An Analysis And Study Of Princesses In The Tang Dynasty

Since last century, the academic field has studied several aspects of theprincesses in the Tang Dynasty and got some achievements. However, most articles andbooks mainly carry out vertical study on individual princess's marriage, relationbetween princesses and politics, contributions made by princesses to strengtheningnational relationships, princesses' tombs and religion followers among princesses, untilnow, there is no comprehensive study on them yet. Having referred to the predecessors'achievements, the thesis recollects plenty of documents and materials as to the weakfield of the study on the princesses in the Tang Dynasty. Based on it, the writer attemptsto classify the princesses in the prosperous Tang Dynasty in general, and tries to putevery individual princess in the paper, aiming to strengthen the understanding of theTang princesses. And it is also a supplement to the study on the Tang princesses.In terms of princess types, the paper mainly divides the Tang princesses into sixtypes: political participants, filial and virtuous princesses, wallowed in luxury andpleasure, religion followers, tragic princesses, common princesses and immoral types.PartⅠ:This chapter mainly analyzes and studies the princesses who participatedand resorted to political power. This kind of princesses includes: PingYang Princess,TaiPing Princess, and An'Le Princess. whose main characteristics are: this type ofprincesses interfered with political life, achieved certain power and exerted influenceson the contemporary politics. The type of princesses had two contrary influences on theTang Dynasty. Firstly, their involving in politics made great contributions to thefoundation and development of the Tang Dynasty. Secondly, their involving influencedand changed the Tang rule.PartⅡ: This part mainly researches into the princesses in Tang Dynasty who werevirtuous and performed both filial and fraternal duties well. This sort of princessesincludes: XiangCheng Princess, HeZheng Princess, ShengPing Princess, HanYangPrincess, QiYangZhuangShu Princess, GuangDe Princess.Their characteristics are:Although they were princesses, they were not arrogant and rude. They treated theirparents respectfully and submissively and respected each other as if the other was aguest. They were the models of others. PartⅢ: This part is chiefly about the princesses who wallowed in luxury andpleasure. This kind of princesses includes: FangLing Princess, GaoYang Princess,YiCheng Princess, Ding'An Princess, ChangNi Princess, Cheng'An Princess, HaoGuoPrincess, YiYang Princess, XiangYang Princess. Their characteristics are: they wereproud and dissolute, luxurious and debauched, disregarded of social rules, disobeyedsocial conventions, led a life of luxury and dissipation. Consequently, they ended uptragic life.PartⅣ: This chapter mainly focuses on the princesses who were interested inreligions. This type of princesses includes: JinXian Princess, YuZhen Princess, YongMuPrincess, Wan'An Princess, XinChang Princess and so on.The general characteristics ofthis sort of princesses are: They were honorable princesses, for whatever purposes, theyembarked on the same road unanimously—believed in religions.PartⅤ: This part chiefly focuses on the tragic princesses in the Tang Dynasty. Thiskind of princesses includes: ChangLe Princess, BiJing Princess, XinCheng Princess andso on.The general characteristics of this sort of princesses are: they were honorableprincesses, but they were unable to protect themselves from being hurt. Theirexperiences were bitter and sad. They were either imprisoned or killed. In all, thoughthey were "glorious and honorable" princesses in people's eyes, in fact, they were notlike what others thought of. Their fates were bitter and sorrowful.PartⅥ: This part chiefly studies and analyses common princesses in the TangDynasty. There were great numbers of common princesses in the Tang Dynasty. Itshows that the researchers play individual princesses up, which mislead readers intomisunderstanding of the Tang princesses, as a result, people ignored the fact that lots ofthe Tang princesses were common ones. Their general characteristics are: they werecommon among these delicate princesses. There are few records of them, somematerials just mention their names.The classifying of the Tang princesses makes readers clearly understand the Tangprincesses is not merely restricted in several reputations prominent princesses. In fact,majority the Tang princesses belong to ordinary princesses. They have not much gloryand riches in people's eyes. They have inexhaustible are sorrowful and helpess. Eachtype of the Tang princesses were influenced by the Tang Dynasty different timepolicy. Their destiny are close relation with imperial authority of the Tang Dynasty.