Late Tang Dynasty Lady: 晚唐仕女 (文宗)
Costume Made by: 装束复原
9th century Tang dynasty lady's attire, based on murals dated to the reign of Wenzong Emperor (827- 840) of Tang. It could be said that the dress dates to the mid- late period of the dynasty. During Wenzong's reign, women’s dresses became more and more broad, the sleeves became long and draped. A reformer, Wenzong advocated for frugality and reduced displays of extravagance.
Music: Birdsong in the Hollow Valley
Music: Birdsong in the Hollow Valley
MID TANG- THE LIMBO
The empire was in an awkward Limbo at this point. By this stage, the Golden Age of the Tang had already passed after being devastated by the An Lushan Rebellion, yet despite this, for the most part the empire still soldiered on. Despite severe challenges it's armies and bureaucracy still functioned and the Tang was still ruled by passable emperors who carried out the responsibilities of the state.
WENZONG: THE RUINED EMPEROR (827- 840)
However court intrigues would greatly rot out the imperial line. By this time the imperial clan was in a long and protracted struggle with the Jiedushi- hereditary military governors who controlled the different provinces of the empire as their own private domains. Not only were the emperors surrounded by sharks in the provinces, but on a much closer level they were also surrounded by another cabal of traitors- the eunuchs, who at this time were themselves commanders of the imperial guards.
Emperor Wenzong ascended the throne after his elder brother, Emperor Jingzong was murdered by corrupt eunuchs after reigning for less than four years. When Wenzong ascended the throne he tried desperately to reform the government and take back imperial power from the cabals of corrupt eunuchs. Unfortunately for him, he too would fail in this endeavor.
Despite attempts of reform, Wenzong's life ended tragically when his secret plot to purge the eunuchs was discovered. The eunuchs ordered the imperial guard to storm the Grand Secretariat and slaughtered all of the officials within. After this, they put Wenzong under house arrest and publicly executed all of his faithful ministers. Thereafter the eunuchs ruled the empire with naked impunity as king makers- and most importantly, king breakers. The nexus of the empire was relocated to the Imperial Office Bureau (headquarters of the eunuchs in the Daming Palace.) After five years of house arrest Wenzong died in captivity- concluding the sad end of his 13 years of reign. 3 Tang Emperors would be murdered by eunuchs.
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Comments
I hope you have examples of Song Dynasty fashions, and their contrast with the Tang. Where the Tang was extravagant and exotic, the Song was sober and austere, where Tang was 'sexy', the Song were puritanical. You find the same pattern in the fashion in Europe with the transition from Napoleonic fashions into Victorian norms.
As someone of 1/2 Southern Chinese descent, I'd like to see more topics/contents about the history of Southern China south of the Yangtse River, about the various indigenous tribes that once called and still call this land home, about their customs, cultures, languages, ways of life, armors, weapons, etc.
The thing that bothers me the most about current Chinese historiography is that it focuses too much on the dynastic successions of Northern China and the Central Plains, while almost completely ignores what was happening in the southern parts of China, as if they were not a part of China. Even when Southern China is mentioned, it is almost always mentioned under the context of northern refugees fleeing nomad invaders, there's hardly any mentioning about the native peoples.
But 'Northern China' ... or more properly, the Central Plain is where Chinese civilization started. 'Southern China' south of the Yangtse is colonial territory for Chinese civilization, a place where it spread and prospered. What you're saying is like a North American complaining about people talking about Europe all the time when talking about Western Civilization. Both Europe and North America are areas of Western Civilization, but one is clearly the origin and the other a colonial settlement, ... same with the Central Plain and 'Southern China'.
Noted, I am actually prepping for an article about the Liangzhu Culture along the same format and style as my piece about the Xia and Hemudou Culture. Should come out sometime soon. I am also wrapping up my piece about Confucius, and the late Tang imperial decline.
Every nation has a great culture,so there is no superior race，Is that right，Papa?
That sounds a bit politically correct :3
It's true that the Chinese civilization began at the Yellow River valley, I have no objections against that. But modern day China has already expanded way beyond that region, and should include the history of the peoples that were absorbed or incorporated into the Chinese civilization.
I don't want to interfere with your interest in the ancient cultures of the Jiangzhe region, but what I don't really agree with is using the cultures of Jiangzhe to represent all of Southern China. This region clearly had diverse cultures and peoples in the past. Baiyue literally means "Hundreds of Yue". I doubt that they all spoke the same language or shared the same culture.
My main focus is the ancient cultures of the Lingnan region (Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan).
Liangzhu, Goujian, and the cultures of the Jiangzhe region cannot represent all of Southern China or all of the Baiyue peoples.