Tang Dynasty, The Iron Research

The iron credential, which the emperors award to their official's records or in important position, is a kind of authenticating object with the feature of oath of alliance. It is often engraved on the utensils to record the illustrious merits and achievements, to praise their virtue, and it can save one's life from death. The emperors of past dynasties have imitated the example since the appearance of it in the Western Han Dynasty. It has two main functions:first, it is used to appease and win the public's supports. In Tang Dynasty, many iron credentials were awarded in accordance with the time and need. Since the An-Shi Rebellion, it played a significant role in Tang's political life, and also can be treated as the most effective method to defend and strengthen the Tang's domination.In the bases of the study of predecessors,I try more chances.This article re-collects some literature and archaeological materials about the iron credential, which aim to get a holistic, deep study from overall and extensive aspect. The article can be divided into three parts and has seven chapters in all.In chapter one, it mainly to review the course of Tang's iron credential research of 1950s in the academia. which explains academic value and theory of meaning of the research of iron credential in the Tang Dynasty. In the beginning the research was empty and got less achievement. Nowadays the research goes deeply. However, Past worthies scholar mainly research objects such as file study, make an oath of alliance by the iron credential in Wu Zhou period and QianLiu's iron credential,which makes some progresses in iron credential's shape and contend. Overall, the domestic scholars emphasize particularly on the Tang's iron credential change from the macroscopic view. At present, the research in the Tang's iron credential is weak and poor no matter in the macroscopic or the microcosmic view. Therefore, it needs a further study in content, character, function and value orientation of the Tang's iron credential.Form academic angle,research institution of Tang's iron credential effect to that time and future generations,which is a very meaningful work beyond doubt.In chapter two, it explains from many aspects about the origin of the iron credential appearance and its shape structure, in order to better relealize Tang's iron credential. Which origin can trace back to the Han Dynasty, Emperor Han Gaozu rewarded persons having rendered outstanding service and make an oath of alliance by the iron credential. In Wei, Jin, Southern-Northern and Sui-Tang Dynasties,the ruler bestowed some few iron credential,and had become institutional ized.Because of manufacture materials and workmanship different,there have some different name,such as 'YinQuan','JinQuan'.which mostly maintains the rule.In chapter three, discuss the iron credential's bestowing form the Tang Dynasty's time sequence which purpose disclosure historical characteristics. Take An-shi Rebellion as the turning point,which divides into two periods. In earlier period Tang Dynasty,Emperor Tang Gaozu; Gaozong, Empress Wu Zentian period; in the case of Zhongzong and Ruizong period and Xuanzong period had bestowed the iron credential and was quite strict in this time.which mainly used for rewarding persons having rendered outstanding service or controlling aborigines chieftain and mainly manifests function of making an oath of alliance. In later period Tang Dynasty, the amount of iron credential increased obviously, especiallySuzong, Daizong andDezon period, even was in flood. Bestowing the iron credential which relaxed contradiction as a temporary shift,and not from solving a problem fundamentally.In chapter four, choice model the case studies to Tang Dynasty Iron credential,which show bestowing the particular case of iron credential.for typical example,Liu Wenjing,An Lushan,Guo Ziyi,Pugu Huaien and Qian Liu.We can find the fate of iron coupons are different, some are loyal to the court, Jung in lifetime,some are also proud of paternity coupons defiant of authority, and even in the road toward rebellion,of whom their personal destiny,the historical background of the Tang Dynasty, emperors's personal preferences, mistrust of factors are closely linked. Rail voucher is only used to preserve and strengthen the rule of imperial strategy and the means, without risk of its rule, the awared person may have a good outcome. Whereas,it will lose effectiveness.In chapter five, It focuses on the iron credential objects and analysis the characteristics of bestowing the iron credential in Tang Dynasty. Throughout the course of the Tang Dynasty Iron credential, rewarding target mainly focused on the founders who have rendered meritorious achievement, heros who put down rebellion,aborigines chieftain who submitted to Tang Dynasty,the powerful military commissioners,the contribution's eunuch and other Sachiomi. In the early Tang Dynasty, most of bestowing the iron objects was founder who rendered meritorious achievement, and persons who supporting the emperor, and aborigines chieftain from Gaozong to Xuanzong period.After An-shi Rebellion,main awared objects have heros who put down rebellion and the powerful military commissioners.At the same time,the amount expanded significantly more than before An-shi Rebellion, By the changes, primarily reflects the following changes in and characteristics:awarding range extended,control aborigines chieftain,favor to minority generals, awarding generals.In chapter six,there is mainly about the discussion of the reason why the Tang Dynasty bestowed the iron credential and the the privilege of iron credential.In the Tang Dynasty, the reasons of the reward of the iron credential chiefly concluded following the old system, warrior astrosphere and the gradually decreasing of the central authority,the use of the iron credential was closely related to the political need. According to analyzing the people who got the iron credential saved their lives from death and their death condition, we found that with the evolvement of the political situation, the Tang Government constantly increased the counter of the privilege of the iron credential which reached the climax. In general, in the Tang Dynasty, the function of the iron credential could work well, however, the conflict between the privilege of the iron credential and the imperial power was unswayable. In the specific process of practical, the condition that the iron credential could save one's life from death was changeable:if the imperial power was lost in the conflict of the monarch and his subjects, the function of the iron credential would decrease or lost at the same time. Meanwhile, the privilege of the iron credential disturbed and broke the equality of the law and the administration of the country, which was an unavoidable disadvantage of the imperial power.In chapter seven, mainly treatise the affect and value orientation of awarding the iron credential of the Tang Dynasty. When the king awarded it, it was not only a kind of honor, but also granted a lot of privilege on politics, economy, justice and even on protecting their later generation. There were many meritorious services and outstanding achievements which were venerated by the king on norm of etiquette for a long time. The iron credential in Tang Dynasty had great affect to the future, especially to the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, it was based on the iron credential which awarded to QianLiu at the end Tang. Then Ming took future action to improve the system of awarding it. which symbolized imperial power and was the target for people who eager to make great contributions and awomplish great take. According to the work of Tang to Qing Dynasty, this kind of value orientation not only existed in high dignitary, also affect the ordinary people.This article is innovates the place which take the macroscopic and microcosmic methods to complete and deeply study some questions of the iron credential in Tang Dynasty, the focus discusses historical characteristics and analyzes the reason and effect of being awarded the iron credential.Thingking,there have changes in the convention and expressions,which has remarkable historical characteristics. It had strong political function in Tang Dynasty and played a important role,form the development of the system of the iron credential in Tang, the privilege of iron credential has a two-edged sword in the system of etiquette and law,which can maintain imperial power, on the other hand,which can damage it too.