Tang dynasty

The Tang dynasty (Chinese: 唐朝; pinyin: Táng Cháo; Wade–Giles: T'ang Ch'ao), officially the Great Tang (Chinese: 大唐; pinyin: Dà Táng; Wade–Giles: Ta T'ang), also called the Empire of the Great Tang, was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was founded by the Lǐ family (李), who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire. The dynasty was briefly interrupted when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, proclaiming the Second Zhou dynasty (690–705) and becoming the only Chinese empress regnant.

The Tang dynasty, with its capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), which at the time was the most populous city in the world, is generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization, and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Its territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, rivaled that of the Han dynasty. In two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries, the Tang records estimated the population by number of registered households at about 50 million people. Yet, even when the central government was breaking down and unable to compile an accurate census of the population in the 9th century, it is estimated that the population had grown by then to about 80 million people. With its large population base, the dynasty was able to raise professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inner Asia and the lucrative trade routes along the Silk Road. Various kingdoms and states paid tribute to the Tang court, while the Tang also conquered or subdued several regions which it indirectly controlled through a protectorate system. Besides political hegemony, the Tang also exerted a powerful cultural influence over neighboring states such as those in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Tang dynasty (disambiguation)

Tang dynasty (618–907) was an imperial dynasty of China.

Tang dynasty may also refer to:

See also

Tang Dynasty (band)

Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 唐朝乐队; pinyin: Tángcháo yuèduì) is a Chinese rock/metal band formed in 1988. They are often credited as being the first heavy metal band in China.

Biography

Tang Dynasty rose to fame with their first major album A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty (1991/2). The album officially sold about 2,000,000 authentic copies throughout Asia and abroad, not counting the multitudes more of pirated copies. Their sound is part progressive rock and artistic metal and part traditional Chinese vocal technique. The lyrical poetry and musical arrangements meant to hearken back to the glorious days of ancient Chinese civilization; in particular, the art and cultural epitome of Chinese history as popularly represented by the era of the Tang dynasty.

In 1991, the band released its metal/rock version of The Internationale in Chinese.

Bassist Zhang Ju, died on May 11, 1995 while riding his motorcycle from fellow rock bassist friend Chen Jin's home, when an accident occurred involving a collision with a truck on the Zizhuqiao freeway overpass in western Beijing. Gu Zhong became bass player, but in August Liu Yijun left the band. Original founding member Kaiser Kuo, a Chinese-American who formed the band with Ding Wu and Zhang Ju in 1988, rejoined as guitarist in August 1996.