1. Introduction

  • History of Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty is one of the best periods in ancient Chinese history. It impressed the later generations deeply. Chang An is the capital of the Tang dynasty during the Glorious Age of Tang Dynasty (627 AD – 755 AD). The policy of opening wider to the outside world makes the capital, Chang-An holds its special culture.

The Tang dynasty is the first unified dynasty without building the great wall of Hu. The land of the Tang dynasty in the west and north is beyond the boundaries of modern China. In Tang dynasty, science, technology, culture, economy and art have diversified characteristics. In the fields of poetry, books and paintings, a large number of masters have emerged. The culture of the Tang dynasty is inclusive, accepting the exchange study of national and international students to form an open international culture.

The territory of the Tang dynasty and the position of the capital, Chang An

In this period, the culture from Chang-An spreads to all East Asian countries, especially Japan and Korea. Both these two countries send their missions to Chang An. They firstly trade clothes, silks, and spices. These commodities are all popular by both royalty and civilians; therefore, they begins to accept the style of clothing, architecture and even the language or the “Chang An culture.”

  • Chang An City

The area of Chang An is over 800,000 km2. It is a multifunctional city and open to the outside world. In the glorious age of Tang Dynasty, people from different countries gathered to this city, taking back the culture from Chang An. In this city, the black area called West Market(西市), which is the silk and clothes trade place. The yellow circle area next to the lotus pool is the gathering place of temple and pagoda. The red area is the Imperial College(国子监),national and international students(遣唐使) study Confucian culture.

Administrative division and citizen compartment of Chang An city

 

  • The perishing of Chang An city and its culture

Chang An Culture starts from the Zhen Guan first year (627AD) and reaches the peak in Tian Bao fourteenth year (755 AD). Because of the An–Shi Rebellion, the Chang An city is gradually get undermined. During the Huang Chao Rebellion, the Chang An city is totally destoryed in Zhong He third year (883AD). Until this time, all cultural diffusions to Korea and Japan stop, only left the relic of the once-great city.