000 maids of honor from the court. The following year, however,
China was once more deluged. Li Shimin was seen to have had no power
over nature, but his example and identification with the masses
was all that the ordinary Chinese could ask. It is recorded in historical
documents: "Due to the dedicated efforts and care on the part
of the government, the people had no cause to complain, even though
they had to find their food where they could. That year (the fourth
year of Zhenguan) yielded an abundant harvest, and those who had
fled from famine returned home. A dou (1 decaliter) of rice cost
no more than three or four cash." In many places people "did
not lock their doors, and when traveling, took no food with them,
instead buying it along the way."
Li Shimin not only set a good example, but was also very strict
with local leaders and administrators. He kept a close eye on their
performance, making personal inspections, and sending people to
"supervise local governments, punishing those negligent and
promoting the competent, to the great satisfaction of the people."
A Wise Monarch and Honest Officials
Li Shimin's wisdom was reflected in dealings with his own staff.
Honesty and competence were his top criteria for any official, with
no preference based on social or ethnic status. Wei Zheng, the best-known
government advisor of the Tang Dynasty, had formerly served Li's
brother, Li Jiancheng, an arch-rival for imperial power. Wei was
captured after Li Jiancheng's defeat and death. Li Shimin was well
aware of Wei's skill as consultant, and asked him why he had advised
Li Jiancheng to do away with all dissidents, including Li Shimin
himself, thus instigating enmity between the two brothers. Wei answered
that had Li Jiancheng followed his advice, he would not have been
defeated. Li Shimin appreciated Wei's talent and honesty, and offered
him a key governmental position.
Wei was gratified at the emperor's understanding and trust, and
during his time in office wrote over 200 reports, giving advice
on administration, at the same time urging the emperor to solicit
opinions from other sources. The emperor was very much in tune with
Wei's concept of a benevolent government, and totally agreed with
his view that, "The monarch is enlightened when he listens
to all opinions, and benighted when he is biased" which has
since become a well-known Chinese proverb.
Wei Zheng and Li Shimin did, however, also have their differences.
On one occasion the two quarreled during an imperial audience. On
his return to the inner court, the emperor said angrily that Wei
Zheng was too willful, and that one day he would execute him. The
empress Zhangsun congratulated him, saying that it was only when
the emperor was wise that his ministers were upright enough to speak
their minds. The emperor immediately calmed down.
Li Shimin loved to hunt, but Wei Zheng believed that the emperor
should exercise restraint, so as not to become obsessed. It is recorded
that in the 10th month of the second year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin
"wished to go to Nanshan Mountain on a hunting trip, but desisted
from telling Wei Zheng for fear he would criticize him. After perching
a snipe on his shoulder he saw Wei Zheng approaching, upon which
the emperor hid the bird beneath his robes. Wei talked with the
emperor at such length that the bird died." There were few
other emperors who, like Li Shimin, accepted so earnestly the supervision
of their ministers.
Li Shimin opened a channel for officials to offer straightforward
advice, but also warned them against slandering others, as this
would be treated as a crime and severely punished. In 643, Wei Zheng
died, and Li Shimin sorely mourned his loss. At this time of grief
he thus addressed an audience: "Copper can serve as a mirror
for us to see that we are properly dressed; the past can serve as
a mirror so that we know what is good; and a person can serve as
a mirror so that we may know our losses and gains. I have always
kept all three of these mirrors, but today Wei Zheng has died, and
one of my mirrors is lost. "
One Family Within the Four Seas
Another
area in which Li Shimin excelled was that of dealing with ethnic
and foreign affairs. He broke away from conventions of discrimination
between that Chinese and that foreign. He stated, "There has
since ancient times been a biased belief that the Chinese race is
superior, and all others inferior. I love them all as one."
The Tang Dynasty's economic strength enabled it to open its door
with confidence to foreign people, commodities, ideology, culture
and lifestyles. This extensive absorption and integration created
a dynasty that was not only of China but also of the whole world.
Ever since his enthronement, Li Shimin had been aware of the great
importance of the Silk Road, and during the recovery period of the
early Tang Dynasty, launched several military expeditions to restore
peace in frontier regions and along the Silk Road. A more congenial
environment was thus created for the people of various ethnic groups
living on the frontier, and a smooth passage was guaranteed along
this Eurasian passageway.
Apart from the Silk Road, seven other overland and marine routes
leading to various countries existed during the Tang Dynasty. In
the fourth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin issued a decree allowing
merchants to travel and trade freely with frontier inhabitants.
He later issued more ordinances with the aim of protecting the safety
of merchants and encouraging trade between China and other countries,
and also promulgated a series of preferential policies, including
the reduction of tariffs and provision of free firewood to travelling
merchants.
The Tang Dynasty became the center of world attention for its economic
prosperity, material wealth, enlightened politics, social stability,
advanced science, and brilliant culture and arts. Huge numbers of
foreigners and people of ethnic minorities came to the dynastic
capital of Chang'an. A census taken during the third year of Zhenguan
showed that the population in Chang'an was one million, and included
over 100,000 foreigners and people of ethnic minorities. In the
fourth year of Zhenguan, the Tujue (Turkic) tribes fragmented, and
after Li Shimin's acceptance of them, hundreds of thousands of Tujue
people found shelter under Tang rule. The emperor arranged for all
chieftains to become officials in Chang'an, and to serve in various
departments of the imperial government. At this time, the imperial
court had over 200 officials, almost half of which were foreigners
or from ethnic minorities. Foreign culture, arts and lifestyle thus
blended into the daily lives of the local people.
During the Tang Dynasty, anything foreign or alien was labeled "hu."
For a time during the Tang Dynasty a "hu" vogue spread
throughout China and remained dominant for a lengthy period of time.
Like their emperor, the common people of the Tang Dynasty accepted
foreigners readily and hospitably, and absorbed the associated accoutrements
that they loved or found useful. This integration of things both
Chinese and foreign greatly propelled social progress and the development
of the Tang Dynasty.
The capital city of Chang'an was a genuine cosmopolis where foreigners
were everywhere, from the imperial palace to common streets and
alleys, and even among the emperor's guards. Shops and restaurants
owned by "Hu" people could be seen throughout Chang'an.
Foreign culture also made a great contribution to the cultural splendor
of the Tang Dynasty, particularly within the performing arts. In
the early Tang Dynasty, there were 10 musical and dance programs,
seven of which were from the Western Regions and abroad. The Hu
Swirling Dance was the best known of all, and indispensable to any
program of entertainment. The dance was performed, either as a solo
or duet, on a small round carpet. The dancer or dancers swirled
and spun dazzlingly, their dresses flying out in a manner that made
them resemble a spinning top. Bai Juyi, a great poet of the Tang
Dynasty, described the speed of this dance as faster than that of
a spinning wheel.
In the early Tang Dynasty, the Chinese population was less than
18 million. A hundred years later, in 755, the population had reached
52.92 million. In ancient feudal society, the rate of population
increase was an important indicator of the economic strength and
social progress of a country. This 100-year period later became
known as the Tang of Great Prosperity.
By staff reporter HUO JIANYING November 2001 China Today