T'ang Dynasty

(618-907). Historical period in China. The Tang Dynasty, with its capital at Chang'an (modern-day suburb of Xi'an), the most populous city in the world at the time, is regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization surpassing that of the Han Dynasty. Stimulated by contact with India and the Middle East, the Empire saw a flowering of creativity in many fields. Buddhism, originating in India around the time of Confucius, continued to flourish during the Tang period and was adopted by the imperial family, becoming thoroughly Sinicized and a permanent part of Chinese traditional culture. However, the emperor feared the power of the Buddhist monasteries and began enforcing measures against them during the 8th century. Buddhism never returned to its former height in China. Block printing made the written word available to vastly greater audiences.The Tang period was the golden age of Chinese literature and art. A government system supported by a large class of Confucian literati selected through civil service examinations was perfected under Tang rule. (from Wikipedia)