Culture in Tang Dynasty

Due to extensive and frequent contact with foreign countries, the culture of the Tang became more splendid, diverse and cosmopolitan than that of any civilization prior to the nineteenth century. In the field of science, and technology there were major achievements in astronomy, geography, medicine and pharmaceutics. The introduction of block printing meant that knowledge could be recorded and shared as at no other time before. Literature and the arts flourished as a consequence of the long period of economic and social stability. This was a time when calligraphy, poetry, music and dance reached a high level of excellence. Painting and sculpture were of the finest quality as eminent artists produced their work for an ever increasing wealthy elite in the thriving cities. Men of letters emerged in large numbers as the demand for education and learning spread among the people. The changes that affected the lifestyle of the Chinese people in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty were reflected in their costumes, recreation and sophistication of articles of daily use.

Science and Technology

The Chinese were the first to develop the process of printing. During the Sui (581-618) and Tang dynasties, engraved plates were widely used to print Buddhist scriptures, calendars and collections of poems. In 1900, a Buddhist scripture produced during the Tang Dynasty was found in Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. Entitled Jingang Jing (Diamond Sutra) this is the oldest example of engraved printing that can be accurately dated.

Monk Yixing was a pre-eminent astronomer and in 724 he directed a survey in the Henan area in order to measure the length of the sun's shadow and the altitude of the North Pole. This was the first recorded ground measurement of the meridian line.

Medicines became highly developed under the Sui and then the Tang. In the early part of Emperor Taizong's reign, the government opened medical schools and specialist subjects were devised and studied. Then during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the government implemented the compilation of the Tang Materia Medica. This had the distinction of being the first ever pharmacopoeia to be published by a state and it was not for some 800 years or so that a similar project was undertaken in Europe.

This was also a time when skilled doctors came to prominence. Probably the most famous was, Sun Simiao. He studied the practices of previous leading physicians and collected folk remedies. He investigated hitherto secret treatments and acquired medical knowledge from foreign sources. All this he documented and subsequently published his work in two important books: Qianjin Fang (One Thousand Golden Prescriptions) and Qianjin Yifang (One Thousand Supplementary Golden Recipes). Both texts included extensive medical information regarding pharmacology, aetiology, gynaecology, paediatrics, dietetics, acupuncture and moxibustion. Specific diseases were described and a wide collection of prescriptions was included in the books. These works had a distinct influence on and contributed greatly to the development of Chinese medicine. Sun Simiao became know to later generations as the "King of Herbs".

Literature

The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese poetry. In the number of poems and variety of poetic forms, the beauty of imagery and broadness of themes, Tang poetry surpassed all that had preceded it. The Complete Anthology of Tang Poetry, edited during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), contains over 50,000 poems written by some two thousand poets. The collection provides a magnificent insight into all aspects of the social life of the period.

Tang poets are held in high regard and among the most notable are Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi.

Buddhist Art

The prosperity of Buddhism is reflected in the Buddhist art. During both the Sui and Tang periods the most outstanding examples of grotto art were created. In the Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province, there are 2345 caves and niches that contain some 2800 inscriptions, 40 pagodas and over a hundred thousand Buddhist images. Sixty percent of the caves were decorated during the Tang Dynasty. The art is the representative of the political, economic and cultural conditions of the age as seen from the point of view of the Buddhist community. What is considered to be the finest work created during the Tang Dynasty and a consummate example of Chinese Buddhist stone carving, is to be seen in the Fengxiansi Cave, which is the largest of the Longmen Grottoes.

Another important site is the Mogao Caves in Dunhang. The earliest carvings here date from the fourth century but further and the most extensive of the work was completed during the Tang Dynasty. The caves contain 492 murals and statues. Of these, 95 date from the Sui period and 213 from the Tang. This latter figure confirms beyond doubt that the Tang Dynasty was the most outstanding era of cave sculpture.

In addition, Grotto Art in Dazu County, which is referred to as 'The Oriental Carved Bible' is especially famous for its large scale, rich content and exquisite craftsmanship. The Leshan Buddha, which was carved between 713 and 803 is the world's largest sculpture of its kind and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Painting And Calligraphy

Known as the 'Sage of Painting', Wu Daozi was one of the most prominent artists of the Tang period. Under his expressive brush, birds, beasts, fish as well as the landscape, plants and people took on vitality and realism. Particularly adept at painting Buddhist and Taoist figures, his artistry adorns most of the temples of Chang'an and Luoyang. In all, over three hundred murals bear his signature.

Calligraphy has been a form of art in China from the earliest times to the present day. The work of the most famous calligraphers of the Tang Dynasty is highly regarded and the masters of the art are Oyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. Just as handmade illuminated books produced in the West are things of beauty, regardless of the textual content, so calligraphy can be regarded as abstract art. It is pleasing to the eye and gives enjoyment in its form, texture and design.