SocietyEast Asia

The Tang dynasty

Jan 618 – Jan 907

Chang'an is the world's largest city, and open to all

In depth

The city was laid out on a strict grid of gated wards, and became the model for Kyoto and Nara. Women enjoyed unusual freedom in this period, and Wu Zetian became China's only reigning empress. The poetry — Li Bai, Du Fu — is still reckoned the summit of Chinese literature, and memorised by schoolchildren today.

For children

The capital Chang'an held a million people and visitors from across Asia — Persians, Turks, Indians, Japanese. Mosques, churches and Zoroastrian temples stood side by side. The Tang is reckoned China's most cosmopolitan age.

Connects to

The Grand CanalJan 605
The Silk Road opens131 BCE
The An Lushan rebellionJan 755 – Jan 763
Heian JapanJan 710 – Jan 1185
Movable type in ChinaJan 1040

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org