Social manifestations of the economic boom period

First of all, since the Warring States period in Chinese history, there have been three climaxes in the process of development of social economy, politics, culture and so on, that is, three flourishing situations: the first one was in the Western Han Dynasty, the second one was in the Tang Dynasty, and the third one was in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the second climax, especially in the early Tang Dynasty, agricultural production is flourishing, handicrafts are increasingly sophisticated, unprecedented prosperity of the commodity economy, the city life is prosperous. In the latter part of the Tang Dynasty, the economy of Jiangnan further developed, laying the foundation for the future economic level of the south to surpass that of the north. Politically, there were the "Rule of Zhenguan" and "Rule of Kaiyuan", which unified the country and stabilized the society, presenting a scene of peace and prosperity, whose achievements surpassed the "Rule of Wenjing" of the Western Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the flourishing situation reached its peak, and even in the literary world, there was a "flourishing Tang Dynasty".

The Tang Empire was also one of the most important and powerful countries in the world at that time. The main feudal powers in Europe were the Frankish Kingdom and the Byzantine Empire, but they were both far behind the Tang Dynasty in terms of their stage of social development. Important countries in the East were India and Japan. In India, the feudal system was established just before and after the re-unification of the subcontinent by the King of the Ringing Sun, but the subcontinent fell apart immediately after his death, and the situation of fragmentation lasted until the end of the 12th century. Although Japan's "Dahua Reform" tried to imitate the system of the Tang Dynasty as much as possible, the reform itself was in the nature of transition from slavery to feudalism. Therefore, in the world, the Tang Dynasty was not only able to stand on its own, but was also among the most advanced.

Secondly, the Tang Dynasty also occupies an important historical position in the development and growth of China's multi-ethnic state. Chinese society after the Wei Jin and North and South Dynasties of national integration and cultural integration, to the Sui Dynasty to realize the political unity. But after all, the Sui Dynasty was short, the consolidation and development of the new unity of the Chinese nation, and the formation and flourishing of the new Chinese culture became the historical task of the Li Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty lasted for several hundred and thirty years, with the unification of the early period, the strength of the country, and the vast territory. The high degree of material civilization and high level of culture enhanced the centripetal force of the neighboring ethnic groups, so that the contact and interaction among the various ethnic groups in the country developed unprecedentedly, and the ethnic relations became further close. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty was another important historical stage in the growth and development of China's unified multi-ethnic state after the Han Dynasty.

Repeatedly, the lofty international status of the Tang Empire and the brilliant economic and cultural achievements, so that the Asian countries and even European and African countries to produce a heartfelt envy, they scramble to interact with the Tang Dynasty, so that China has become a bridge and center of economic and cultural exchanges among Asian countries, and played a significant role in the East-West exchanges. In the world at that time, the center of cultural exchanges are mainly India, Arabia and Tang Dynasty China, which is the most prominent position in the Tang Dynasty. The Tang dynasty is following the Han dynasty, China's history, another peak period of Sino-foreign economic and cultural exchanges, has a particularly important position.

Once again, the Tang Dynasty was in the critical period of the turnaround of ancient Chinese society from the early to the late period, in this sense, the Tang Dynasty also has an important historical position. At that time, the center of social change is: since the Wei Jin and North and South Dynasties of the national culture environment, to the traditional Chinese society has caused a great impact, produced many new factors, the decline of the big families decline, the general landlords of the economic base and political power unprecedented development. Corresponding to this was the continuous and comprehensive change and renewal of all systems. Many new things emerged in the late Tang Dynasty, which had a far-reaching influence on the historical development of the following thousand years. The change from the rent-means adjustment to the two-tax law was not only a reform of the tax system in the Tang Dynasty, but also the goblet of the ancient Chinese tax system from taxing the ding to taxing the property. The "Two Taxes" of the Song Dynasty, the "One Whip Law" of the Ming Dynasty, and the "Din to Mu" of the Qing Dynasty were all the continuation and development of the two-tax system of the Tang Dynasty. The philosophical thinking of Han Yu and Li Ao in the Middle Tang Dynasty set the precedent for Song and Ming ethics. The "Ancient Writings Movement" advocated by Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan laid the foundation for the second climax of the "Ancient Writings Movement" in the Song Dynasty, and the trend of writing ancient writings lasted until the eve of the "May Fourth" vernacular language movement. Thus, from the middle of the Tang Dynasty to the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, a period of two hundred years witnessed a major change in ancient Chinese society, and many new things were born in the Tang Dynasty. At this turning point in history, there was both the pain of the decline of the old era and the dawn of a new era.