The+Rise+of+The+Tang+Dynasty+-+Research+Notes+-+Socio-Political+Structure


 * __ Socio-Political Structure __**:

**Social Structure**

- the Tang society was divided by class and status - people expected to respect towards those that have a higher social status than them

- the emperor was not always at the top of the hierarchy - some aristocratic families were very powerful, like the royal Li family Emperor & family ↓ aristocracy ↓ bureaucracy: scholar-officials, functionaires ↓ enuchs: usually 5000 enuches in a court at a time ↓ clergy: religious groups, usually more than 250,000 people in this class- rising in status during the Tang Dynasty ↓ peasants&families ↓ craftsmen&merchants: the urban working class as we see it nowadays ↓ slaves
 * A list in order of the general social hierarchy**

- men were permitted to take more than one wife, the other wifes would be called "concubines" →this refreshes gene pool →more choices of suitable sons for succession, inheriting the power of the family - the Tang society was quite intolerant as to the way people dress →peasants - permitted to wear very little ornamentation, couldn't afford much anyways →these laws mainly to prevent rich noblemen and merchants from claiming a higher social status than they are given

Source: []

- The Tang Empire's religious policy tolerated all faiths and religions but mainly encouraged Buddhism and Daoism - Main 3 traditional religions: Buddhism, and Daoism, Confucianism - Buddhism started to become widespread rapidly, and started to divide into different sects - Introduction of Christianity and Islam during Tang XuanZong's reign - central government encouraged the influential religious communities to support the government, attempting to control them - wanted to achieve political and cultural unity - Buddhist temples remained independent - many monasteries had tax-free land - the monastery was often the most important economic institution (e.g. you could go to the monastery to learn how to read, travellers could stay there temproraily, etc.) - many devout buddhists worshipped in it, you did not have to be buddhist to worship in the temples. - many non-buddhists worshipped there
 * Religion**

Source: [] [] [] []

The prosperity during the Tang Dynasty profited from its enlightened political system: comprehensive administration and official system, strict legal system, and equitable imperial examination system.
 * Political Structure**
 * The Tang Dynasty benefitted and prospered from its political system.


 * Administration System**

**Official System** · There was the central official system and the local official system. - The central official system had three departments and six ministries. The local official system included: the chief official title "GuanCha Shi" (observer of Dao), "Ci Shi" or "Tai Shou" (Chief officer of Zhou). · Tang Dynasty had the most comprehensive and the most detailed legal system in the Chinese history · The legal system had four basic forms: Criminal law, Institutional regulations, Administrative rules, Formulas of official documents. · The Tang LuShu Yi was compiled for recording the laws. · This contained: Feudal laws, Criminal law, Safeguard and defense law, law for imperial officers, Marriage and census laws, etc. · Emperor Tang TaiZong/Li ShiMin listened to many wise advices from his ministers while enforcing the law. · This established a well organized and peaceful social system. · This set an example for some other Asian imperial states. · An examination which gives talented intellectuals born in poor families the opportunity to be employed by the court/government. *  ·  This balanced out the power of large royal families. *This imperial examination system was established by Empress Wu. Weakening the power of large royalties can help prevent troubles and rebellions. (E.g. the An LuShan rebellion and the HuangChao rebellions are examples of the consequences of over powerful military generals.)
 * "Dao" and "Fu" were terms for organizational structures dividing political districts.
 * 10 Dao districts during Tang TaiZong/Li ShiMin's reign. 15 Dao districts during Tang XuanZong/Li LongJi's reign.
 * "Xian"=town, "Cun"=village At the end of TangXuanZong/Li LongJi's reign, there were 1573 "Xians"(towns).
 * Legal System **
 * The Imperial Examination System **

Source: [] [|http://www.chinaknowledge.de]

Tang Dynasty China > The Rise of the Tang Dynasty > Research Notes > Socio-Political Structure 