Early Tang China and the World, 618-750 CE

The Tang dynasty was a cosmopolitan period in Chinese history, influenced by Western liberal ideals and self-fashioning efforts, but idealizing it as exceptionally "cosmopolitan" limits our ability to think critically and globally about its actions and policies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

For over fifty years, the Tang dynasty has been renowned as the most cosmopolitan era in Chinese history, characterized by unparalleled openness to foreign cultures and peoples and active promotion of international trade. Deeply influenced by Western liberal ideals and contemporary China's own self-fashioning endeavors, this glamorous portrayal of the Tang demands a critical reevaluation. This essay offers a comprehensive and revisionist examination of early Tang China's relations with the rest of the Eurasian world. It argues that idealizing the Tang as exceptionally "cosmopolitan" impairs our ability to think critically and globally about its actions and policies as an empire.

The Tang dynasty's reputation as a cosmopolitan era was largely due to its embrace of foreign cultures and ideas. The dynasty was open to trade and diplomacy with other nations, and its capital, Chang'an, was a bustling center of international commerce. Tang emperors also encouraged cultural exchange and learning, welcoming scholars and artists from various countries to their court.

However, it is important to note that the Tang dynasty was not without its challenges. The dynasty was also plagued by internal conflicts and political instability, which led to the decline of its power and influence in the later years of its existence. Additionally, the Tang's cosmopolitanism was not without its limitations. The dynasty was heavily influenced by Western liberal ideals, which may have led to a disregard for traditional Chinese values and practices.

Furthermore, the Tang's cosmopolitanism was limited by its geographical scope. While the dynasty was open to trade and diplomacy with other nations, it did not have a strong presence in the Middle East or Africa, which were important centers of commerce and culture at the time. This may have contributed to the Tang's inability to maintain its dominance in the Eurasian region.

In conclusion, the Tang dynasty's reputation as a cosmopolitan era is a complex and multifaceted issue. While the dynasty was open to foreign cultures and ideas, it was also plagued by internal conflicts and political instability. Its cosmopolitanism was limited by its geographical scope and its reliance on Western liberal ideals. It is important to approach the Tang dynasty's cosmopolitanism with a critical eye and to consider its actions and policies in the broader context of Eurasian history.

ISBN-13: 9781009214643