Tang Dynasty

In the Tang Dynasty, which was founded by Li Yuan, the country experienced a period of great prosperity and was one of the strongest nations in the world. The government was well-organized and virtuous leaders were in power during its early and mid-period, leading to rapid development. The Tang government also opened up to the rest of the world, leading to the creation of the Silk Road. The economy was robust with convenient transportation after the Tang dynasty stabilized. The “Zhenguan Reign” and “Kaiyuan Prosperity” further strengthened the economy.

In terms of thought and culture, the Tang dynasty was characterized by a lack of ideological and literary restrictions, leading to a thriving literary culture. The government used a combination of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, with a tolerant attitude towards each ideology. The establishment of schools and the imperial examination system for selecting scholars, along with imperial support for literature, led to an unprecedented flourishing of literature. Society in the Tang dynasty was open-minded and absorbed the best elements of other cultures and nations, such as Western music and dance, Indian Buddhism, Sanskrit dramas, Japanese and Korean literature. This integration of cultures led to the creation of bold and magnificent Tang dynasty literature.