The+Tang+Dynasty`s+Socio-Political+Structure

__ < Back Socio-Political Structure __

The political system of the Tang Dynasty was one of the many factors in its great prosperity and success.

-Taizong (the 2nd emperor) wanted to solve internal problems within the government which had plagued past dynasties,and contributed to their demise - central government was located in the capital of Chang'an 長安

__**Legal System**__: -The first law code to survive::. - established in 653  ...(last for a significant period of time) ..... - divided into 500 articles about different specific crimes and punishments ............................................. ... - punishments differed in severity for different members of the social and political hierarchy who ................................................ .. .............................................................. committed the same crime ................................................. -several revisions made in later times //__Examples of penalties:__// //-Ten blows with a light stick -0ne hundred blows with a heavy rod -Exile -Penal servitude -Execution//

__**Official System**__: - includes central official system and local official system - 3 departments - 6 ministries

__**Imperial Examination System**__: - students of Confucian studies could be candidates - open to male subjects whose fathers were not of the merchant or artisan classes - established a fair system for testing potential officers for feudal court - gave smart people born into poor families the opportunity to be officers - promoted the unification of though - emphasized the importance of imperial power - two types of exams given: ....... **//Mingjing//** ('//illuminating the classics examination//') ...................... -based on Confucian classics ....................... -tests student's knowledge on variety of texts ...... //**J**////**inshi**// ('//presented scholar examination//') ...................... -tested literary abilities ...................... -essay-style questions about politics ...................... -tested skills at poetry

-'Sheng Shi' (the national exam) ...................... -highest-grade exam <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">...................... -held annually <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">...................... -held by Shangshu Sheng <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">...................... - took place in capital city, Chang'an

(sourse:http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHEMPIRE/TANG.HTM)

__<span style="font-size: 180%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Religion __ __**Religion's Role In Politics**__

- prior to persecution of Buddhism in 9th century, Buddhism and Daoism were accepted equally - prior to persecution of Buddhism, Xuanzong of Tang would invite monks and clerics of both religions to his court - people trying to get into office would bribe monks from Buddhist temples pray for them in public - authority figures pretended to be reincarnations of famous religious figures in order to gain popularity

__**Politics's Role in Religion**__

- in 714 Emperor Xuanzong forbade shops and vendors in the city of Chang'an to sell copied Buddhist sutras - liquidated the "Inexhaustible Treasury", which was run by a Buddhist monastery in Chang'an

<span style="font-size: 160%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">__Tang Women__ - woman's rights were liberal minded (for the medieval period) - superior woman's rights only for women of elite status - gained access to religious authority by taking vows as Daoist priestesses - there were prominent court women, but far fewer than there were men - had to wear hats with veils to promote decency -rural women responsible only for domestic tasks: <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.............. -weaving textiles <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.............. -rearing silk worms

(Source: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang.htm) (Picture: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/hi_sitrea.htm)